How do the adults-only beach clubs at Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay and Carnival’s Celebration Key compare?
Adults-only areas are in high demand not only on cruise ships, but also at cruise line private destinations.
Last year, Royal Caribbean opened Hideaway Beach, the cruise line’s adults-only beach club at Perfect Day at CocoCay. Carnival Cruise Line soon followed suit with the opening of Pearl Cove Beach Club at the brand-new Celebration Key.
Read more: Perfect Day at CocoCay vs. Celebration Key
I spent the day at both cruise lines’ adults-only areas to see what makes them similar and different from each other.
On the surface, these two adults-only areas share many similarities. They are reserved for guests 18 years and older, come with an extra charge, and offer a pool, beach, swim-up bar, and dining options.
Yet during my visits to Hideaway Beach and Pearl Cove Beach Club, I realized that each cruise line had a different approach. Royal Caribbean’s beach club offered a bigger party vibe, whereas Carnival’s focused more on tranquility and relaxation.
Here’s what I thought of each adults-only beach club, and how the two destinations compare.
Royal Caribbean offers a dynamic pricing model to enter Hideaway Beach
Like all cruise add-ons offered by Royal Caribbean, a day pass to enter Hideaway Beach can fluctuate depending on a variety of factors. Certain ships and times of year may see higher prices, and sales can cause prices to rise or fall throughout the year.
Generally speaking, you can expect to pay between $40 and $100 per person for entry to Hideaway Beach.
Read more: Is Hideaway Beach worth the cost?
Fortunately, Royal Caribbean allows you to cancel and rebook add-ons if you notice a price drop up until 48 hours before your cruise. So, if you book your Hideaway Beach day pass for $85 and later notice a price drop to $60, you can cancel and rebook at the lower price.
After visiting Hideaway Beach, I would definitely pay $40 or $50 for entry, but I’d question the value of entry if the price got above $60. Although the beach club offers exclusivity, there are plenty of other places around Perfect Day at CocoCay to unwind without spending extra.
Carnival, however, has three separate entry options for Pearl Cove Beach Club
Unlike with Royal Caribbean, you can expect predictable prices for admission to Pearl Cove Beach Club at Celebration Key.
Whereas Hideaway Beach only has one entry option, Pearl Cove Beach Club offers three.
First is the Pearl Cove Beach Club: All-Inclusive entry. For $180, the entry includes admission, lunch at the Pearl Cove Beach Club restaurant, and up to ten alcoholic beverages from a limited menu.
Then there’s the Pearl Cove Beach Club: Open Bar entry. At $140, this entry is cheaper than the all-inclusive option, but it still includes up to ten alcoholic beverages. It does not include lunch at the on-site restaurant.
Finally, you can book the Pearl Cove Beach Club Access entry. This is the cheapest option at $100 per person, but it does not include lunch at the on-site restaurant. No drinks are included either, with the exception of a welcome drink upon arrival.
I paid $100 for the most basic access to Pearl Cove Beach Club on my visit. Later, however, I realized the open bar admission offered a much better value.
For just $40 extra, I could have enjoyed up to ten drinks, effectively making each drink just $4 on top of my admission fee. Paying $100 without any inclusions felt high for what was offered.
Hideaway Beach has a higher capacity (and bigger party vibe) than Pearl Cove Beach Club
After visiting both Hideaway Beach and Pearl Cove Beach Club, I’d argue that Pearl Cove Beach Club is more similar to the Coco Beach Club than Hideaway Beach.
Coco Beach Club is an exclusive (but not adults-only) beach club at Perfect Day at CocoCay. It’s laid out very similarly to Pearl Cove Beach Club, with an infinity pool, on-site restaurant, and private beach.
Read more: Coco Beach Club review at Perfect Day at CocoCay
While Hideaway Beach also has an infinity pool, the space is significantly larger. Hideaway Beach can accommodate 1,800 guests. Capacity numbers have not been released for Pearl Cove Beach Club, but I imagine the capacity number is much smaller given the limited space.
Hideaway Beach, therefore, provides a louder, more energetic atmosphere. If I’m being honest, I don’t find it to be the most tranquil space to relax at Perfect Day at CocoCay.
A live DJ blasts music from the swim-up bar, and it’s more akin to a Las Vegas-style pool party than a peaceful adults-only retreat. It's definitely fun, but don't expect a soothing environment.
I found Pearl Cove Beach Club to be quieter than Hideaway Beach. Admittedly, I was aboard one of the first cruises to Celebration Key, and the beach club was not crowded at all.
There was music playing near the small swim-up bar, but overall, the atmosphere reminded me more of the Coco Beach Club rather than Hideaway Beach.
If you’re looking for a Hideaway Beach party vibe at Celebration Key, I’d head to Calypso Lagoon instead. There, you’ll find a party at Long Necks Swim Up Bar, and the area is available to all guests without an extra cost.
Both beach clubs feature infinity pools and a beach
The infinity pool at Hideaway Beach is 18,000 square feet, whereas the one found at Pearl Cove Beach Club is 11,000 square feet. Hideaway Beach’s infinity pool is heated, but Carnival has not stated whether or not the pool at Pearl Cove Beach Club is heated.
On my visit, it didn’t appear to be heated, but it was exceptionally refreshing in the extremely humid July temperatures. Come February, it could feel cold on a chilly day.
That being said, some guests complain that the heated pool at Hideaway Beach is too warm in the summer months, so there are pros and cons to either option.
