Princess Cay Review - First Princess Cruise Private Island Visit
Quick Take
Verdict: Not for experienced/frequent cruisers, especially those familiar with Royal Caribbean's Great Stirrup Cay or CocoCay. Good option for travelers who just want a basic, affordable Caribbean getaway. The couple says they'd likely skip this stop if it appeared on a future itinerary again.
Getting to the Island: Tender Process
- First time taking a tender to a private island in a while (previous cruise line experience was mostly dock access)
- Slept in and got a late start, which caused major downstream issues
- Shuttle/tender ticket system: got ticket #51 while others were called in the teens/twenties — arriving late meant a long wait and less time on the island
- Lesson learned: Get up early and get off the ship early if visiting this island
Note on Ship Access
- Getting back onto the ship only required scanning the medallion — the tender ticket number was never actually checked (not a recommendation to skip getting a ticket, just an observation)
Return Trip Timing
- Took about 25.5 minutes to board the return tender
- Full round-trip process (waiting, boarding, unloading, walking back to room) took over an hour including the line
Breakfast/Food Issues Onboard Before Departure
- Main dining room was closed by the time they got up
- The only open café had no food available
- Recommendation: eat early if you want a sit-down breakfast before heading to the island
The Island Itself
Layout & Feel
- Compared to Disney's Castaway Cay on a first visit, or an early, pre-expansion CocoCay (as it looked around 2018)
- Simple, not heavily built out: one main path, small shops, grass areas, a beach
- Areas include: Trans Station, Serenity Beach, Little Bay, Stingray Beach, Baby Pool/kids' area, a small gym under an awning
- Kiddie pool available for ages 12 and under — noted as a nice touch for families
Amenities
- Stingray encounter experience available
- Clamshell rentals (~$50/person) — booking these in advance reportedly allows earlier disembarkation since it counts as an excursion
- Cabana beach beds available in a quieter area near a secondary, less crowded bar
- Medallion Internet access available on the island
Bars & Drinks
- First bar encountered was crowded; a second, quieter bar further down the island had shorter lines
- Drink selection was limited — one of them ordered a Diet Coke and rum after failing to get a painkiller; the other got a rum runner
Food on the Island
- Arrived late to lunch and missed out on burgers — only ribs, hot dogs, and chicken were left
- Sides included potato salad (bland, needed salt) and BBQ pork ribs
- No ketchup available on the island
- Chicken barbecue sandwich was well-received: tender, good char/grill flavor
- Takeaway: Treat food service like "Black Friday" — arrive early, first-come-first-served
Overall Impressions
- Beautiful setting, genuinely in the Bahamas, but underwhelming compared to competitors' private islands
- One member of the couple never got in the water and had little interest in doing so
- Feels like a stress test more than a highlight of the cruise
- Suggestion for Princess: invest further in the island's development or consider a different location
- Not framed as a knock on Princess Cruises overall — separate from the general cruise experience
- Despite lukewarm feelings on the island, the couple expressed interest in trying a Princess Alaska cruise, reportedly the line's standout itinerary