Royal Caribbean Opens First Beach Club in Nassau

Royal Caribbean International opened Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in Nassau on December 23, 2025, welcoming the first guests to the cruise line’s first beach club-style destination. Located on Paradise Island near the Nassau Cruise Port, the venue is designed as an all-inclusive day experience for visitors arriving by ship.

Passengers from Radiance of the Seas were among the first visitors at launch. Royal Caribbean said not all scheduled visitors were able to make the call that day, noting that Utopia of the Seas did not visit Nassau as planned due to high winds.

How Royal Beach Club Paradise Island works for guests

Access is sold through all-inclusive day passes, which can be purchased in advance through Royal Caribbean’s website. The company has emphasized that attendance is capacity-controlled and encourages guests to reserve ahead of time.

Royal Caribbean President and CEO Michael Bayley said the concept was built in response to passenger demand in Nassau. “Guests told us they were looking for more ways to make the most of their vacations in the Bahamas,” Bayley said.

What’s included with the all-inclusive day pass

Royal Caribbean has positioned the club as a turnkey beach day, bundling dining, beverages, and on-site basics into the pass. The beach club’s standard inclusions span transportation, connectivity, and common beach amenities.

• Food and drink access: The club features meals from three beach grills and beverages served across multiple waterfront bars, including The Floating Flamingo swim-up bar.
• Beach-day essentials: Royal Caribbean lists basics such as umbrellas and lounge chairs, along with towels and lockers for guests during their visit.
• Connectivity and transport: The standard package includes Wi-Fi and round-trip transportation via five water ferries.

Beaches, pools, and areas designed for different groups

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island spans 17 acres and is organized around multiple zones for families, quieter beach time, and higher-energy experiences. Across the site, Royal Caribbean highlights two beaches and three pools, including the Deep End pool and the Shallow End pool, a zero-entry option aimed at families and guests who prefer a gradual entry.

The property’s main headline feature is The Floating Flamingo, which Royal Caribbean describes as the world’s largest swim-up bar. Party programming is centered on Party Cove, where the company has promoted DJ-led entertainment and reservable space for private groups, including options such as The Party Deck.

Families are directed to Family Beach and activity areas that can include organized games such as ring toss. Guests looking to upgrade can book cabanas, including the two-level Ultimate Family Cabana, which includes a private whirlpool and dedicated attendants. For a more relaxed visit, Chill Beach is positioned as a lower-key option with beach lounging, cabanas, and personalized service.

Local participation and construction milestones in Nassau

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island was developed through a public-private partnership with the Bahamian government, which Royal Caribbean has tied to local employment and business opportunities. The company has also pointed to local influence across the guest experience, including Bahamian-inspired design elements, live entertainment, artisan shopping, and culinary offerings.

Work on the project began with a groundbreaking in April 2024, with construction running for roughly 20 months before opening. In the final weeks before launch, Royal Caribbean highlighted visible milestones including the installation of a large Crown & Anchor logo positioned to face the Port of Nassau’s cruise docks. A ceremonial ribbon-cutting was held on December 13, 2025, ahead of the first guest visits later in the month.

Royal Caribbean has also said day passes are available to Bahamian residents, while maintaining capacity limits intended to preserve a premium environment.

How the opening fits into Royal Caribbean’s broader destination strategy

Bayley described the Nassau debut as the first step in a larger beach club rollout. “The opening of our first Royal Beach Club introduces a bold new kind of beach experience,” he said, adding that it is “just the start” for the company’s destination portfolio.

• 2026: Royal Beach Club Cozumel in Mexico and Royal Beach Club Santorini in Greece are slated to open in 2026.
• Early 2027: Royal Beach Club Lelepa in Vanuatu is scheduled to open in early 2027.

Beyond the beach club program, Royal Caribbean is also developing Perfect Day Mexico in Costa Maya. The company already operates Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas and Labadee in Haiti, and it has also pointed to other destination-focused projects such as The Cormorant at 55 South, a luxury hotel in Puerto Williams, Chile, being developed for Silversea cruise guests visiting Antarctica, which has experienced delays.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is included in the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island day pass?

Royal Caribbean describes the day pass as all-inclusive, with access to the club’s two beaches and three pools, food from three beach grills, and bar service across multiple venues, including The Floating Flamingo swim-up bar. Standard amenities listed by the company include umbrellas and lounge chairs, towels and lockers, Wi-Fi, and round-trip transportation via five water ferries.

Who can visit Royal Beach Club Paradise Island?

Day passes are sold to Royal Caribbean passengers visiting Nassau and to guests from Celebrity Cruises. Royal Caribbean has also said day passes are available to Bahamian residents, with attendance managed through capacity controls.

How do passengers buy a day pass, and do they need to reserve in advance?

Royal Caribbean sells day passes in advance through its website. The company has emphasized that the beach club is capacity-controlled and encourages guests to book ahead.

What makes The Floating Flamingo and Party Cove different from other areas?

Royal Caribbean describes The Floating Flamingo as the world’s largest swim-up bar, and it anchors the club’s party-focused programming in Party Cove. The party zone includes DJ programming and reservable space for private groups, including options such as The Party Deck.

When did construction start, and what were the key milestones before opening?

Royal Caribbean said the project broke ground in April 2024 and took roughly 20 months to complete. The company held a ribbon-cutting on December 13, 2025, and highlighted the installation of a Crown & Anchor logo facing Nassau’s cruise docks as a visible late-stage milestone before the December 23, 2025 opening.