Royal Caribbean will have just 1 of these new cabanas at its private beach club for cruisers
Want to try out Royal Caribbean’s new Ultimate Family Cabana? Join the club — the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, that is.
Royal Caribbean Group has revealed that its new private for-fee beach area in the Bahamas will house just one cabana in this new family-friendly category for passengers who pay for club access during port calls on Nassau.
The two-story Ultimate Family Cabana will offer butler services, a private slide, a hot tub, a frozen drink machine and other amenities to passengers who are able to snag the prime digs for the day.
“There’s only one Ultimate [Family Cabana],” said Philip Simon, president of Royal Caribbean Group Bahamas, in an exclusive interview with TPG. “It’s going to be a one-of-a-kind two-story private retreat.”
The Ultimate Family Cabana — an extension of the Ultimate Family Suites and Ultimate Family Townhouses found on select Royal Caribbean ships — will join 40 other extra-fee cabanas throughout the Royal Beach Club. Simon said prices have not yet been set for cabanas or for access to the club, but cabanas will be one of the few items for which visitors will have to pay extra at the all-inclusive destination.
“[Beach club pricing] hasn’t been set yet, but it will be in line with what you would pay in terms of ... similar types of properties and similar types of excursions,” Simon said. (At the time of publication, day passes for cruisers at the Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau in the Bahamas were available for $110 per adult, and day passes for Atlantis Paradise Island Resort Bahamas were going for $194 per adult.)
Entry to the Royal Beach Club, which can accommodate 2,000 guests, will be sold as a shore excursion to passengers visiting Nassau on ships in the Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises fleets. The price will include round-trip ferry transportation from Nassau to the club, admission, food, unlimited alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks, beach loungers, umbrellas, Wi-Fi, and towels.
When ships are not in port, Bahamian locals will be able to purchase passes to the club.
In addition to plenty of places to eat, the 17-acre property will feature 10 bars, including three swim-up bars — one of which the line claims is the largest in the world. Dubbed the Floating Flamingo, it will seat more than 100 people.
Passengers searching for a fun-in-the-sun beach day can choose from one of three pristine beach areas, each with its own pool and vibe.
- Family Beach: Designed with families in mind, this space will include access to both Family Beach and The Shallow End zero-entry pool, as well as beach games like tug-of-war and paddleball. This is also where passengers will find the Ultimate Family Cabana.
- Chill Beach: Meant as a place for relaxation, Chill Beach provides sandy fun. Those wishing for a less powdery experience can lounge at The Deep End pool. It’s also the place to find a bit of Bahamian flavor, including shops that sell local handicrafts and food options that range from shrimp skewers to fire engine fritters (steamed corned beef with vegetables and rice or grits).
- Party Cove: Here’s where beachgoers will find the world’s largest swim-up bar. Nearby, a DJ will spin music, and visitors looking for a more exclusive experience can book a space in the Party Cove VIP area, complete with personal poolside service and excellent views.
“The Royal Beach Club Collection is designed for every type of family and vacationer to get everything they want out of their ideal beach day — no matter the vibe they’re looking for,” Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, said in a statement. “We continue to super-serve our guests with a tailored experience at one of our most highly visited destinations, building on nearly five decades of collaboration with the community and government of The Bahamas.”
In that vein, the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will feature lots of Bahamian influences that run the gamut from food, music and dancing to murals painted by locals and art and other items by local artisans available for purchase in the club’s shops.
“We believe that we are so diverse in our culture across the [Bahamian] archipelago,” Simon said. “The cultural experiences that you might find in Grand Bahama might be different than those you might find in Inagua ... and so we tried to infuse different aspects of that.”
Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will open in December 2025 as the first of two planned beach clubs for Royal Caribbean. The second, Royal Beach Club Cozumel, is set to be operational in 2026. Following that will be the debut of Perfect Day Mexico, the second of Royal Caribbean’s private islands. The line has operated CocoCay since the 1980s and rebranded it as Perfect Day at CocoCay following a major expansion in 2019. Royal Caribbean also operates Labadee, a private beach destination in Haiti.
Cruisers interested in visiting the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island can do so on three- to seven-night voyages departing from Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Port Canaveral (the port for Orlando) in Florida; Bayonne, New Jersey (the port for New York City); Galveston, Texas; and Baltimore on some of the world’s largest ships, including Utopia of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas.
Passengers booked on a sailing that visits Nassau can begin reserving beach club excursion passes and cabanas in the spring of 2025. Royal Caribbean plans to release more details about the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in the coming months.
Find out more about Royal Caribbean:
- The ultimate guide to Royal Caribbean cruises
- Royal Caribbean cruise ship classes explained
- Royal Caribbean cruise ships by size
- Royal Caribbean cruise ships by age
- All you need to know about Royal Caribbean cabins and suites
- Royal Caribbean food
- Royal Caribbean drink packages
- Where you can cruise with Royal Caribbean
- How to find the best Royal Caribbean ship for you
- Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program
- How to pack for a Royal Caribbean cruise
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.