Think you’ve done Nassau to death? This time, it’s different.
Royal Caribbean has officially opened a brand-new beach experience on Paradise Island, and it’s nothing like a typical day in port. Think private-island vibes, all-inclusive luxury, and a reason to actually get off the ship in Nassau again.
If you’ve visited before, you’ll know how busy and samey the port can feel, which is why so many experienced cruisers choose to stay onboard. But this new beach club is already turning heads, even though it’s only just opened.
So what makes the Royal Beach Club so different, and is it really worth the hype?
1. It’s the First of Its Kind
The Royal Beach Club is a new 17-acre destination experience with multiple beaches, swimming pools, private cabanas, Bahamian barbecues, and live music.
Located on Paradise Island – a narrow strip of land near the cruise port in Nassau – it has a local architectural style that complements the stunning views of the turquoise-blue waters and white sand beaches.
To be clear, it’s not an actual island, so it’s not the same as the private island destinations that Royal Caribbean has leased, such as Perfect Day at CocoCay. It’s a private resort that guests sailing to Nassau can enjoy.
2. It Officially Opened in December 2025
The Royal Beach Club is no longer just a future project. It officially opened to guests on 23 December 2025, welcoming its first visitors as part of sailings to Nassau.
With many Royal Caribbean ships operating Caribbean itineraries during the winter season, there are now plenty of opportunities to experience the resort as part of a Nassau port day.
The journey to opening has been a long one. Royal Caribbean first announced plans for the Royal Beach Club back in March 2020, but the project was paused when the global cruise shutdown brought development to a halt.
Approval from the Bahamian government was finally granted in 2023, allowing construction to resume and ultimately leading to the resort’s long-awaited debut at the end of 2025.
3. Royal Caribbean Doesn’t Own the Resort Outright
Royal Beach Club is a Royal Caribbean experience, and access is reserved exclusively for its guests. While it’s possible that sister brand Celebrity Cruises could be included in the future, the experience is currently designed for Royal Caribbean sailings to Nassau.
What makes this resort genuinely different is how it’s owned and operated. Royal Caribbean does not own the Royal Beach Club outright. Instead, up to 49% of the equity is held by Bahamians, ensuring the local community benefits directly from the development.
The land itself is also split. Thirteen acres are owned by the cruise line, while the remaining four acres are Crown Land, held as equity by the Bahamian government and its people.
Rather than staffing and running the resort itself, Royal Caribbean is also partnering with local businesses and entrepreneurs to deliver the experience. This approach allows residents to generate jobs and income, rather than the cruise line simply taking over valuable beachfront land.
It’s a more collaborative model than we usually see with cruise line destinations, and one designed to give back to the local economy in a meaningful way.
4. There’s No Cruise Ship Dock at the Resort
Royal Beach Club does not have a private cruise ship dock. Ships still sail to Nassau as normal, docking at the main cruise pier in the port area.
From there, guests booked to visit the Royal Beach Club walk to the nearby water taxi terminal and take a short boat ride across the bay to Paradise Island.
Water taxis operate specifically for Royal Beach Club guests and drop off at designated points within the resort. The same service runs back to the cruise port at the end of the visit, making the return straightforward.
Access to the water taxi is included as part of the Royal Beach Club excursion. You won’t be able to use the water taxi or enter the resort unless you’ve booked the Royal Beach Club experience in advance.
5. There is a Whole Range of Family-Friendly Activities
Royal Beach Club is very much geared towards families, with a layout and range of activities designed to appeal to all ages. While relaxation is a big part of the experience, there’s also plenty going on throughout the day.
Guests can expect organised beach games, swimming areas suited to families, and live music creating a lively but relaxed atmosphere across the resort. The Family Beach and Family Pool are designed as social, activity-focused spaces, giving kids room to play while parents still get to unwind.
It’s a setup that works just as well for multi-generational groups as it does for families with younger children, offering flexibility rather than a one-size-fits-all beach day.
6. Lunch, Drinks and Even WiFi Are Included!
Lunch is included in the price of your Royal Beach Club visit, with food served at three Paradise Grill locations across the resort. The image below shows just some of the island favourites you can expect to find on the menu.
Drinks are included for all guests visiting Royal Beach Club, regardless of whether you have a drinks package onboard your cruise.
The all-inclusive open bar covers a wide range of options, including classic cocktails such as margaritas, mojitos, daiquiris and piña coladas, alongside beer, wine, seltzers, soft drinks and mocktails. You’ll also find tropical cocktails created exclusively for the Royal Beach Club.
Drinks are served across ten bars in total, made up of seven beach bars and three swim-up bars, so you’re never far from a refreshment.
Complimentary WiFi is included throughout the resort, making it easy to stay connected and share your beach day while you’re there.
7. You’ll Have a Choice of Places to Swim
Royal Beach Club offers plenty of ways to swim, relax, and spread out by the water, with two beaches, three pools, and a wide choice of cabanas and day beds across the resort.
Guests can choose between Family Beach and Chill Beach, each with a very different feel. Family Beach is the livelier option, designed for games, group activities and social beach time, while Chill Beach is all about laid-back lounging, calm waters and a quieter atmosphere.
