family#1

We don't cruise until Aug 2024. I've been checking to see if excursions have opened up yet. I noticed dining options are now available. We will have a genie. Should we book reservations or will he/she handle that for us? We aren't interested in Chef's Table or Izumi...I believe those are the ones everyone said to book in advance. It also says check in starts June 19th.  That seems early since we don't cruise until 2024. This is all so different than our Disney cruises. I appreciate your help. Thanks!

Check in is 45 days prior to sailing, so that’s June 19, 2024. You aren’t checking in 400 days before sailing. As for reservations, your Genie will take care of that. You could do it now if there was a specific day and time you HAD to have. If not, just wait.

We have been there twice, and once in an over water Cabana(only work it if you can split the cost 8 ways).   
Same as everyone above said.  Very secluded and the food is amazing!  I always get the lobster when we visit, and there is just way less people to deal with.  Plenty of shaded beach chairs, and amazing waters!  We have seen everything from Conchs, Sharks, Stingrays, and a mix of other fish!
The big negative(besides when the price is over $120), is the walk.  Although you can wait for the shuttle that comes around, you may be waiting for awhile, or you have to trek all the way to the fathers part of the island away from the boat.....

I've done the beach club twice (both times I have been to Coco Cay).  Never paid over $100, and it is worth it at that price.  Very nice area, not crowded, quiet, very prompt drink servers, and a great lunch.  I am going again in August with a large group so we are not doing the beach club, we are going to do the oasis lagoon pool area.  I am looking forward to it in order to compare to the beach club experience.  I have always said $100 was my ceiling price for the beach club, but if the oasis lagoon experience is bad, then that price ceiling may be raised for future visits.  Regardless of how bad other areas on Coco Cay could be though, I would never pay $280 for the beach club, that is crazy.  
 

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2021/07/12/coco-beach-club-cost-tips-review

If you see that the price comes down to where you feel comfortable tying up the amount for awhile…make the purchase. It will secure your spots and you can always cancel without a penalty if you subsequently decide it’s not worth it.
You then monitor the price, and if it does drop during a sale or sometimes it drops because it’s not really selling…you can re-purchase it at the lower price. But….big but…..you should always try to book it at the lower price before you cancel. There’s always the possibility of losing your spot if you cancel your current reservation first. By the time you go through the process to buy it again, it can say Sold Out. So you not only lose out on the lower price, but also your reserved spot.
I know sometimes others have had difficulty doing that. I read where people tried to double purchase but the system told them they couldn’t until they canceled the first…but I have never had that happen to me. And I re-book often. Might be because I’m usually solo on my reservation and my family or friends have their own reservations. Good luck!

Like others have said, if you can find it at no more than $100 per person, I feel it's a good deal! We cruise this October and I purchased our passes this past Black Friday sale at around $90 per person?? We enjoy it as it isn't as crowded as other areas of the island and the lunch is so much better. I would wait until this years B;ack Friday sale and see what you can get it for.

I don't believe they have a set release schedule and the items appear in the planner in phases/groups/sections so it's best to keep checking. 
Our MAY 2024 (5/11/24) Icon sailing has many Excursions, Beverage packages, some Dining choices (no dining packages), Internet, VIP Passes (the Key), Photo, Arcade and Gifts & Gear selections loaded already. No options for Spa & Fitness, Onboard Activities of Entertainment just yet. They will also tend to add options to each section (eg. Excursions and Onboard Activities) as you get closer to the sailing so keep checking!
In case you were not aware, the new adults-only Hideaway Beach area will be open by the time you sail (many believe it will open in late winter/early spring 2024 in conjunction with the launch of Icon)... you may want to consider that instead of the Beach Club if the prices do not come down enough to justify the purchase.
And yes, Black Friday deals still tend to be the best for many items (not necessarily all) in the Cruise Planner (we paid $88.99 for the OCT sailing). So, the strategy of purchase at a comfortable pricepoint and then cancel/repurchase if it goes on sale still holds true for many items in the planner.
The current price of the Beach Club on our May 2024 sailing:  😱

Thanks so much for the information.  Our cruise isn't until summer of 2024.  I can't see any pricing or excursions offered yet. I have read several posts about black Friday deals. I'm hoping the excursions will be up by then. In general, when do the excursions show up to choose from? Thanks again!

If you want a more peaceful, relaxing resort-like experience, then the Coco Beach Club is a good choice. We've been there twice to date and we all had an amazing time. The first time was just my wife and I and this month we went with 4 family/friends. It wasn't crowded either visit, the service was amazing (attendants walking around the infinity pool and beach constantly), the lunch and service was excellent at their restaurant both times. I got the Surf & Turf both times - not on menu, but you can order it! You can come and go throughout the day if you want to explore the rest of the island (they give you bracelets so you can return). We walked the entire island this month after lunch.
With that said... price is everything! The pricing is all over the place! On our Oasis (2021) sailing we got it for $88.99... this month we paid $123.99 and for next OCT's sailing we purchased it last Black Friday for $88.99 once again. It's currently $160.99 for our OCT sailing and $283.99 for our MAY 2024 sailing!
So, as mentioned above, if you can get it close to $100/pp it's well worth it for the infinity pool (which can be heated!) and awesome lunch at the very least. The pool this month was perfect (the ocean, not so much... a little too cold for us)! No shock factor stepping into the pool and it did not feel unusually warm (air temp was 75-77 as a high temp that day). Also, they have plenty of loungers in the shade with umbrellas and many under palm trees.

