Here's What It's Like to Visit Perfect Day at CocoCay With Celebrity Cruises

by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 4:10 PM ET, Wed May 22, 2024

I’m lounging on a beach chair, a pina colada in hand, listening to the waves gently lap the shore at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island destination in the Bahamas. The sun shines brightly overhead, while palm trees sway lazily in the breeze. In the cerulean waters stretched out in front of me, a honeymooning couple enjoys a snorkeling session. Elsewhere on the island, little ones (and the young at heart) zip down waterslides and soar through the air on the zipline.

Until recently, this experience was reserved exclusively for guests of Royal Caribbean International. But, as of April, the line’s sister brand, Celebrity Cruises, is now visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay as part of new short Caribbean itinerary offerings.

Coco Beach Club at Perfect Day at CocoCay

Two of the cruise line’s ships, Celebrity Reflection and Celebrity Beyond, are calling at Perfect Day at CocoCay during roundtrip cruises from Fort Lauderdale.

I visited recently during a 3-night sailing on the 3,046-guest Celebrity Reflection, a quick weekend getaway that departed Fort Lauderdale on a Friday, spent one day each at Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau, Bahamas, and returned to Fort Lauderdale on Monday morning.

Here’s what the experience of visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay with Celebrity Cruises was like—and what travel advisors should know about this new offering.

The Thrill Waterpark at Perfect Day at CocoCay

Why Is Celebrity Cruises Sailing to Perfect Day at CocoCay?

The first Celebrity Cruises guests visited Perfect Day at CocoCay on April 22. But why is Celebrity visiting its sister brand’s private island?

Celebrity Cruises guests at Perfect Day at CocoCay

Perfect Day at CocoCay is the top-rated destination across the entire Royal Caribbean Group, which includes Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea. Guests rave about it, as Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, told travel advisors at the CLIA Cruise360 conference last month. And, perhaps more importantly, they’re willing to spend money there.

“If you get it right, the demand is unbelievably strong—and, more importantly, the satisfaction is extremely high,” Bayley said, referring to the company’s development of Perfect Day at CocoCay. “The other key element is: When you get your product just right for your target market, there is no issue with pricing, rate or cost. People will pay for quality, if you deliver the kind of experience they really want.”

By bringing Celebrity guests to the island, the company is hoping to grow that high guest satisfaction and spending even more.

Celebrity’s arrival at Perfect Day at CocoCay also comes just a few months after the debut of Hideaway Beach, a new adults-only venue that opened in January. Hideaway Beach not only increases the private island’s overall capacity but also caters directly to the Celebrity Cruises’ demographic of upscale Gen Xers, Baby Boomers and child-free millennials.

The entrance to Hideaway Beach at Perfect Day at CocoCay

In addition to Hideaway Beach, the private island has other areas that executives are betting will appeal to Celebrity Cruises guests. A prime example is Coco Beach Club, a high-end, private retreat with an infinity pool, overwater cabanas and complimentary dining, with menu items like lobster tails and filet mignon.

Lobster for lunch at Coco Beach Club at Perfect Day at CocoCay

Both Hideaway Beach and Coco Beach Club charge admission fees that vary by season.

Perfect Day at CocoCay is also ideally located for Celebrity’s new shorter Caribbean itineraries, which are three to four nights long. It’s a quick overnight trip from Fort Lauderdale—no sea days required.

“Guest feedback inspired the new shorter Caribbean itineraries, designed to offer year-round opportunities to unwind with loved ones,” says Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises. “Introducing Perfect Day at CocoCay presents new experiences for Celebrity guests seeking quick beach getaway escapes close to home.”

The shorter trips are also more affordable, with some fares starting as low as $220 per person. The company is hoping that low price point will help attract consumers, even as they pull back on pull back on spending elsewhere because of inflation.

For travel advisors, Celebrity’s shorter sailings represent a unique opportunity to convert new-to-cruise or cruise-skeptical guests, said Katina Athanasiou, Celebrity’s senior vice president of sales, at CLIA Cruise360 last month. They’re quick and cheap enough that never-cruisers might just be willing to give one a shot.

And, for clients who typically take land-based vacations, it “doesn’t necessarily have to be an either/or,” she added.

