Opening in 2025 is Royal Caribbean's first ever beach club, and it's going to take your beach day to a new level.
Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is going to open in late 2025, and it's being built on a 17-acre site that is just about the most prime real estate in all of Nassau.
The plan is simple, but the promise is enormous. Offer an unfiltered beach day experience that hits every important factor for any tourist, while making it an unforgettable experience exclusively for Royal Caribbean cruisers only.
While Royal Caribbean has built private island experiences, it's never tried a limited-capacity and extra cost beach offering. It's a lot like building its own shore excursion that is designed, built, and operated with the cruise line at the helm.
The proposed site masterplan is available online, and it shows a variety of experiences tourists can expect. It's clear they want to offer a little of everything, so no matter how much chill, swim, beach, pool, or adventure you want, there's going to be something for you.
There will be two different beaches
The heart of Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is a beach day experience, and you'll find two different spots to enjoy the beautiful Bahamian waters.
Located on both ends of the property, you'll find a sprawling beach that features chairs and umbrellas, along with upgraded spots for your day.
Each beach faces the north shore, so it's nothing but the open ocean views in front of you.
There are beach cabanas, hammocks, and bungalows available. Of course, the beach bar is not very far away either.
You'll also find a snack shack at each beach when you need something a bite to eat.
Three pools for another lounge choice
A tropical getaway can include a dip in the ocean or pool, and there are three different pools to choose from.
Each pool has a swim-up bar, and they're big too. This not only spreads people out, but each has its own vibe. One pool has a DJ and swim-up bar combo, similar to the Hideaway Beach experience at Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Another pool flanks the kids' water play area, and the other pool is located towards the end of the property.
There are also cabanas you can rent near the pools, so you don't have to go far from the fun.
New restaurants
Food is a big draw for any cruise experience, and there will be four different places to eat.
Royal Caribbean hasn't said what exactly the food offerings will be, but there will be "four island-style spots for quick bites and local fare."
One thing is for certain, Royal Caribbean wants to lean into the Bahamian culture as much as they can, so there will be a good mix of familiar and local options.
Artisan market
The sitemap shows there will be shopping opportunities that tie into the people of Nassau.
The artisan huts are in the center of the property, and it's an opportunity to highlight local crafts and businesses.
Fixing a problem cruisers have had for decades
A major reason Royal Caribbean is building its first beach club is to address a need its customers have told them for a long time.
Nassau is one of the most popular cruise ports, with Royal Caribbean pulling in around one million visitors each year. However, it ranks poorly among cruise ship guest surveys.
According to Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley, cruise ship passengers have, "come here many times before and there’s nothing new, fresh or innovative."
"There needs to be more product, more experience, more uniqueness, more options."
The result is a beach club that the cruise line thinks will solve problems across the board. It will give tourists the exact beach day experience they want, based on in-depth research. That will improve the perception cruisers have of Nassau too.
For The Bahamas, they get a piece of the action as well. Royal Caribbean is creating an unique public-private partnership in which Bahamians will own up to 49% equity.
Individual Bahamians will have the opportunity to buy equity in the beach club and benefit from the profits. That's unheard of with a tourist beach day operation. Certainly no hotel resorts around Paradise Island are offering that opportunity.
On top of all of that, 1% of gross revenue of the beach club will be invested in a new fund to develop other attractions around The Bahamas.
The big question for cruisers is the cost
If looking at the sitemap gets you excited, you're probably equally interested to know how much it will cost you to get in.
Royal Caribbean hasn't said anything about prices yet, and haven't put admission on sale yet.
Almost certainly the admission cost will have variable pricing, which means the price will fluctuate based on which ship is in port and demand. That assumption is based on the fact that's how Royal Caribbean charges for all of its extra cost add-ons at its private islands.
The projected opening date is sometime between October - December 2025, according to a comment Mr. Bayley made recently.
