How cruise ship passengers look at a day spent in Nassau, Bahamas could be changing thanks to Royal Caribbean's new beach club.
Royal Caribbean has officially opened Royal Beach Club Paradise Island earlier this week, and it's an exclusive shore excursion that the cruise line hopes will change how people view their day in port there.
Part of the impetus for building this club was to address low customer satisfaction scores with Nassau, according to Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley.
"Nassau is in the bottom ten percent,” he said of guest feedback of any port the cruise line visits.
The new beach club is aimed to reversing that and invigorating customers and the port itself.
According to an informal poll on Facebook, over 200 people in less than 24 hours said they're more likely to get off the ship now while in Nassau because of Royal Beach Club.
Most voted that it won't change how they spend their day.
One thing is clear, it's gotten the attention of a lot of people booked on an upcoming cruise.
Will the new Royal Beach Club in The Bahamas change your plans for visiting Nassau going forward?
Yes
"Changes everything about it, I’m booked on my next cruise Feb ‘26 and will probably book it for every single Nassau stop I have coming up. I always do the drink package and with the bundles it makes the RBC day pass cost insignificant." - Chris S.
"I plan to go at least once to try it out. Probably something I might do every once in awhile but not every time. The views look pretty nice from some of the pictures I’ve seen." - Brian L.
"I will gladly pay for it. Went once in 2024 and swore I’d never go back. With this we will definitely be going back 2026!" - Michele G,
No
"Wont change a thing. It's an excursion like anywhere else. Don't do others, wont do this." - Dieter D.
"We always stay on the ship now. Hope everyone gets off as we will be on Star for the first time and there is lots to explore." - Susan A.
Price is a factor
A number of responses pointed to their decision depends on how much a day pass to the Royal Beach Club costs.
Royal Caribbean employs dynamic pricing, which means the cost of a day pass depends on which ship you're sailing on, the date of your visit, and how many other passes have been sold.
In my experience, the price for a day pass that includes unlimited alcoholic beverages, Wi-Fi, and food could cost between $119 - $250 per person.
"The price needs to come down before I will consider i." - Kelly A.
"At that price? Not gonna change a thing." - Jacalyn B.
What makes RBC stand out
Royal Caribbean says going to its new club will "redefine the ideal beach day", and so far it's setting a high bar.
Having visited Royal Beach Club Paradise Island a few days before it officially opened, it seems Royal Caribbean wants to offer a convenient option to its guests for the best beach, pool, and party wrapped into one.
Because it's sold by the cruise line, it's easy to reserve. No researching or guessing which beach is the best and which one has what they need. It's all inclusive, so everything is included.
Thanks to a short ferry ride over, it's also convenient and quick to get there.
On my visit to the new beach club, what stood out is Royal Caribbean brought in its best ideas from Perfect Day at CocoCay and consolidated it into this.
Every pool is heated, it has access to amazingly beautiful Bahamian ocean water, and it offers the choice of party or relax (or both).
If you've been to Coco Beach Club, Hideaway Beach, or Oasis Lagoon, then you'll quickly pick up on how those three concepts were clearly the inspiration for what we have in Nassau.
It's hard to go wrong with the formula that has already been popular with passengers at CocoCay.
