Princess Cays, Bahamas Port Guide
Princess Cays Private Island: Important Info to Know
Princess Cays (pronounced “key,” not “cays”) is located on the southern tip of Eleuthera in the Bahamas and is a pristine private island for cruisers. Princess Cays is owned by Princess Cruises, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation, so you’ll find that Princess, Carnival, and Holland America Line call upon this private paradise.
Of all the cruise line private islands, this one is admittedly my least favorite, and I’ll tell you why in a moment. Still, though, it has a lot to offer cruisers. Primarily, I love that it offers a FREE beach day experience that can even feel relaxing and serene if you make your way further down the beach to avoid the more crowded areas instead of clustering right near the entrance. The island spans over 40 acres, so it’s pretty huge.
About Princess Cays
Princess Cays is part of the Bahamas, an archipelago of over 700 islands renowned for its crystal-clear waters and white sandy beaches. I’ve visited many of them, and they’re all wonderful. The water is perfect, and the turquoise is so clear you can see straight through it. Princess Cays is no exception.
Is Princess Cays Rocky?
Yes, the beach at Princess Cays is very rocky, and this is my biggest issue with it compared to the other cruise line private islands like MSC’s Ocean Cay and even Carnival’s other private island Half Moon Cay.
While the water and beach are gorgeous, getting into the water can be frustrating (and painful!), as it’s rocky everywhere, although some areas are more so than others. So, I offer two bits of important advice to cruisers who plan to visit:
- Bring a water float and/or snorkel gear. I always bring these things anyway to all beach destinations, but it’s especially important here, because Princess Cays is so rocky that it’s not the kind of place where you’ll want to just stand in the water.
- Bring water shoes like these. I personally dislike water shoes and find them ugly, bulky, and squishy, so I generally don’t bring them with me on cruises, but they’re almost a necessity at Princess Cays. Recently, I’ve started to embrace water socks, which also work.
The area can also be very windy and gets a lot of direct sun, so these are two other factors to consider when planning your day here.
Is Princess Cays Worth It?
Absolutely, Princess Cays is worth it. Although I find it the least desirable of all the cruise line private islands, it’s still a private island in the Bahamas, for crying out loud! You’ll still enjoy a great beach day with gorgeous sand and water and amazing snorkeling if that’s your thing. If you plan ahead with protective foot coverings and arrange for shade, you’ll be more likely to enjoy your day here.
Is Princes Cays a Tender Port?
Princess Cays operates as a tender port, which means passengers are transported from the cruise ship to the island using smaller boats, and this tendering process takes about 20-30 minutes each way. I personally don’t like tender ports since the process can be tedious getting to and from the pier, and this is another reason that Princess Cays (while still great) just isn’t my favorite island. What I like about MSC’s Ocean Cay and Royal Caribbean’s CocoCay, in comparison, is that they have piers.
While I’m generally not much of a fan of cruise line excursions, there’s an additional benefit to them when it comes to tender ports, and that is that the purchase of a cruise line excursion earns you the benefit of priority tendering, meaning you get to be the first people onto the water shuttles over to Princess Cays. If you’re not an early riser, this isn’t much benefit, but if you’re yearning to maximize your time on the island, this is the way to do it.
Things to Do at Princess Cays
Because Princess Cays is a private island, no third-party excursion options exist. If you want to take an excursion, you must book it directly through the cruise line. These excursions generally include activities like horseback riding in the surf, snorkeling, jet skiing, and other water activities. My recommendation is to save money and enjoy a beach day here.
Using loungers is free for cruise guests, and it’s really all you need for a good beach day experience. The only downside here is that the beach area gets a lot of direct sun, and umbrellas and clamshells are not free, so plan for this aspect. Umbrellas cost $25 to rent, and I’ll talk about clamshells in detail in a moment.
What to Bring to Princess Cays
I recommend bringing a few things with you to enhance the experience (beyond the obvious things like sunscreen and the aforementioned water shoes and floaties). Princess Cays is great for snorkeling; I always bring my own set. My favorite is this one from Amazon; it’s affordable yet high quality and has traveled with me worldwide to all sorts of snorkeling experiences. It’s also much more hygienic this way, as you’re not putting something in your mouth that’s been used by many other random people.
I also recommend a lockable beach bag of some sort. Princess Cays does have lockers available for rent, but they’re $10 per locker and not always conveniently located where you’re hanging out on the island. Having your own lockable bag allows you easy access to things like your phone while keeping it secure, along with your money and ship card. Also, don’t forget to bring your beach towels from the cruise ship!
