Royal Caribbean has informed its travel partners that the Navigator of the Seas May 3, 2019 sailing is targeted as the first ship to experience private destination Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Navigator of the Seas will sail a 3 night Bahamas sailing between May 3-6, 2019.

Perfect Day at CocoCay is a $200 million makeover of Royal Caribbean's private destination in the Bahamas.  CocoCay will offer guests plenty of ways to relax and enjoy beautiful beaches and pristine water, plus thrilling experiences like Thrill Water Park, ziplining and water sports.

According to Royal Caribbean's website, Thrill Waterpark, the Zip Line, Splashaway Bay aqua park, Up, Up and Away helium balloon, Captain Jack’s Galleon, Skipper’s Grill dining, Captain Jack’s dining, Chill Island, Chill Grill dining, and Oasis Lagoon freshwater pool will open in May 2019.

Perfect Day at CocoCay will open in phases, and May 2019 marks the first phase opening.  

Royal Caribbean is hard at work to transform its private island of CocoCay in the Bahamas to Perfect Day at CocoCay, and we have a look at the progress that has been made recently.

Royal Caribbean Blog reader Twangster visited CocoCay while on Mariner of the Seas and provided these photos.

We start with a look at the progress being made on the new pier.

Once you get up close, as seen from the tender from ship to shore, the flurry of work activity becomes more apparent.

Up close you can see the foundation work that has advanced over the past six weeks.  

The support beams for the next phase of the pier have been staged on the recently completed section of the pier.

Work across the harbor where the tenders currently dock is also continuing with new buildings continuing to rise up.  This area is not far from where the pier will deliver guests onto CocoCay when they first arrive.

Some of the construction activity can be spotted on a point of land well past the current location of the beach bungalows.  

Photos provided by Twangster.

We have a quick look at the progress Royal Caribbean is transforming its private destination in the Bahamas from CocoCay to Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Royal Caribbean Blog reader Lovetocruise2002 took these photos on August 15, while on a Mariner of the Seas cruise to the island.

Royal Caribbean's website indicates Perfect Day at CocoCay will open in phases (with dates subject to change depending on the progress of construction):

• Up, Up and Away helium balloon, Chill Island, and Oasis Lagoon freshwater pool will open in December 2018.
• The new pier will open in January 2019.
• Thrill Waterpark, Splashaway Bay aqua park, the Zip Line, Captain Jack ’s Galleon, Captain Jack ’s dining and Skipper’s Grill dining will open in May 2019.
• South Beach, Coco Beach Club and the overwater cabanas will open in December 2019.

Royal Caribbean is in the midst of upgrading its private island in the Bahamas as a part of a massive upgrade and we have some brand new photos of the work being done.

Royal Caribbean Blog reader Twangster took these photos earlier today while on a visit on Empress of the Seas.

Here is a look at the new pier being constructed.

Across the tender lagoon these new buildings have popped up.  This is near where the pier ends. In the simulations, if you walked off the pier and verged right this is where these buildings are.

You can see the cluster of buildings in this pier shot through the cranes.

Here is the end of the lagoon.  Glass bottom boats departs from these slips, lots of earth moving behind that barrier.

A number of cruisers received emails this week informing them that their upcoming Royal Caribbean cruise stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay has been cancelled due to a "minor delay".

Over the past two days, we have received reports from Royal Caribbean guests that certain upcoming sailings towards the very end of 2018 or beginning of 2019 have had their port call in CocoCay cancelled and replaced with a stop in Miami, Florida.

December 29, 2018 Vision of the Seas email

Vision of the Seas January 5, 2019 email

Vision of the Seas January 12, 2019 email

The email explains that work to convert CocoCay to Perfect Day at CocoCay is the reason, "While we are transforming our private destination, CocoCay, into Perfect Day at CocoCay, we have experienced a minor delay. As a result, we've had to replace your visit to CocoCay with the beautiful Miami, Florida."

Thus far, we have received reports just of sailings going to CocoCay in late December 2018 and early January 2019 and all on Vision of the Seas.

Any pre-paid shore excursions scheduled for CocoCay will be refunded to the original form of payment.

Perfect Day at CocoCay is a $200 million upgrade to Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas and is scheduled to open in phases that will last into the end of 2019.

We have a quick look at the progress Royal Caribbean is making in adding a pier to its private destination of CocoCay.

Royal Caribbean Blog reader Paul Crow took these photos on July 11, while on a Mariner of the Seas cruise to the island.

The new pier will open in November 2018.

Royal Caribbean is actively working on building a new pier at its private island of CocoCay in the Bahamas, and we have some new photos to share of the progress being made.

Royal Caribbean Blog reader Jason Percival shared with us these photos of the progress, as seen earlier today during a stopover on Adventure of the Seas.

The new pier is scheduled to open in November 2018, and is the first phase of a massive $200 million Perfect Day at CocoCay makeover.

Royal Caribbean announced today that its Perfect Day Island at CocoCay experiences are now ready to book for upcoming sailings from May 2019 and beyond.

Guests booked on these sailings can now reserve their perfect day activities, including Up, Up and Away, a tethered helium balloon that takes guests to new heights 450 feet above the island, and Thrill Waterpark, with the tallest waterslide in North America.

