Royal Caribbean’s private island will be unusually quiet this week, with no passengers basking in the tropical sun, racing down waterslides, or enjoying one too many Coco Locos.
Instead, Perfect Day at CocoCay is closed this week for annual maintenance. This helps keep everything in tip-top shape and mitigates the chances of sudden problems occurring down the road.
According to Cruise Mapper, CocoCay won't see its next ship until Sunday, May 10, when Wonder of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas arrive on the final day of their three-night Bahamian voyages from Florida.
In an email to Royal Caribbean Blog, Royal Caribbean International confirmed that the temporary shutdown is part of its scheduled annual maintenance.
This happened last year, too. Royal Caribbean Blog previously reported that Perfect Day at CocoCay was closed from May 4-10, 2025, as part of the company's ongoing effort to keep its private destination running smoothly.
One cruiser, Russell McEwen, shared what he heard from a crew member working on the island, posting on Facebook that it was "mostly back of the house stuff being renovated. Some work on roads that shuttles use. Replacing worn equipment. [And] staff accommodations enhanced."
Annual maintenance is required to keep Perfect Day at CocoCay in award-winning condition
Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay is located in the Berry Islands chain in The Bahamas, about halfway between Nassau and Great Abaco.
The island underwent a $250 million renovation in 2019 that transformed the laid-back beach destination into a fully curated, well-thought-out private island experience.
Since reopening, it's earned numerous accolades. Most recently, Perfect Day at CocoCay won "Best Private Island/Destination" at Travel Weekly's Readers’ Choice Awards for the sixth consecutive year.
Today, you'll find everything from over half a dozen beaches to a massive water park, freshwater pool, adult-only retreat, kids' splash area, zip line, hot air balloon, and more.
Annual maintenance helps ensure everything continues operating at the high standard guests have come to expect. After all, passengers do not want to disembark to learn that certain amenities are out of order, turning what is marketed as a "Perfect Day" into a frustrating and disappointing ordeal.
Read more: 41 Perfect Day at CocoCay tips, tricks, and secrets
Cruise ships are also taken out of service to undergo routine maintenance and add new amenities
Dry docks are scheduled years in advance to ensure all necessary materials and personnel are available. During this time, ships are pulled out of service, which allows workers to conduct comprehensive inspections, such as hull openings and critical systems like firefighting, navigation, and lifesaving equipment.
The ship's crew can also replace things like carpets, bedding, and other minor cosmetic upgrades. However, the ship may also undergo bigger changes to bring it up to speed with modern vessels in the fleet.
Royal Caribbean's Royal Amplification program, for example, was designed to give new life to the line's older cruise ships, such as Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, and Navigator of the Seas.
Unlike a standard dry dock, which focuses more on maintenance and repairs, these amplifications go further, adding new ways to drink, play, relax, and dine.
For instance, in 2018, Mariner of the Seas underwent a major refurbishment that introduced new venues, refreshed public spaces, and added experiences throughout the ship, including the Perfect Storm waterslides, the cruise line's first-ever Polynesian-inspired tiki bar, Izumi Hibachi and Sushi, the FlowRider surf simulator, and more.
Allure of the Seas finally received a long-anticipated refurbishment in 2025. This brought popular amenities, activities, and more to the Oasis Class ship — ranging from The Lime and Coconut to the Pesky Parrot tiki bar, Perfect Storm waterslides, The Mason Jar Southern Restaurant & Bar, and the Ultimate Abyss dry slide.
Three ships are currently wrapping up dry docks in Europe and Asia, receiving similar upgrades and enhancements as part of Royal Caribbean's ongoing fleet modernization: Harmony of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, and Ovation of the Seas.