Wi-Fi at Princess Cays
Wi-Fi is not available on Princess Cays. It’s frustrating because even if you pay the high fees for cruise Wi-Fi, it does not work here (unlike at MSC’s Ocean Cay private island, where guests who pay for ship Wi-Fi can also use island Wi-Fi at no cost).
In fact, there is no Wi-Fi on Princess Cays at all, although some cell providers may have service. I have AT&T, and it works here, but of course, I have to pay my daily international roaming fee to access it. If it’s possible to disconnect, this is a great opportunity to do just that and enjoy the natural surroundings.
Does the Drink Package Work at Princess Cays?
Some cruise lines allow the use of their drink packages on their private islands, but unfortunately, this is not the case here — well, in two out of three cases. Even if you purchase Carnival’s drink package or Holland’s Have it All package, it does not apply to drinks at Princess Cays. Aside from the free included drinks at the buffet area, purchasing soda or alcoholic beverages will come at a cost, although this can be charged directly to your stateroom account.
Oddly enough, Princess does allow use of the drink package at Princess Cays, which is interesting since Princess, Holland and Carnival are all owned by the same parent company. Also note, the legal drinking age in the Bahamas is 18.
Is a Private Cabana at Princess Cays Worth It?
The cruise lines that call upon Princess Cays all offer private cabana rentals, and the price is variable depending on demand but generally runs at a cost of $450+. I’ve rented a cabana here and also at Carnival Corporation’s other private island, Half Moon Cay, and I personally don’t think it’s worth it.
The cost of a cabana covers just four people, and an extra surcharge is charged to accommodate up to two additional people for a maximum of six. The cabanas feature a ceiling fan, refrigerator, table, and chairs inside, outdoor dining table and chairs, two deck loungers, and a misting shower. Snacks such as chips, dip, fresh fruits, water, and canned soda are provided.
Cabana guests enjoy the service of an attendant, which they share with other cabana guests, but I’ve generally found this service to be minimal and fairly lackluster. Renting a cabana also allows guests to use water-floating mats and snorkel gear at no additional cost, but as noted above, I always bring my own snorkeling gear and floaties. Another benefit of renting a cabana, like any purchased Princess Cays excursion, is getting priority tendering.
Is a Clamshell Rental at Princess Cays Worth It?
Yes! While I think Princess Cays cabanas are overpriced, the clamshells are a great value, running around $45. Princess Cays gets a lot of direct sun, and finding shade can be challenging, so this guarantees you’ll have some shade. It also gives you the benefit of priority tendering! A single clamshell covers two lounge chairs, and the price is per clamshell, so you can certainly use them for a group of more than two people, at least in terms of sharing the space.
Clamshells on the beach are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and guests might need to walk some distance to reach them, as the ones closest to the entrance where the water shuttle drops off passengers tend to fill up most quickly. Unfortunately, there are sometimes issues where the cruise line overbooks these and/or doesn’t police their use well in terms of allowing randos to take them over, so these can sometimes be issues.
If they do overbook, however, you should be able to obtain a refund easily, but arriving early and using the priority tendering benefit you receive will help improve your chances of getting one in a desirable location.
Language and Currency
The official language of the Bahamas is English, making communication straightforward for most visitors. The Bahamian dollar is the official currency, but you typically won’t need cash on Princess Cays. It’s generally a free beach day, and most purchases can be billed to your stateroom account using your ship card. There are shops selling souvenirs, so you may spend money on that.
Food Options at Princess Cays
Cruise lines provide a complimentary lunch buffet for their guests on Princess Cays, ensuring you have plenty to eat during your visit. The buffet is offered at a set time, so be sure to note the time so you don’t miss it. In my experience here, the buffet is… just okay, and on one visit, there was an abundance of flies, which was off-putting.
Of course, cruisers could always return back to the ship for a snack or meal, but with the tendering process, that’s not feasible. Additional food and drinks may also be available for purchase, offering various options to satisfy your cravings.
Climate and What to Wear
Princess Cays enjoys a tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round, ranging from the mid-70s to mid-80s Fahrenheit. Light, breathable clothing, swimsuits, and sun protection are recommended to stay comfortable in sunny weather.
Time Zone
Keeping track of time zones can get complicated when cruising, especially for itineraries with multiple time zone changes on one sailing. Your captain will make announcements during the cruise to update you on these changes, but it’s good to be aware of these differences ahead of time when planning your stop at the port, especially for excursions.
Most cruise lines operate on “ship time” set to the time of their departing port, so it’s generally good practice to keep your phone or watch set to ship time. As for the port, the Bahamas operates on Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). Keeping track of the time is crucial, especially ensuring you stay coordinated with ship time. It’s a bit easier not to miss the “return to ship” time when you’re on a private island, but it is still possible!
