First Look at Royal Beach Club Paradise Island

There’s a brand-new splash of color on the Nassau skyline this year that’s impossible to miss. The pinks, blues, and greens of Royal Caribbean’s Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, which just recently opened on Dec. 23, 2025, catch the eye and promise fun in the sun with a Caribbean flair.

And when TMR visited last week, the experience lived up to that promise. The sun was shining, the temperature hovered around 80, and the big waves that the northeast winds brought in November and December had given way to gentler breezes. We walked onto the pier, hopped onto a shuttle, and got off on an island paradise—where the beach is clean, the sand is soft, and the pool holds 208,000 gallons of warm water and the world’s largest swim-up bar (221 feet).

Good timing made our visit even better. When we arrived aboard Celebrity Eclipse on Jan. 2, we were the only Royal Caribbean Group ship in port. So, the Beach Club, which can hold up to 4,000 guests, had only 400. (Note this was not a press trip, but a regularly scheduled itinerary open to anyone. If you can find a date when few ships are in port, it makes the experience even better.)

There was plenty of room, plenty of loungers, plenty of food. And lots of helpful and friendly local staffers to welcome us. Though the air was a bit chilly on a January morning, we walked right into the bathtub-temperature pool and soon were schmoozing over pina coladas with our fellow cruisers. In the course of the day, we pulled our chair to the edge of the sea, walked in the sunshine, had some lunch, and got a little sunburned.

We’d call it a perfect day, but that phrase is already taken by CocoCay. So, we’ll just call it what it was: a beautiful beach day in The Bahamas.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island: Location, Access, and Layout

Paradise Island is the narrow stretch of land you sail past when entering or leaving the port of Nassau, anchored at its northern end by Atlantis. You can’t miss Royal Beach Club Paradise Island as your ship glides by—and that visibility will no doubt frustrate guests sailing on other cruise lines, since passes are not available to them. (The Royal Caribbean logo every ship must pass is a marketing coup.)

Pricing for the beach club fluctuates based on demand and promotions. The full price on the day we visited was $250 per person for a package that included alcoholic beverages. (Food is included in all packages.)

However, savvy travel advisors can purchase passes for their clients in advance for as little as $125 during promotions.

Think that’s too steep? Don’t forget to sell from your clients’ pocketbook, not your own—the club was sold out the day we arrived.

Our ship docked in Nassau from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., so we had plenty of time to enjoy the day. To get to the island we walked to the end of the pier, where the water taxis park, and boarded a waiting Royal Caribbean tender. Unlike the water taxis, they do not wait to fill up but sail every few minutes. In just a couple of minutes we arrived at Chill Beach; further down there’s Party Cove with a live DJ, and Family Beach with a shallow pool and games for the kids.

Cabanas and VIP Experiences

Day beds and cabanas are available to rent throughout the property, both poolside and beachfront, in a range of sizes and price points.

Day beds include a beverage server and an umbrella; cabanas hold eight to 10 guests, and come with loungers and personal attendant service for food and drinks. Some also have wet bars, mini-fridges, and TVs.

The VIP Party Deck, which overlooks the Floating Flamingo swim-up bar, includes dedicated food and beverage service, a mini-fridge, charging station, and lounge seating, and front-row views of the DJ.

At the top of the line is the wow-factor, two-story Ultimate Family Cabana. It holds up to 12 guests and includes reserved beach space, a wet bar, a heated whirlpool, a spiral slide, hammocks, a private bathroom and shower, a TV, and a cabana attendant (or use the frozen drink machine to make your own tasty cocktails).

Day beds for two run between $550 and $650, including entrance to the beach club. Standard cabanas are about $2,200 for 10 guests; the Party Deck is $4,999 and includes 12 day passes; the Ultimate Family cabana is $9,999 and includes 12 passes.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island: What We Really Liked

The décor on the island is beautiful. Everything is colorful and inviting. There are local handicrafts for sale by local artists who are happy to engage with you. The employees are all locals too; the bartenders with whom we chatted all had experience at high-end local resorts.

Accessibility is also thoughtfully handled. With one friend in our party who uses a walker and one who just doesn’t like the feel of sand, we were impressed that many lounge chairs sit close to the ocean yet still are accessible via the concrete sidewalks. Beach wheelchairs also are available.

What We Didn’t Love

We all were a little disappointed in the food. There’s a cheeseburger or a mushroom burger, fried shrimp or fish, chicken tenders, spicy corned beef and cheese fritters, or a tropical salad; sides are mac and cheese, coleslaw or French fries. It’s enough to get you through the day but nothing special or high-end. The drinks are good, but without the beverage package they are pricey and must be charged to a credit card.

It’s also worth noting that on the return, the tenders leave you off at the entrance to the renovated port area. That’s great if you plan to shop or wander, as is clearly the point. But it is quite a hike from there to the ship if you have a heavy bag, a sleeping baby, or a walker.

Is Royal Beach Club Paradise Island Worth the Cost?

Remember that this is a beach club and not a private island amusement park, and set your clients’ expectations accordingly. There’s no zip line, no lazy river, no water park. All your clients will get is sun, sand, and pools, mixed with family fun or a big drink party or a chill beach. Or all of the above.

When it’s on sale, it’s a bargain, particularly for clients looking for a high-end beach day that meshes well with the “perfect” model that Royal Caribbean already delivers in CocoCay (and is bringing to other ports around the world). For repeat cruisers to the Caribbean, it’s something new and fun to do in Nassau. It’s more beautiful than its competitors like the new Kuza Beach in Cozumel, and a great alternative to the pricey and crowded Atlantis Resort.