Carnival Cruise Line's Amber Cove vs. Royal Caribbean’s CocoCay: Which is better?

Most of the major cruise lines, like Carnival, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean, have their own private island or destination in the Caribbean. If you’ve sailed with Royal Caribbean or Carnival Cruise Line, two of the most popular cruise lines in the world, there’s a good chance that your itinerary included one of the cruise line’s private destinations.

Royal Caribbean’s private island is named Perfect Day at CocoCay, which is located in the Bahamas. CocoCay is a private destination exclusive for Royal Caribbean cruise guests. The beautiful island is the result of a massive $250 million investment transformation from the cruise line and features a variety of beaches, pools, bars, waterslides, eateries, cabanas, and more.

Last year, Royal Caribbean announced that two million cruise passengers had visited Perfect Day at CocoCay. With a dock able to accommodate two ships each day, it’s no surprise that millions of Royal Caribbean cruisers visit here each year.

Similarly, Carnival Cruise Line has multiple private destinations for cruise guests to enjoy, including the very popular Amber Cove resort in the Dominican Republic. Although not an island, this private resort near Puerto Plata is exclusively available for cruise guests on Carnival cruises.

Carnival invested $85 million into creating the Amber Cove resort experience back in 2015, and the private destination hosts 250,000 passengers each year.

After visiting both private destinations this year, it’s easy to draw comparisons between these two resort-style experiences. Here’s how my experience at Carnival’s Amber Cove compared to Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay.

My Experiences

As someone who has cruised frequently with Royal Caribbean, I’ve visited CocoCay a few times over the years. In fact, my first experience at the private island was at the original CocoCay back in 2009. It wouldn’t be until more than a decade later that I would revisit the island and see the Perfect Day at CocoCay transformation. Because the original CocoCay was pretty bare bones, my expectations were a little low.

However, my first visit to the new Perfect Day at CocoCay blew me away. Everything was so conveniently located and well-designed. With so many pools, beaches, loungers and bars, there were so many things to try that I couldn’t fit everything in. Thrill-seekers can certainly enjoy other amenities on the island, like a zip-line, waterpark, splash pad, jet ski rentals, and a tethered hot air balloon.

With a DJ playing party tunes in the swim-up bar, I was a happy gal with a cocktail in hand all day.

While I’ve been to Perfect Day at CocoCay a few times with Royal Caribbean, I recently visited Amber Cove for the first time last month. I had never seen pictures of Amber Cove, so I went in with no expectations while sailing on Mardi Gras last month.

To my surprise, Amber Cove reminded me a lot of CocoCay. Although it wasn’t necessarily up to the same caliber as CocoCay, there were pools, bars, loungers, and even cabanas to rent. A DJ was filling the resort area with fun music while most people enjoyed the large pool.

Amber Cove was bigger than I expected too - with a waterslide, zip line, and other activities available, there was plenty to do.

Location

Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay is located in the Bahamas with local flair found throughout the private island. Precisely, CocoCay can be found in The Berry Islands, which is about 55 miles north of Nassau.

CocoCay is less than a mile wide, although the private destination covers nearly 130 total acres of white sand, blue water, and luscious greenery. Most of Royal Caribbean’s itineraries sailing around the Caribbean will feature a stop in CocoCay, so your odds of visiting this private destination with the cruise line are high.

On the other hand, Amber Cove is located in the Dominican Republic, right outside of Puerto Plata. This city is where Christopher Columbus established the first European settlement in the Americas, meaning there’s a lot of history nearby if you’re interested in visiting the city. Amber Cove is located on the northern point of Dominican Republic surrounded by blue waters and rows of palm trees - the resort expands across 30-acres.

Caribbean itineraries on Carnival cruise ships often feature stops in Amber Cove, which is also a great port if you’re wanting to visit the city of Puerto Plata. In comparison, CocoCay is a private island and therefore cruisers must spend their entire time here.

Both private destinations are beautiful and tropical - you’ll truly feel like you’re on vacation from the minute you disembark your ship!

Beach Access

This is where the two destinations differ the most, as Amber Cove is not an island and therefore has no beach access. While you might envision Amber Cove being very beachy, there is no access to any beach here. You are surrounded by the beautiful blue water of the Dominican Republic though, so there’s no shortage of ocean views.

