I’ve been to Royal Caribbean’s private island Perfect Day at Coco Cay several times, and it has become one of my overall favorite ports to visit on a cruise.
However, I’ve only been there with my wife or with friends and therefore focused on adult-oriented activities. For example, I spent a quiet beach day on South Beach with friends, and my wife and I enjoyed a day at the adults-only Hideaway Beach shortly after it opened earlier this year.
I’m visiting the island with my two young children (8 and 6) later this month, and we’ll be there again as a family in December. That calls for a different gameplan
So, the last time I visited the island, I started making a list of possible things to do with my kids. Fortunately, there are a lot of things you can do on the island with kids of all ages – many of which are completely free. Here are my top five.
Image source: Daniel Kline/ComeCruiseWithMe
1. Oasis Lagoon
Located in the middle of the island, Oasis Lagoon is the largest freshwater pool in the Caribbean. And it has something for everyone, ranging from a swim-up bar for the adults to zero-entry sections and other areas that are extremely kid-friendly.
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If you’re like me and generally prefer being in a pool to getting sandy on the beach, or if you simply need a break from the saltwater, Oasis Lagoon is a great destination for the whole family – even if your kids are much younger than mine (swim diapers are allowed).
2. Lunch and snacks
There’s no need to spend any money on food while you’re on the island unless you want to (and I can tell you, the wings at Captain Jack’s are worth the price).
Both Chill Grill and Skipper’s Grill serve full BBQ lunch buffets and are fantastic, with plenty of options for even picky eaters like my kids. There are also three Snack Shack locations that serve some excellent chicken sandwiches, burgers, mozzarella sticks, and much more.
3. Snorkeling at the beach
There is excellent snorkeling available on Perfect Day at Coco Cay and you can do it right off both Chill Island and South Beach, which are free to use. You can bring your own snorkeling gear if you choose, or it is available to rent at several locations on the island for a reasonable fee.
Of course, you don’t have to snorkel – you can simply find some beach chairs, build sandcastles, and play in the water.
4. Thrill Waterpark
I know my children. They aren’t going to walk by the massive Daredevil’s Peak waterslide, the tallest in the Caribbean, without begging us to go. There are some water slides and other water play areas for kids, such as the Captain Jill’s Galleon pirate ship or the Splashaway Bay water play area, and if you have toddlers or younger children, they’ll probably enjoy them.
On the other hand, Thrill Waterpark has 14 different slides in varying levels of intensity, a large wave pool, an obstacle course, and more.
Now, Thrill Waterpark is not included with your cruise fare. You’ll need to either purchase day passes for everyone in your party or rent a Thrill Waterpark Cabana. Prices vary by sailing, but for context, day passes are about $95 for the sailing we’re planning on visiting the water park.
5. Take a balloon ride
There’s a helium balloon called the Up, Up, and Away Balloon Ride, that takes guests 450 feet into the air (it is tethered to the ground). While this is obviously not a great choice if you or your children have a fear of heights, it is the highest vantage point available in the Caribbean without being on an airplane, and the views are simply breathtaking.
Like Thrill Waterpark, this costs extra, and the price varies by sailing. And it is important to mention that the ride is often closed if it’s windy or if inclement weather is expected, so it’s wise to have a backup plan.
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CocoCay offers a lot to do
Of course, there is more to do on Perfect Day at CocoCay than I can possibly discuss in a short article. In addition to the things discussed here, there are some excellent shore excursions offered, the high-end Coco Beach Club (which allows kids), and a zip line, just to name a few other choices.
But as far as the things my kids are likely to enjoy the most – at prices that won’t consume half of our vacation budget – these five things make up our game plan.
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