CocoCay Changes Coming

[Havingfun2010]

Looking forward to the changes. Looks like fun in the sun, and a great place/stop to take the grandkids!

[mtu_huskies]

BS to make a buck.... Who needs all this on a beautyful Bahamas island?

 

This is so stereotype US - everything has to be Plastik-Disneyland!

 

 

 

Well said. What ever happened to enjoying the local natural beauty and relaxing on the beach. So unnecessary, especially if there’ll be a fee for everything.

 

 

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[fred30]

They should make a rendering of 2 Mega ships in port and 9,000 guest jammed in there.

[haply]

We used to sail Norwegian out of New Orleans that included their new private island, Harvest Caye. Unlike Royal, the Norwegian drink package was not accepted on Harvest Caye. In addition, they charged "New York" prices with a automatic/mandatory 20% gratuity for all drinks and food on the island. It is about a mile walk from the ship, down the dock , to the island, so not realistic to go back to the ship to eat/drink. Moved over to Carnival and Royal as their private islands honored the drink package (I know, we spend thousands on a cruise, so what is the big deal? Guess it was the "straw that broke the camels back". We shall see how Royal plans to make money on all of these upgrade.......

[deliver42]

I think panic is starting unnecessarily. Yes, there will be for fee activities, as there are now, but beaches and barbeque will still be free. Can't be compared with Harvest Cay with NCL. That was a special deal with the Hondouran government that all spending will go toward the venders there. Hence, no shipboard packages can be used there.

[LuCruise]

From the perspective of coming with kids, the enhancements look amazing. Can see though others who want a relaxing beach day may not be as enthusiastic. Wonder the state though during construction. We have a stop here in August so can imagine they'll be busy making the changes.

[haply]

This is why our past few vacations have been to AI resorts in Mexico. All food & drinks included. No "add-ons" gratuities (although we tip on our own). No additional charge for the resort's water park. If we want to go on an excursion outside of the resort, much less crowded and no rush to get back. Too bad because I love cruising....but can't justify the added cost sometimes....

[CarpeCerevisi]

With apologies to the great Joni Mitchell, “They paved paradise and put up a water slide.”

 

 

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[ticketsunlimited]

Genius!! Always need to stay ahead of the curve. I always look forward to Cococay as is but this will be a game changer for the company.

Now we can see what there vision was all the time by adding the pier. In the end I truly believe we will all love it. Beach day if you want it, privacy if you want it, adventure if you want it, upscale if you want it. Something for everyone including the kids.

[CruiserMiami]

It will be interesting to see if the helium balloon ride is part of the final design. Royal tried the blimp ride on the Oasis only to have the blimp break loose and float away and never to be seen again. The pictures seem to show a gondola under the balloon and it is described to go several hundred feet in the air. Given the steady and sometimes high winds in the Bahamas, I wonder if this balloon will have the same fate as the Oasis blimp. Perhaps the gondola will also serve as a lifeboat.

 

Walt Disney World has an observation balloon in Disney Springs (their outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment complex). They've had it for years and it's run by a company called Aerophile.

They charge $20 for adults, and $15 for children. The gondola holds about 29 people and the flight "pilot."

If it's too windy, it obviously won't operate, which is my biggest worry in a small island.

[island lady]

With apologies to the great Joni Mitchell, “They paved paradise and put up a water slide.”

 

 

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Agree....sigh. So much for the nature trail and natural beaches. :(

[grapau27]

Agree....sigh. So much for the nature trail and natural beaches. :(

We have been to Coco Cay once on Enchantment in February 2016 and loved it.

The pier is a good idea as i have heard a lot of the time ships can't tender there.

The water park is not for us but i can see ships overnighting there for families to make full use of the new facilities and RC to make money.

[island lady]

We have been to Coco Cay once on Enchantment in February 2016 and loved it.

The pier is a good idea as i have heard a lot of the time ships can't tender there.

The water park is not for us but i can see ships overnighting there for families to make full use of the new facilities and RC to make money.

 

Have been to Coco Cay more than 20 times at least. Have always loved using the nature trail and enjoy the other end of the island for some quiet, natural island time away from "the masses". That is now gone....seems the theme park atmosphere is something we can't escape any longer...sigh. :o

 

No money in nature I guess. :(

[Tapi]

This is why our past few vacations have been to AI resorts in Mexico. All food & drinks included. No "add-ons" gratuities (although we tip on our own). No additional charge for the resort's water park....

 

 

I get to stay frequently at All Inclusive resorts in Mexico, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and St Lucia for work (I know, tough job [emoji23]), but I’m usually there for 2 days maximum. But even in that reduced amount of time, I can’t imagine staying at one of these properties for a week without going insane. After a day or two I would start going crazy and would crave getting out and exploring beyond the resort’s boundaries, which would of course mean extra fees.

