Royal Caribbean International's private island, CocoCay in the Bahamas, is getting a $200 million makeover that will be completed in late 2019. The upgraded venue, which is being rebilled as Perfect Day at CocoCay, will feature the Thrill Waterpark, with the tallest waterslide in North America, a wave pool and a kid-friendly obstacle-course pool; Oasis Lagoon, the Caribbean's largest freshwater pool, with a swim-up bar and in-pool loungers; a 1,600-foot zip line that crisscrosses the island; a helium balloon that floats up to 450 feet above the ground; two specially designed beaches, the relaxing Chill Island and the action-packed South Beach; and the Coco Beach Club, featuring overwater cabanas. Royal Caribbean ships sailing from New York, Maryland and Florida will call at Perfect Day at CocoCay.
The island transformation will roll out in phases beginning in September 2018 with the completion of a new pier, and by spring 2019, most of the island's experiences will be open. Coco Beach Club, the final phase, is set to open in November 2019. Perfect Day at CocoCay is the first in Royal Caribbean's Perfect Day Island Collection, which will include other private island destinations in Asia, Australia and the Caribbean; details are forthcoming, according to Royal Caribbean.
"It's true that our ships are technological and engineering marvels in their own right and offer a multitude of unexpected experiences; but our destinations are an equally important part of the cruise vacation," said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. "We are introducing the Perfect Day Island Collection to deliver the most memorable vacation for adventure seekers on land and on board our ships. Once completed, Perfect Day at CocoCay will be the ultimate family destination in the Caribbean."
In other news, the cruise line has committed $900 million to reimagine and modernize its fleet with a project dubbed Royal Amplified. Over the next four years, its ships will offer new experiences, including specialized pool spaces, experiential dining and nightlife concepts, and new attractions like Sky Pad, a virtual-reality bungee-trampoline experience. Next month, Royal Caribbean's newest ship, Symphony of the Seas, will debut, while the new Quantum Ultra Class Spectrum of the Seas will begin sailing in 2019. A second Quantum Ultra Class ship will be completed in 2020; a fifth Oasis Class ship will debut in 2021, and two vessels in the new Icon class will debut in 2022 and 2024, respectively.