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CRUISING TO THE BAHAMAS:
COCO CAY |
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OVERVIEW
Coco Cay is a private island leased by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, which is a frequent port of call on cruise to the Caribbean and/or the Bahamas by ships of Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and occasionally other lines.
One of the small islands and cays that make up the Berry Islands, Coco Cay is located in the Bahamas and is approximately 50 miles north of Nassau. The neighboring island is Great Stirrup Cay, which is easily
visible from Coco Cay. Since that island houses Norwegian Cruise Lines’ private resort, NCL ships and tenders are often on the horizon.
The island was known as Little Stirrup Cay when the first cruise line to use the island Admiral Cruises operated a private beach there. However, following that line’s acquisition by Royal Caribbean, the island was re-named Coco Cay. Royal has invested millions of dollars upgrading the island.
Coco Cay is only about a mile long by 200 yards wide. The water surrounding the island is remarkably clear
even in the more developed part. There is lots of thick white sand. However, Royal Caribbean cautions that
guests should be mindful that there is rough coral underneath.
Coco Cay is not uni-dimensional but rather presents guests with alternatives. One can be with the crowd or
be alone. One can have an active physical day using the sporting equipment or lie in a hammock. One can drink
and party or one can study nature. There are plenty of ways to have a day in the sun.
Click here for a map of Coco Cay
One of the small islands and cays that make up the Berry Islands, Coco Cay is located in the Bahamas and is approximately 50 miles north of Nassau. The neighboring island is Great Stirrup Cay, which is easily
visible from Coco Cay. Since that island houses Norwegian Cruise Lines’ private resort, NCL ships and tenders are often on the horizon.
The island was known as Little Stirrup Cay when the first cruise line to use the island Admiral Cruises operated a private beach there. However, following that line’s acquisition by Royal Caribbean, the island was re-named Coco Cay. Royal has invested millions of dollars upgrading the island.
Coco Cay is only about a mile long by 200 yards wide. The water surrounding the island is remarkably clear
even in the more developed part. There is lots of thick white sand. However, Royal Caribbean cautions that
guests should be mindful that there is rough coral underneath.
Coco Cay is not uni-dimensional but rather presents guests with alternatives. One can be with the crowd or
be alone. One can have an active physical day using the sporting equipment or lie in a hammock. One can drink
and party or one can study nature. There are plenty of ways to have a day in the sun.
Click here for a map of Coco Cay
THE CRUISE PORTAccess to the island is via tenders, which take the guests from the ships anchored a mile or so offshore to
a sheltered cove on the north side of the island. These are generally not the ship’s lifeboats but rather boats based on Coco Cay. The tenders deposit and retrieve the guests from a pier that was built for this purpose. The landing is in the more developed part of the island. Returning to the ship, guests pass through a security hut and then to a sheltered waiting area by the tender dock |
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Tendering off Coco Cay: Majesty of the Seas (above left); Enchantment of the Seas (above right); Empress of the Seas (below left); and perhaps surprisingly Carnival Ecstasy (below right).
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For more about cruising to Coco Cay:
Click here for Coco Cay beaches Click here for Coco Cay bars and dining Click here for Coco Cay shopping and other attractions |
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Cruise destination - Coco Cay, The Bahamas - Coco Cay Overview