The Bahamas · Cruise port guide
Perfect Day at CocoCay, Little Stirrup Cay
Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Berry Islands, with a pier, the Caribbean’s tallest waterslide and a very large freshwater pool.
Port basics
Getting ashore
Ships dock
Berth to town
There is no town. The island is a self-contained Royal Caribbean facility.
Time in port
Typically 8–10 hours, sometimes with a late departure
Cruise season
Calls year-round
Currency
Purchases run on the onboard account; no cash needed
Language
English
Time zone
Eastern Time (UTC−5, UTC−4 in summer)
Nearest airport
Lynden Pindling International, Nassau (NAS) — About 90 km south — not reachable on a port call
These are the patterns CocoCay normally operates on. Berth assignments, tender arrangements and time in port vary by ship, line and day, and we confirm the specifics for your sailing once we know the dates.
About CocoCay
CocoCay is Little Stirrup Cay in the Berry Islands, leased by Royal Caribbean and redeveloped between 2017 and 2019 into the most heavily built private island in the cruise industry. The redevelopment added a pier, which is the fact that matters most for a large group: you walk off rather than queuing for tenders.
A good deal of the island is included in the cruise fare — the beaches, the Oasis Lagoon freshwater pool, and several lunch venues. Thrill Waterpark, the Coco Beach Club and the cabanas cost extra, and prices vary by date in a way that rewards booking early.
For a group with mixed ages this is one of the easiest days on any itinerary. Nobody needs a taxi, nothing needs to be booked ashore, the tram loops the island, and everyone can be found. Cabanas make the most sense here as a group base rather than a luxury — somewhere shaded to leave bags and regroup.
Shade is the honest caveat. It is a low sandy cay with limited natural cover, and the free beach areas can be exposed. Bring more sun protection than a Caribbean town day would need.
Going ashore in CocoCay
Within reach on foot
- Chill Island and South Beach, the two main free beaches
- Oasis Lagoon, a large freshwater pool with a swim-up bar
- Complimentary lunch venues included in the cruise fare
- Captain Jack’s and the Skipper’s Grill
What the port is known for
- Thrill Waterpark, including Daredevil’s Peak
- Coco Beach Club, an adults-focused area with overwater cabanas
- Up-Up and Away, a tethered helium balloon
- Cabana rentals across the island, bookable in advance
How ships berth here
A pier was added in 2019, so ships berth rather than tender — the single biggest practical difference between CocoCay and most other private islands. Passengers walk off directly onto the island.
Access and mobility
Purpose-built, paved and largely step-free, with a tram circulating the island and beach wheelchairs usually available. Among the most accessible port days of any Bahamas itinerary.
Weather and when ships call
Warm year-round, 22–27°C in winter and 28–32°C in summer. Shade is limited on a low sandy cay — a real consideration for older guests and small children.
Cruise season
Calls year-round
Typical itinerary length
CocoCay usually appears on 3–5 nights The Bahamas itineraries. Sails year-round.
Ports often paired with CocoCay
Itineraries that call here usually call at these too, so it is worth reading them together when you are comparing weeks.
Nassau
The Bahamian capital and the most-called port in the world, with a rebuilt terminal that opens directly onto the historic town.
Freeport
A Grand Bahama industrial harbour with beaches and Lucaya a short drive away — the closest Bahamian port to Florida.
Great Stirrup Cay
Norwegian Cruise Line’s private island in the Berry Islands — the industry’s first, tender-served, with a quiet beach and a lagoon.
Princess Cays
Princess Cruises’ beach resort on the southern tip of Eleuthera — not an island but a leased stretch of coast, reached by tender.
Explore further
The Bahamas cruises
Short sailings from Florida to Nassau, Freeport and the cruise lines’ private islands — the easiest first cruise for a group.
Cruise ports in Bahamas
Every Bahamas port we cover, with seasons, berthing and shore access.
All cruise ports
Browse every port guide by region, country or name.
Bringing a group to CocoCay?
We hold five cabins or more together as a single block, quote it once, and let each household book and pay separately. Tell us roughly when and how many.