Hideaway Beach – Royal Caribbean’s New Adults Only Enclave at Perfect Day at Coco Cay

Perfect Day at Coco Cay really is perfect. I never imagined it could get better, but Royal Caribbean may have managed to impress me once again. Yes, I’m excited about Hideaway Beach, the latest improvement to Royal’s already pretty super private island paradise in the Bahamas.

An Adults Only Area on Royal’s Private Island

Yes, it’s true. Royal Caribbean is turning things up another notch with Hideaway Beach. According to Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley, “Hideaway Beach is a completely new vibe and experience that vacationers are looking for on Perfect Day at CocoCay. Everything from its hidden-like location to the exclusive beach and pools to the private cabanas is designed for adults who want a day just for them.” And a new vibe it is. Royal Caribbean’s exclusive Coco Beach Club is quiet and upscale, but not adults only. That’s no problem in my personal experience, but Hideaway Beach is something new. Let’s take a look at just a sample of the amenities courtesy of Royal Caribbean International.

• Hideaway Beach – From end to end is over an acre of The Bahamas’ white sand beaches and turquoise waters exclusive to Hideaway Beach guests. Vacationers can enjoy the beachfront views and breeze at any one of the resort-style loungers and umbrellas along the shore or on the in-water hammocks and swings while playing beach games and listening to the beats of the live DJ by the pool.
• Hideaway Pool – Partygoers can turn up the volume on the celebration with all-day tunes from the DJ and the lively swim-up bar at the center of the action. With in-water seating and loungers, and poolside loungers throughout the heated (emphasis mine) infinity-edge pool, every spot is also the best seat in the house to take in the picture-perfect views.
• Hideaway Cabanas – Just steps away from the party, vacationers can level up their day in paradise at 10 chic poolside cabanas that have a range of amenities like cabana attendant service at the push of a call button, a mini-fridge, floating beach mats and charging outlets.
• The Hideout – This nook at one end of Hideaway Beach is just close enough to the buzz but carves out an exclusive, elevated experience. In one of 10 Hideout Cabanas, those looking for a more VIP, chill vibe can kick back at a heated infinity plunge pool – exclusive to The Hideout guests – and enjoy the convenience of perks like cabana attendant service, in-water loungers, an outdoor shower and resort-style seating.

That pool sounds next level, but no Royal Caribbean cruise experience would be complete without eats and drinks. Let’s look at what will be available at Hideaway Beach to quench your thirst and your appetite.

• On the Rocks – The area’s new and unofficial lookout, this al fresco bar along the rocky shore serves up a vibrant scene of live musicians, TVs to watch live sports, games like pool and shuffleboard, and memorable ocean views along with refreshing drinks like frozen margaritas and mai tais.
• Hideaway Bar – The swim-up bar at Hideaway Pool is the place to be and be seen, and with two levels, vacationers can take their drinks poolside or without leaving the water to maximize every minute of their island time.
• Slice of Paradise – This all-new rustic pizza haven with a bar and complimentary food includes fresh-from-the-oven favorites, island twists like a Bahamian guava barbecue chicken option and more.
• Snack Shack – A staple on Perfect Day at CocoCay, this new location offers the popular menu’s complimentary chicken sandwiches, burgers, fried mozzarella sticks, fresh salads and more, as well as shaded seating, and Adirondack chairs and tables on the sand.
• Beach Bars – Rounding out the experience are two full-service beach bars located on both sides of the new beachfront paradise, so a drink is never far away.

MJ’s Take

I like the idea of an adults only area. Heck, I love the idea. Hideaway Beach is also not the same experience as Coco Beach Club. I think it splits the difference between the “free” areas of the island and Coco Beach Club. Yes, there is a charge to enter, which appears to vary between cruises. Anecdotal evidence based on a few judicious web searches tells me the price of entry will be between 50-ish and 80-ish dollars. I paid considerably more for our last visit to Coco Beach Club. You can expect the cabana options to be considerably more. However, perhaps not as much as the overwater cabanas at Coco Beach Club which include the upscale food options of Coco Beach Club and….well…they’re overwater. 🙂

All in all, I love this new vacation enhancement option from Royal Caribbean. I like the adults only vibe, but if you’re looking for more upscale, Coco Beach Club may be better for you if price is less of a concern.

What do you think of Hideaway Beach?

-MJ