Royal Beach Club Nassau: Is the Ultimate Beach Day Worth the Splurge?
Of all the ports we’ve visited on cruises, Nassau has never been one of the ones I’ve looked forward to most. Nassau has plenty of excursions, but, truth be told, it has never been my favorite cruise port. So when Royal Caribbean introduced Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, I was curious. Could this finally give us a reason to get off the ship in Nassau?
After spending the day there with my family, my answer is yes — and I would absolutely go back. In fact, we splurged on a beach cabana, and every person in my family agreed that it was one of the best beach experiences we’ve ever had.
So, What Exactly Is Royal Beach Club Paradise Island?
Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is Royal Caribbean’s private beach club experience on Paradise Island in Nassau, Bahamas. It is a paid port excursion, so this is an important distinction from Perfect Day at CocoCay. At CocoCay, cruise guests can get off the ship and enjoy the island without purchasing a separate admission ticket. At Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, you need to purchase a day pass to enter.
The experience is currently available to guests sailing with Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises, as well as Bahamian residents. Keep this in mind when planning your day, because if multiple Royal Caribbean or Celebrity ships are docked in Nassau, guests from all of those ships could be visiting Royal Beach Club at the same time. That’s not necessarily a reason to skip it - the beach club is designed to accommodate large crowds - but it’s worth remembering that your ship won’t be the only one there. Depending on how many ships are in port, crowds and the overall experience can vary.
How Do I Get There?
Once you leave the ship in Nassau, follow the signs for the Royal Beach Club ferry. Transportation to and from the beach club is included. The ferry ride is super short - we could actually see Royal Beach Club from our stateroom window! There are two stops at the beach club: the first is closer to Party Cove and Chill Beach, and the second, where we got off, is Paradise Beach.
Most guests will get off at the first stop, so if you're looking for a little more space and fewer crowds, my tip is to stay on the ferry and get off at the second stop at Paradise Beach. We found it to be noticeably quieter and more relaxed.
Three Areas, Three Different Vibes
One thing I really liked about Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is that it doesn’t feel like one giant beach where everyone is doing the same thing. The beach club is divided into three distinct areas — Chill Beach, Party Cove, and Paradise Beach — and each has its own personality.
All three areas offer beautiful beach access, plenty of lounge chairs and umbrellas, a pool with a swim-up bar, beach bars, the Paradise Grill food station, and options for beach and pool cabanas. So no matter which area you choose, you’ll have everything you need for a full day of swimming, relaxing, eating, and enjoying the beach.
Chill Beach is probably the best fit if you’re looking for a more laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere. It features a zero-entry pool, a swim-up bar, beach bars, and plenty of beautiful beach to swim and relax on. It’s also home to the Ultimate Family Cabana, along with lots of other beach and pool cabana options.
Party Cove is where you’ll find the energy. This is the spot for music, DJs, and a more adult-oriented party atmosphere, including the world’s largest swim-up bar called The Floating Flamingo. It also has its own Paradise Grill food station, day beds, and even a VIP Party Deck if you really want to take the party up a notch.
And then there’s Paradise Beach, which is where we spent our day. It has its own pool and swim-up bar, beach bars, plenty of lounge chairs and umbrellas, a Paradise Grill food station, and both beach and pool cabanas. For us, this ended up being the perfect spot - especially because we were able to get a cabana toward the far end of the beach club, where it felt much quieter and more private.
The nice thing is that your day pass gives you access to the entire beach club, so you aren't locked into one area.
What Does A Royal Beach Club Day Pass Include?
There are two standard day pass options.
The Unlimited Open Bar, Dining, & Wi-Fi Day Pass includes full-day access, dining at Paradise Grill, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, Wi-Fi, beach lounge chairs and umbrellas, towels, lockers, showers, and round-trip transportation.
The Unlimited Non-Alcoholic Drinks, Dining, & Wi-Fi Day Pass includes the same general experience, but with unlimited non-alcoholic beverages instead of the open bar. Alcohol can be purchased separately.
Pricing varies depending on your sailing date and demand, so there isn't one set price. You'll want to check your Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner for the price specific to your cruise.
There are also upgraded options for an even more elevated experience, including day beds and several different cabana experiences. Since we were traveling with a large group made up of multiple families—and lots of kids—the idea of having our own cabana was pretty appealing. A dedicated home base, a place to stash our stuff, and somewhere to escape the sun for a bit? Yes, please!
So, we decided to splurge - and honestly, we’re glad we did.
Why I Thought the Cabana Was Worth the Splurge
Our cabana gave us a comfortable home base right on the beach. While the beach isn't technically private, we were all the way toward the end of Paradise Beach, and most people never ventured that far. With our own little corner of paradise, it felt incredibly private - and with a big group and lots of kids, having that space to spread out was a game changer.
But honestly, the service was what really made the cabana worth the splurge.
It was exceptional from start to finish. We never felt like we had to track someone down, wait around, or figure out where to get something. Our cabana attendants were constantly checking on us and making sure we had what we needed.
And the food service? Game changer.
The kids got hungry first, as kids do, and we were able to have food brought right to the cabana for them. Later, when the adults were ready to eat, we ordered our food and had it brought to us, too. We could order whenever we wanted and whatever we wanted - we didn't have to leave our little beach oasis to stand in line or coordinate everyone getting up and going somewhere for lunch. With a big group, that convenience was huge.
Our towels were refreshed throughout the day, beach toys were included for the kids, and the drinks just kept coming. The mini fridge was stocked with sodas, sparkling water and energy drinks, while ice and bottled water in the cooler were continually replenished. The kids were even brought virgin daiquiris, which they thought was pretty much the greatest thing ever.
It was the kind of service where, before you could even think, “I could really use another drink,” someone was already checking in. And when you're juggling a bunch of kids at the beach, being able to stay put while food and drinks come to you is a luxury you don't fully appreciate until you experience it.
That was probably the biggest surprise for me. I expected a beautiful cabana and a nice place to relax, but the combination of the space, the food, the drinks and—most importantly—the level of service made the entire experience feel elevated. It was so much more than simply having a shaded place to sit on the beach.
For our group, the cabana turned a busy beach day into a sit-back-and-enjoy-it kind of day - and that's exactly what we were hoping for.
My Takeaway
Would I splurge on Royal Beach Club Paradise Island again? Absolutely. And honestly, even if we hadn’t decided to splurge on the cabana, I still would have chosen Royal Beach Club as our port excursion in Nassau.
If you're looking for the cheapest way to spend the day in Nassau, this probably isn't it. But if you want a beautiful beach, great food, and a relaxed atmosphere, I think Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is absolutely worth considering. The cabana took the experience to another level for our large group, but you don't need a cabana to have a fantastic day here.
For us, it was exactly what I want from a cruise port day: easy, beautiful, fun for the kids, relaxing for the adults and completely hassle-free. We had such a great experience that if Nassau is on our itinerary again, Royal Beach Club would be at the top of my list—and yes, I’d happily splurge on the cabana again, too!
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