As far as beaches, I prefer the beach at Hideaway Beach. It’s located in a manmade cove, and the water is calm with soft sand.
At Pearl Cove Beach Club, the beach is more rocky and has somewhat rougher waters.
Food is included at Hideaway Beach, and drink packages work ashore
When it comes to food and drink, there are a lot of ways to indulge at CocoCay’s Hideaway Beach.
The adults-only club features two complimentary restaurant options, both of which are casual, grab-and-go venues.
Hideaway Hut offers a variety of sandwiches, salads, and small bites like mozzarella sticks. Here, you can choose between classic American fare like a cheeseburger, or opt for a Caribbean favorite like coconut shrimp and a crispy fish sandwich.
The second restaurant is Slice of Paradise, which serves up an array of pizzas and empanadas.
Both restaurants are included in entry to Hideaway Beach, and there’s no limit on how much you can order during your time ashore.
On my visit, I grabbed two slices of pizza for lunch. The food wasn't anything special, but for what it’s worth, Hideaway Beach is the only place at CocoCay to enjoy a slice of pizza.
Next time, I’d probably try the coconut shrimp, as I’ve heard many cruisers rave about the dish.
Like on the rest of the island, drink packages, as well as Crown & Anchor Society drink vouchers, are honored at Hideaway Beach. Guests with drink packages can enjoy unlimited cocktails, mocktails, beers, and soda while ashore.
Food and drinks come with an extra cost at Pearl Cove Beach Club
At Pearl Cove Beach Club, the rules around food and drinks are more strict than those at Hideaway Beach.
There is one on-site restaurant at Pearl Cove Beach Club, and unlike the grab-and-go venues at Hideaway Beach, this restaurant offers a full-service, sit-down meal.
Guests who purchased the all-inclusive entry to Pearl Cove Beach Club receive a Mediterranean platter for an appetizer, one entrée, and one dessert. There are nine entrée options, including a wagyu burger, grilled octopus, seafood pasta, and lobster tail. For dessert, guests can enjoy either baklava or chocolate cake.
Those who did not purchase the all-inclusive option can order food from an à la carte menu. This menu includes the same items as the all-inclusive menu, but also offers sushi rolls and additional appetizer options.
If guests do not want to spend extra on food at Pearl Cove Beach Club, they can dine elsewhere at Celebration Key and return to the beach club after lunch.
I opted to grab lunch at the nearby Captain’s Galley Food Hall, but it was somewhat cumbersome to go back and forth between the beach club and other dining venues. Plus, Celebration Key only offers one meal to each guest throughout the day, so if I got hungry again, I would have to spend extra.
Read more: What I loved and hated about visiting Celebration Key
As far as drinks, whether or not they’re included at Pearl Cove Beach Club depends on your entry ticket. Carnival’s drink packages do not work at Celebration Key, and you can only receive included drinks at the beach club if you purchased the open bar or all-inclusive ticket.
My basic entry included a welcome rum punch on arrival, but I didn’t want to spend $17 each for additional cocktails. Next time, I would definitely book the open bar or all-inclusive option to enjoy drinks without worrying about the cost.
Cabanas are offered at both destinations, but I preferred those at Hideaway Beach
Private cabanas are popular upcharge items offered at cruise line private destinations. Around both Perfect Day at CocoCay and Celebration Key, you can find a wide selection of cabanas.
There are basic cabanas offered on the sand near the beach as well as luxury, over-the-water cabanas at each destination.
Read more: Guide to CocoCay cabanas
Hideaway Beach and Pearl Cove Beach Club offer their own variations of cabanas, and rentals include admission to the adults-only beach clubs.
After touring cabanas at both private destinations, I preferred those at Hideaway Beach.
All cabanas at Pearl Cove Beach Club are on the sand, and they offer close access to both the infinity pool and beach. At Hideaway Beach, though, you can find the Hideout Cabanas, which offer a cabana experience unlike any other at CocoCay.
These cabanas have direct access to their own private infinity pool, making the exclusive beach club even more exclusive.
Overall, Pearl Cove Beach Club offers a more luxurious experience, but there’s more to do at Hideaway Beach
My time at Carnival’s Pearl Cove Beach Club felt more upscale than my day at Hideaway Beach, even though the latter offered more to do, see, and eat.
Subtle differences made Carnival’s adults-only club stand out. Pool and beach loungers are padded, for example, making them more comfortable than the unpadded loungers at Hideaway Beach.
The welcome drink was a nice touch, too, and it's something that is not included at Hideaway Beach. Plus, having access to a sit-down restaurant provides a more peaceful dining atmosphere than the quick-service options at Hideaway Beach.
Yet in terms of things to do, Hideaway Beach offers more choices. The pool is significantly larger, there’s live music at On The Rocks bar, and having two restaurants provides more options to guests.
I prefer how Royal Caribbean honors drink packages at Hideaway Beach, although the $140 open bar admission at Pearl Cove Beach Club is still a great value.
Although I’m usually a loyal Royal Caribbean cruiser, I enjoy trying other cruise lines from time to time. My first visit to Celebration Key left me impressed, and Pearl Cove Beach Club certainly lived up to my expectations.
However, if I were looking for an experience akin to Pearl Cove Beach Club at Perfect Day at CocoCay, I would probably book admission to Coco Beach Club rather than Hideaway Beach.
Regardless, I wouldn’t say one destination is necessarily better than the other. It’s hard to go wrong with an adults-only getaway, and I would gladly book another day pass to Hideaway Beach and Pearl Cove Beach Club again.
