As a frequent cruiser, I learn a little something from each trip.
Want to vacation on a private Caribbean island? Just go on a cruise.
14.12.2024 - 11:21 / insider.com / Royal Caribbean / Jason Liberty
Winter blues got you daydreaming about a private Caribbean island vacation? As expensive as they might sound, you don't have to break the bank to go to one.
Some are as cheap as $80 a day. Although, of course, there's a catch.
You'll have to go with thousands of other travelers — on a cruise ship, no less.
Many of the largest cruise companies own and operate private Caribbean islands just a day's sail from Florida's main terminals. These islands are only accessible by cruiseliners and are exclusive to their guests.
Once there, travelers can sunbathe on soft-sand beaches, snorkel with turtles in clear blue waters, and, of course, swim with pigs. Maybe for these reasons, travelers seem to love them — especially Royal Caribbean Group's Perfect Day at CocoCay, the company's highest-rated port, Jason Liberty, its CEO, told investors in October.
Families visiting CocoCay can spend their afternoon at the 14-slide waterpark. About a mile away, at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings' larger 270-acre Great Stirrup Cay, adrenaline junkies can fly through the island's six-part zipline course.
At Carnival Corp's whopping 2,400-acre RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, guests can explore the beach by horseback.
Cruise ships generally stay docked at these private ports for less than a day. Yet, the value is comparatively hard to beat.
Carnival's Half Moon Cay itineraries are as affordable as $80 a day — not bad compared to neighboring private islands that could cost upward of $150,000 per night to rent.
But that doesn't mean every amenity at these cruise-owned destinations is cheap. If these savings give you the urge to splurge, a two-bedroom villa at Great Stirrup Cay's Silver Cove resort starts at about $1,430. Similarly, cabanas at CocoCay's luxurious beach club could cost upward of $1,600. (Don't worry — most of their beachside lounge chairs are free.)
The three cruise giants have hundreds of voyages planned to their islands in 2025. Carnival has about 200 scheduled — Royal Caribbean has more than double that.
These numbers are expected to grow in the coming years. Carnival and Norwegian plan to build multi-ship piers at their respective properties, with the latter opening in late 2025. This $150 million investment is expected to double Great Stirrup Cay's visitors the following year.
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