How to visit Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay on zero dollars

Parents, if your Royal Caribbean cruise stops at the line's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, be prepared to add an extra $400 to your total trip cost — if not more.

Unlike some cruise line private islands that focus on beach time and water sports, Perfect Day at CocoCay is an amusement park on a tiny, uninhabited island in the Bahamas. It has a large water park with everything from wave pools to a waterslide that's so tall and pink it makes the island instantly recognizable from afar when sailing past it. It's got a zip line, a hot air balloon ride and cabanas of various shapes and sizes.

All of these attractions come with a hefty price tag. And if you have kids, they will likely beg you to try all the fun.

On a recent cruise aboard Wonder of the Seas, I wasn't about to drop $200 on a water park my almost-8-year-old might be too scared to try or get bored of in an hour. So I wondered – could we spend the day on CocoCay without spending any money?

We could – and you can, too. Here's how our day played out:

Getting our feet wet: Captain Jill's Galleon

We got our feet wet — literally and figuratively — at Captain Jill's Galleon, a pirate ship playground with rope ladders, slides and water sprayers. It's aimed at the littlest scallywags, but was good for 20 minutes of play.

If your kids are satisfied with this level of entertainment, they're either not old enough for CocoCay's main watery play zone, called Thrill Waterpark, or can get in free. When they tire of playing pirate, head to the beach for some sun and sand. You'll be back on the ship by naptime.

Sliding into fun: Splashaway Bay

Heading inland from Captain Jill's Galleon is Splashaway Bay, a miniature, complimentary water play area. "This is the best water park ever!" my daughter exclaimed, meaning I'd done a great job of shielding her from the much larger water park she wouldn't get to see.

Splashaway Bay has three small waterslides: a large slide where two can slide together, a set of three racing slides and a tube slide. All splash you down into a 2-foot-deep pool that my kid liked swimming across as much as she liked sliding into it. Across from the slides is a play structure with so many water sprayers and dump buckets that it's a bit like a human car wash.

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Sandy patches around the play area offer adult- and kid-sized Adirondack chairs for lounging and even a little free library for borrowing books.

My 8-year-old was definitely on the upper end of the age range that would be happy at this play area. If she hadn't stubbed her toe, we might be there still. If you've got preschoolers or early elementary school-aged kids, Splashaway Bay might be your ticket to free fun.

Jumping in feet first: Oasis Lagoon

To distract from the oncoming "my toe hurts and therefore you all must suffer" meltdown, I convinced my daughter that a real swimming pool might be fun for a while. CocoCay boasts "the Caribbean's largest freshwater pool" (a public-relations statistic not independently verified by me), and it's certainly the largest pool I've ever been in.

It's a versatile pool with different vibes in its various "coves." We stayed in the shallow area with a sloping entry and two rows of fountains but had sightlines to the deeper cove near the cabanas and the swim-up bar blasting party music.

My daughter was happy splashing around in the shallows, bossing me around in a complicated imaginary world where I was alternatively her teacher and her mother, and we were looking for rare Bahamian dragons. I saw little ones in arm floaties splashing about, kids throwing a football with their dad and teens relaxing on lounge chairs in and around the pool.

Even with the pool taken over by the college spring break party charter on the other Royal Caribbean ship in port with us, my daughter happily played in the pool for hours. However, I did overhear some older kids grumbling about when they could leave, so your mileage may vary.

Free lunch: Skipper's Grill

We made it to noon without swiping my cruise card and lunch on CocoCay was on the house. Yeah, you can pay for wings at Captain Jack's bar, but Skipper's Grill was closer, had a larger menu and was free.

The beach barbecue has burgers, dogs and chicken, but it doesn't stop there. I grabbed a grilled portobello mushroom sandwich and a tomato-and-cucumber salad from the sandwich and salad station, and passed a taco bar on my way to pick up fruit (including papaya and mango) and dessert. The drinks stations dispense free juice and water, plus soft-serve ice cream.

Just watch out for seagulls who stare you down as you eat, making my daughter a bit uneasy. However, I'd like to see the seagull who dares to steal her gooey brownie – it will likely rue the day it dared to cross her path.

Depending on where you are on the island, you have your choice of two barbecue venues and three Snack Shack venues, all complimentary.

Saved for later: The beaches

In my mind, we would finish up our day of free fun on the beach, perhaps Harbor Beach due to its proximity to Skipper's Grill and its setting on a sheltered lagoon. But there's sand there. And my daughter has decided, while on a Caribbean cruise for crying out loud, that she does not like to touch sand or get it on her.

No beach for us. But if you're planning a free day on Cococay, I'd highly recommend plunking yourself down on a sandy stretch and getting some real wave action (vs. the kind in the extra-fee wave pool).

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. The aforementioned Harbor Beach is the closest beach to the ship.

Bring a frisbee or sand toys and you can relax and play for hours on the gorgeous white-sand beaches, your wallet safely tucked away at the bottom of your beach bag.

Worth the splurge: Thrill Waterpark and Coco Beach Club

Yes, I did manage to not only spend no money at Coco Beach Club, but also have fun doing so. If your clan loves a good beach day, you'll be fine. But CocoCay may not be the port stop where you want to go all frugal.

Older kids and teens could probably spend all day at Thrill Waterpark, trying out all eight slides plus the Adventure and Wave Pools. Just know that anyone who enters needs to pay for a pass, even if you're not going to slide, and children under age 14 must be accompanied by a paying guest older than 14. Kids pay the same as adults ($100 on my cruise, though kiddos under 4 can get in for free).

If you hate crowds, Coco Beach Club might be worth the hefty entrance fee ($190 per person on my sailing, more to rent a cabana). It's got a private beach, infinity pool and upgraded alfresco restaurant. I got a sneak peek, and it's gorgeous. If you do want to try any of the for-fee attractions on CocoCay, look for sales and discounts for purchasing excursions online ahead of your cruise.

But if you're the kind of person who finds any burger delicious after a hot morning in the sun and is happy to share the waves, save your budget for an amazing tour in a real port.

On CocoCay, you can definitely have a perfect day in a total cheapskate way.

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