While writing some of the guides for our "Cruising With Kids (Cruising with Young Children)" series, I realized there is a decent amount of unanswered questions regarding the cruise lines' private islands. I thought it might be advantageous to do a short write up on the "private island" trend in the cruise industry and attempt to detail the major similarities and differences between each of these private islands.
The history of cruise lines and private islands begins in 1977, when Norwegian Cruise Line purchased most of Great Stirrup Cay from Belcher Oil Company. NCL quickly transformed the ex-military airfields and concrete into beaches, snorkeling areas and barbecue pits. The race to acquire private islands for the use of their passengers was quickly entered by the remaining major cruise lines and the race is still going today.
First, why would an experienced traveller or Cruise Line Fan want to go to a private island? After all, we can go to Belize or Cozumel on a standard cruise, right?
Here are a few reason why private islands are unique experiences, unto themselves and why they are most definitely worth visiting.
1. Private Islands are PRIVATE: None of the private islands are ever going to feel over-crowded or congested. One ship at a time anchors offshore or docks, depending upon the island. No waiting in lines, fighting for beach space, or a lack of towels.
2. Staff: Most of the staff on these private islands will be crew from your ship or the cruise line, in general, as well as local citizens from the surrounding islands.
3. Expense: You can leave your wallet on board ship if you prefer. Drinks, meals and excursions are either included in the price of your cruise, or you can charge them to your onboard account. If you want a souvenir, then you may want to bring along a little cash.
4. Explore!: Private Islands, typically, are much smaller than other island tourism destinations. I tried to walk around the island of Cozumel, once. Impossible. But, you can walk around the circumference of may of these private island with no trouble.
5. Relax!: These private islands are meant to provide the Cruise Line Fan with a break from the ship and the feeling of exclusivity and remoteness, all at once. Take advantage of being at such a unique private island by relaxing as much as possible.
Great Stirrup Cay:
We mentioned earlier that Great Stirrup Cay was the first domino to fall in the continuous Private Island wars between the major cruise lines. NCL purchased rights to a portion of the Cay in 1977 and has expanded its footprint on the island every since, now taking up the whole Cay for the relaxation of its passengers. Great Stirrup Cay is part of the Berry Islands, in the Bahamas.
You will access Great Stirrup Cay via tender boats launched from your anchored cruise ship. Many of NCL's itineraries will include a stop at great Stirrup Cay, but be sure to check with the cruise line or your travel agent to make sure.
Activities available at great Stirrup Cay will typically include; volleyball, kayaking, sailing, ping-pong, parasailing and snorkeling, relaxing on the beach, water-sport craft rentals, massage huts, and live music. Be sure and book your massage on board in order to insure a reservation. The Straw Market (operated by locals from Great Harbor Cay) is a good place to find T-shirts, hats, shells and other regional souvenirs. Make sure to bring cash if you are planning on picking up a few trinkets.
As we noted in our earlier Guide to Cruising With Kids: NCL (Cruising With Kids: Norwegian Cruise Line), there is no dedicated Kid's area at Great Stirrup Cay. Do you require a little more peace and quiet than the average person? Find a deserted beach, without lounge chairs or drinks, the beaches on the eastern and western extremes of the Cay will provide such refuge. The island lunch buffets will keep you pretty well satiated as long you you don't mind traditional beach BBQ fare, along with some pizza, salads and fresh fruit. The Cay include two bar areas, as well.
We'll keep adding to this Guide in the coming days and copy the relevant sections into the appropriate sub-forums. Please let us know if you have any great tips or advice for use on the cruise line's private islands.
Coco Cay:
Originally known as Little Stirrup Cay, Coco Cay is the private island of cruise line giant, Royal Caribbean. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Ships frequently stop at this little cay in the Berry Island, Bahamas. Activities available to guests include swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, parasailing, scuba diving, and Waverunner piloting. Royal Caribbean offers children's programs on the island including a Fisher-Price sponsored Power Wheels track for young children.
Adjacent to Coco Cay, is NCL's private island, Great Stirrup Cay. Tenders will transport passengers from the ships to the island itself. Beach BBQ fare, described as the best hey have ever eaten by some of our own CLF members, is served in an outdoor pavilion with picnic table seating. You can avoid the crowds by heading slightly down the Cay to Wanderer's Beach, quiet, private, yet still with lounge chairs. Nature trails also run the entire length of the island.