The new experiences may be booked through the Cruise Planner (RoyalCaribbean.com/CruisePlanner) site.

We first reported last week that Royal Caribbean had begun adding certain Perfect Day Island Experiences into the Cruise Planner for select sailings, and the cruise line has now confirmed the roll out as of today.

Perfect Day at CocoCay Timeline

Perfect Day at CocoCay is what Royal Caribbean is renaming its private destination in the Bahamas, which will see the island transformed with a $200 million upgrade.

• The new pier will open in November 2018.
• Up, Up and Away helium balloon, Chill Island, and Oasis Lagoon freshwater pool will open in December 2018.
• Thrill Waterpark, the Zip Line, Splashaway Bay aquapark, Captain Jack’s dining, Skipper’s Grill dining, and Captain
  Jack’s Galleon will open in May 2019.
• South Beach, Coco Beach Club and the overwater cabanas will open in December 2019.

Perfect Day at CocoCay Costs

Royal Caribbean has also provided additional details as to which activities will be complimentary and which activities will have an extra charge.

Perfect Day at CocoCay will offer Voom high speed internet.  In addition, Beverage and Wi-Fi packages purchased onboard will be active on the island. You can also enjoy five new complimentary dining venues located throughout the island.

Towels and beach chairs are complimentary to all cruise guests. Umbrellas are available to rent for a nominal fee.

Lockers are available throughout the island for a nominal rental fee. You’ll also find complimentary freshwater showers, restrooms, and changing rooms available on the island.

Cabana Prices

Perfect Day at CocoCay will offer beach umbrellas, clamshells and daybeds for a rental charge.

In addition, cabanas will be available at beaches, Thrill Waterpark, and Oasis Lagoon freshwater pool. Or elevate your beach day with an overwater cabana at Coco Beach Club, which accommodates up to eight guests and comes with attendant service, a private hammock, a minibar, and your own personal slide into the sea.

Some cabanas come with extra perks, too. If you reserve a cabana at Thrill Waterpark, you’ll enjoy complimentary entry to all of the slides and activities inside for up to six guests. If you reserve a cabana at Coco Beach Club (including the overwater cabanas), you’ll enjoy complimentary access to the club for up to eight guests.

Cabana pricing varies by season. See price ranges below.

Perfect Day at CocoCay Height & Weight Restrictions

There are no age restrictions for the experiences at Perfect Day at CocoCay. Some slides and activities have height and weight restrictions; see the chart below for specifics. Many of the island’s other experiences, such as Up, Up and Away helium balloon, Oasis Lagoon freshwater pool, and Captain Jack’s Galleon, are open to all adventurers.

Royal Caribbean is partnering with h StarGuard, the leading provider of lifeguard services, to ensure there are lifeguards at every pool and every slide, as well as in recommended locations on the beach.

Perfect Day at CocoCay Access Policies

Currently, all venues and activities are open to guests of all ages. 

There will not be a dedicated daycare on the island, but the Adventure Ocean team will be hosting activities onshore for children and their families. Island programming is still being developed. And Adventure Ocean will remain open onboard for families who choose to stay on the ship.

At this time, Royal Caribbean does not have plans for any exclusive areas for Crown and Anchor Society members and Suite guests.

Getting Around Perfect Day at CocoCay

A tram service will run at all times on the island with four stops every 15 minutes: arrivals plaza, South Beach, Coco Beach Club, and Oasis Lagoon. All trams are ADA compliant.

The island is ADA compliant, but some experiences are not. There are complimentary beach access wheelchairs available, and an ADA compliant tram service. Oasis Lagoon freshwater pool is also ADA compliant, as is the wave pool in Thrill Waterpark. However, the towers to the waterpark’s slides have stairs, as does the tower up to the Zip Line.

Other Policies and offerings

You’ll find gluten free and vegetarian options available at all of the island’s dining venues, as well as options to suit most dietary needs.

The island will have designated smoking areas.

Charging stations will be available in cabanas and in select public locations for complimentary use.

Most of the trash is recycled, while some is sent to the ship to be disposed of properly. Additionally, Royal Caribbean is hard at work to reduce the use of plastics on their ships, and this effort will also extend to its private island destinations.

Royal Caribbean has emailed guests with sailings to CocoCay on or after May 2019 to let them know that the Perfect Day at CocoCay changeover is coming soon.

The cruise line has also began opening up bookings for some of the new activities and features coming to Perfect Day at CocoCay, which provides our first look at pricing. Thanks to Royal Caribbean Blog reader Kayla Hildebrandt for providing screenshots.

The email to guests indicated that May 2019 appears to be the date the cruise line is eyeing for the official opening and changeover.

It appears the booking options are available for select sailings with stops in Perfect Day at CocoCay that are at least in May 2019.

Perfect Day at CocoCay will open in phases and is a $200 million upgrade to the private island. 

The first aspect of Perfect Day at CocoCay is scheduled to open in September 2018 when the new pier is completed. Chill Island and Oasis Lagoon are planned for November 2018, while Thrill Waterpark and South Beach debut in April 2019.

The official Perfect Day at CocoCay Grand Opening, which will include CocoBeach Club and the Overwater Cabanas, is set for November 2019.