Private Islands You Can Visit on a Cruise Ship

Cruising makes it easy to visit multiple destinations in a single trip, but you don't have to visit the same cruise ports every time. Check out these private islands and "cays" owned by cruise lines, each of which offers tropical beauty and plenty of activities to keep your family happy and entertained.

Royal Caribbean is perfecting the private island experience with the exclusive Bahamian oasis of CocoCay. With all the exciting new attractions opening by the end of 2019, the island is brimming with waterslide and zip line adventures for thrill-seekers. This tropical escape also features unforgettable soft sand beaches surrounded by sparkling blue Caribbean waters for an entirely customized itinerary.

The award-winning and secluded island of Castaway Cay, which is nestled in the sparkling turquoise waters of the Bahamas, is a blissful escape for the entire family. This Disney beach getaway has delicious open-air dining, signature souvenir shops, and sparkling blue lagoons perfect for snorkeling adventures, kayaking, and relaxing your cares away along the gorgeous white sand beaches.

The picturesque island of Eleuthera is home to the stunning resort of Princess Cays, and it is only available to guests aboard select Princess Cruises. Pristine beaches wrap around the resort on the southern part of this remote paradise in the Bahamas, and cruisers will find delightful activities from vibrant snorkeling and water-filled fun to various land excursions.

Half Moon Cay is a world-class destination in the Bahamas for vacationers on Holland America Line cruises. This tranquil retreat has won Porthole Cruise Magazine's Best Private Island award for 17 years in a row and showcases a vast selection of beach-side, sea, and shore explorations including horseback riding and snorkeling with sea turtles.

Norwegian Cruise Line's Great Stirrup Cay is a private utopia where cruisers can encounter some of the world's most breathtakingly beautiful beaches. Situated in the Bahamas, the assortment of land excursions includes snorkeling with exotic sea life, gliding through the water in a kayak, and unwinding in a hammock for the full sand-in-your-toes experience.

The private island of Harvest Caye in beautiful Southern Belize is tranquility at its finest, and one look shows cruisers why Porthole Magazine voted this oasis as the Best New Cruise Port in 2017. As home to the world's second-largest barrier reef, this fascinating Caribbean destination is a snorkeler's dream while the luxurious freshwater pool, beach-side cabanas, and astonishing island views are fit for a king.

In late 2019, MSC Cruises will open its new private ocean reserve in the Bahamas. Ocean Cay, as it is called, is an untouched tropical wonderland that will offer cruisers an array of excursions and water activities, snorkeling galore, and seven world-class beaches surrounded by some of the clearest water in the world.