Royal Caribbean will formally open its long-awaited adults-only seaside on the non-public island Excellent Day at CocoCay subsequent week, however TPG acquired an early have a look at the 18-and-older oasis, generally known as Hideaway Seaside.
Not solely does the 8-acre, no-kids-allowed seaside function sandy shores and lounge chairs, nevertheless it additionally presents seaside swings and hammocks, a pool with a swim-up bar, 10 poolside non-public cabanas, a sports activities bar and a pizzeria. You will need to pay to play, with daypasses operating $39 to $89 per particular person. This charge just isn’t practically as expensive because the extra upscale and extra unique Coco Seaside Membership on the opposite facet of the island, the place the day by day payment to enter is about $200 per particular person.
If escaping from children is not sufficient, guests should buy entry to the much more unique Hideout on Hideaway Seaside to get away from everybody else and revel in a higher-end expertise. The realm options 10 further cabanas and a heated infinity-style plunge pool.
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I visited Hideaway Seaside throughout a preview cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s new Icon of the Seas. I could not keep lengthy as a result of I used to be touring with my younger daughter, however I used to be in a position to tour the adults-only seaside membership space. Listed here are my first impressions of Hideaway Seaside, with loads of pictures to whet your urge for food to your subsequent go to to Excellent Day at CocoCay.
Hideaway Seaside
Icon of the Seas was the one ship docked at Excellent Day at CocoCay (which usually can deal with two Royal Caribbean megaships at a time). Nonetheless, Hideaway Seaside was hopping once I dropped by within the early afternoon. The seaside has a capability of near 2,000 individuals, so that you’re solely escaping youngsters — not essentially your fellow cruisers.
Hideaway Seaside just isn’t meant to be an remoted, peaceable oasis. Royal Caribbean CEO Michael Bayley instructed journalists at a press convention that the seaside is supposed to be a spot to celebration, and also you want a energetic crowd to create that vibe.
The focus of that celebration is the large lagoon-style pool overlooking the central portion of the seaside. Just like the Oasis Lagoon on Excellent Day at CocoCay that’s open to all, the Hideaway Pool has a big swim-up bar and a DJ sales space. You will not be catching Z’s in a poolside lounge chair — it is loud over there.
Complimentary loungers flank the pool, however in order for you a non-public celebration area, you possibly can lease one among 10 poolside cabanas. Pricing ranges from $1,199 to $1,699 for a bundle together with the cabana rental and daypasses to your whole celebration.
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The wood cabanas include non-public lounge chairs on the deck, Adirondack chairs out entrance, an L-shaped sofa inside and a minifridge. Cabana attendants will deliver you drinks; simply push a button for service.
The seaside space is on a small bay sheltered from the ocean waves by a rock wall. Along with the complimentary lounge chairs and umbrellas you will discover all through the island, you possibly can chill in hammocks on the seaside and within the water.
It is a couple of five-minute stroll from the Excellent Day at CocoCay tram cease to Hideaway Seaside. Alongside the best way, there are some nice spots for pictures along with your ship within the background. Trams additionally take visitors from the tip of the plaza to 2 stops at Hideaway Seaside, one by the pool and one by the On The Rocks bar.
Hideaway Seaside bars and eateries
Hideaway Seaside is supposed to be your all-day vacation spot, so after all it has a number of eating venues and bars for guests to take pleasure in. Royal Caribbean’s drink packages carry over to Excellent Day at CocoCay; in any other case, you possibly can pay for drinks along with your cruise card.
The central Hideaway Bar is a swim-up bar accessed from the lagoon on one facet and a daily open-air on-land bar on the other facet.
On the tip of the seaside reverse the Hideout, On the Rocks sports activities bar overlooks the seaside and bay. It has comfortable seating and some desk video games to maintain people entertained.
Two smaller seaside bars additionally preserve the refreshing drinks coming.
Meals are complimentary on the Hideaway Seaside eating venues. The Hideaway Hut is the primary eating venue on Hideaway Seaside. It isn’t a buffet; you order through a counter window. The menu differs from what you will discover on the different CocoCay eateries. Along with burgers and rooster sandwiches, you possibly can order ceviche, coconut shrimp baskets, burgers, salads and funnel truffles.
A journey agent who dined there was impressed along with her salad topped with the coconut shrimp.
Simply earlier than you attain the Hideout, you will discover the secondary restaurant, Slice of Paradise. It is a pizzeria and bar serving three forms of pizza and empanadas. Desk seating overlooks the waves. I attempted a fast slice of cheese, and the pizza was much like what you’d get at Sorrento’s on Royal Caribbean’s ships.
The Hideout
On the far facet of the pizzeria is The Hideout, accessible solely to visitors who lease a cabana. The Hideout’s cabanas are bigger than the poolside ones and entrance an undulating plunge pool, full with devoted in-water loungers. (The Hideout is made up solely of the cabanas and swimming pools; it doesn’t have a separate seaside or bar.)
A bundle, together with the cabana rental and daypasses to your whole celebration, runs from $1,699 to $2,699.
There, you will be barely extra faraway from the primary pool celebration, so it is best for teams on the lookout for a much less crowded adults-only seaside day.
Backside line
Hideaway Seaside jogged my memory plenty of the Bimini Seaside Membership, accessible to cruisers on traces that cease on the island, equivalent to Virgin Voyages (which takes over the seaside membership when its ships are docked) and Carnival Cruise Line. It has a celebration vibe, with handy seaside, pool and meals entry multi function space.
You could find the identical poolside celebration vibe free of charge on the Oasis Lagoon on CocoCay; the seaside positioned farthest south (fittingly referred to as South Seaside) tends to draw extra adults than Oasis Lagoon, due to its floating bar.
Whether or not it is price paying further for entry to Hideaway Seaside depends upon how a lot you worth a barely extra elevated lunch possibility, a assured lack of youngsters and the comfort of accessing pool and seaside choices with out shifting your lounge chair.
I’d wager that Hideaway Seaside can be extra fashionable throughout peak cruising season when ships sail at most capability with 1000’s of youngsters on college break. It could be much less of a draw through the offseason when it is simpler to discover a spot on Excellent Day at CocoCay away from children.
Both means, Royal Caribbean has created a improbable celebration seaside on its non-public island that may let the road deliver two megaships to port on the similar time, with loads of room for everybody.
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