Perfect Day at CocoCay, the Royal Caribbean private island in the Bahamas, is just as the name describes – the perfect vacay!
With average temperatures ranging from 80 to 85°F in the summer and 70 to 78°F winter it makes this destination a relaxing escape all year round. I recently had the pleasure of going on a Royal Caribbean 4-day cruise with my girlfriend and I was blown away by the level of luxury on their private island that just reopened in May 2019 after a $250 million renovation.
This will have been my seventh cruise, so I’ve had quite a bit of experience at sea and already can’t wait to book my next cruise with Nick (since he still hasn’t been!). Especially for those of you who are new to traveling by ship, I wanted to share all of my tips and tricks to make the most of your time at sea.
Welcome aboard with Royal Caribbean!
Royal Caribbean Bahamas Cruise Ship: Navigator of the Seas docked at Perfect Day at CocoCay
10 TIPS FOR FIRST TIME CRUISERS
1. Don’t forget to pack your passport!
- People often forget that they’re traveling internationally when they board their ship at in the US. But, you definitely are leaving the country!
2. Turn Airplane Mode on your phone as soon as you board
- Royal Caribbean has the fastest WiFi of any cruise line called VOOM, which is made stronger when you’re in airplane mode. You’ll be able to post and google as much as you want, although I don’t recommend checking your email inbox when you’re on vacation 😉
3. Get to the ship early on the day that you embark
- Port day is still a vacation day! The ship and its amenities are open even if you haven’t sailed off to sea yet. While other people are still arriving and checking in, take advantage of the empty pool and lounge chairs.
4. Download the Royal Caribbean app ahead of time to see the cruising calendar
- This makes booking activities a breeze and also keeps you and your fellow travelers on the same page
5. The private floating cabana at Coco Beach Club is so worth it!
- In my opinion a must-do, these can be as cheap as $125 per person if split between 8 friends! They book up quickly so definitely book ahead of time. You get unlimited food and drink, overwater hammock, fun slide.
6. Store your luggage under the bed or in the closet so you make the most use of your cabin
- Though beautiful, the cabin space is limited onboard the ship. Make the most of your space by remembering to put your suitcase away.
7. Prepare if you typically get sea or motion sickness
- Pack Dramamine, ginger candy, motion sickness patches, etc. before you go. If you feel sick the first day, that will just create a damper for the rest of the trip’s duration. Better to be prepared!
8. Pack layers and some lounge clothes
- Even though the weather is nice and warm (average weather is between 74 and 84 degrees year round) , remember that it gets chillier at night and in the morning. You don’t want to miss out on some outside activities, such as the movie on the deck, because you don’t have a layering piece or comfortable clothing item.
9. Get to know the ship the first day
- Walk around the ship and explore all of its wonders when you first arrive. There are so many amazing restaurants and activities to choose from, you could spend an entire cruise and miss what could’ve been your favorite bar or miss the night club upstairs because you didn’t know they were there!
- My travel partner, Nicole, and I explored one side of the top deck and it wasn’t until halfway through the trip that we realized there were basketball courts and a rock climbing wall. I wish we explored more on day 1 so we could’ve taken advantage of all of the fun activities
10. Take cash out ahead of time
- There aren’t many places to get cash when you’re on the ship, just the ATMs, which have high fees. You’ll want cash for some of the treats onboard, buying souvenirs at ports, and winning some big bucks at the casino!
Biggest thank you to the Royal Caribbean team for planning this memorable itinerary.
I truly enjoyed every second of my Royal Caribbean Cruise girls vacation and know you will too!
When are you thinking of booking your next cruise?
