My cruise stops at a private destination. Will it just be a beach day?
This question was answered on our Cruise IQ show on January 12, 2018.
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It seems like many cruise line itineraries include a stop at a private destination these days. While mostly found in the Bahamas, cruise lines also offer private destinations in Haiti and Belize. Additionally, there are massive cruise ports built by the cruise lines that offer restaurants, bars, shopping, beach areas and pools in Turks & Caicos, Dominican Republic and Mexico. There are varying facilities on each of the private destinations, but generally they offer a nicely groomed beach area with free loungers, with some exclusive sections for suite and VIP guests, a complimentary barbecue lunch, and available water sports like snorkeling, kayaking, and jet ski rentals. Royal Caribbean has two private destinations, CocoCay, Bahamas and Labadee, Haiti. CocoCay is mostly about the beach experience, while Labadee has the traditional beaches and lunch, and they also boast the longest zip line over water, a bob-sled style roller coaster and water slide. Norwegian Cruise Line’s Harvest Caye in Belize is a sprawling 75 acre destination. Harvest Caye features a resort style pool with swim-up bar, zip lining, several bars, nice beaches and the opportunity to snorkel on one of the largest barrier reefs. While these private destinations are more about keeping you entertained with less focus on the natural or historical surrounding elements, they are a nice way to spend a relaxing day off the ship.