Royal Caribbean's CocoCay -- or Coco Key as some people do
call it. If you've been before, then you understand what all the fuss is about.
If you haven't... well, let's just say you're in for something special.
The island has been transformed in recent years, and even today continues to get bigger and better.
There is an amazing amount to do, spread across white sand and blue water.
Of course, with so much going on, there's also plenty to know and tips to have a better day
during your stay. Having visited the island multiple times, here are what I think are
some of the best tips -- and things to know -- about visiting Royal Caribbean's CocoCay...
According to Royal Caribbean, CocoCay can handle a lot of people — up to 9,000 at the current
configuration. With that sort of size, having one ship in port should provide plenty of space
without a lot of overcrowding. But the number of guests it can hold should tip
you off that it could mean multiple ships visiting the port on some days.
I've been to the island with two ships docked at once. There is definitely a more crowded feel,
but it's not overwhelming. Still, I do prefer having only one ship in port at a time.
Want to stay connected… or post to Facebook/Instagram to make
everyone back home jealous? You can do that on CocoCay. Royal Caribbean’s on-ship wi-fi
(VOOM Internet service) does extend to the island.
Considering that many people pay for Internet service for the entirety of the cruise
but normally can’t use it in port, this is a big addition to the wi-fi package.
It's essentially another day that you get to use the package on your cruise.
If you’ve ever bought a drink package on a cruise ship then you likely know one of the big drawbacks
is that they don’t work in ports. If you are off the ship,
you’ve got to open up your wallet for a drink.
But on CocoCay, there’s a huge benefit — drink packages (alcoholic or otherwise) -- work while
you’re enjoying your time at the beach or the pool. There are bars all around the island,
so you can walk up to any of them and grab a drink just like you would on the ship.
It wouldn’t be Royal Caribbean if they didn’t lay claim to the biggest and best. In this case,
I'm not talking about the cruise ship, but the pool. Oasis Lagoon on CocoCay
is the large freshwater pool that’s a centerpiece of the island.
How large? At more than 33,000 square feet,
it’s about 3/4 of an acre! That makes it the largest pool in the Caribbean.
In other words, you’re unlikely to have a hard time staking out your own little spot in the pool.
As I just said, Oasis Lagoon has tons of room for everyone. Unfortunately, that's not the case
for loungers. While there are lots of chairs all around the pool, they fill up quickly.
Loungers? That’s another thing. We suggest getting there early as lounger space can
fill up quickly. Sure, you might find one chair here or there that's empty,
but finding a couple together can be seemingly impossible during the peak hours of the day.
The good news is that it's not the same case at the beach. So if you can't find
a chair at the pool, check out one of the many beaches around the island.
On just about any picture of CocoCay, you’ll see the huge structure that looks like a skyscraper,
with waterslides wrapping around it. This is the Thrill Waterpark,
and that tallest slide that goes to the top is called Daredevil’s Peak.
All told, the slide rises 135 feet above the ground (about 14 stories). If that sounds tall to
you, then you’re right. In fact, it’s the tallest waterslide in North America. If you don’t do
anything else at CocoCay, riding this slide would give you a lifelong memory… and bragging rights.
Having ridden it, I can tell you that it's a must-do if you are into waterslides at all.
Needless to say, Daredevil's Peak is popular. And on a recent trip,
I saw something we hadn’t before.
With two ships in port that day, the staff was taking reservations for riding the
tallest waterslide. You had to get a reservation time at the base of the tower. When I visited,
around noon, all the spots were already filled up until 2 p.m. After that time, however, the
staff said there are no more reservations needed and you can just walk up to ride like normal.
So if you want to ride and there are multiple ships,
head there early to get your name on the list.
Have kids that want to go to the waterpark? They can go,
but might need you along with them. Children under age 14 must
be accompanied by a ticketed guest age older than 14 to enter Thrill Waterpark.
Note that there is no rule that you have to ride the same slides. So Mom and Dad could hang out
by the wave pool while the kid rides the slides. You simply need to be there in the park with them.
On CocoCay you can spend as much money or as little money as you want. If you
just want to eat the free food and hang out by the pool or the beach,
then good news — that’s completely free to do, and you won’t feel like you’re missing out.
However, if you want to do things like rent a cabana or play at the waterpark, then you’ll have
to spend some money. Cabanas can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. And I’ve seen admission
prices up to $132 per person to get into the waterpark, although it's usually less than that.
Bottom line, there’s no shortage of ways to spend your cash,
but you don't have to have a great time.
While the lines between them aren’t always hard and fast,
the island is divided into separate zones that each have something different going on.
First is the Thrill Waterpark. A full-fledged waterpark with more than a dozen slides,
wave pool, and more. Here, there is an admission fee. Nearby is the Oasis Lagoon, which includes
the free Splashaway Bay for small kid and the large freshwater pool open to all guests.
Keep going and you’ll find Chill Island — a relaxing spot to hang out in a lounger
at the beach. The other two areas are also known for their comfort — South
Beach -- an open stretch of beach on the backside of the island,
and the Coco Beach Club. The beach club is an exclusive spot with infinity pool and restaurant
that has an admission fee. It also is where you'll find the over-the-water cabanas you can rent.
Are crowds not your thing? You're not alone. With one ship at the island,
crowds aren’t that big of an issue as everyone has plenty of space.
Two ships and it might feel a little more cramped (though certainly not unbearable).
If you want smaller crowds, check things out later in the day. After around
2 p.m. you start to see many people head back to the ship, creating more space around CocoCay.
