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This makes the port of call unsuitable for those with limited mobility. Private cabanas and air-conditioned beach bungalows are available to rent, but you need to book ahead of time. Ideal for families, these brightly colored bungalows are equipped with beach chairs and provide shade overlooking the beach. As a private cruise line destination, Princess Cays is only accessible to guests visiting on a cruise ship. Princess Cays is Princess Cruises’ private island destination on the island of Eleuthera.
Differences Between Princess Cays and Half Moon Cay
Surrounded by coral reefs and mangroves, Princess Cays is excellent for snorkeling. You will see plenty of colorful marine fish, anemones, different types of corals, and other sea creatures if you’re lucky. Keep your eyes open for sponges, giant clams, stingrays, dolphins, and turtles. Princess Cays is owned by Carnival Corporation which operates Princess Cruises and Carnival Cruise Line. Princess Cays is used by both cruise lines as an exclusive port of call as part of a Bahamas cruise itinerary.
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Close to where you land in Princess Cays near the Love Boat Marina are the shops. The Bahama Treasures Shop and Tropical Treasure Shop offer logo gear, tropical-themed apparel and souvenirs for kids and adults. Children ages 12 and younger save up to 50 percent on excursions.
Other points of interest at the resort
To snorkel in the live reefs and see the colorful marine life would be amazing. Although you can pay with your cruise card or medallion at the indoor shops, most of the local vendors accept cash only—although now a few are starting to accept credit/debit. Or you can rent right on the island with your cruise card or medallion! Check the map by the first aid station when you exit the tender for rental locations. If you’re looking for an active day out on the water, Princess Cays has you covered with lots of water sports to choose from! You can book a guided activity or rent equipment for a DIY option.
Tips for Enjoying a Day at Princess Cays
Clamshell loungers are available for rent, which can be a good idea on a hot sunny day. According to Carnival Cruise Line's website, these clamshells are $39.99 per couple. Note that prices are subject to change, so be sure to check directly with your chosen cruise line for up-to-date pricing. This blog helps over a million people to plan their cruises each month. As the resort is private, island residents can’t wander in whenever they want to, so the resort is safe.
If not, there is a complimentary lunch buffet, and cabana guests are free to take plates of food back to their bungalow if they wish. If you have purchased an unlimited drink package on your ship, you can receive drinks through that program on Princess Cays. Drinks for non-package holders will be charged at normal menu prices. Although many cruisers who don’t book a shore excursion just enjoy a relaxing day at the beach, Princess Cays also offers other activities that are free of charge. Activities on Princess Cays focus on the island's natural bounties such as its beaches, coral reefs and calm waters. There are no large pools or slides like on some other private islands.
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There are a number of spots dotted through the island to get a cold drink or a cocktail. At the northern end of the resort is Bahia Bar, close to the end of North Beach. Eleuthera has abundant marine life and clear water, making it a great place to snorkel and partake in other water activities. Drier and slightly cooler in late fall and winter, cruisers can expect little rain and sunny skies. Note that sometimes the Bahamas is subject to the occasional cold front. Swimming is still possible during this time; however, the water might be a bit colder than you were hoping for.
Beaches on Princess Cays
There are also servers who occasionally visit the bungalows offering drink service, though you are never far from a bar if you prefer to stretch your legs. Just as onboard, there is a free buffet and BBQ near the Princess Cays pier for cruisers to enjoy an excellent selection of delicious meats, salads and desserts. Princess Cays is exclusively visited by Princess and Carnival cruise ships. To see more marine life, book a place on a Glass-bottom Boat Cruise which lasts about an hour. Sail past coastal mangroves and quiet lagoons before reaching pristine coral reefs inhabited by colorful species of fish. Large glass windows allow you to look down and admire fish feeding and swimming through the corals and anemones.
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Some areas of the beach are rocky, so water shoes may be of benefit to some, along with sunscreen and insect repellant. There are locker rentals at a price of $10 and towel service is available. In addition, because Princess Cays is attached to a Bahamian island, you can explore outside the realm of the designated cruise area.
One of the best known residents is singer-songwriter Lenny Kravitz who recorded a song called Eleutheria (Freedom) in 1993. Cigarette smoking and vaping is permitted at Princess Cays, but only in designated smoking areas around the resort (look for signs or standing ashtrays). Smoking and vaping is also allowed at many of the open-air bars (look for ashtrays on the bar). Lockers are available in several locations around Princess Cays. Daily locker rental is $10 per day, and can be pre-purchased or paid for on the island.
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The exit gate from Princess Cays is located near Love Boat Marina where the tenders dock. Walk back away from the water as if you were going to the southern part of Princess Cays, and you’ll see an open gate with a security guard on your left. However (as with many tender ports) wheelchair or scooter access on the tender boats isn’t guaranteed.
There isn’t a tram to get around the resort, but there are wide, paved walking paths from the tender area to the bungalows on the north side. Guests booked in any bungalow also enjoy priority tendering to Princess Cays (tendering back to the ship is on a first come first served basis). The most important difference is that Sanctuary Bungalows are reserved for adults only (18 years and up), and they sit in a private roped-off area only accessible to ticketed guests.
Lasting 90 minutes, this leisurely bike ride explores Princess Cays’ scenery while learning about local history from your guide. Helmets and bikes are included but guests should bring their own sunscreen. Princess Cays has its own Craft Market selling handcrafted items made in the Bahamas. Visit the Princess Tropical Treasures Boutique for some colorful island/beachwear. Other shops are run by local vendors with plenty of souvenirs, T-shirts, hats, shells and other regional items. The island of Eleuthera has over 11,000 inhabitants and offers some fascinating highlights best discovered on a guided tour (see below).
Summer is hot, reaching into the 90s with high humidity and the occasional rain shower. Make sure to bring a sun hat and plenty of sunscreen for a summertime trip. Passengers have noted that flies and other bugs can be a bit of a problem on Princess Cays, so consider bringing insect repellent. Princess Cays may be a relatively small resort but it still packs a lot of activities into that space, without ever feeling too crowded either. While in some cruise ports, you might still get hassled, but that shouldn’t happen at Princess Cays. If you’re used to the huge buffets that you get at Disney’s Castaway Cay or Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay, then you may be disappointed by the smaller choice of the Princess Cays buffet.
Both islands offer snorkeling and stingray encounters, as well as additional water-based activities and other local tours, but offerings are unique to each private island. Half Moon Cay Bahamas excursions offer horseback riding, eco-bike tours and hiking. Princess Cays features coastal cruising, sailboat rentals, fishing and a clear-bottom kayak tour. Sure, you can book a few of the best private island shore excursions on these islands, but you're on island time, so doing absolutely nothing is perfectly OK, too.
The tenders drop you at the Love Boat Marina just a short walk from the beach. Once ashore, all the facilities at Princess Cays are connected by boardwalks which helps preserve the fragile nature of this coral-based island. There is a motorized cart that provides transport to the private beach bungalows. If you’re visiting on a Princess cruise, you can use your beverage package (except the specialty coffee package) on the island.
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