The Bahamas · Cruise port guide
Princess Cays, Eleuthera
Princess Cruises’ beach resort on the southern tip of Eleuthera — not an island but a leased stretch of coast, reached by tender.
Port basics
Getting ashore
Tender port
Berth to town
There is no town within the resort area. The rest of Eleuthera is not accessible from the landing.
Time in port
Typically 5–7 hours, shortened at both ends by tendering
Cruise season
Calls year-round; cancelled reasonably often in winter swell
Currency
Purchases run on the onboard account; no cash needed
Language
English
Time zone
Eastern Time (UTC−5, UTC−4 in summer)
Nearest airport
Rock Sound, Eleuthera (RSD) — About 40 km north — not reachable on a port call
These are the patterns Princess Cays 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 Princess Cays
Princess Cays is not a private island despite the name — it is a leased 16-hectare stretch at the southern tip of Eleuthera, a long thin Bahamian island. The distinction matters mainly because the site is an exposed south-facing coast rather than a sheltered cay.
That exposure is the reason this call is skipped more often than most. Moderate swell makes the tender operation unworkable, and ships will substitute a sea day rather than attempt it. If a group has built the trip around this stop, it is worth saying so in advance.
When it runs, the day is straightforward: about 800 metres of beach, calm shallow water, a complimentary barbecue and a Bahamian craft market. Bungalows and beachfront sanctuaries can be reserved for a family or a small group.
Calls here are often shorter than a full port day, with the ship arriving late morning and leaving mid-afternoon. Combined with the tender, the useful time ashore is less than the itinerary implies.
Going ashore in Princess Cays
Within reach on foot
- About 800 metres of beach with calm shallow water
- A complimentary barbecue lunch
- A local craft market run by Bahamian vendors
- Bar and lounge areas along the sand
What the port is known for
- Bungalow and beachfront sanctuary rentals
- Snorkelling over the inshore reef
- Kayaks, banana boats and paddleboards
- Glass-bottom boat trips
How ships berth here
Ships anchor off the south coast of Eleuthera and tender passengers to a landing. Swell on this exposed coast cancels the call more often than at a sheltered private island.
Access and mobility
Tendering is the constraint, and this call is cancelled more often than most. Ashore, the developed strip is flat with some boardwalk, and beach wheelchairs are usually available.
Weather and when ships call
Warm year-round, 22–27°C in winter and 28–32°C in summer. The site faces south and is exposed, so wind and swell affect it more than a sheltered cay.
Cruise season
Calls year-round; cancelled reasonably often in winter swell
Typical itinerary length
Princess Cays usually appears on 3–5 nights The Bahamas itineraries. Sails year-round.
Ports often paired with Princess Cays
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.
Half Moon Cay
Holland America and Carnival’s private island — a crescent of white sand, mostly undeveloped, reached by tender.
CocoCay
Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Berry Islands, with a pier, the Caribbean’s tallest waterslide and a very large freshwater pool.
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
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Bringing a group to Princess Cays?
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.