To be fair, if you've started early in the day you might be thinking about heading back too.
But with ships often staying until five or six, there's still plenty of time to enjoy the island.
As you arrive onto the shore of CocoCay, hang a left and you’ll pass over a bridge that heads to
Chill Island. This bridge doesn’t seem like much, but it’s the best photo opportunity.
It looks back toward your ship docked at the pier. Here you can get a great
photo of your ship, or get a photo of yourself with the ship in the background.
You simply won't get a better view of your ship during your cruise than at this spot.
What do you need to bring to enjoy CocoCay? The answer is not much.
For the most part you’ll only need your SeaPass card when you are at CocoCay. You’ll need it to
exit and return to the ship, and you will also use the card to pay for things on the island.
The one exception is that there is a straw market with local goods and souvenirs
where you will need dollars if you want to buy anything.
Towels are available on CocoCay, so you don't need to worry if you forget yours.
As always, a hat and sunscreen are smart to bring as well. Otherwise, you don't need much.
Cruises are great for passengers with limited mobility. Unfortunately,
not every port is wheelchair friendly. The good news is that CocoCay definitely is.
Overall, Royal Caribbean has made the island accessible to those in wheelchairs. For instance,
there are beach wheelchairs available for use, and the Oasis Lagoon is also accessible.
There is also the tram to help those who can’t walk long distances get around the island.
So if you are worried that you're going to have to walk a lot during your day, that's not the case.
CocoCay is pretty big — it can take a good 20 minutes to make a loop.
And with all the different things to do and see, you can anticipate walking around quite a bit
if you plant to try to do everything. Of course, you can always just sit on the beach and relax.
But if you want to see things and you’re not big on walking, don’t worry. There is a free tram
that runs around the island, stopping at the major attractions. It runs continually and
there are small stops near all the major areas of the island. It couldn't be simpler to get around.
If you have kids, you’ll be happy to know there aren’t age limits on the waterpark rides. Instead,
there are only height and weight limits. The minimum for the majority of the rides
is 48 inches (four feet tall). This includes the Daredevil’s Peak slide.
Some slides do allow riders at 42 inches tall.
The maximum weight limit for most rides is 300 pounds. So as long as someone is
above four feet and less than 300 pounds, they will get to enjoy all the water rides.
Something about the sun and water can take it out of you…
and build up an appetite. Luckily there are a number of free spots to eat on CocoCay. This
includes Skipper’s Grill & Chill Grill. These sports are like buffets you'd see on the ship,
offering burgers, dogs, and more. There are also multiple Snack Shacks. Think of these as little
fast-food stands dotted around the island. There are burgers, sandwiches, and even funnel cake.
There is also Captain Jack’s where you can get wings and fries,
but it’s priced a la carte and not included for free.
And the Coco Beach Club features a restaurant that's included with the price of admission.
One tip is that the Snack Shacks tend to be less crowded, making them easier to grab a bit.
If you want the best meal at CocoCay, then you're going to have to pay up. The Coco Beach Club is an
exclusive spot that charges an admission fee. Inside there is essentially a private resort
with an infinity pool and private beach. There's also a restaurant that's included with admission.
Here you can get filet mignon, lobster, grouper, and all sorts of other goodies. There's nothing
wrong with the free food on the island, but it's quick and easy buffet or fast-food style items.
If you like better dining, then check out the beach club.
One of the nice things about having an island that’s run by the cruise line is that there is
a lot of convenience. On CocoCay there are lockers available for rent at spots all around the island,
no matter where you want to visit. There are also
beach towel stations so that you don’t have to worry about bringing a towel from the ship.
So if you're worried about lugging around a bunch of stuff or that you'll have to
leave your things while you take a dip in the water, you won't have to do it.
First, it's not free in a traditional sense, and it takes a special circumstance,
but you can get a cabana at the beach club without paying more.
Here's the deal -- a beach cabana at the Coco Beach Club cost $1,499 on a recent cruise.
For that price, up to eight people can join and admission into the Coco Beach Club is included.
Admission varies, but on a recent cruise we saw it at $200 per person.
So eight people paying $200 would be $1,600. So instead, you can book the cabana and essentially
save $100 off the entrance price for the group to the beach club, and get the cabana included.
CocoCay is a great place to visit. In fact, I'd call it a can't miss.
But if you've been before or just want a break from the sun,
then one tip is that the day is a great time to do things around the ship.
Given the popularity of CocoCay, you can expect the ship to be largely empty as
people hit the island. That leaves plenty of elbow room around the ship. So if you're
wanting to enjoy the Solarium or the pool deck on the ship without as many people around,
then it's a great time to do it. There are plenty of beaches around CocoCay,
including Chill Beach and South Beach. All of them offer beautiful sand and water and plenty of space
to spread out. But if you're someone who likes peace and quiet, then check out Harbor Beach.
This spot is a big circled beach near the entrance to the island. There's a small inlet that feeds
a lagoon, so the water is always calm. And for whatever reason, it seems like most people head to
other beaches. So you can relax and enjoy here without lots and lots of other people around.
If you're lucky, one of the first things you'll see on the island is the huge balloon
floating over it. This is Up, Up, and Away -- a balloon that takes passengers 450 feet up over the
island. There is a charge to ride, but you should also know that it's highly dependent on weather.
Over the course of several trips to the island, the balloon has been running
a third of the visits. With the breezy winds in The Bahamas and occasional passing showers,
weather is always a factor when it comes to a huge balloon. So if you book or are
really looking forward to taking a ride, just know that it could not be operating.