The same split applies to the pools. There’s a Family Pool for fun and activity, a Chill Pool for relaxed in-water lounging, and the Party Pool, home to the Floating Flamingo, billed as the world’s largest swim-up bar and the heart of the resort’s party vibe.
For those wanting extra comfort or privacy, there are several cabana options available to rent, including:
- Beach Cabanas right on the sand
- Royal Beach Cabanas with more space and added amenities
- Pool Cabanas with shaded seating and in-water loungers
- Panoramic Royal Pool Cabanas, offering elevated ocean views from a private deck
At the top end is the Ultimate Family Cabana, a two-storey private retreat designed for larger groups. If you’ve seen the Ultimate Family Suite onboard, this is the closest land-based equivalent, with space, shade, and premium features built in.
8. You’ll Get Plenty of Time to Enjoy the Resort
Visits to Royal Beach Club typically last around six hours, giving guests plenty of time to relax, swim and enjoy everything included.
Most cruise ships spend roughly nine hours in Nassau, with excursions scheduled to allow time both at the resort and back in the port area if you want to explore.
The return timing is designed to avoid any last-minute rush back to the ship, so the day feels relaxed rather than tightly scheduled.
While six hours might not sound like a full day at first, it’s more than enough time to settle in and enjoy the experience. Getting off the ship early is the best way to make the most of your time at the resort.
9. We Still Don’t Have a Fixed Price, But Here’s How It Works
Royal Beach Club is sold as a shore excursion, and pricing varies depending on your sailing rather than being set at a single, fixed rate.
What Royal Caribbean has confirmed is how access is structured. Guests choose between two official day pass options, shown in the image below.
There’s a Day Pass with Unlimited Open Bar and Dining, available to guests aged 21 and over. This includes full-day access to the resort, unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, all-day dining, beach amenities, complimentary high-speed WiFi and return transportation.
There’s also a Day Pass with Unlimited Non-Alcoholic Drinks and Dining, where kids aged three and under go free. This option includes full-day access, unlimited non-alcoholic drinks, all-day dining, beach amenities, free WiFi and transportation, with alcoholic drinks available to purchase separately.
For those wanting a more private experience, cabanas, day beds and the Party Deck include day passes as part of the booking, rather than being charged separately. Capacity varies by location, from smaller day beds for two guests up to the Ultimate Family Cabana, which accommodates up to 12 people.
When you compare this to a typical Nassau beach day, where transport, food and drinks are often paid for individually, the Royal Beach Club offers a much clearer, all-in-one experience once you arrive.
10. It’s Not Quite the Same as Coco Beach Club
Now that Royal Beach Club is open, it’s easier to see how it compares to Coco Beach Club at Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Coco Beach Club is a small, premium area within CocoCay. While access to the main island is free, Coco Beach Club itself is a paid upgrade, offering a single beach, an infinity pool, upscale cabanas and a dedicated restaurant. Most of CocoCay’s attractions and activities sit outside this area and are accessed separately.
The Royal Beach Club works differently. It’s a paid, all-inclusive resort experience in its own right, rather than an add-on within a larger destination. Once you’ve booked access, everything is bundled together, including transport, food, drinks, beaches, pools and WiFi.
That’s why the Royal Beach Club feels like a middle ground. It’s not a free private island stop like CocoCay itself, but it also doesn’t require constant upgrades or add-ons once you arrive. Instead, it’s designed to be a seamless beach day where the experience is clearly defined upfront.
11. More Are on the Way
Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island isn’t just a one-off project.
Royal Caribbean has confirmed that this is the first resort in the Royal Beach Club Collection, with additional locations already planned. The next Royal Beach Club is set to open in Cozumel, marking the second destination in the collection.
While details of future locations haven’t yet been announced, the launch of the Paradise Island resort signals a longer-term strategy. If the concept continues to prove popular with guests, it’s likely that more Royal Beach Club destinations will follow in the years ahead.
12. Who the Royal Beach Club Is Best For
The Royal Beach Club is likely to appeal most to:
- Cruisers who’ve visited Nassau multiple times already
- Families wanting a stress-free beach day
- Guests without a drinks package who still want cocktails included
- Anyone who usually stays onboard in Nassau due to crowds
If Nassau has lost its appeal for you, this could be the most exciting reason yet to get off the ship.
Final Word
Royal Beach Club Paradise Island offers a genuinely new way to experience Nassau, especially for cruisers who’ve been there before and are ready for something different.
I’ve always enjoyed cruise line private islands, and this feels like a similar concept, just reimagined for a port day. While it does come at an extra cost, the all-inclusive setup, clear structure, and variety of spaces make it a tempting alternative to a typical Nassau beach day.
It won’t be for everyone, but for those who usually stay onboard in Nassau, it could be the thing that finally gets you off the ship again.
Would you give it a try?
Related Posts:
- What Can You Do For Free at CocoCay?
- CocoCay with Young Kids: Everything You Need to Know
- Royal Caribbean Drink Package Guide (With Calculator)
