Royal Caribbean debuts Hideaway Beach: See photos of the adults-only beach club
Editor's Note
Royal Caribbean will officially open its long-awaited adults-only beach on the private island Perfect Day at CocoCay next week, but TPG got an early look at the 18-and-older oasis, known as Hideaway Beach.
Not only does the 8-acre, no-kids-allowed beach feature sandy shores and lounge chairs, but it also offers beach swings and hammocks, a pool with a swim-up bar, 10 poolside private cabanas, a sports bar and a pizzeria. You'll have to pay to play, with daypasses running $39 to $89 per person. This rate is not nearly as pricey as the more upscale and more exclusive Coco Beach Club on the other side of the island, where the daily fee to enter is about $200 per person.
If escaping from kids isn't enough, visitors can purchase access to the even more exclusive Hideout on Hideaway Beach to get away from everyone else and enjoy a higher-end experience. The area features 10 additional cabanas and a heated infinity-style plunge pool.
I visited Hideaway Beach during a preview cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's new Icon of the Seas. I couldn't stay long because I was traveling with my young daughter, but I was able to tour the adults-only beach club area. Here are my first impressions of Hideaway Beach, with plenty of photos to whet your appetite for your next visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Hideaway Beach
Icon of the Seas was the only ship docked at Perfect Day at CocoCay (which normally can handle two Royal Caribbean megaships at a time). Still, Hideaway Beach was hopping when I dropped by in the early afternoon. The beach has a capacity of close to 2,000 people, so you're only escaping children — not necessarily your fellow cruisers.
Hideaway Beach is not meant to be an isolated, peaceful oasis. Royal Caribbean CEO Michael Bayley told journalists at a press conference that the beach is meant to be a place to party, and you need a lively crowd to create that vibe.
The focal point of that party is the enormous lagoon-style pool overlooking the central portion of the beach. Like the Oasis Lagoon on Perfect Day at CocoCay that is open to all, the Hideaway Pool has a large swim-up bar and a DJ booth. You won't be catching Z's in a poolside lounge chair — it's loud over there.
Complimentary loungers flank the pool, but if you want a private party space, you can rent one of 10 poolside cabanas. Pricing ranges from $1,199 to $1,699 for a package including the cabana rental and daypasses for your entire party.
The wooden cabanas come with private lounge chairs on the deck, Adirondack chairs out front, an L-shaped couch inside and a minifridge. Cabana attendants will bring you drinks; just push a button for service.
The beach area is on a small bay sheltered from the ocean waves by a rock wall. In addition to the complimentary lounge chairs and umbrellas you'll find throughout the island, you can kick back in hammocks on the beach and in the water.
It's about a five-minute walk from the Perfect Day at CocoCay tram stop to Hideaway Beach. Along the way, there are some great spots for photos with your ship in the background. Trams also take guests from the end of the plaza to two stops at Hideaway Beach, one by the pool and one by the On The Rocks bar.
Hideaway Beach bars and eateries
Hideaway Beach is meant to be your all-day destination, so of course it has several dining venues and bars for visitors to enjoy. Royal Caribbean's drink packages carry over to Perfect Day at CocoCay; otherwise, you can pay for drinks with your cruise card.
The central Hideaway Bar is a swim-up bar accessed from the lagoon on one side and a regular open-air on-land bar on the opposite side.
On the end of the beach opposite the Hideout, On the Rocks sports bar overlooks the beach and bay. It has comfy seating and a few table games to keep folks entertained.
Two smaller beach bars also keep the refreshing drinks coming.
Meals are complimentary at the Hideaway Beach dining venues. The Hideaway Hut is the main dining venue on Hideaway Beach. It's not a buffet; you order via a counter window. The menu differs from what you'll find at the other CocoCay eateries. In addition to burgers and chicken sandwiches, you can order ceviche, coconut shrimp baskets, burgers, salads and funnel cakes.
A travel agent who dined there was impressed with her salad topped with the coconut shrimp.
Just before you reach the Hideout, you'll find the secondary restaurant, Slice of Paradise. It's a pizzeria and bar serving three types of pizza and empanadas. Table seating overlooks the waves. I tried a quick slice of cheese, and the pizza was similar to what you'd get at Sorrento's on Royal Caribbean's ships.
The Hideout
On the far side of the pizzeria is The Hideout, accessible only to guests who rent a cabana. The Hideout's cabanas are larger than the poolside ones and front an undulating plunge pool, complete with dedicated in-water loungers. (The Hideout is made up entirely of the cabanas and pools; it does not have a separate beach or bar.)
A package, including the cabana rental and daypasses for your entire party, runs from $1,699 to $2,699.
There, you'll be slightly more removed from the main pool party, so it's best for groups looking for a less crowded adults-only beach day.
Bottom line
Hideaway Beach reminded me a lot of the Bimini Beach Club, accessible to cruisers on lines that stop at the island, such as Virgin Voyages (which takes over the beach club when its ships are docked) and Carnival Cruise Line. It has a party vibe, with convenient beach, pool and food access all in one area.
You can find the same poolside party vibe for free at the Oasis Lagoon on CocoCay; the beach located farthest south (fittingly called South Beach) tends to attract more adults than Oasis Lagoon, thanks to its floating bar.
Whether it's worth paying extra for access to Hideaway Beach depends on how much you value a slightly more elevated lunch option, a guaranteed lack of children and the convenience of accessing pool and beach options without moving your lounge chair.
I would wager that Hideaway Beach will be more popular during peak cruising season when ships sail at maximum capacity with thousands of children on school break. It might be less of a draw during the offseason when it's easier to find a spot on Perfect Day at CocoCay away from kids.
Either way, Royal Caribbean has created a fantastic party beach on its private island that will let the line bring two megaships to port at the same time, with plenty of room for everyone.
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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.