but cruise lines are bringing increasingly larger numbers of passengers to the archipelago in the southern Atlantic Ocean for a far more cloistered experience: visits to small cays converted into playgrounds for the exclusive use of their customers.

As they increase in numbers, private islands have proven to be some of the most popular port calls for cruisers. For example, Perfect Day at CocoCay, (formerly Little Stirrup Cay), Royal Caribbean’s private enclave in the Berry Islands, is most popular port the cruise line visits.

In July, Carnival Cruise Line opened Celebration Key, the latest addition to the Out Islands’ collection of private cruise ports — now totaling six — and Carnival’s second in the region. Half Moon Cay, jointly operated by Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Line and located halfway between Eleuthera and Cat Island, debuted in 1997. It was recently renamed “RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay” ahead of a major renovation project that will include a new pier that can accommodate larger ships and added amenities like a nature trail, beach club, new cabanas, and more dining outlets and bars.
Disney Cruise Line has likewise been calling on Castaway Cay near Great Abaco Island since 1997. And while Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Princess Cay is a private island in name only — it’s actually a 60-acre chunk of the much larger island of Eleuthera — it functions in much the same way as the others, offering a guests-only experience for cruise passengers.

The 68-acre Celebration Key, a $600-million investment by Carnival, features a pair of expansive freshwater, lagoon-style swimming pools, waterslides emanating from the central, 10-story Suncastle tower, and a tram system connecting all of the amenities to each other and to the cruise ship. The premium Pearl Cove Beach Club, which requires an $80 per person entry fee, is a peaceful oasis with its own infinity pool, swim-up bar, and restaurant.

Twenty different Carnival cruise ships are expected to make port calls at Celebration Key, company officials said.
The proximity of the two private islands played a large role in Carnival’s decision to, for the first time, offer short itineraries on an Excellence-class mega cruise ship. Beginning in 2027, the 6,500-passenger Carnival Mardi Gras will begin sailing four- and five-night cruises out of Port Canaveral, Fla., to the Bahamas. The five-night itinerary will include a port call in Nassau, but the four-night excursions will only call at the two company-owned islands.

Other cruise lines aren’t stuck at port when it comes to private islands in the Bahamas. In July, Norwegian Cruise Line announced that it would add a water park to its Great Stirrup Cay private island: the six-acre Great Tides Waterpark will have 19 waterslides, a 9,000-square-foot splash zone for children, and a not-so-lazy river feature that the cruise line calls a “dynamic” river, with a
swifter current.

While many other amenities on Great Stirrup Cay are included as part of a Norwegian cruise, an admission fee will be charged for using the water park, which is expected to open next summer.
With traditional port calls being reduced or even eliminated in favor of private island stops, Bahamas cruise ports are looking to up their own game to keep the cruise ships coming. The Nassau Cruise Port, which recently renovated its piers and port area, is now planning its own $35-million water park, for example.

On Grand Bahama Island, an announced $827-million redevelopment of the Grand Lucayan Resort aims to turn the property into a “cruise ship destination resort” that can accommodate up to 10,000 passengers per day. Amenities will include the existing Reef Golf Course and a new Greg Norman designed course, a large casino, water park, and a hotel/residential/timeshare complex.

Out Islands Increasingly Seen as Luxury Destination
When the Four Seasons Resort Exuma at Emerald Bay resort opened in 2003, it was seen as an anomaly — a luxury resort in a region known for its laid-back culture. In fact, the Four Seasons Exuma didn’t make it — it was converted to a Sandals resort after just a few years in operation.
A lot has changed in the last 20 years in the Out Islands, however, with exclusive residential developments like The Abaco Club thriving and the once-modest boaters’ haven of Bimini now boasting the Bimini Beach Club, an exclusive enclave with fine dining, tennis courts, beach cabanas and other amenities reminiscent of the Côte d’Azur.

And there’s more coming…
Sandals is in the process of converting the aformentioned Exuma resort into a Beaches property. Originally developed as a family-oriented resort when it opened over two decades ago, the existing Sandals property maintains an ideal layout of beaches, pools, and areas for family-oriented play spaces and amenities. The new Beaches Exuma will include an evolved configuration of rooms with multi-bedroom villas, suites and connecting rooms, as well as undergo upgrades to its 12 restaurants and culinary offerings, the development of an all-new Kids Camp, splash deck, and much more, while tapping into entirely new adventure opportunities for families. When it opens, the new Beaches Exuma will offer a premier experience while also retaining beloved amenities such as the full-service Red Lane Spa and access to the Greg Norman designed 18-hole Emerald Bay golf course.

Aman Resorts is bringing its unique, eco-friendly conception of luxury to a private island (actually two neighboring cays, totaling 400 acres) in Exuma with Amancaya, expected to debut within the next two years. Amancaya will include a 36-pavilion (villa) resort, a cluster of Aman Residences, a spa, beach club, and multiple dining options. It will be Aman’s first resort in the Bahamas.
Another Exuma private island will accommodate the Bvlgari Resort & Mansions Cave Cay, a 220-acre property with both a 64-unit luxury resort and 48 private home “mansions.” Slated to open in 2029, the resort also will have a spa, marina, and a Il Ristorante – Niko Romito location.

Clients will be able to get into the new Ritz-Carlton Reserve at Cotton Bay (Eleuthera) a little sooner than that. Set to debut in 2027, this luxury resort on South Eleuthera will have 110 guest rooms, 97 Ritz-Carlton Reserve residences, pools, spa, wellness center, multiple dining options, and a 18-hole championship golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones II.

Expanding Out Islands Airlift
Increased development is helping to expand airlift to the Out Islands. American Airlines is increasing its Miami to Marsh Harbour and North Eleuthera service to three times daily starting in December, and Tropic Ocean Airways launched scheduled flights between Fort Lauderdale and North Eleuthera in June that operate three times weekly. And Aztec Airways is now flying between Fort Lauderdale and Marsh Harbor three times weekly, daily to North Eleuthera, and will launch twice-weekly flights to Georgetown, Exuma starting in November.

For more information on the Bahamas Out Islands visit: https://www.myoutislands.com