5 best reasons to stay onboard the ship while in Perfect Day at CocoCay

Perfect Day at CocoCay is a popular port of call on Royal Caribbean cruises to The Bahamas and Caribbean. As such, it’s not uncommon to find yourself repeatedly visiting the private island if you frequently seek warm-weather itineraries on some of the largest ships at sea. 

When Royal Caribbean completed renovating the island in 2019, it became more than just your average beach day. Now, you can splurge on activities like riding the tallest water slide in North America, an upscale beach club, zip line, overwater cabana, and more. 

While there’s no denying it’s easy to have a great ashore no matter how many times you’ve visited, you should not always feel like you have to get off the ship. 

Sometimes, the perfect day at CocoCay isn’t actually ON CocoCay. 

Here are the 5 best reasons to stay onboard the ship while in Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

You won’t have to deal with chair hogs

If you awaken too late on a sea day, it’s likely that when you head up to the pool deck, you’ll see a sea (no pun intended) of chairs reserved with towels and personal belongings. 

Chair hogs are individuals who reserve chairs for the entire day, even if they are not planning on staying nearby. 

And while there should technically be pool attendants on the lookout, it’s difficult for them to keep a watch on the entire pool deck. 

If you want to enjoy the pool with minimal people around, consider staying onboard when your ship docks at Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

Rather than rushing off the ship to claim the perfect beach chairs, you can sleep in, have a late breakfast, and enjoy the top deck like it’s your own chartered yacht! 

Related: How to beat the chair hogs on your cruise ship

The lines for onboard thrills will be shorter

Simiarly, the lines for onboard attractions can get rather long on sea days.

One of the best ways to ensure that you won’t have a long wait for anything that’s on your must-do list on days when everyone is onboard is to get to whatever you are hoping to do as soon as it opens. 

If you’re someone who wants to ride the water slides more than once or become a Flowrider surf pro, you’ll have more opportunities to do so while the ship is docked, as there will be fewer people in line. 

Plus, if you’re short on time (i.e., on a 3- or 4-night cruise onboard Utopia of the Seas), you won’t have as many chances to experience everything that’s onboard. You may find it a more valuable use of time to stay on the ship, rather than spending the day on the beach. 

Additionally, if you are on a Quantum Class ship, you’ll be able to ride the North Star for free while docked, whereas sea day rides are not included in the cost of your cruise fare. 

You’ll be able to soar high above Perfect Day at CocoCay and look out over neighboring Bahamian islands, including Norwegian Cruise Line’s Great Stirrup Cay. 

Related: Top 30 extra cruise costs that are not included

You might be able to save money on a spa treatment

Spa treatments onboard cruise ships are costly. Massages often start around $150 for 50 minutes, while a 75-minute deep tissue couples massage can be upwards of $390. 

If you want to save money while treating yourself to a much-needed day at the spa, head there on embarkation day to see if any deals are being offered. Plus, you can get a tour of the spa to get a glimpse of the treatment facilities. 

Usually, they will have something available on port days to entice people to stay onboard. You can also check the night before your ship is scheduled to arrive in CocoCay, as well as the morning of. 

There won’t be as many people at the buffet for lunch

You won’t have to worry about being patient while waiting in line for lunch if you stay on the cruise ship while it’s docked at CocoCay.

It’s not uncommon to see long lines for various eateries at peak times on sea days. Something as simple as lunch could take longer than anticipated if you show up to the Windjammer around 12:30pm. 

When your Royal Caribbean ship is relatively empty with the majority of passengers ashore, it will be easy to grab a quick bite to eat and return to the more pressing matters, such as ensuring you have an even tan, playing a round of mini-golf, or soaring high above the Boardwalk on the zip line. 

Related: Guide to Royal Caribbean’s Windjammer Cafe buffet

You won’t feel the need to spend money on an excursion

Yes, it’s true. The price of a Royal Caribbean cruise has increased. If you’re planning on sailing onboard one of their newest ships, like Icon of the Seas, you can expect to spend around $1,500 per person for an interior room. 

Since there’s so much to do onboard, these ships are a destination in and of themselves. On Icon, for instance, you can spend the day at the Category 6 Water Park or in the brand-new Surfside Neighborhood with activities for the whole family to enjoy. 

If you’ve visited Perfect Day at CocoCay before, you may not be willing to spend money on an excursion after splurging on one of these mega-ships. Even though the beach is complimentary, there are more active activities that can be found on the ship that you already paid for! 

Related: 10 genius things cruise ship passengers brought to Royal Caribbean’s private island to make it even better