I’ve done two Chefs tables with wine and realized the wine isn’t my thing. The next few I have asked the sommelier to hand select the coldest XX in the fridge. I enjoyed the meal much more. 

If you can get it for about $100pp, it can be worth it. The lunch is delicious and a nice splurge. I would look and see how many ships will be there. If there is only one, might not be worth it. If two larger ships, it’s a great way to beat the crowds. 

If it's in your budget it could be well worth it.  My budget does not inclue $200 per person for my crowded winter break cruise, however it did include the $70 per person for the week following when it is only my daughter and I.  That same $70 per person would not cut it if my family of 6 were sailing. It's all subjective.

I think it is a very nice meal/setting, something you won't get at the other venues on CoCoCay.  
The cost does NOT include drinks.

The beach club is a quieter location, as opposed to Oasis Lagoon Pool,  if you like that.  

Wine pairing is the essence of Chef's Table.  The experience is all about pairing wine with food.    If you aren't into wine that's something I'd ask you Genie about but it's kind of like going to a premium car wash when you don't own a car.  

Once you go Genie/Star Class on Royal, you'll realize how bad Disney Concierge sux. We've done 13 Disney Concierge cruises, but none in 6 years and no future cruises booked with the Mouse since we've found greener pastures at a better value. 
Keep checking your cruise planner, but you have time if you mean your cruise is Summer 2024. Our September cruise this year has had everything open since i booked a month ago. Nothing is open for our May 2024 cruise yet. And please follow @twangster's advice above!
 

An excerpt from a recent Genie communication:
...
I would highly recommend you to book Hibachi and Chef's Table online at https://www.royalcaribbean.com/booked
  Cruise Planner: Pre-Cruise Deals | Design Your Cruise | Royal Caribbean Cruises Start planning for your cruise and receive exclusive pre-cruise deals on drink packages, secure your favorite onboard activities and reserve amazing shore excursions. Design your cruise today. www.royalcaribbean.com  if you are interested in sharing a table and meeting other guests because these are the only restaurants that we cannot confirm ahead of time due to its limited seating, the Hibachi table seats a maximum of 10 guests whereas Chef's Table seats a maximum of 16 guests.  All reservations open up online prior to the remaining inventory being available on board a day before your sailing. We will process your refund once you are onboard.
**Important**: Chef's Table has a charge of $25 per Star Class Guest and this is for the wine served at the Wine Pairing that is not included in the Beverage Package for Star Class Guests.
The rest of the restaurants have a larger seating capacity hence I can confirm the reservations well in advance. 

You will want to book reservations for Izumi Hibachi or Chef's Table if you want them once they become available in the cruise planner because they may sell out before your genie gets a chance to book them for you. Once your genie contacts you they will then be able to work with you to get refund or on board credit(OBC).

Keep checking the cruise planner periodically for the shore excursions. Lately there has been no rhyme or reason for when they will show up. Make those reservation on your own. Popular ones can sell out. After you book your excursions, check periodically for any price drops. I the price does drop, cancel and rebook at the lower price.
Having a Genie will be a fantastic experience for you. He/She will be able to make all your dining reservations with the exception of Izumi Hibachi and Chef's table.
When they reach out they will suggest you make those 2 reservations on your own. Once aboard the genie will get the refund process started. 
I would recommend looking at a previous Cruise Compass for your ship and sailing. This will give you an idea on show times and venues. Make a wish list/plan of the specialty dining venues you would like to visit and shows you would like to see. When the Genie reaches out , you can pass on your wish list and they will develop an itinerary of dining, shows and tours.  
The Genie will help to make sure you won't miss out on anything... Be warned, once you sail Star class it will be tough to sail Sea or Sky again...
 

Excellent move! Enjoy it. 

Success! No hassle at all! I'm glad we got it changed. Now we'll have an even bigger balcony for the same amount of money. Thanks!

Success! No hassle at all! I'm glad we got it changed. Now we'll have an even bigger balcony for the same amount of money. Thanks!

Success! No hassle at all! I'm glad we got it changed. Now we'll have an even bigger balcony for the same amount of money. Thanks!

Success! No hassle at all! I'm glad we got it changed. Now we'll have an even bigger balcony for the same amount of money. Thanks!

Success! No hassle at all! I'm glad we got it changed. Now we'll have an even bigger balcony for the same amount of money. Thanks!