“Part of what we’ve done is create an opportunity to have guests do an ‘and’ vacation,” she said. “To have the short Caribbean product, especially in the premium space, allows you to talk to guests who have never cruised before who may think seven nights is a little long to test a vacation. It gives you an opportunity to really sell the value but also the ‘and’ vacation experience in a short segment that would give them a chance they wouldn’t have had before.”

What’s it Like to Visit Perfect Day at CocoCay with Celebrity Cruises?

During my recent voyage, Celebrity Reflection docked at Perfect Day at CocoCay bright and early on a Saturday morning after sailing through the night from Fort Lauderdale. Not long after, Royal Caribbean’s 3,926-guest Freedom of the Seas arrived and docked on the other side of the pier.

Freedom of the Seas (left) and Celebrity Reflection (right) docked together at Perfect Day at CocoCay

I was curious to see if the private island felt crowded with passengers from both large ships exploring at the same time. But as I made my way toward the entrance and started wandering around, I was pleasantly surprised at how spacious the destination felt—the various areas seemed thoughtfully designed to give everyone plenty of breathing room. Guests from both ships intermingled and headed off in different directions with ease.

The Bermuda Tri-Cycle at the entrance to Perfect Day at CocoCay

While guests with kids made their way to the waterslides and the zipline, I made the 5-minute walk to Hideaway Beach, situated on the far northwest corner. When I arrived, I ordered a drink at the breezy On the Rocks Bar (included with my on-ship beverage package) and made my way down to the sand. I had my pick of empty beach chairs and had no trouble finding a shady spot under an umbrella and a palm tree.

Hideaway Beach at Perfect Day at CocoCay

As promised, there were no kids at Hideaway Beach. Some members of the adults-only crowd swam or waded in the lagoon, while others played with an inflatable beach ball in the infinity pool. Lots of guests had reserved cabanas in The Hideout, a serene corner of the venue with its own private infinity pool. Later in the morning, a DJ began playing at the swim-up bar and a live band played at On the Rocks.

For lunch, I wandered across the island to Coco Beach Club, a quiet and serene environment on the island’s south side. It wasn’t crowded, either, and I quickly found a lounger on the sand. Though kids are allowed at Coco Beach Club, I only saw a handful and, overall, the space had a sophisticated, adult-centric vibe. After a dip in the ocean, I spent much of the afternoon relaxing in the infinity pool.

The all-aboard time for Celebrity Reflection was 4:45 p.m. and, by about 3:45 p.m., many guests had already started heading back to the ship. Everyone looked happy, tired and sun-kissed as they ambled or rode the tram back to the pier.

Celebrity Reflection departed first, amid raucous cheers from the guests and crew of Freedom of the Seas. One crew member on Freedom of the Seas even held up a giant hand with the word “HELLO” and waved us goodbye.

I spent the rest of the cruise taking advantage of the onboard amenities on Celebrity Reflection—a delicious dinner at Tuscan Grill, relaxing by the pool in the tranquil Solarium, playing bocce at The Lawn Club (which has real grass!), dancing to live music in the Grand Foyer and sipping chilly cocktails from the ice-topped Martini Bar. I also thoroughly enjoyed the various onboard entertainment options, which included a Broadway medley and a magician/hypnotist.

Martinis on the ice-topped bar on Celebrity Reflection

Bottom Line: Celebrity’s New Perfect Day at CocoCay Sailings Are a Win

This was my first visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay and I can honestly say the reality lived up to the hype.

There’s so much to do and see that whether you sail with Royal Caribbean International or Celebrity Cruises, you’re sure to find an area of the island that appeals to you. You can splurge on a private cabana at Hideaway Beach, enjoy the privacy of an overwater bungalow at Coco Beach Club, get your adrenaline fix at the Thrill Waterpark, take a dip in the Oasis Lagoon or simply lounge on the sand at numerous beaches. And if that’s not enough, you can book an excursion, like a jet ski tour or a kayaking adventure.

It’s easy to see why Perfect Day at CocoCay is the No. 1 destination across Royal Caribbean Group—and why Celebrity Cruises wanted to spread some of that magic around to its guests. If you have clients who are looking for a premium cruise experience in The Bahamas—or who just don’t have a lot of PTO to spare—consider suggesting one of Celebrity’s shorter Caribbean sailings to Perfect Day at CocoCay. They won’t be disappointed.

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