 

The point that I’m trying to make is that, even the most magnificent all inclusive resort is not truly all inclusive for people who want something beyond what’s included. Same thing applies to cruising. I’m positive that there will be a long list of added fees for all the new stuff at the revamped Coco Cay, but for those of us who couldn’t care less about the new features, Coco Cay will still be free and included in the price of our cruise.

 

 

 

 

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[CruiserMiami]

Thank you for posting this information and photos.

 

 

 

You’re welcome! [emoji4]

[ChipLondon]

It gets the “Thumbs up” from me, plenty of activities for the kids, and some upscale areas for me, good job Royal.

[Merion_Mom]

• A helium balloon, dubbed Up, Up and Away, floats up to 450 feet above the ground providing for the highest vantage point in The Bahamas.

We have this at the Philadelphia Zoo. It works just fine, and is quite popular.

 

 

Royal Caribbean ships departing from the U.S. states of New York, Maryland and Florida will call at Perfect Day at CocoCay, providing guests with vacation adventures like no other in the Caribbean.

 

NEW JERSEY ;)

[CruiserMiami]

 

 

 

Also, it will be interesting to see if they are doing this in Australia and Asia if I read that paragraph correctly.

 

 

Yes, that’s definitely what it sounds like.

They will be opening up more “Perfect Day Island Collections” in Asia, Australia and the Caribbean. (Caribbean is probably Labadee)

[Tapi]

I think panic is starting unnecessarily.

 

The more I read about this, the more I realize that the initial reaction is similar to when the Voyager class, then the Freedom class, then the Oasis class were introduced. Specially with Oasis class, there were so many people who condemned the project before the keel was laid. The crowds, the size, the extra fees, too big for me, it will be a big failure, etc.

 

As time has shown us, these ships have been a huge success for Royal Caribbean, and as much as I tell myself that I really don’t care for all the changes coming to Coco Cay, deep down inside I believe that it will be a huge success and a big money maker.

 

Royal likes to “WOW” people with their products, and it seems like the revamped Coco Cay won’t be an exception.

 

 

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[Biker19]

Walt Disney World has an observation balloon in Disney Springs (their outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment complex). They've had it for years and it's run by a company called Aerophile.

They charge $20 for adults, and $15 for children. The gondola holds about 29 people and the flight "pilot."

If it's too windy, it obviously won't operate, which is my biggest worry in a small island.

One can probably get a free similar view as this proposed ride from the Northstar on Anthem while at CocoCay.:cool:

[island lady]

One can probably get a free similar view as this proposed ride from the Northstar on Anthem while at CocoCay.:cool:

 

The way things are going...you are going to have to pay to take a shower and use your toilet in your cabin. ;p:p

 

Fees...fees...everywhere are fees...$$$$$ :o:eek::eek:

[cruzeluver]

The whole "private island" idea was pure genius. Why give your guests the opportunity to spend their money off the ship with someone else when you can keep all that revenue for yourself?

 

Not my cup of tea. We love actually experiencing other cultures and going of on our own, and if I want a water park I can find them much closer to home. If I had kids I would want the same for them. Regardless, Royal will make a fortune off this.

[ADS94]

This is a really clever marketing aspect for them. Now with a massive water park, they can better push those 3 and 4 night cruises out of southern Florida that stop at Nassau and Coco Cay. Casino for the adults in Nassau and water park for the kids in Coco Cay. This would make sense with them manoeuvering a ship like the Mariner OTS to bring more people to the 3/4 night spurts. Wouldn't be surprised if they stick an Oasis-class ship on this route once this is all finished and try and maximise profits that way.

[alfaeric]

I also think the panic over the changes is a little premature.

 

We've been lucky enough to have been to Coco Cay a lot- so we've spent a lot of time exploring the entire island. The area is barely used. There's an entire beach- almost 1/2 mile of sand, that barely anyone even knows is there. Easily far enough away from where the pier and current structures are, and the location of most of the active parts of the features will be, that I doubt you will hear any of it.

 

And that still leaves about 1/4 mile of island on just one side. The side facing the ship anchoring side- there is very much nothing there.

 

If you just constrain people to the current areas- yes, Oasis class ships will make it pretty crowded. Probably too crowded. But there's so much more space that isn't used that I'd bet you could dock an Oasis and a 2500 passenger ship and have them spread out for a very nice day.

 

The big change is that if you want quiet, the distance you will have to go will be more like Labadee to Columbus Cove than just over to near where the wave runners currently are at Coco Cay.

 

As long as there are some significant trees to sit under, I think we will be ok.

[mcatmcat]

Hi [emoji3]

 

I received a text from my friend saying that due to the transformation in coco cay lunch will no longer be free. I know rumors will begging to fly from now to the opening day but have your hear anything about it ?

 

Thank you

 

 

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