Royal Caribbean Transforms CocoCay
After operating a “day at the beach” shore excursion on a small, uninhabited island/cay in the Berry Islands of the Bahamas since 1988, Royal Caribbean International recently laid out $250 million to build a water-themed attraction like none other, christening the experience “Perfect Day at CocoCay.” Also known historically as Little Stirrup Cay, CocoCay is about one mile long and a third of a mile wide, offering lots of white-sand beach and every form of water sports imaginable. The Perfect Day concept started coming together five years ago mainly to find “revolutionary and innovative experiences for Royal Caribbean passengers,” said Laura Hodges Bethge, vice president of product development at RCI. Focusing on multigenerational aspects, she said the CocoCay attraction took a year to build and includes a water park, restaurants and bars, shopping, spas and cabanas. Most of the cay’s attractions opened in May of this year, but the Coco Beach Club and overseas cabanas are schedul...