If you’ve cruised to Nassau more than once, you probably know the pattern: it’s nice the first time, but after a while a lot of people just stay on the ship. Royal Caribbean knows that — and it’s exactly why it just opened a brand-new beach club on Paradise Island to give people a real reason to go ashore again.
It’s called Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, and it opened on December 23, 2025. It’s not a private island, and it’s not a random excursion either. It’s a purpose-built, all-inclusive beach club designed so you can step off the ship and straight into a good beach day.
A New Kind of Cruise-Built Destination
Royal Beach Club Paradise Island sits on a 17-acre stretch of sand on Paradise Island, just across the harbor from the Nassau cruise port — a short 7- to 10-minute ferry ride away on one of five dedicated water taxis built just for the club. The ferries run continuously, are included with the pass, and make getting there incredibly easy.
And that’s the whole point. Royal Caribbean built this to take the usual friction out of port days — no hunting for taxis, no debating which beach is best, and no worrying about whether a place is crowded, sketchy, overpriced, or disappointing.
You book it in advance, step onto the ferry, and arrive at a space that’s fully set up for your day — loungers, food, drinks, pools, staff, and entertainment already waiting.
Three Vibes, One Beach Day
The club is divided into three distinct areas, each built around a different vacation mood.
Chill Beach is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the calm zone, with shaded loungers, day beds, soft live music, and a massive infinity-edge pool overlooking the ocean. This is where you go if your ideal day is reading, floating, quiet conversation, or just enjoying the water without a soundtrack blasting in your ears.
Party Cove is the energetic heart of the club. This is where you’ll find The Floating Flamingo, a two-story structure anchored in a pool that houses what Royal Caribbean calls the world’s largest swim-up bar, with 110 seats.
There’s a live DJ, louder music, people dancing in and out of the pool, and an unmistakable “resort party” atmosphere. It’s lively without being chaotic — and you can leave whenever you want.
Family Beach is designed for multigenerational groups, with a zero-entry shallow pool for kids, beach access, cabanas, and a standout two-story Ultimate Family Cabana inspired by Royal Caribbean’s family suites onboard. It’s meant to be a space where parents can relax without worrying about kids being bored — or overwhelmed.
The beauty is that you’re not locked into one area. You can start your day in Chill Beach, wander into Party Cove for a drink and some music, and then meet your family later — all in one place.
Read more: The One Survey Question on Royal Caribbean That Makes Cruisers Pause Every Time
Food That Fits the Day
Food is included with every pass and served at the Paradise Grill locations throughout the club. The menu is intentionally simple: about eight mains and four sides, split between Bahamian-inspired dishes and familiar beach classics.
You’ll find things like shrimp skewers with guava sauce, fried fish sandwiches, burgers, chicken tenders, and local favorites like fritters. It’s not meant to be fine dining — it’s meant to be satisfying, easy, and appropriate for eating in swimwear after a few hours in the sun.
And that’s actually a good thing. Nobody wants a complicated lunch on a beach day.
The Cost That’s Dividing Cruisers
The beach club offers two types of day passes: one that includes food and non-alcoholic drinks starting around $129.99, and another that adds unlimited alcohol starting around $169.99 and up. That price — especially compared to Royal Caribbean’s free private islands — is the most controversial part of the experience.
But the value proposition is this: it replaces multiple decisions and costs with one. Transportation, beach access, loungers, pools, entertainment, food, and drinks are all bundled together.
For guests who already buy drink packages, enjoy beach clubs, or want a no-stress premium day ashore, it often feels worth it. For those who prefer staying onboard or exploring Nassau independently, it may not be.
What Royal Caribbean Is Trying to Fix
Royal Caribbean has openly said that Nassau scores very low in guest satisfaction, landing in the bottom tier of ports in cruiser feedback. This beach club is a strategic response: instead of abandoning the port or ignoring that reality, the cruise line invested in reshaping the experience.
Early reaction shows it’s working. Many cruisers who previously stayed onboard in Nassau say they’re now planning to get off specifically because of the beach club — even if just once.
So… Is It Actually Worth It?
If you want a beach day that’s already sorted out, a reliable place to relax, or just something new after a few Nassau visits, Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is likely to land well. It isn’t trying to be for everyone — but for a lot of cruisers, it fills a gap that’s been there for a long time.
What it offers is simple: an easy, polished beach day without the planning, guesswork, or trade-offs. That alone makes it appealing in a port where many travelers had started staying onboard.
And judging by early interest and booking demand, Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is already influencing how cruisers think about Nassau. For many, it turns a port that was often skipped into one that’s suddenly worth getting off the ship for.
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