Cruises Everything You Should Know About Royal Caribbean's Private Island, Perfect Day at CocoCay Here’s what you need to know about Perfect Day at CocoCay before your next Royal Caribbean voyage. By Stefanie Waldek Stefanie Waldek Stefanie Waldek is a freelance space, travel, and design journalist with expertise in aviation, meteorology, and polar regions. She was a former editor at Architectural Digest, TripAdvisor, and ArtNews. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on February 28, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article Getting There Things to Do on Perfect Day at CocoCay Dining on Perfect Day at CocoCay Family-friendly Activities Adults-only Activities Tips for Visiting Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Courtesy of Royal Caribbean Private islands aren't only for billionaires — they're for cruise lines, too. Many Royal Caribbean cruises include a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay, the cruise line's private island in the Bahamas. Spanning 125 acres, Perfect Day at CocoCay has a little bit of everything for everyone, whether you're seeking some laid-back beach time, family fun at a water park, or a Vegas-style pool party. The island underwent a $250 million overhaul in 2019, and its list of attractions includes the tallest waterslide in North America (one of 13 waterslides in total), overwater cabanas, a 1,600-foot zip line, and an adults-only zone. The renovation also added a two-ship-capacity pier to the island, so guests can simply walk off their ship and onto the island rather than take a tender. Ship Tip If you want to book excursions or private cabanas for Perfect Day at CocoCay, do so as early as possible. Excursions are bookable online before your cruise's departure — although Royal Caribbean tends to periodically unlock excursions rather than open all bookings at once. Check around six months prior to departure to see what's available. Anything that's left at the time of departure can be booked onboard. Ready to plan your adventure at Perfect Day at CocoCay? I recently visited during a sailing on the new Icon of the Seas, so here's everything you need to know about Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas. Courtesy of Royal Caribbean Getting There Royal Caribbean's fleet is enormous, with a whopping 26 ships — and counting. Many of them spend the entire year in the Caribbean, and that means you can visit Perfect Day at CocoCay any month of the year. Of course, not every single sailing calls at this port, so be sure to check the itinerary before booking. Once your ship pulls alongside the pier at Perfect Day at CocoCay, you'll have anywhere from eight to 10 hours to explore the island. Depending on the day, your ship might be the only one at the pier, or you might be sharing it with another Royal vessel. In the latter case, there might be more than 10,000 guests on the island at once. After you make your way down the pier, you're greeted by island staff, who can guide you to the attractions. At this point, you can hop on a free tram to bring you to some of the more distant areas, like the adults-only Hideaway Beach or the family-friendly Breezy Bay at Chill Island. But the whole island is also walkable, and it takes about 15 minutes to get from one end to the other. Beach-access wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis, too — ask a crew member to point you in the right direction. The only things you need to bring onto Perfect Day at CocoCay are your SeaPass Card and a towel — towels are handed out onboard before heading to the island unless you've booked a cabana, where towels are provided. There are a few towel-swapping stations on the island if you need a fresh one. T+L's Review of Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas Things to Do on Perfect Day at CocoCay While general admission to Perfect Day at CocoCay is free, certain zones and attractions do require a fee. As such, I'll be sharing things to do on the island in two sections: complimentary activities and ones that come at an extra cost. Free Things to Do For zero charge, guests have access to Splashaway Bay and Captain Jill's Galleon (two splash pads for kids); Oasis Lagoon (the Caribbean's largest freshwater pool, spanning three-quarters of an acre); and the beaches Breezy Bay at Chill Island and South Beach (loungers are free, but daybeds and cabanas must be rented for a fee). Options Available for a Fee For an extra charge, the fun really kicks in. Thrill Waterpark, with 13 slides and a wave pool; the 1,600-foot zip line; and Up, Up, and Away (a helium balloon ride) all cost extra. You must also pay to enter the exclusive Coco