Princess Cays Review

Not exactly a private island fit for royalty, but it still gets the job done

Princess Cays is more or less what you’d get if you asked ChatGPT to come up with a private island. It does everything reasonably well, but nothing will blow your mind. The beach is average, and you have a much better option at Half Moon Cay. There aren’t waterparks or waterslides like you’d find at Perfect Day at CocoCay, and there are also no cool characters hanging around like at Disney’s Castaway Cay.

This is purely a beach day, meaning you get off the ship, get a nice tan, eat, and head back. Nothing wrong with that, but I do wish there were a bit more surprise at Princess Cays.

What we like about Princess Cays

Princess Cays beach.webp — Carnival Cruise Line©

Let me get one thing straight - there’s nothing really wrong with Princess Cays. It features a nice (even if rocky) beach, multiple sports courts, an adults-only area, and two different buffet barbecues. Your drink package also works on the island AND there is Wi-Fi, which is a big plus. If you're looking for a pure beach day to enjoy beautiful views and get a nice tan, Princess Cays will do the job.

Princess Cays is also great for those who love to rent bungalows. In fact, it has some of the most charming bungalows, located right on the beach. These are small, secluded rooms with a table, air conditioning, a fan, and an outdoor shower. You can also pay an extra $40 to have lunch delivered directly to your cabana, definitely a nice perk for anyone who wants to stay inside, enjoy the AC, and eat all day. A private bungalow starts at $399.99 for six hours, and it includes a cooler stocked with water, soda, some free snacks, and snorkeling gear. Not bad!

What we don’t like about Princess Cays

Princess Cays beach things to do.webp — Carnival Cruise Line©

Like we said up front, there’s nothing really new at Princess Cays. It’s purely a beach day, but there are other private islands that also lack waterparks and pools and still do a much better job, like Half Moon Cay. The beach at Princess Cays is still fun and has clear water, but it can be rocky, and some guests even recommend bringing water shoes.

Since the area around the beach is rocky and shallow, you’ll need to take a tender from your cruise ship to the island. This adds about 20 minutes to your arrival time, as you’ll also have to wait for the tender to fill up. Tenders are one of the main complaints guests have when visiting private islands, and it’s a bummer that they’re required at Princess Cays too. To make matters worse, some guests report waiting up to 90 minutes for a tender back to the ship during peak season. Ouch.

My main problem with Princess Cays is that there isn’t much to do. Sure, you can book an excursion like swimming with stingrays or a boat tour, or maybe you feel like browsing the small shops, but that’s about it. There’s nothing truly unique about the island, which is a bit of a bummer, especially considering that the beach isn’t its strongest feature. I think something like a big, beautiful swimming pool or a unique, top-tier restaurant would add real value to Princess Cays, but that’s not the case.