There is a small straw marketplace here where you can get your hair braided or purchase some trinkets. Keep in mind, the island/cay is tiny and won't have as large a Straw Marketplace as some of the other Cruise Line Private Islands. Bring cash if you plan on buying any items above and beyond drinks which can be charged to on your on board account.
Has anyone been to Coco Cay yet? I hear the snorkeling is spectacular, since Royal Caribbean has heavily invested in natural reef creation attracting large stingrays and groupers. Let us know if we've left out some important details or if you have any special advice to enjoy Coco Cay to the fullest.
Tim, I/.ve only been on two cruises and one private island. I enjoyed sitting on a hammock on the beach and the BBQ. We bought souveniers, but it was in Feb. and the water was still cold so we went back to the ship right after lunch for the heated pools. I was going to walk out where they were snorkeling, it was shallow enough and would have saved on not renting equipment as I would have seen everything without the snorkels. Unfortunately I wimped out from the cold. 30 years ago I probably would have ignored the cold.
Formerly known as Gordo Cay, Castaway Cay has become the featured private island for Disney Cruise Lines. A few semi-historical tidbits about the island include: It's an ex-stop for drug runners...long gone now. Its also featured in the hit 80s movie, "Splash", as the location where Tom Hanks first sees Darryl Hannah's mermaid character. The 1,0000 acre island is part of the Abacos chain of island in the Bahamas. Only 55 of the almost 1,100 square miles of the island are developed for use by visitors, the remaining land is undeveloped and almost pristine.
Like most any Disney attraction, there is a basic theme to the island: Upon visiting you become a member of the group of shipwrecked castaways living on the Cay. Castaway Cay is also the only private island that does not require tender boat access. The Disney Magic, Wonder and soon the Dream, are able to dock at the island and disembark passengers very easily. (When will Royal Caribbean's Labadee dock be finished?) Many different activities are available to guests including bicycle hire, personal watercraft rental, snorkeling, and parasailing. There are three beaches for guests: one for families, one for teens, and another exclusively for adults, called Serenity Bay. The snorkeling at Castaway Cay is also rather unique thanks to the massive underwater reefs created by the sunken submarine rides once used at Walt Disney theme parks. You can even see the Flying Dutchman pirate ship used in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies. on display in the lagoon.
Typically, the seven-night cruises visit Castaway Cay on Fridays, four-night cruises visit on Tuesdays, and three-night cruises visit on Saturdays. Disney Wonder will offer five-night cruises with two stops at Castaway Cay in summer 2010.
2010 will bring many upgrades and changes to Castaway Cay. Disney is working hard to extend the horseshoe shaped beach for visitors. Family Beach will soon be home to cabanas, shade umbrellas and small shops at which to rent snorkeling and water activity gear. We shouldn't forget to note the addition of a massive floating jungle gym complete with water cannon and fast slides will b e added to the list of fun things to do on Castaway Cay in 2010. More Kids' activity upgrades include a small water park, Spring A Leak, which leads tehm threw a windblown beach house full of leaky pipes. A space for Teens has been carved out, Hide-Out, and filled with deck chairs, music, volleyball and other teen based activities.
Eating at Castaway Cay is an activity in and of itself. Offering two open air lunches, Disney offers a palate acceptable to children and adults. The Castaway Ar BBQ, located at Serenity Beach, offers folks grilled steaks, salmon/grouper, chicken, salads, a variety of tropical fruits and island drinks. Family fare includes burgers, hot dogs, and enormous cookies and is available at Cookie's BBQ, a large pavilion near the main beach. A second Cookies, as well as another beach bar, will open by summer 2010.
Here are a few things to remember: You can charge anything you want on the island to your on board ship account, trinkets included. Water activities are free to visitors on Castaway Cay. Use the tram or rent a bike to get around the island more easily. Bring your camera: Disney Characters are all over the place, waiting to take picture with you and the kids.
Any Cruise Line Fans have some favorite memories of Castaway Cay? Is there something crucial I have omitted? Please let us know what you like best about Disney Cruise Line's Castaway Cay.
Half Moon Cay
Located between Eleuthera and Cat Island, Half Moon Cay is Holland America Line's private cruise island, previously known as Little San Salvador Island. Its usually a one-day port of call, with passengers being transported to shore via tender boats. Holland America purchased the island in 1997 and has only developed 45 of the over 2700 acres on this stretch of sand, known for its large nesting population of ocean-going waterfowl, including 10,000 sooty terns, noddy terns, 200 pairs of roseate terns, shearwaters and Bahamian pintails.
