Who owns the island of CocoCay?

Coco Cay aka Little Stirrup Cay, is privately owned by Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL). It is about one mile long, 1/3 of a mile wide, and its white-sand beach is reserved exclusively for RCCL's guests.



The island of CocoCay (officially known as Little Stirrup Cay) is leased and operated exclusively by Royal Caribbean Group. While the island is technically part of the Bahamas and belongs to the Bahamian government, Royal Caribbean holds a long-term private lease that gives them total control over its development and guest experience. Since 1988, when they assumed the lease through the acquisition of Admiral Cruises, Royal Caribbean has transformed the island from a simple beach stop into a massive "private destination" rebranded as Perfect Day at CocoCay. In 2019, the company completed a $250 million renovation that added a massive waterpark, a 1,600-foot zip line, and a private beach club. Because it is a private destination, only guests on Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises ships are permitted to visit. The island serves as a major profit center for the company, offering exclusive amenities that are not available at standard public ports of call in the Caribbean.

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CocoCay and Labadee are both leased (rather than owned) by Royal Caribbean from their respective countries, The Bahamas and Haiti.

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In May, Royal Caribbean International opened Perfect Day at CocoCay, a private island in the Bahamas available to passengers on the company's ships. The company spent $250 million on the island, installing features such as a 135-foot-tall waterslide and a 1,600-foot-long zip-line course.

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The only people who live on CocoCay are Royal Caribbean employees, according to the cruise line. Here's what it's like to visit. As Royal Caribbean guests step onto the island, a band greets them with Caribbean tunes.

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Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., which owns Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises, assumed the lease of the island upon acquisition of Admiral Cruises in 1988. In 2019, the island was extensively renovated by Royal Caribbean at the cost of $250 million and renamed Perfect Day at CocoCay.

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Sampson Cay, The Bahamas John Malone overtook Ted Turner as the biggest private land owner in the U.S. when he amassed 2.2 million acres in 2011. He now currently owns Sampson Cay, in the Exuma chain of islands in the Bahamas.

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ROYAL CARIBBEAN'S PRIVATE DESTINATIONS: LABADEE AND COCOCAY. The best Caribbean adventures await at Royal Caribbean's exclusive private destinations, Labadee, Haiti and CocoCay, Bahamas.

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Can you go to CocoCay without a cruise? No, you can only visit CocoCay on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Most Bahamas and Caribbean sailings stop at the island.

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Make your way through the different coves of Oasis Lagoon®, each with a vibe all its own. Splash right in at the kid-friendly sloping entry. Take your first sip of a cold Coco Loco at the swim-up bar before lounging on one of three swim-up islands.

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Perfect Day at CocoCay has three main free beaches. Chill Island is the sandy option all the way on the left side of the island, with its own beachside barbecue. South Beach, to the right and all way across the island from the pier, has the island's sports court.

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Perfect Day at CocoCay offers complimentary umbrellas and shade structures in many places, but The Bahamas' sun can still be intense. Bring sun protection gear like hats, sunglasses, rashguards or other types of UPF clothing, and sunscreen.

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Julia Roberts likes to keep her private life out of the headlines, but she reportedly bought an island in the Bahamas for $6 million. The vacation spot is solely for getaways for the family of five to enjoy without the prying eyes of the paparazzi.

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Always a favorite of Disney cruisers, Castaway Cay is Disney Cruise Line's private bit of paradise in the Bahamas.

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Average wait time for any of the slides was 60 minutes, and staff said the afternoon lines can be even worse. We waited 2 hours for Daredevils Peak.

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SeaPass card and cash You'll need your SeaPass card to exit and re-board the ship. It's also how you'll pay for things on the island. Please note, there's also an island market with local Bahamian crafts, where items can be charged with your SeaPass card (until 2:30 p.m.) and cash (USD) is always accepted.

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