Port Review: Perfect Day at CocoCay

Welcome to Byte Size Cruises! This blog post starts a mini series on reviewing some of the most popular ports we have visited in the past year. At Byte Size, we look to bring you all the latest and greatest information on cruising so you can go on your best cruise vacation. We are going to start this mini series with Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

We have several clients who come to us looking to book a cruise specifically because it stops at Perfect Day. It is incredibly popular and a wonderful place to visit. Perfect Day at CocoCay is a private island owned by Royal Caribbean. Unlike the private island owned by Norwegian Cruise Lines, Perfect Day is highly developed so you don’t have to take a tender over to the beach. (Photo 1) There is a port for the ship to dock at so you can walk right off! This dock is actually large enough for two ships and this makes the offboarding and onboarding process a million times more simple than taking tenders. (Photo 2)

Our first recommendation is, if you are going to Perfect Day at CocoCay, don’t get off the ship right when the Captain makes the announcement that you are docked. It is absolute chaos and mayhem as all the passengers rush and push to get onto the island. All you need to do is wait a half hour and you’ll be able to walk off the ship with no crazy crowds or long lines. 

Once you walk down the dock and onto the island you’ll come to a fork in the road. On one side you’ll have Captain Jack’s, (Photo 3) which is a restaurant that is not included in the price of your cruise but fun to eat at, and on the other side you’ll have trails to the rest of the island. There’s all sorts of things to check out on Perfect Day. There’s places to relax and lounge like Hideaway Beach and Chill Island and then there’s the Thrills water park, zip lines, and a hot air balloon for the more adventurous. (Photo 4) Soon there will be an adults only section and that will be done by the end of 2023. The island is pretty walkable and there is a tram that can take you around if you don’t want to walk. 

On our various vacations we’ve done different extras at Perfect Day; cabanas, the Coco Beach Club, the water park, etc. Thrills water park is about $80 to $100 per person. It features 15 different water slides (including the highest water slide in North America), a wave pool, and more. There are different rates for entry into the Coco Beach Club, cabana rentals, etc. The cabana prices are based on supply and demand; they can run anywhere from $600 to $2000 depending on the time of your sailing and the amount of people on the island at the same time as you. One time when we were there we got a cabana for eight of us for about $800, which wasn’t bad at all, and our experience was wonderful. The steward continued to bring us towels, food and drinks the entire time we were there and we had a private space to relax and enjoy the island. The Coco Beach Club also varies in price depending on the time of your cruise and the amount of people docked at the time. Last time we were there it was only $80 per person, which was absolutely worth it. At the Beach Club there is bar service, cushioned chairs, a surf and turf lunch (among other food options), an infinity pool, and more. All of these extras are included in the price of your ticket to the club. (Photo 5) The zip lines and the hot air balloon are also an added cost. The hot air balloon sells out fast so if you want to do that make sure to book it early. 

If you don’t want to spend extra, there are lots of things to do for free on the island. (Photos 6 and 7) Between pools, beaches, snorkel gear, volleyball and other games, live music, etc. there is a TON to see and do. There are also a bunch of free food options available to you on the island. Also, there is free WiFi on the island that works well, so if you didn’t choose the internet package on the ship this could be a good time to reconnect with family and friends at home. 

If you’re looking to go on a cruise vacation and you aren’t sure which itinerary to choose, we highly recommend one that stops at Perfect Day at CocoCay. It’s well done and just a fun place to go. It has something for everyone at every age. 

Have you been to Perfect Day at CocoCay? What’s your favorite thing to do while you’re there? Do you have any questions? Comment below! We would love to hear from you.