TL;DR
- Royal Beach Club Paradise Island opened in the Bahamas in January and is already proving popular with cruise guests
- All-inclusive day passes start at £99.99 for children and £129.99 for adults, including unlimited food, drinks, and beach facilities
- Two more locations launching in 2026: Santorini this summer and Cozumel in December
- Beach clubs simplify what can otherwise be a complicated day ashore for cruise passengers
A New Kind Of Port Day
Royal Caribbean has opened its first dedicated beach club, and the early signs suggest they’re onto something. Royal Beach Club Paradise Island launched in the Bahamas in early January, and demand has been strong from passengers looking for something beyond the usual shore excursion.
The concept is simple: an all-inclusive beach day available exclusively to cruise passengers. Guests get access to two beaches, three temperature-controlled pools, and ten bars (three of them swim-up). Everything from food and drinks to WiFi and loungers is included in the day pass price. For those wanting to upgrade, there are beach cabanas and VIP access to “The Floating Flamingo,” a swim-up bar designed for hundreds of guests at once.
The Rollout Continues
Paradise Island marks the start of something bigger. Royal Caribbean has two more beach clubs opening this year. Royal Beach Club Santorini launches this summer in Greece, welcoming guests from both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises. Then in December, a third location opens in Cozumel, Mexico. The company’s stated goal is to grow from two land-based destinations to eight by 2028.
The Santorini location is worth noting for UK clients. It offers a managed beach experience on an island where public beaches can get crowded during peak season. Royal Caribbean has designed it with three separate entry points to spread visitors across different areas and manage capacity more effectively.
How This Fits Into A Port Day
Beach clubs sit somewhere between a traditional shore excursion and a private island experience. They simplify what can otherwise be a complicated day ashore, particularly for clients who prefer knowing exactly what they’re paying for upfront.
The all-inclusive pricing helps clarify things. At around £130 per adult, it’s positioned as a premium shore day but not wildly expensive compared to booking multiple elements separately. For families with children, the lower rate of £99.99 helps with the overall cost.
Given the demand for the Bahamas location, these options are worth mentioning when discussing 2026 itineraries, especially for Mediterranean and Caribbean sailings.
Where This Seems To Be Heading
These beach clubs are part of Royal Caribbean’s wider approach to creating what they call “land-based destinations.” It’s about positioning the cruise line as offering complete holiday experiences rather than transport between ports. The model builds on their existing Perfect Day at CocoCay concept, extending it to new regions and markets.
The expansion to eight locations by 2028 suggests Royal Caribbean sees genuine potential here. Beach clubs are exclusive to cruise passengers, they simplify port days, and they appeal to holidaymakers who want all-inclusive simplicity.
The Booking Angle
Beach clubs give a clear add-on when booking Royal Caribbean sailings. The all-inclusive model and exclusive access make them easy to explain, and early demand suggests clients are receptive to the concept when presented as part of the overall cruise experience.
