It is small, long and narrow: the small island is only one kilometer long and almost 200 meters wide. Little Stirrup Cay is located in the middle of the turquoise sea, 90 kilometers north of Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas. The US shipping company that leased it calls the area Coco Cay.
There are only a few residents here. But every day, thousands of cruise passengers land in the morning hours on the white ships of the Royal Caribbean International shipping company. The landing stage takes you into a world that wants to top the holiday on a fun ship with a water slide, climbing wall and surfing simulator on land.
The island, previously used by the shipping company, has recently been completely redesigned and the pier has been made fit for the largest passenger ships in the world, such as the “Freedom of the Seas” and sister ships that call at the island in the 2022 season.
Everything is even bigger and flashier than on the ship
When the 360-meter-long mega-liners of Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis class moor, a crowd of more than 6,000 day visitors pours out on Coco Cay, who otherwise cavort on 16 ship decks – now there are a little fewer in Corona times.
The cruise line had invested US$250 million in the renovation of the island, which now offers a wide range of relaxation options and thrills. From the freshwater pool in the middle of the island and the sandy beaches on Chill Island to attractions such as the zip line, a helium balloon ride up to 137 meters above sea level or Daredevil’s Peak, the highest water slide in North America.
Yet Coco Cay is also a cash cow for the shipping company. Most attractions that promise action are chargeable. The day pass to the water park costs between 44 and 99 US dollars. The prices vary depending on the time of booking and occupancy. The “Perfect Day at Coco Cay” comes at an additional cost.
With the upgrade, the shipping company has made its island fit for the needs of North American cruise tourists in particular. Because the competition never sleeps: the neighboring island to the east is firmly in the hands of Norwegian Cruise Line, the competitor for cruises from Miami.
And MSC Cruises opened Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in early 2020. The private island belongs to the Bimini group of islands in the West Bahamas and focuses on a natural experience instead of superlatives and attractions like on the deck of a fun ship.
Also read:
– Miami: Where 15,000 passengers check in in one day
– Ocean Cay: From industrial wasteland to Caribbean paradise – a tour of the island in pictures
– Backbreaking jobs on cruise ships: “Wages between 3 and 5 US dollars are not uncommon”