Beach Club and Hideaway Beach zones — the former is where you'll find the overwater cabanas, while the latter is the adults-only beach club. Other extra activities include snorkel and kayak rentals, as well as formal excursions, such as jet skiing and scuba diving. Courtesy of Royal Caribbean Dining on Perfect Day at CocoCay Dining is included at Skipper's Grill, Chill Grill, and Snack Shacks on Perfect Day at CocoCay; here, you can find burgers, tacos, sandwiches, salads, and even soft-serve ice cream. Then there's the restaurant Captain Jack’s, which is known for its chicken wings, where you have to pay per dish. If you pay to enter Coco Beach Club, your admission includes dining at a Mediterranean restaurant. Similarly, Hideaway Beach admission covers food at its Snack Shack and Slice of Paradise pizza bar. The food at Hideaway Beach was a highlight of my afternoon ashore. At the Snack Shack, the ceviche was a stunner, with a touch of spiciness that was perfect with a sweet piña colada. And the mozzarella sticks hit the spot, too. At Slice of Paradise, I was impressed that the menu included Bahamian seafood escabeche pizza, a nod to a favorite local dish. How to Find the Best Cruise Deals, According to Travel Experts Family-friendly Activities Royal Caribbean is a family-friendly cruise line, and pretty much all of Perfect Day at CocoCay is family-friendly — except for Hideaway Beach, which is a designated adults-only zone. If your kids are looking for some action, there's plenty to keep them entertained. Toddlers might enjoy the splash pads at Captain Jill's Galleon or Splashaway Bay, while older kids might want to head straight for Thrill Waterpark with towering waterslides and a wave pool. Then there are the "dry" activities like the 1,600-foot zip line and the helium-filled balloon ride. For a more relaxing island day, consider visiting one of the three family-friendly beaches, where you'll find free loungers and free beach strollers on a first-come, first-served basis. If you'd prefer a pool, Oasis Lagoon has a zero-entry cove. And if you'd like to maximize privacy, consider booking a cabana for the whole family. The Coco Beach overwater cabanas are the star of the show, each with a two-person overwater hammock, a slide into the sea, a private shower, and concierge service. Interestingly, there's no dedicated daycare or kids club on the island, so sorry parents — you'll have to bring your kids with you. That said, Adventure Ocean will remain open onboard your ship, so you can drop off the kids if you want to slip out to Hideaway Beach for a few hours. Courtesy of Royal Caribbean Adults-only Activities As I visited Perfect Day at CocoCay without kids, I made a beeline for Hideaway Beach, the adults-only area of the island. Admission comes at a cost — anywhere from $39 to $89, depending on the day. But if you're looking for a Vegas-style pool party — with club music blasting throughout the majority of the horseshoe-shaped cove — this is where you'll find it. There's a DJ in the middle of the lagoon-style pool, where you'll find a swim-up bar, too. (That's just one of four bars here, mind you.) Island staff were even walking around with Champagne water guns, shooting right into the mouths of thirsty guests. Find a little more peace over on the far side of the beach, where the cabanas with semi-private pools are located. The music drifts over here, but no speakers are pumping it in. I spent the majority of my afternoon in a hammock on this calmer side of the beach. Courtesy of Royal Caribbean 6 Cruises That Are Perfect for a Girls Trip Tips for Visiting Use the app to book activities and excursions, like a ride down the zip line and entrance to the beach clubs and water park.Speaking of the zip line, closed-toe shoes are a requirement, so bring a pair ashore if you plan on riding it.The crowds are usually largest in the morning, as many guests head back to the ship in the afternoon. Consider heading ashore later in the day for less congestion. If you've paid for Wi-Fi on the ship, you'll also have access to Wi-Fi on the island. Similarly, drink packages extend to all the bars on Perfect Day at CocoCay.Don't forget to bring your towel back onboard. If you don't return your towel, you'll be charged $25.The slides do have height requirements and weight limits. Minimum height requirements are usually 42 or 48 inches tall, while maximum weight limits top out at 300 pounds per person.If you plan on shopping at the straw market, bring some cash — vendors can't charge purchases to your SeaPass.Lockers and showers are available on the island, though you can return to the ship and come back ashore as many times as you want.