Royal Caribbean International has announced a first-of-its-kind adults-only getaway coming soon to CocoCay, the cruise line’s private island destination in The Bahamas.

Scheduled to open in January 2024, the new Hideaway Beach will feature beachside and poolside options, along with exclusive bars and dining venues for guests to enjoy.

Hideaway Beach – A First for Adults on CocoCay

A new development on the northwest side of Perfect Day at CocoCay, Hideaway Beach is an exclusive, adults-only retreat for guests ages 18 and up when visiting the private island.

With all the features guests love – a pristine sandy beach, pools, cabanas, live music, and more – Hideaway Beach is a destination in itself for those who want relaxation without the little ones around.

“Hideaway Beach is a completely new vibe and experience that vacationers are looking for on Perfect Day at CocoCay. Everything from its hidden-like location to the exclusive beach and pools to the private cabanas is designed for adults who want a day just for them,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International.

You can watch a video about the new Hideaway Beach below:

The cruise line prides itself on providing great experiences for all family members, whether that means adventurous waterpark fun, family-friendly splashes, or now, the adults-only Hideaway Beach.

Read Also: Family Cruises Reinvented on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas

Features of the new part of CocoCay include more than an acre of white sand beach adjacent to turquoise waters, with loungers and umbrellas on the shore and in-water hammocks and swings for getting some toes in the water. A live DJ will spin tunes by the Hideaway Pool and its swim-up bar, with in-water seating and an infinity edge.

For even more exclusivity, guests can enjoy 10 poolside cabanas with private attendant service and other amenities, including charging outlets, mini-fridges, secure storage, and floating beach mats.

Guests looking to level-up their hideaway can also opt for the even more exclusive area, The Hideout, with 10 cabanas and a chill vibe with its own exclusive plunge pool, in-water loungers, resort seating, and an outdoor shower.

Visitors won’t have to leave the adults-only area for refueling and refreshment, with exclusive bars and dining venues right at Hideaway Beach.

The Slice of Paradise rustic pizza haven will serve up outstanding tropical pies such as Bahamian-style Guava Barbecued Chicken, Bahamian Jerk Chicken, or Veggie Feast pizzas alongside craft cocktails. Meanwhile, the Snack Shack will offer burgers, fried mozzarella sticks, chicken sandwiches, funnel cakes, and more. Both restaurants are complimentary.

Two full-service beach bars as well as the On the Rocks al fresco bar and the Hideaway Bar two-level swim-up bar will all offer refreshing drinks along with top ocean views and the ultimate in tropical vacation vibes.

Visiting Hideaway Beach

As part of Perfect Day at CocoCay, Hideaway Beach will be available to guests on any sailing that visits that private Bahamian island. The new resort-style area is scheduled to debut in January 2024 with the inaugural sailing of Icon of the Seas when the ship begins offering 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from Miami, all of which will visit CocoCay.

In total, 22 vessels in the Royal Caribbean fleet will be visiting CocoCay in 2024, offering sailings from a variety of US homeports including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Galveston, Tampa, and New York.

The new part of the private island will have an entry charge, which will likely vary based on how long a particular ship is visiting the island and how many passengers are on CocoCay that day.

Exact fees have not yet been announced, and may change from sailing to sailing. Initial reports are day passes at approximately $45-75 (USD) per person, depending on ship and sailing date. Discounts are offered for pre-cruise bookings, but limited spots are selling out fast.

Two Royal Caribbean International ships, Vision of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas, are changing itineraries due to the influence of Hurricane Lee as the storm approaches Nova Scotia.

One ship will be delaying its departure from its homeport for a full day, while the other is dropping a port of call and creating an overnight stay in another port instead.

Hurricane Lee Causing More Itinerary Changes

While Royal Caribbean has already made itinerary changes for four ships due to Hurricane Lee, the storm’s strength and track are creating additional concerns for more cruises and causing even more adjustments to ensure safe sailing.

Now impacted are the September 14, 2023 departures for both Vision of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas. One ship’s itinerary is dramatically changing to a completely new region, while the other ship is able to preserve much of the original itinerary with some adjustments early in the sailing.

Vision of the Seas Itinerary Change

The 78,717-gross ton Vision of the Seas is unable to sail the 9-night “Canada & New England” itinerary as planned, as Hurricane Lee is likely to have a strong impact on the entire sailing region for the next few days.

Royal Caribbean has reached out to guests to notify them of the alteration and to provide options if desired. While the ship will still embark in Baltimore, Maryland, on Thursday, September 14, the vessel will now overnight in Baltimore until Friday.

All guests must embark on Thursday as planned, though the cruise line is asking guests not to arrive before 12:30 p.m., as the ship is already delayed three hours on the previous sailing due to earlier hurricane-related changes. All guests must be onboard by 3:30 p.m.

When Vision of the Seas sets sail on Friday afternoon, the ship will head south – rather than north – for a Florida and Bahamas cruise, visiting Port Canaveral, Nassau, and Perfect Day at CocoCay. Vision of the Seas will return to Baltimore as scheduled on Friday, September 23.

“While these circumstances are beyond our control, we understand that this change impacts your vacation,” the notification said.

Royal Caribbean is permitting guests to cancel for a 100% refund if desired, which will be returned to the original form of payment within 14 business days after the end of the sailing. The exact processing time will depend on guests’ financial institutions. If the cruise was booked using a future cruise credit (FCC), that credit will be reinstated.

