Even after 9 visits, Royal Caribbean's private island remains one of my favorite places to visit on a cruise — and it keeps getting better.
In 2019, the cruise giant spent millions of dollars renovating CocoCay, transforming it into “Perfect Day at CocoCay,” a resort-style destination packed with new attractions, an upscale beach club, and other upgraded amenities.
Whether lounging on one of the complimentary beaches or paying for admission to the exclusive waterpark, there's something for everyone.
Most recently, Royal Caribbean expanded its offerings at Perfect Day at CocoCay by opening a private adults-only beach available to guests 18+.
Since its official launch, I've visited Hideaway Beach twice. My first visit was in April 2024 during a 5-night cruise aboard Celebrity Reflection. We loved the experience — from the massive heated pool to exclusive dining options and private beach — and couldn't wait to return.
While the extra cost is often a deterrent for many, it's worth it if you can snag a great price on the Cruise Planner.
On my recent cruise aboard Icon of the Seas, my partner and I paid $92.36, or less than $50 each, for access to Hideaway Beach.
Considering other cruisers have reported paying as much as $99 per person, the price felt like a great deal for a child-free day ashore, especially considering we were sailing on the world's largest ship over spring break.
However, admission can be as pricey as $2,699 for guests who want to reserve VIP cabanas. While having your own private pool sounds nice, we couldn't justify the pricey cabana considering our 7-night cruise on Icon cost over $7,400!
Here's why we'd pay to go to Hideaway Beach a third time on a future trip to Royal Caribbean's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay.
The beach has a limited capacity
Perfect Day at CocoCay can accommodate over 13,000 passengers. While the island itself is more spacious than a ship's pool deck, it can still feel crowded.
I've found that having access to an exclusive area, whether Coco Beach Club, Thrill Waterpark, or Hideaway Beach, really makes a difference.
There are fewer crowds, though you may encounter lines at the waterpark for the various slides, leading to shorter waits at bars and restaurants.
Hideaway Beach, for example, accommodates around 1,800 guests. Both times I've been there, it hasn't seemed overly crowded, either.
On both visits, we've never struggled to find seating. However, if you want a poolside lounger, I'd suggest getting off the ship first thing in the morning, as they tend to be taken first.
Most recently, we arrived around 9:40am and quickly took two seats with a great view of the ocean. However, lounging on the beach wasn't our main priority.
Instead, we spent most of the time enjoying the large infinity-edge pool with a swim-up bar
Oasis Lagoon used to be the all-day party spot. However, once Hideaway opened, Royal Caribbean moved the DJ to the adults-only pool.
It's relaxing in the mornings, with fewer rowdy adults and a more laid-back vibe. However, the energy usually picks up in the afternoon.
The heated pool, which is infinitely larger than anything you'd find onboard a cruise ship, is a huge advantage, as CocoCay's waters can be chillier than you might expect, even in March and April!
Having a warm pool, with a swim-up bar nonetheless, means we're likely to spend more time in the water and relaxing in the Bahamian sun.
After we found two seats, we immediately headed straight for the pool (and bar). Since it was still earlier in the morning, the wait for the swim-up bar was minimal. I had a mimosa in no time!
Unlike other private islands, namely Carnival's Half Moon Cay, Royal Caribbean's drink package works ashore, as do Diamond drink vouchers. This is great for passengers who want to maximize their package's value.
With one tap of our SeaPass cards, our drinks were covered at no extra charge, and we were free to move about the pool.
While the bar was pretty empty, the infinity edge was filling up quickly. With unobstructed views of CocoCay's turquoise water, it's really the best place to soak up vacation vibes.
Read more: I took my 60-year-old dad to CocoCay for the first time
I still daydream about the exclusive food options
Whether on the ship or ashore, you won't go hungry on a Royal Caribbean cruise. However, after a week of Icon's food, we were ready for something a little different.
On our first visit, we were blown away by the quality and variety of the food at Hideaway Beach. While the menu at the Snack Snack is mostly identical to other spots around the island, the Caribbean coconut shrimp, ceviche, and crispy island fish sandwich are exclusive to Hideaway Beach.
The night before, we dined at Hooked, where I ordered the coconut shrimp platter. While it was good, the freshly-fried shrimp, served with the tangy Caribbean tartar sauce, were on a different level.
Of course, you can't go wrong with the mozzarella sticks or crispy chicken sandwich, either.
Slice of Paradise is another advantage to visiting Hideaway Beach, as pizza isn't found anywhere else on CocoCay.
While you can order classic cheese or pepperoni, I'd encourage you to try one of the exclusive pies, including the Bahamian seafood escabéche or (my favorite) the island guava barbeque chicken.
Personally, we thought the pizza was better than Sorrento's, although we aren't fans of Royal Caribbean's complimentary pizza to begin with.
The dough is pretty similar to what's onboard, but the sweet guava barbeque is a tropical twist that stands out from basic offerings.
Slice of Paradise also dishes up empanadas, though we didn't try any. However, we heard other guests asking for them as early as 10:00am!
Hideaway Beach isn't a compact area, but it's easy to navigate
There's a paved path stretching throughout the entire area, making it easy to explore and find your way to all the amenities, including the clean restrooms, complimentary lockers, freshwater showers, and food stalls.
Along the path, there's also a towel station, which is convenient if you forgot to grab towels from the ship before disembarking.
To the far right of Hideaway, near the first tram stop, there's another spot called On the Rocks. The open-air venue is the most shaded area of the adults-only beach and features live music, an al fresco bar, comfortable seating, and activities like a pool table.
Read more: What Is Free at Perfect Day at CocoCay?
We only briefly walked through on our way back to the ship, but it seemed like a pleasant spot to relax if you needed a break from the tropical sun.
As childless cruisers in their mid-20s, Hideaway remains our favorite spot on CocoCay
With Royal Caribbean being a family-friendly line, CocoCay is often bustling with kids, especially around the complimentary beach areas and waterpark. As such, we don't mind paying extra for an afternoon away from children.
Is Hideaway Beach worth the cost for every cruiser? Absolutely not. However, the heated pool with swim-up bar, exclusive dining options, and limited capacity make it a great choice for us.
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 traveled frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas during her freshman year of high school. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
