5 Private Cruise Oases Where You Can Have Your Day at the Beach

[Jan115]

My recent all-too-brief winter escape to Castaway Cay on the Disney Magic reminded me how restful and relaxing these cruise line private ocean oases can be. Escape to one of these islands for your next tropical cruise get-away.

As snow and sub-zero temperatures make us yearn for warmer climes, we present a visual feast of powdery beaches, palm trees and crystal-clear waters. Here is a selection of photos of private islands or beach destinations operated by cruise lines for the exclusive use of their guests.

Cruise Line: Holland America Line

Island: Half Moon Cay

Location: Bahamas

Top Features: Two-mile-long powder-sand beach, wild bird preserve, swimming in Stingray Cove, private beachside cabanas with butler service, wedding chapel, al fresco spa treatments, three watersports centers (think parasailing, snorkeling and kayaking), several waterfront bars, playground, horseback riding. No wonder it’s the most popular port of call for the premium line.

Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean International

Island: Labadee

Location: Haiti

Top Features: Arawak Aqua Park with trampolines, water slides, rolling log, and floating water toys. Several beaches, 300-foot-long waterslide, longest zipline in the world over water, sea-view cabanas overlooking Nellie’s Beach, several open-air eateries, watersports including parasailing, kayaking tour and personal watercraft, shopping for handmade local arts and crafts. Oh, and the average high temperature in January is 84.9 degrees!

Cruise Line: Disney Cruise Line

Island: Castaway Cay

Location: Bahamas

Top Features: Dock for the ships, sting ray experience, free child care, Disney character greetings, private cabanas in two locations, two water play areas, adults-only Serenity Bay Beach with open-air massages and yoga, teens-only activity area on beach, open-air BBQ dining locations, two shops, tram transportation, and watersports such as kayaking, glass-bottom boat tours and parasailing.

Cruise Line: Princess Cruises

Island: Princess Cays

Location: Eleuthera, Bahamas

Top Features: Lookout tower, marketplace, volleyball and basketball courts, clamshells and private bungalows for rent, supervised play area with a replica galleon, two barbeque pavilions, and water sports kiosk for paddle wheelers, kayaks, banana and glass-bottom boat rides, snorkeling, floating mattresses and aqua chairs.

Cruise Line: Norwegian Cruise Line

Island: Great Stirrup Cay

Location: Bahamas

Top Features: 250-acre island with snorkel trail, sting ray encounter, beachside BBQ, inflatable 175-foot-long Hippo Water Slide, kayaking, personal watercrafts, parasailing, straw market, private cabanas with VIP service and amenities for rent, and Lighthouse Beach Bar presented by Patron with large flat-screen TVs.

By Theresa Norton Masek, Travel Pulse Porthole Magazine (“5 Cruise Trips Where You Get Your Own Private Island,” Jan. 22, 2014)

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Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more

Photo credits: Travel Pulse

Featured photo credit: J. Neves

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[Shari2]

We spent the day at a private oasis on one cruise, with some friends in our group cruise. It was fantastic! The water was so beautiful for swimming... and just staring at it. We had people waiting on us, and making food and drinks, and appetizers, etc. There was a whirlpool tub, and people to do massages. It was such a beautiful area...Half Moon Cay! I'm not a usually a beach person, but this was "the way to go."