If guests do want to continue with the cruise, they will receive a 1-day refund of their cruise fare posted as a credit to their onboard account. Furthermore, any pre-paid Royal Caribbean shore excursions will also be refunded as onboard credit. Any unused credit at the end of the sailing will be returned to the credit card on file.

Jewel of the Seas Itinerary Change

The 90,090-gross ton, Radiance class Jewel of the Seas is scheduled to depart on a 14-night Greenland itinerary on Thursday, September 14. Because of the length of the sailing and the timing of Hurricane Lee’s approach to the area, adjustments to the beginning of the itinerary are necessary.

“To ensure a safe and smooth journey, we’ll now overnight in Manhattan, New York instead of visiting Halifax, Nova Scotia,” the notification read.

Jewel of the Seas will remain in Manhattan from 6:30 p.m. on Thursday until 8 p.m. on Friday, before setting sail toward Greenland.

“The situation does remain fluid, but we are currently looking good for travel to Greenland,” the notification continued. “We continue to closely monitor the weather conditions to ensure a comfortable cruise.”

At this time, there are no further itinerary adjustments for the sailing, which is scheduled to visit Nuuk, Qaqortoq, and Nanortalik in Greenland, as well as a stop in St. John’s, Newfoundland, before returning to Cape Liberty, New Jersey on Thursday, September 28.

Pre-paid Royal Caribbean shore tours for Halifax are being automatically refunded to guests’ original form of payment.

Hurricane Lee Approaching Nova Scotia

Hurricane Lee is currently a major Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 115 miles per hour (185 kilometers per hour). The center of the storm is located approximately 805 miles (1,295 km) east of Miami, moving north-northwest at 6 mph (10 kph).

The storm is forecast to continue traveling north, and while it is likely to weaken slightly as it moves into cooler waters, it will still be a hurricane or a strong tropical storm as it approaches Maine, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick on Saturday and Sunday.

As the storm encounters land, it will likely shift to the east, bringing further rough weather over Nova Scotia and Newfoundland early next week.

Cruisers eager to experience Royal Caribbean’s new Icon of the Seas will be thrilled to hear the cruise line has opened bookings on more sailings aboard its highly anticipated and exciting new cruise ship, now under construction at the Meyer-Turku shipyard in Finland.

Due to launch in January 2024, the ship has received record-breaking interest from cruisers since bookings initially opened in the fall of 2022, prompting Royal Caribbean to now make reservations available on sailings through April 2026.

High Interest Prompts Early Opening of 2025-26 Sailings

Icon of the Seas, which will become the world’s largest cruise ship at 250,800-gross tons, is the only Royal Caribbean ship with bookings already open for 2026 itineraries. The cruise line in October 2022 had revealed the ship’s itineraries through April 2025.

When she debuts in early 2024, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas will homeport at PortMiami and will sail 7-night, alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises.

While 2026 Western Caribbean itineraries will mirror those of 2025, two new ports will be added to some Eastern Caribbean sailings, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The extended bookings will officially open on September 13, 2023, although Crown & Anchor Society loyalty members can access reservations starting September 12, 2023.

“Since Icon of the Seas was revealed almost a year ago, the response has been unprecedented by every measure,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International.

“The excitement has only continued to build, making it clear that we’ve designed a revolutionary experience that reflects how consumers want to travel today and for years to come,” added Bayley.

World’s Largest Ship to Homeport in Miami

From her base at PortMiami, Icon of the Seas will operate three Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day at CocoCay itineraries, with calls at Philipsburg, St. Maarten, and Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis, plus Puerto Plata and San Juan.

Itineraries include either two or three sea days, based on departure date, and every cruise visits Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

On Western Caribbean & Perfect Day at CocoCay itineraries, the ship will call at Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; and Roatan, Honduras, plus CocoCay. The sailings will feature two days at sea.

Icon of the Seas, which will have capacity for 7,600 guests and 2,300 crew, will operate her maiden sailing from PortMiami on January 27, 2024, with calls to St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Thomas, and CocoCay. The cruise will feature three at-sea days.

Pricing on cruises varies by date, with sailings in early 2024 starting at $2,444 per person for interior cabins on Western Caribbean sailings. Published fares are lower for 2025 and 2026 winter sailings, showing on the cruise line website as $2,209 for the same cabin category in 2025 and $1,869 in 2026.

Grand Spaces, Thrills Onboard Icon of the Seas

Cruise watchers have followed the construction of the mega-ship through a series of videos Royal Caribbean has published, documenting the building of the vessel and its many features.

An episode revealed earlier this summer highlights the design of the ship’s Royal Promenade, an expansive, 2-deck central space onboard the ship.

The area will be home to, or connect to, 15 restaurants, bars, and lounges, including favorites such as Sorrento’s, Schooner Bar, Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar, and others.

As a ship geared to families, Icon of the Seas will feature adventure activities and spaces, such as Thrill Island, where the largest waterpark at sea, called Category 6, will be found.

Several thrill rides and slides will be available here, too, including Frightening Bolt, a 282-foot drop/body slide, and Hurricane Hunter, a 425-foot raft-type slide with space for four riders.

Storm Surge, another raft slide, features a zero-gravity drop, while the 108-feet Pressure Drop will be the first open free-fall slide at sea.

Other attractions include the Adrenaline Peak rock climbing wall, the FlowRider surf simulator, and the Sports Court. Icon of the Seas is the cruise line’s first powered by liquified natural gas (LNG).