Editor’s note: TPG’s Erica Silverstein accepted a free trip from Royal Caribbean to sail its newest ship, Icon of the Seas, to Perfect Day at CocoCay and Hideaway Beach. The opinions expressed below are entirely hers and weren’t subject to review by the line.
Royal Caribbean will officially open its long-awaited adults-only beach on the private island Perfect Day at CocoCay next week, but TPG got an early look at the 18-and-older oasis, known as Hideaway Beach.
Not only does the 8-acre, no-kids-allowed beach feature sandy shores and lounge chairs, but it also offers beach swings and hammocks, a pool with a swim-up bar, 10 poolside private cabanas, a sports bar and a pizzeria. You’ll have to pay to play, with daypasses running $39 to $89 per person. This rate is not nearly as pricey as the more upscale and more exclusive Coco Beach Club on the other side of the island, where the daily fee to enter is about $200 per person.
If escaping from kids isn’t enough, visitors can purchase access to the even more exclusive Hideout on Hideaway Beach to get away from everyone else and enjoy a higher-end experience. The area features 10 additional cabanas and a heated infinity-style plunge pool.
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I visited Hideaway Beach during a preview cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s new Icon of the Seas. I couldn’t stay long because I was traveling with my young daughter, but I was able to tour the adults-only beach club area. Here are my first impressions of Hideaway Beach, with plenty of photos to whet your appetite for your next visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Hideaway Beach
Icon of the Seas was the only ship docked at Perfect Day at CocoCay (which normally can handle two Royal Caribbean megaships at a time). Still, Hideaway Beach was hopping when I dropped by in the early afternoon. The beach has a capacity of close to 2,000 people, so you’re only escaping children — not necessarily your fellow cruisers.
Hideaway Beach is not meant to be an isolated, peaceful oasis. Royal Caribbean CEO Michael Bayley told journalists at a press conference that the beach is meant to be a place to party, and you need a lively crowd to create that vibe.
The focal point of that party is the enormous lagoon-style pool overlooking the central portion of the beach. Like the Oasis Lagoon on Perfect Day at CocoCay that is open to all, the Hideaway Pool has a large swim-up bar and a DJ booth. You won’t be catching Z’s in a poolside lounge chair — it’s loud over there.
Complimentary loungers flank the pool, but if you want a private party space, you can rent one of 10 poolside cabanas. Pricing ranges from $1,199 to $1,699 for a package including the cabana rental and daypasses for your entire party.
The wooden cabanas come with private lounge chairs on the deck, Adirondack chairs out front, an L-shaped couch inside and a minifridge. Cabana attendants will bring you drinks; just push a button for service.
The beach area is on a small bay sheltered from the ocean waves by a rock wall. In addition to the complimentary lounge chairs and umbrellas you’ll find throughout the island, you can kick back in hammocks on the beach and in the water.
It’s about a five-minute walk from the Perfect Day at CocoCay tram stop to Hideaway Beach. Along the way, there are some great spots for photos with your ship in the background. Trams also take guests from the end of the plaza to two stops at Hideaway Beach, one by the pool and one by the On The Rocks bar.
Hideaway Beach bars and eateries
Hideaway Beach is meant to be your all-day destination, so of course it has several dining venues and bars for visitors to enjoy. Royal Caribbean’s drink packages carry over to Perfect Day at CocoCay; otherwise, you can pay for drinks with your cruise card.
The central Hideaway Bar is a swim-up bar accessed from the lagoon on one side and a regular open-air on-land bar on the opposite side.
On the end of the beach opposite the Hideout, On the Rocks sports bar overlooks the beach and bay. It has comfy seating and a few table games to keep folks entertained.
Two smaller beach bars also keep the refreshing drinks coming.
Meals are complimentary at the Hideaway Beach dining venues. The Hideaway Hut is the main dining venue on Hideaway Beach. It’s not a buffet; you order via a counter window. The menu differs from what you’ll find at the other CocoCay eateries. In addition to burgers and chicken sandwiches, you can order ceviche, coconut shrimp baskets, burgers, salads and funnel cakes.
A travel agent who dined there was impressed with her salad topped with the coconut shrimp.
Just before you reach the Hideout, you’ll find the secondary restaurant, Slice of Paradise. It’s a pizzeria and bar serving three types of pizza and empanadas. Table seating overlooks the waves. I tried a quick slice of cheese, and the pizza was similar to what you’d get at Sorrento’s on Royal Caribbean’s ships.
The Hideout
On the far side of the pizzeria is The Hideout, accessible only to guests who rent a cabana. The Hideout’s cabanas are larger than the poolside ones and front an undulating plunge pool, complete with dedicated in-water loungers. (The Hideout is made up entirely of the cabanas and pools; it does not have a separate beach or bar.)
A package, including the cabana rental and daypasses for your entire party, runs from $1,699 to $2,699.
There, you’ll be slightly more removed from the main pool party, so it’s best for groups looking for a less crowded adults-only beach day.
Bottom line
Hideaway Beach reminded me a lot of the Bimini Beach Club, accessible to cruisers on lines that stop at the island, such as Virgin Voyages (which takes over the beach club when its ships are docked) and Carnival Cruise Line. It has a party vibe, with convenient beach, pool and food access all in one area.
You can find the same poolside party vibe for free at the Oasis Lagoon on CocoCay; the beach located farthest south (fittingly called South Beach) tends to attract more adults than Oasis Lagoon, thanks to its floating bar.
Whether it’s worth paying extra for access to Hideaway Beach depends on how much you value a slightly more elevated lunch option, a guaranteed lack of children and the convenience of accessing pool and beach options without moving your lounge chair.
I would wager that Hideaway Beach will be more popular during peak cruising season when ships sail at maximum capacity with thousands of children on school break. It might be less of a draw during the offseason when it’s easier to find a spot on Perfect Day at CocoCay away from kids.
Either way, Royal Caribbean has created a fantastic party beach on its private island that will let the line bring two megaships to port at the same time, with plenty of room for everyone.
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