Many of Holland America's Caribbean and Panama Canal voyages will make a stop at Half Moon Cay. In addition, six Carnival ships will make regular stops, including Carnival Pride's seven-night year-round Eastern Caribbean voyages from Baltimore (beginning May 2010), Carnival Liberty's year-round and Carnival Glory's seasonal Eastern Caribbean departures from Miami, and Carnival Miracle's seasonal eight-night Eastern Caribbean cruises leaving from New York.
Activities abound on Half Moon Cay and visitors can expect to be able to take part in; horseback riding, guided bike tours, stingray meet and greets, relaxing in Air Conditioned cabanas, walking the many nature trails or running along the new 5k course recently installed. On the island there are three water sports centers; two on the beach and one on the lagoon. At the centers you will be able to rent beach gear and equipment such as snorkel masks. Guests can play volleyball, basketball, shuffleboard and horseshoes. Kids have their own pirate ship playground and water park. There is a handicap accessible tram that runs all the time on the island and links up with newly added handicap ramps at the beach centers and a wheelchair path to the beach.
Now, the BBQ served at HAL's Half Moon Cay, has been described as they best he ever ate, by one member, to not memorable in 2009, by another member. Apparently, someone will have to get down there, taste-test and report back to settle this confusion. However, the four full service bars and Tropics Restaurant will surely keep you and your family from wasting away.
We would love to hear from other members who have spent some time on Half Moon Cay. Do you have some favorite areas of the island? Any tips or advice to get he most out of your time there? Cruise Line Fans want to know.
Labadee, is located along the northern coast of Haiti, and is a private resort leased to Royal Caribbean. Since 1986, Royal Caribbean has been the largest contributor of tourism revenue to the region, paying the Haitian government $6 per tourist to visit the region. Ten Royal Caribbean ships,and several Celebrity Cruise ships, will port in Labadee on Caribbean, Panama Canal and transatlantic voayges throughout 2009 and 2010. Tenders take passengers from the ship to the island. Royal Caribbean has recently added a pier to the location which will allow Oasis class ships to dock at Labadee.
Technically, Labadee is not an island at all. The 260-acre peninsula is completely secured via a private security force and fencing enveloping the entire resort. Other improvements taking place at the private resort include: the new Dragon's Tail Alpine Coaster, a new welcome plaza, town square and additional shopping and entertainment spots.
Keep in mind that not all the activities on Labadee are inclusive to the overall cost of your cruise. The Arawak Aqua Park costs $15 per person/per hour, but include water jungle gyms, water trampolines, climb-able icebergs, and a huge water "see-saw". Additionally, the 40-foot SeaTrek Water slide (20$ per person) offers those brave enough seveal different chutes to choose. Want to go on the world's longest zip line? You'll have to cruise with Royal Caribbean or Celebrity and end up at Labadee. Measuring a mind-warping 2,600 feet, the zip-line is a main attraction. Luc's Splash Bash is the island's dedicated area for kids and offers ground geysers, water cannons and a treasure map trail.
Eating on Labadee is not hard to do. With nine bar and beverage facilities and three food outlets, you can find something for every taste and age range. Don't forget to have a Labaduzee, the resort's signature drink.
The marketplaces on Labadee can be a little overly aggressive, according to some Cruise Line Fans. However, if you're prepared to be sold too, you can also be prepared to negotiate and haggle a little bit. Don't be shy about it, its commonplace and expected. The locally-run marketplace offers native crafts, paintings, coffee, woodcarvings, dolls, baskets, clothing and jewelry.
Some of the private islands are not actually islands, but leased areas on larger land masses. (Princess Cays is a leased area on Eluthera; Labadee is a leased and cordoned off area of Haiti.) In these cases, you cannot walk all the way around them. (Eluthera is several miles wide, and 110 miles long. On Labadee, you can't get past the fences to the other areas of Haiti, and wouldn't want to!)
Another thing that stands out about some of the private islands is what they DON'T have.
For example, CocoCay does NOT have:
Automobiles
Traffic lights
Smog
Large commercial buildings of any type
Permanent residents
Sidewalks
Utility poles
Public conveyance on or off the island (except RCI ships)
Government officials
and lots of other stuff
Another thing that stands out about some of the private islands is what they DON'T have.
For example, CocoCay does NOT have:
Automobiles
Traffic lights
Smog
Large commercial buildings of any type
Permanent residents
Sidewalks
Utility poles
Public conveyance on or off the island (except RCI ships)
Government officials
and lots of other stuff
No smog or government officials. Sounds like paradise.
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