Royal Caribbean is making significant progress towards opening its first ever beach club.
Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island is going to open in December 2025 in the heart of Nassau, Bahamas, and it will be a cruise line project never before attempted.
"It's going to be one of the, I would argue, it will be the most amazing beach day in essence," said Jay Schneider, Royal Caribbean's chief product innovation officer.
Unlike Royal Caribbean's private islands, this is an all-inclusive, extra cost admission area. That means only Royal Caribbean cruise ship passengers can visit, but they must pay to enter.
RoyalCaribbeanBlog reader David Sigmund shared photos of the progress being made at the construction site in The Bahamas.
The land it's being built on is located opposite of where ships dock in Nassau, and it's going to be a high-end beach day that aims to fix an issue cruise passengers have with Nassau.
For years, Nassau has been poorly rated by passengers and this beach club is an attempt to improve.
"The brand of Nassau's worn down, we've been very blunt with everybody in Nassau and the Bahamas and the government and the media," explained Mr. Schneider.
Royal Caribbean believes with the combination of this new beach project, a massive revitalization of the Port of Nassau, and improvements downtown.
The beach club is a massive joint venture with the people of The Bahamas, where nearly every aspect of the operation of the club will be done by Bahamians.
"Every aspect of the operation will be done by a Bahamian operator. There isn't any aspect that we're reserving, with the exception of things like corporate cybersecurity," he said.
Relying on guest research, the plan is to open a three zone layout of fun in the sun.
- Chill Beach
- Party Cove
- Family Beach
The largest area will be Chill Beach, while Family Beach is perfect for those with children. Lastly, Party Cove infuses music and celebration into the fun.
To get to the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, guests hop on a short water taxi from the pier.
There are two arrival areas to make it easier to get to either end, "This property is so long, we don’t want you to have to walk the length of it back and forth."
At Party Cove, there is going to be the world's largest swim-up bar. It has 110 seats, eclipsing the current record holder in Dayton, Ohio.
The Floating Flamingo is the name of the giant structure where partying is going be centralized, "we'll end up being an engineering marvel that you will see as a beacon throughout much everywhere in Nassau."
The top floor of the bar will be where the DJ sits, with a VIP wing on both sides.
Unlike the other two zones, Party Cove has no beach. The fun here is all held poolside.
Family Beach is all about balancing kid-friendly fun with grown-up comforts.
At the heart of Family Beach is a large, zero-entry pool, "The family pool [is] zero entry on both sides with, of course, a beautiful swim up bar right in the heart of it," said Mr. Schneider.
The pool is surrounded by cabanas, lounge chairs, shaded seating, and nearby bathrooms. And the layout has been carefully planned so families don’t have to walk far to get from the beach to the pool or from the food huts to their chairs.
Family Beach will feature quick-service dining spots. Royal Caribbean plans to serve a 50/50 mix of American classics and Bahamian-inspired food. While there won’t be a full sit-down restaurant in this area.
In keeping with the local theme, Bahamian artists will contribute custom work throughout the club—including murals, sculptures, and building facades. “We had about 75 artists raise their hand and submit briefs,” Schneider said. “There are about 15 to 25 different places where you’ll see Bahamian-created art throughout the site.”
All in all, Family Beach is designed for what Royal Caribbean calls “relaxed energy” because it's a space where families can play, swim, and unwind together without sacrificing convenience or comfort.
At Chill Beach, you'll find a laid back area for anyone that wants to kick back in a tropical setting. It's about relaxed energy, offering an alternative to Party Cove.
"Chill is not quiet… It is relaxed, but there is a little bit of energy built into what our guests expect out of Chill," Schneider said.
It's located on the east side of the property, and if you disembark the ferry at Chill Beach, the view will stand out immediately.
"You walk from a plaza, you see amazing views, you see great beach," Schneider explained. The beach here has been reshaped to create a gentler slope, improving both safety and comfort for lounging and swimming.
Central to Chill Beach is a long, beautifully designed pool with built-in seating, loungers, and a full swim-up bar—a must-have, according to Schneider. "Every pool has a swim-up bar. Our brand DNA changed when I took this job," he said.
Architecturally, the zone is designed to blend with the surroundings. "You will never find a concrete wall," he emphasized. "You will find Bahamian stone walls everywhere… we are going to great lengths to make sure that this feels like it’s always been part of the fabric and DNA."
