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Exclusive Tropical Getaways on Private Islands
A
recent visit to Holland
America’s private island in the Bahamas
- Half Moon Cay - illustrates the cruise industry’s
ongoing effort to find yet more outrageous ways to pamper
its guests. Not only are air-conditioned, open-air beach
cabana’s available just a few steps from the warm,
blue, pristine waters, but private butlers magically
appear from nowhere to fill beverage glasses, prepare
hot and chilled appetizers and even provide cool cucumbers
to sooth the eyes. Is this heaven? Not quite, but these
breathtaking private islands surely are memorable for
cruisers wanting to enjoy sun, sand and breezy relaxation.
In addition to Holland America, during the past several years most other major cruise lines have purchased large tracts of land and developed exclusive tropical getaways on some of the Caribbean Sea’s most picturesque islands. Turquoise waters, stunning coral reefs, beautiful beaches and native fauna and wildlife draw the awe of visitors. For the more active crowd, a variety of optional island exploration and water sports activities keep people busy all day long.
Nobody will confuse these private islands for the next Survivor television locale. Exquisite beach barbeques, entertainment, food pavilions and beverage services keep people fed and refreshed all day long. For those who want to get out of the sun, beach umbrellas, cabanas and other shelters are available. Beachside massages sooth the senses. For those who want more privacy, some islands offer more isolated and secluded beaches. Families are more than welcome, with plenty to do for all ages, including aqua parks, hiking trails and other kid-friendly activities. Many areas on the islands are handicap accessible.
“The cruise lines are
continually looking for new ways to exceed their customers’
expectations and their private islands have been a huge
hit,” said Bob Levinstein, president of Cruise
Compete LLC. “Surveys of cruise travelers
often indicate their favorite stop on a cruise was their
visit to the private island. There’s no question
this is a wow factor that brings them back on another
cruise.”
A number of cruise lines offer
private island stops, including:
Holland
America – Rated the “Best
Private Island” by Porthole Cruise Magazine,
Half Moon Cay is located on three mile-long Little San
Salvador Island in the Bahamas, only two percent of
which has been developed. Half Moon Cay was built on
a crescent-shaped white sand beach more than a mile
in length. Island attractions include horseback riding,
snorkeling with stingrays, personal watercraft tours,
kayak lagoon tours, parasailing and the Half Moon Lagoon
Aqua Park. Your private butler will attend to virtually
any need during your stay.
Disney
Cruise Line – Disney’s
Castaway Cay provides plenty of magic and fun for people
of all ages. The three-mile long island, of which only
ten percent has been developed, provides plenty of opportunities
for guests to enjoy its natural beauty. The island caters
to guests in true Disney style. This is the only cruise
private island featuring cruise ship docking capabilities
- versus shuttle boats between the ship and island -
allowing guests to come and go as they wish. Attractions
include the Castaway Family Beach, Serenity Bay, Teen
Beach, and Scuttle’s Cove for kids plus numerous
water sports, snorkeling and water tour excursions.
Royal
Caribbean – Located in the
middle of the Caribbean is the secluded 140-acre private
island of Coco Cay, reserved exclusively for Royal Caribbean
and Celebrity Cruise guests. The tropical paradise was
recently updated with new aquatic facilities, nature
trails and a ton of great places to relax. A favorite
attraction is the new 20,000 square-foot Caylana’s
Castle Cove, a fun-filled floating aqua playground.
Other popular activities include SeaTrek adventure waverunners,
snorkeling and parasailing.
Princess Cruise Line – Princess Cays is located on the southern portion of Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas, featuring white-sand beaches and turquoise waters. Island activities include seaboards, aqua bikes, Hobie Cat sailboats, Sunfish sailboats, paddle wheelers, Banana Boats or transparent hull kayaks at the water sports pier. For those who want to just relax, there are plenty of beach umbrellas, tiki huts and hammocks slung between shady trees.
Norwegian
Cruise Line – Travelers set
foot on Great Stirrup Cay, located 120 nautical miles
east of Fort Lauderdale in the Berry Island chain of
the Bahamas. There are two maintained beaches on the
island, plus several other more isolated beaches. Visitors
enjoy native fauna, animals and marine life at very
turn. Water sports activities include snorkeling, paddle
boats, sailboats, kayaks and parasailing. Special cruise
line “Olympics” competitions are frequently
held on the island for guests, as well.
“Soak in tropical sun, snorkel beautiful coral reefs, parasail high above the ocean and explore the island with your family, then enjoy a great Bahamas-style barbeque,” said Steven Gelfuso, president of CruiseBrothers.com, one of the largest family-owned cruise-only travel agencies in the country. “Many of our customers comment to us how they are always pleasantly surprised at the new experiences and attractions found on the private islands. This is just another example of why people think cruising is so much fun and a great value.”
CruiseCompete.com saves consumers time and money by enabling them to secure
price quotes for cruises from multiple travel agencies
without having to contact each one separately. To date,
more than 120,000 customers have accessed CruiseCompete.com to request cruise prices from nearly 100 member travel
agencies around the country. Cruise Compete, LLC, is
an independent company not owned or affiliated with
any travel agency.
(Courtesy
of CruiseCompete.com) |
