THE 25 BEST Cruises to Princess Cays 2024 with Prices Princess Cays Cruise Port Terminal on Cruise Critic
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Ideal for families, these brightly colored bungalows are equipped with beach chairs and provide shade overlooking the beach. Surrounded by coral reefs and mangroves, Princess Cays is excellent for snorkeling. You will see plenty of colorful marine fish, anemones, different types of corals, and other sea creatures if you’re lucky. Keep your eyes open for sponges, giant clams, stingrays, dolphins, and turtles.
Tips for Enjoying a Day at Princess Cays
To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link. The private port of Princess Cays is only accessible to passengers onboard ships helmed by Carnival Corporation — primarily, Princess Cruises and Carnival Cruise Line. Still, only one ship visits the port at any given time, keeping crowds to a minimum. The main one is Rock Sound, which is Instagram-ready with beautiful beaches and colorful buildings. Private cabanas and air-conditioned beach bungalows are available to rent, but you need to book ahead of time.
Pelicans’ Perch kids area
The freshwater wading pool is very shallow, perfect for little ones to splash around. Kids do need to be potty trained to swim in the pool—swim diapers aren’t allowed. Of course, you can always swim or snorkel from the beach on your own. I always bring my own full-face snorkel mask and gear when I cruise.
Carnival Ship Rescues 27 People Adrift at Sea in the Caribbean
The location does mean that you get a similar climate to other major destinations in the Bahamas, which means it’s warm throughout the year. Cruises are most popular during the winter months to escape the colder weather at home. Most cruises in the region go to either Half Moon Cay or Princess Cays but not both. Princess Cays is easily walkable, with signage posted throughout the resort. A small tram service also runs to various points of interest throughout the day.
Between North Beach and the snorkeling area is the Offshore Pavilion. This is a great spot to watch colorful fish swimming around its piers. It’s also a good place to snap a pic of your ship, especially if you don’t want to climb the stairs to the top of the Crow’s Nest. Each bungalow is equipped with a ceiling fan, a table and four chairs, and an outdoor shower. Your bungalow will be stocked with towels, two flotation rafts to use for the day, and a cooler full of soft drinks and water.
Carnival Cruise Line Ships to Start Calling on Princess Cays - Cruise Industry News
Carnival Cruise Line Ships to Start Calling on Princess Cays.
Posted: Tue, 10 Jan 2017 08:00:00 GMT [source]
If you’re visiting on a Princess cruise, you can use your beverage package (except the specialty coffee package) on the island. Visitors on a Carnival cruise can’t use any shipboard drinks packages on Princess Cays. If you’re looking for an exclusive spot to relax during your private island getaway, booking one of the candy-colored bungalows is the way to go! Cool off inside your own air-conditioned cabana, or lounge on the patio or under your umbrella.
Do You Have to Tender to Princess Cays?
The Bahama Treasures Shop and Tropical Treasure Shop offer logo gear, tropical-themed apparel and souvenirs for kids and adults. Children ages 12 and younger save up to 50 percent on excursions. Alcoholic drinks always come at an additional cost, but if you have a beverage package onboard your Princess ship, it extends here ashore. Princess Cays is a tender port, meaning cruisers must be able to board a smaller ship, or tender, to reach the shore.
Great Harbour Cay, Bahamas
Large glass windows allow you to look down and admire fish feeding and swimming through the corals and anemones. Princess Cays has its own Craft Market selling handcrafted items made in the Bahamas. Visit the Princess Tropical Treasures Boutique for some colorful island/beachwear. Other shops are run by local vendors with plenty of souvenirs, T-shirts, hats, shells and other regional items. The resort has over 3,000 beach chairs scattered around so you don’t have to pay for a nice comfortable beach chair. Although the name “Princess Cays” suggests a series of sandy islands and atolls, it is actually an exclusive resort at one end of this long island.
Princess Cays is used by both cruise lines as an exclusive port of call as part of a Bahamas cruise itinerary. Here are the things you really need to know about Princess Cays, Bahamas. In the past, there was usually another straw market set up just past the gate for some added shopping opportunities, but this wasn’t there during my last visit. The exit gate from Princess Cays is located near Love Boat Marina where the tenders dock. Walk back away from the water as if you were going to the southern part of Princess Cays, and you’ll see an open gate with a security guard on your left. You can buy a locker ticket via your online cruise planner, or on-island at one of the three locker rental stations.
Beach YourselfThe most popular pastime of all on a cruise has to be beach time, and Princess Cays does not disappoint in this department. You can also rent a beach clamshell and comfy beach chair to maximize your private island time. As a private cruise line destination, Princess Cays is only accessible to guests visiting on a cruise ship.
Follow a guide along the back roads while driving your own Dune Buggy to a beautiful pink sand beach. The Bahamas enjoys a tropical climate with very little variation in temperature throughout the seasons. Average daytime highs reach 75°F (24°C) in winter and around 85°F (29°C) in summer, when it may be more humid with thunderstorms. In fact, it is the 8th largest island in the Bahamas (out of over 700 islands and 2,400 cays spread across 5,358 square miles). Cigarette smoking and vaping is permitted at Princess Cays, but only in designated smoking areas around the resort (look for signs or standing ashtrays). Smoking and vaping is also allowed at many of the open-air bars (look for ashtrays on the bar).
For shaded chairs for two people, "clamshells" can be booked in advance via the line's Cruise Personalizer or at the Shore Excursion desk on the ship. Selection is on shore, on a first-come, first-served basis; fees apply. Princess Cays features on the Eastern, Southern and Western Caribbean itineraries of Princess Cruises and Carnival Cruise Line, but only one ship visits per day.
Daily locker rental is $10 per day, and can be pre-purchased or paid for on the island. If you have mobility challenges, the north side of the resort is wheelchair-friendly, while the south side does have a few steps leading up to and down from the bridge that accesses that area. The First Aid building, which you’ll see as soon as you exit the tender, is available for anyone needing emergency medical attention (or just a bandage or ice pack) during your visit.
Unfortunately, during bad weather and rough sea conditions, tendering to the island often isn’t safe. Here’s everything you need to know to enjoy your day at Princess Cays. Be sure to check out my Princess Cays FAQ at the bottom of the page, where I answer the most commonly asked questions about this exclusive port of call. This blog helps over a million people to plan their cruises each month. As the resort is private, island residents can’t wander in whenever they want to, so the resort is safe. The guides are friendly and helpful so even if you’re a beginner, you’ll be able to get some great underwater views as you build up your confidence.
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