We're about a year away from the potential opening of Royal Caribbean's first ever beach club.
Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is an ambitious new project that will introduce a pay-to-play option for cruise ship passengers in the heart of Nassau, Bahamas.
While visiting Nassau on Saturday, construction progress shows land that's been cleared of the old buildings and looks to be in the prep stages for construction to begin.
Royal Caribbean doesn't provide construction updates with any regularity, but work has been underway for months to get the project moving.
Future Beach Club area in May 2024
Future Beach Club area in September 2024
The cleared ground is prepared for what will be multiple structures that make up the beach club.
Although no actual building has begun, there's not much left to impede that progress.
The narrow strip of land is located near where the cruise ships dock in Nassau, and once complete, will be Royal Caribbean's first beach club that will be open exclusively to its customers.
It's a 17 acre site that will cost extra to access, and be limited to Royal Caribbean cruise ship passengers.
There is no official opening date, but Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley said last month he expects the opening to occur between October-December 2025.
One of the goals of the beach club is to address a need among passengers who consistently rank Nassau poorly.
The extra-cost, exclusive club will offer access to three pools with swim-up bars, live music, two beaches, and four restaurants.
Additionally, the club will have three distinct zones: a family zone, a party zone, and a chill zone.
In fact, Mr. Bayley confirmed the beach club will have the largest swim up bar in the world.
"Next year we'll be opening the Royal Beach Club in the Bahamas," Mr. Bayley said at a meeting with members of the press on Utopia of the Seas. "We're kind of hoping we're going to have the largest swim up bar in the world. Can you imagine that?"
About 2,000 people will be able to purchase a pass each day. No word yet on how much admission will cost.
After the beach club in Nassau, Royal Caribbean will open a second beach club in Cozumel.
The goal is to offer something no other cruise line can match, with a series of unparalleled experiences around the Caribbean.
Royal Caribbean announced that cruisers who visit the private club "will be welcomed by local architecture that complements the exceptional views of The Bahamas’ turquoise-blue waters and white sand beaches, along with experiences that feature Bahamian fare, island-style barbecues, live music, and local artisans."
