Royal Caribbean's newest private beach, Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, is slated to open in December 2025. The 17-acre slice of paradise will reshape how Royal Caribbean cruisers experience Nassau, one of the world's busiest cruise ports.
Previously, passengers seeking a beach day had to book a pricey tour to a nearby island or plan their own day at a local beach, all shared by other cruise passengers. Now, guests booked aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise to Nassau can splurge on admission to an exclusive beach club just a short ferry ride from the piers.
Royal Caribbean has a proven track record when it comes to private destinations, just look at Perfect Day at CocoCay! It's been named Cruise Hive's Best Cruise Line Private Island for three consecutive years.
Offering expansive beaches, an upscale beach club, adult-only areas, and even a thrilling water park, Royal Caribbean has set the bar high for private destinations. With the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, they aim to continue that trend, albeit on a smaller scale.
"The Royal Beach Club Collection is designed for every type of family and vacationer to get everything they want out of their ideal beach day – no matter the vibe they’re looking for,” said Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International.
“With the first-of-its-kind Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, we continue to super-serve our guests with a tailored experience at one of our most highly visited destinations, building on nearly five decades of collaboration with the community and government of The Bahamas.
Read more: Guide to Perfect Day at CocoCay
Nassau isn't the most desirable cruise port
On a post shared on the r/cruise Reddit thread, one user asked everyone's least favorite cruise ports. An astonishing number of comments revealed that Nassau isn't a fan-favorite. In fact, frequent cruisers often treat Nassau as another sea day, staying onboard to take advantage of the ship's amenities with fewer passengers.
VCU82 wrote, "Nassau [because] it gets old quickly especially after the first time you've been there."
A now-deleted user said, "Least favorite. Nassau. [It's] dirty, Not much to see, CROWDED if you have 2 or more ships...in port. Did I say dirty?"
"I don't think I'd bother getting off the boat at Nassau again, and I've only done it twice (and 20 years apart!)," added B_Hound.
Nassau also ranks poorly in customer satisfaction surveys. In April 2023, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley spoke to the Bahamian press about the cruise line's plans.
According to Bayley, Nassau ranks in the bottom 10% of ports. Cruise ship passengers have "come here many times before and there’s nothing new, fresh or innovative," adding that there needs to be "more product, more experience, more uniqueness, [and] more options."
"We want to improve the experience of our guests," he said, "We can’t keep selling experiences to people who say we love going to Perfect Day, it’s fantastic, we want to go back, but the Nassau thing, can you guys stop going there? We can’t do that, so yeah, we want to be a part of the solution."
This is especially important with Royal Caribbean targeting the short cruise market. With brand-new ships like Utopia of the Seas sailing exclusively to Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay, it's important for Nassau to be more appealing to guests. Royal Beach Club's vision will provide cruisers with an upgraded experience, even if they've visited Nassau a dozen times.
Read more: The best Bahamas cruises you should try (2025)
Royal Beach Club aims to redefine the Nassau experience for Royal Caribbean guests
While the island’s capital has been viewed as crowded, dirty, and lacking attractions, the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will change the game as the first destination in the brand's Royal Beach Club Collection.
It'll offer various experiences across three zones: Family Beach, Chill Beach, and Party Cove. Family Beach will have amenities for all ages, whether hanging out at The Shallow End zero-entry pool or the beautiful beach. Those looking for the best experience can reserve the Ultimate Family Cabana, a one-of-its-kind two-story retreat with a slide, private whirlpool, frozen drink machine, and more.
Chill Beach focuses on all-day relaxation at The Deep End pool and Chill Beach. This is also where guests will find local artisan huts and places to sample different island flavors, such as grilled shrimp skewers and fire engine fritters.
Finally, Party Cove is where the party vibes will be all day long, featuring the world's largest swim-up bar, The Floating Flamingo, kept alive by DJ-spun beats. You can elevate your experience in the Party Cove VIP space and enjoy personal poolside service and amazing views.
The project benefits cruise passengers and Bahamians, who—through a public-private partnership—are invited to own up to 49% equity.
Between construction and long-term operation, the Royal Beach Club is expected to generate hundreds of jobs through annual contracts for services like artisans, engineering and maintenance, food and beverage, medical, security, landscaping, laundry, water tendering, and more. There will also be a new tourism levy that will fund reinvesting in the local community.
Unfortunately, admission is not included in the cruise fare. Guests will be able to purchase a day pass to the limited-capacity beach club through Royal Caribbean's shore excursion program, available via mobile app, website, call center, or onboard.
The all-inclusive beach day offers guests another way to experience the beauty of Paradise Island and Nassau without shelling out hundreds of dollars to go to Atlantis or visit a crowded beach that hosts passengers from all cruise lines. Everything is included from the first water taxi ride to food and drinks. Passes will go on sale in spring 2025.
Speaking of food, there won't be a shortage of options, with at least two food halls and three Snack Shack locations available. The Snack Shack is a fan favorite at CocoCay and serves fresh mozzarella sticks, crispy chicken sandwiches, burgers, french fries, and more.
Read more: 9 Best Reasons to Get Off Your Cruise Ship in Nassau
With a capacity of just around 3,800 guests, booking admission early is key to guarantee a spot. Royal Caribbean ships can hold upwards of 6,000 passengers, and multiple vessels are sometimes docked in Nassau daily.
On Wednesday, December 27, 2023, the Nassau Cruise Port welcomed 29,316 cruise passengers from six ships, breaking the previous one-day record of 28,554 set on February 27, 2023. While not all guests were sailing on a Royal Caribbean ship, Royal Caribbean Group estimates their vessels will transport over 2.5 million passengers to Nassau by 2030.
So, with Nassau continuously breaking records for the number of daily passengers, the Royal Beach Club gives those sailing with Royal Caribbean another option on how to spend their day in The Bahamas.
The Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is shaping up to be a major win for both Royal Caribbean passengers and the local Bahamian economy. With its blend of exclusivity and cultural investment, Nassau will finally have the fresh experience it’s been missing to make it a desirable port of call.
Read more: Disney and Royal Caribbean announced new beach resorts: here's how they compare
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