On the other hand, Perfect Day at CocoCay is all about having the perfect beach day, as the name implies! You can find complimentary access to multiple different beaches on the island - you can even swim from the beach to a floating tiki bar in the ocean! With warm tropical ocean water, you’ll also be to enjoy the beach’s gorgeous white sand.

Both private destinations have plenty of sun loungers for cruisers to use. These are all complimentary and located throughout. You can also find complimentary umbrellas if you prefer to relax in the shade. CocoCay has loungers surrounding their pools and beaches while Amber Cove’s loungers are located around the main pool perimeter.

If you’re trying to choose an itinerary between the two cruise lines, you’ll want to visit CocoCay if you’re looking for a beach day, private island experience.

Pools

Because Amber Cove does not have beach access, Carnival has built a massive pool for guests to use. This pool includes a swim-up bar, along with a lazy river and a waterslide. In the hot Caribbean sun, you’ll appreciate having this 300,000 gallon pool to relax and cool-off in. The pool is so large that you’ll find multiple pedestrian bridges that cross over it. There’s also a DJ that plays music throughout the day, so the pool has a great vibe!

If you are cruising with kids, you can also find a Wet Zone and Splash Pad with mini slides and a splash bucket. This is a great place for families to enjoy the day as well.

Similarly, CocoCay features three different pools for cruisers to enjoy. Since CocoCay is quadruple the size of Amber Cove, there’s simply more space for pools.

The main pool at Perfect Day at CocoCay is called Oasis Lagoon, which is the largest freshwater pool in the Caribbean. This is complimentary for all guests to use. Here, you’ll find a swim-up bar and a DJ playing tunes throughout the day - it’s one big party!

CocoCay also features a Wave Pool, which is located in the Thrill Waterpark. This is not complimentary and requires a daily admission, although you will find some of the craziest waterslides in North America! This is a full-scale waterpark with multiple slides and thrills that the whole family will enjoy. If you’re a thrill seeker, this is certainly a consideration for how to spend your day.

Finally, the third pool is located in the exclusive Coco Beach Club. You will need to purchase access to the beach club if you want to visit this serene, infinity pool. From personal experience, I can confirm this pool is absolutely stunning and feels like a piece of tropical paradise. I’ve never been to a pool that was as beautiful as the one in Coco Beach Club!

If you’re someone who wants to spend your day in the pool, either private destination is a great choice. CocoCay has more pool options if you prefer either a waterpark experience or want a more secluded pool experience in the Coco Beach Club.

Cabana Rentals

If you’re looking to splurge on something truly unique to a private destination, you can look at renting cabanas during your port visit. There’s no need to fly to the Maldives when you can get an over-the-water bungalow right here in the Caribbean.

Both Amber Cove and CocoCay have cabana rentals that will truly make you feel like you’re at a tropical paradise all to yourself.

Amber Cove has a number of cabanas that you can rent, including Ocean, Grand, Poolside and Hillside spaces. If you rent one of these cabanas, you’ll enjoy a refrigerator stocked with drinks, snacks, and water. In addition, you’ll receive a waiter to get you drinks throughout the day, along with showers, Wi-Fi, and lounge chairs.

Poolside cabanas have air-conditioning while the Ocean Cabanas sit over the beautiful ocean water and Grand cabanas feature a private hotel, dining room, and furnished living room for guests to use. These range from $500 to $2,000 depending on which cabana you want to rent.

Similarly, Royal Caribbean has cabanas to rent throughout Perfect Day at CocoCay. Cabanas can be rented in Chill Island, Oasis Lagoon, and Thrill Waterpark for guests looking to have a quiet space. These include complimentary snacks, water, concierge service, and more. Coco Beach Club cabanas come with access to the beach club while the Thrill Waterpark cabanas also include access to the waterpark.

Prices for cabanas at CocoCay can range from $299 to $999 for cabanas in Chill Island, Oasis Lagoon, and Thrill Waterpark. If you want a floating cabana in the beach club, these will run from $1,000 to $2,500, depending on pricing demand.

Unique Activities

If sitting poolside (or beachside) isn’t your vibe, then you can find a plethora of things to do at both of these private destinations! Both Amber Cove and CocoCay have tons of things to do, from zip lining to jet-skiing.

