Cruise-line private islands have become battleground as rivals race to meet the standard Royal Caribbean set with its Perfect Day at CocoCay.
When Royal Caribbean opened its remodeled private island in 2020, it changed the game. The cruise line had turned what was a lazy beach day with lunch into a very different experience,.
Related: More tropical cruise ports add new, serious travel warnings
First, it added a massive extra-fee water park, as well as a huge pool that does not cost extra. On the island you could have a quiet beach day or opt for more of a party atmosphere.
Perfect Day at CocoCay also added an extra-cost Beach Club and, more recently, an added-fee adults-only beach.
But the biggest change Royal Caribbean made at CocoCay was adding a dock. The private island used to be a tender port, which added a high level of complexity and kept some passengers away.
To reach the island, passengers had to leave their ships and board small boats, called tenders, that would take them there.
Adding the dock changed the standard for private islands. Enabling the giant ships to dock at the island became a key feature.
Disney Cruise Line and MSC Cruises offer docks at their private islands while Carnival is adding one.
And now Norwegian plans to do so at its private island. Doug Parker from Cruise News Today has the full story on its progress.
Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise.
Norwegian begins work at its private island
Transcript:
This is Cruise News Today with Doug Parker.
Good morning. Here's your cruise news for Tuesday, January 21.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has begun construction on a $150 million cruise pier at its private island, Great Stirrup, in the Bahamas. Now expected to open later this year, the pier will allow two large ships to dock simultaneously, nearly doubling the annual visitor capacity to 700,000 by next year.
[In] attendance at the groundbreaking ceremony was Norwegian CEO Harry Sommer and Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Davis.
The pier will, of course, eliminate the need for ship tenders and enhance the guest experience with easier access to the island.
Future upgrades are also planned, including additional guest facilities and community investments such as scholarships and internships.
Carnival reminds passengers about ban; Cunard visits New York
And Carnival Cruise Line is reminding passengers that hanging laundry or other items on balcony railings is strictly prohibited.
Photos from two ships recently surfaced showing clotheslines strung across balconies with items such as t-shirts and underwear drying in the breeze.
Now, Brand Ambassador John Heald confirmed that this behavior is against safety rules and said that cabin attendants promptly remove such items if they do see them.
Instead guests are encouraged to use on-board self-service laundry facilities, valet laundry services, or the retractable clothesline from final destination that's provided in the stateroom showers.
And Cunard's newest cruise ship, Queen Anne, arrived in New York over the weekend as part of her 107-day world cruise docking at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. This marked her first U.S. stop after departing Hamburg, Germany, on January 7.
(The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise).
Have questions about booking a cruise? Schedule a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me's Travel Agent Partner Postcard Travel Planning.
The ship will visit 30 ports including Miami, San Francisco, and Honolulu before heading to Asia, Africa, and Europe.
Tips@cruiseradio.net.
Have yourself a great Tuesday. I'm Doug Parker with Cruise News Today.
Are you taking a cruise or thinking about taking one? Visit our Come Cruise With Me website to have all your questions answered.
