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A bungalow rental on the adults-only Sanctuary portion of the resort starts at $300 and there are seven of these available to rent. Princess cruisers can use their drink packages at the private island destination. However, none of the bars offer fountain soda—only cans—so you’ll have to pay for soda even with a beverage package.
Tours, Excursions and Add-on Experiences at Princess Cays
When you pre-pay for rentals, you’ll have a ticket delivered to your stateroom that you can redeem at the rental desk. Here you’ll also find the burial site of two young local women who died on the island in the late 1940s. Their simple grave markers are no longer visible (I believe 2017’s Hurricane Irma may have knocked them from their upright position and covered them with sand). This section of the water can get a bit choppy, especially when the tide is coming in.
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Other points of interest at the resort
Princess Cays is a lot smaller than Half Moon Cay, and doesn’t have quite the range of excursions. Guests tend to prefer the softer sands of Half Moon Cay as well. There are also servers who occasionally visit the bungalows offering drink service, though you are never far from a bar if you prefer to stretch your legs. There are several great Princess Cruises options for those wanting to visit Princess Cays.
Glass-Bottom Boat Cruise Along Princess Cays
If you’re looking for an exclusive spot to relax during your private island getaway, booking one of the candy-colored bungalows is the way to go! Cool off inside your own air-conditioned cabana, or lounge on the patio or under your umbrella. If you’re visiting on a Carnival ship, your drink package won’t work on the island. Instead, you’ll need to pay for all drinks at the bar with your Sail & Sign card. Most shore excursions for your day at the private destination operate right on the resort grounds or very close by. The island is a popular port of call for many of Princess’ and Carnival’s Caribbean cruises.
Without a deep harbor for docking, guests reach the port via tenders. These smaller boats ferry groups of passengers between the cruise ship and the tender dock on the island. Snorkel the SeasLike so many parts of The Bahamas, Princess Cays lets you snorkel without having to venture too far out into the ocean.
Average daytime highs reach 75°F (24°C) in winter and around 85°F (29°C) in summer, when it may be more humid with thunderstorms. In fact, it is the 8th largest island in the Bahamas (out of over 700 islands and 2,400 cays spread across 5,358 square miles). Cigarette smoking and vaping is permitted at Princess Cays, but only in designated smoking areas around the resort (look for signs or standing ashtrays). Smoking and vaping is also allowed at many of the open-air bars (look for ashtrays on the bar). Lockers are available in several locations around Princess Cays. Daily locker rental is $10 per day, and can be pre-purchased or paid for on the island.
Leaving Princess Cays to explore Eleuthera
If you like a more active day, there are volleyball and basketball courts for joining in some team fun. Youngsters can enjoy the supervised sandy play area at Pelican’s Perch which has a replica galleon for young pirates. In 1973, the Bahamas gained independence from Britain and became the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. After that, the island’s economy focused on tourism, which is now the main source of income. From the 1950s to the 1980s the island was used for agriculture and became prosperous from the export of sweet juicy pineapples.
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Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. Princess Cays is exclusively visited by Princess and Carnival cruise ships. Get up early and be among the first in line for the tenders to avoid a very long wait.
Some of the bars do allow smoking, so keep an eye out for ashtrays on the bar if you’d like to avoid secondhand smoke. The freshwater wading pool is very shallow, perfect for little ones to splash around. Kids do need to be potty trained to swim in the pool—swim diapers aren’t allowed.
Princess Cays doesn’t have a pier and so guests will need to use a tender boat to get to shore from their ship. Princess Cays is one of a number of private destinations owned or leased by cruise lines, and these are becoming more and more popular. Though you will receive soft drinks and water in your cooler, and a few snacks, if you wish to order any additional food or drinks, you'll pay extra. There is a gourmet picnic option available to bungalow guests if you wish to have a catered dining experience for an upcharge. Your Sanctuary bungalow will additionally be equipped with water misters on the exterior of the cabana to help keep you cool.
Local vendor stalls are located near the indoor shops on the main part of the resort, as well as along the pathway to the beach over the bridge on the south side. Guests booked in any bungalow also enjoy priority tendering to Princess Cays (tendering back to the ship is on a first come first served basis). The bungalows can comfortably accommodate four people, though you can purchase passes for up to two additional guests. Additionally, there’s usually a cold drink station set up near the picnic tables outside of Grill Crazy BBQ Pavilion to quickly grab bottles of water, soft drinks, and cans of beer. You’ll also find complimentary self-serve drinks inside each buffet venue, including iced tea, lemonade, and water. On the south side of the resort you’ll find beach volleyball and a basketball court, perfect for a bit of exercise (or just watching a lively game).
Although the name “Princess Cays” suggests a series of sandy islands and atolls, it is actually an exclusive resort at one end of this long island. Medallion Net WiFi is available (for a fee) for guests visiting Princess Cays on a Princess ship. The WiFi is not accessible to guests visiting on a Carnival cruise. Only one cruise ship visits Princess Cays per day, allowing for an uncrowded experience. The exit gate from Princess Cays is located near Love Boat Marina where the tenders dock.
The Carnival Cheers drinks package doesn’t apply when you’re on Princess Cays, or on the other private island Half Moon Cay. You can still use your Sail & Sign card to pay for drinks, so you don’t need to carry a credit card or cash. Otherwise, the tender journey is short and you’ll be at the resort in no time at all, so you’ll still have a long day to explore and relax. Just be mindful that the return tenders to the ship towards the end of the day can get busy. You won’t be left behind if you’re queuing but you might have to stand around until it’s your turn to board a tender. Prior bungalow guests note that cabana numbers 7 to 14 are a bit more convenient to the beach than others -- and are ideal for snorkelers -- with a nearby bar and bathroom.
The location does mean that you get a similar climate to other major destinations in the Bahamas, which means it’s warm throughout the year. Cruises are most popular during the winter months to escape the colder weather at home. Most cruises in the region go to either Half Moon Cay or Princess Cays but not both. Aside from that, they come with the same amenities and basic structure, albeit for a slightly higher price ($260) for up to four adults. An additional two people can be included for $25.95 per person. There are two main types of cabana rentals at Princess Cays, which should be booked in advance through the Cruise Personalizer.
Be sure to book guided water sports before your cruise (via the cruise line’s online planner) for the best availability. Or you can book on board if you’re a last-minute decision maker. Or venture a bit farther to the small cove across from the colorful bungalows—this beach is open to everyone and features fantastic snorkeling! You can swim out from this little beach and to the left to view live corals and thousands of colorful fish. See the CoastIt takes smaller vessels to get close to the coastline so you can really explore Eleuthera’s picturesque coves and rocky outcrops.
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