Perfect Day at CocoCay is packed with activities; in fact, there’s so much to do that Royal Caribbean has divided the island into different neighborhoods. These neighborhoods include Coco Beach Club, Thrill Waterpark, Oasis Lagoon, Chill Island, South Beach, Up Up and Away, and Arrival’s Plaza.

If you’re a thrill seeker, then you can take advantage of CocoCay’s zip-line, which spans across the island. With Thrill Waterpark, you can take your turn on some of the wildest waterslides in North America. Similarly, the Up, Up and Away helium balloon is a tethered balloon ride where guests can soar to new heights. Finally, guests can rent snorkel equipment, jet skis, paddle boards, and glass-bottom kayaks for other activities.

It is important to note that these activities do cost extra and are not included. Complimentary activities include a sports court area with volleyball, basketball, and other beach games.

On the other hand, Amber Cove also has unique activities for cruisers to enjoy! The private destination also has a zip-line and large waterslide for the adventurous type - and it includes unlimited rides for a set price ($20 was the price when we were there). Similarly, guests can rent snorkel equipment, paddle boards, kayaks, hydro bikes, and more.

One of the most popular activities at Amber Cove is swimming with dolphins! Guests can visit Ocean World Adventure Park for an opportunity to feed and play with dolphins in one of the largest man-made dolphin encounters. Ocean World Adventure Park also includes sea lions and tropical birds.

Food and Drink

When it comes to complimentary dining, Perfect Day at CocoCay blows Amber Cove out of the water. There is really no comparison.

You won’t find anything complimentary at Amber Cove for food or drinks. Even if you have a beverage package onboard your cruise, you still need to pay for drinks out of pocket during your time at Amber Cove.

Those looking to eat or drink have a choice of places to enjoy delicious food and drinks, with local options as well. Amber Cove has a marketplace with a Coco Cana Bar and Restaurant. There’s also a poolside bar, the Sky Bar, and Cabana Bar.

On the other hand, you can eat at multiple complimentary eateries throughout your day at CocoCay. Additionally, your drink packages also work while your ship is docked in CocoCay, so you can continue to take advantage of that while enjoying your day! This is a huge perk of cruising to CocoCay with Royal Caribbean.

The most popular bar is the Swim-Up Bar at Oasis Lagoon, along with a floating tiki bar off the coast of South Beach. These are unique vacation experiences you won’t want to miss!

Complimentary options include CocoCay’s Chill Grill buffet, along with shacks around the island called Snack Shack. Here, you can find chicken sandwiches, mozzarella sticks, funnel cakes, and more.  

There are other dining options for a surcharge, including Skipper’s Grill and Captain Jack’s.

Design and Environment

In comparison, both Amber Cove and CocoCay offer very fun, vibrant, and party-like atmospheres. If you’re looking to let loose, these are two great private destinations to do so!

Amber Cove and CocoCay are both surrounded by lush greenery and crystal clear waters. There are tropical vibes all around and it truly feels like vacation. Both environments are very upbeat with plenty of places to not only have fun, but also relax if you want.

CocoCay has more space than Amber Cove, meaning you’ll find more amenities, pools, bars, and eateries. Royal Caribbean also invested more than double what Carnival did - and I do think this discrepancy shows. You’ll find unique spaces like the Coco Beach Club and Thrill Waterpark - there’s a little something for everyone.

Amber Cove was a pleasant surprise though and we kept referring to it as a ‘mini CocoCay’ throughout our day there. There are a lot of parallels with the swim-up bar, DJ playing poolside music, loungers, activities, cabanas, and more.

CocoCay has an edge when it comes to its vibrant energy and expansive space. You’ll also find multiple beaches and pools, whereas Amber Cove just has one main pool. CocoCay also allows you to use your drink and internet package while ashore, which is a huge perk of Royal Caribbean’s private island. In addition, you can find so many complimentary eateries around the island to enjoy during your day.

This isn’t to say we didn’t enjoy Amber Cove! In fact, it was really surprising to see everything that was included here. We found it to have a great vibe throughout, and some of the amenities were much more affordable than CocoCay. For example, you can ride the zip-line and waterslide as many times as you want for $20! You can also find many of the same amenities, like cabanas and water equipment rentals.

It’s tough not to enjoy your day at either of these private destinations. With beautiful ocean water, the warm sun and palm trees as far as the eye can see, what’s not to love?!