Summary: Learn about the experience of visiting a private island on your cruise, along with specific information on the islands visited by particular cruise lines.
If you're looking for a lasting vacation memory, a visit to a cruise line's private island fits the bill. Here's what can expect at the private island destinations operated by various cruise lines.
Holland America's Half Moon Cay was rated the "Best Private Island" by Porthole Cruise Magazine. Its located on three mile-long Little San Salvador Island in the Bahamas, only two percent of which has been developed. Half Moon Cay was built on a crescent-shaped white sand beach more than a mile in length. Island attractions include horseback riding, snorkeling with stingrays, personal watercraft tours, kayak lagoon tours, parasailing and the Half Moon Lagoon Aqua Park.
Disney Cruise Lines Castaway Cay provides plenty of magic and fun for people of all ages. The three-mile long island, of which only ten percent has been developed, provides plenty of opportunities for guests to enjoy its natural beauty. The island caters to guests in true Disney style. This is the only cruise line private island featuring cruise ship docking capabilities - versus shuttle boats between the ship and island - allowing guests to come and go as they wish. Attractions include the Castaway Family Beach, Serenity Bay, Teen Beach, and Scuttle's Cove for kids plus numerous water sports, snorkeling and water tour excursions.
Many Royal Caribbean and Celebrity ships visit exclusive Coco Cay, a secluded 140-acre private island in the middle of the Caribbean. This tropical paradise was recently updated with new aquatic facilities, nature trails and a ton of great places to relax. A favorite attraction is the new 20,000 square-foot Caylana's Castle Cove, a fun-filled floating aqua playground. Other popular activities include SeaTrek adventure waverunners, snorkeling and parasailing 400 feet above the waves.
Princess Cays is located on the southern portion of Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas, and features white-sand beaches and turquoise waters. Island activities include seaboards, aqua bikes, Hobie Cat sailboats, Sunfish sailboats, paddle wheelers, Banana Boats or transparent hull kayaks at the water sports pier. For those who want to just relax, there are plenty of beach umbrellas, tiki huts and hammocks slung between shady trees.
Norwegian Cruise Line takes passengers to Great Stirrup Cay, located 120 nautical miles east of Fort Lauderdale in the Berry Island chain of the Bahamas. There are two maintained beaches on the island, plus several other more isolated beaches. Visitors enjoy native fauna, animals and marine life at every turn. Water sports activities include snorkeling, paddle boats, sailboats, kayaks and parasailing. Special cruise line "Olympics" competitions are frequently held on the island for guests, as well.
I hope you have a chance to sample these private island experiences in yourself in the near future.
