Coco Beach Club at Perfect Day at Coco Cay: Worth the Upgrade?
Is a beach day really worth $200 per person or more?
That was my question before visiting Coco Beach Club at Perfect Day at CocoCay. Royal Caribbean already offers several free beach areas just a short walk away, so I was skeptical. Was Coco Beach Club actually a premium upgrade, or just a very expensive mistake?
After spending the day there, I do think Coco Beach Club delivers a noticeably better experience. But it is definitely not for everyone.
I also made a full video review, which is worth watching to see the beach, infinity pool, food, loungers, and overall atmosphere for yourself.
Watch the Full Video
The video gives you a closer look at the Coco Beach Club experience, including the beach, pool, lunch, service, and how it compares visually to the busier free areas around CocoCay.
Quick Verdict: Who Should Actually Book Coco Beach Club?
Coco Beach Club is worth considering if you want a calmer, more polished, lower-stress version of CocoCay.
This is not the add-on I’d recommend to everyone. If your main goal is just to get off the ship, sit by the water, and enjoy the island, you can absolutely have a great day without paying extra.
But if you care about space, quiet, service, a nicer lunch, and a beach day that feels more like a resort than a crowded cruise stop, Coco Beach Club does deliver.
The real value is not the beach by itself. The value is the entire day feeling easier.
The First Thing You Notice: It Feels Different
Getting to Coco Beach Club is easy. You can take the tram, but if you are able, I’d recommend walking. The path through the island is scenic, calm, and a nice way to ease into the day.
Once you arrive, the atmosphere changes almost immediately.
The rest of CocoCay can be fun, colorful, loud, and energetic. Coco Beach Club feels more restrained. The music is not the main character. The loungers are not packed together. The space does not feel like everyone is racing to claim the best chair.
That first impression matters because it tells you what you are really buying.
You are not buying access to sand. CocoCay already has sand.
You are buying separation from the busiest parts of the island.
What You Get With Coco Beach Club
A Coco Beach Club day pass gives you access to the private beach club area, upgraded loungers and umbrellas, a heated infinity pool, and a sit-down lunch that feels much more elevated than the standard island food.
There are also some practical touches that make the day smoother, like premium towels, sunscreen, upgraded restrooms, showers, and a more polished overall setup.
None of those things alone would justify a huge price tag.
Together, though, they create a day that feels less chaotic. You are not bouncing around trying to solve small problems. You have a chair. You have shade. You have food. You have service. You have a pool. You have space.
That is the part Coco Beach Club gets right.
The Beach Is Calm, Spacious, and Easy
The beach itself was one of the biggest wins.
The sand was soft, the water looked beautiful, and the entire area felt easy to settle into. I did not feel like I had to rush to find a chair or guard my spot for the day.
That may sound minor, but at a busy private island, space has real value.
The free beaches at CocoCay are still good. I do not want to undersell them. You can have a perfectly good beach day without paying for Coco Beach Club.
But the free areas can also feel busier, louder, and more active. Loungers may be closer together, and the energy depends a lot on which area you choose and how many ships are docked that day.
Coco Beach Club felt calmer from the start.
It is not adults-only, but it did not feel overrun with kids on my visit. My guess is that the price naturally changes who chooses this area. Families can absolutely book it, but the whole space still felt more relaxed than some of the free zones.
Service Is Part of the Upgrade
One thing that helped justify the experience was the service.
We were able to relax without constantly getting up for drinks or tracking someone down. The staff was attentive, the bar was well staffed, and the service made the day feel more premium.
That is exactly what should happen in a paid beach club.
A premium experience should not just look nicer. It should remove friction. Coco Beach Club did that well.
The Infinity Pool Adds Real Value
The heated infinity pool is one of the strongest arguments for Coco Beach Club.
It is not a loud party pool. It is not trying to compete with Oasis Lagoon or Hideaway Beach. It fits the mood of the club: calm, pretty, and relaxed.
The pool overlooks the beach, and visually, it is one of the best parts of the area.
This is where the upgrade starts feeling more complete. If Coco Beach Club were just quieter loungers on a private beach, it would be a tougher sell. But adding the infinity pool makes it feel more like a full beach club experience.
It gives you a second place to relax without leaving the area, which matters if you are spending most of the day there.
Lunch Might Be the Biggest Value Point
For me, lunch was one of the clearest places where Coco Beach Club separated itself from the rest of CocoCay.
The included food around CocoCay is already decent, so Coco Beach Club needed to do more than just be slightly better.
It did.
This is a sit-down meal where you order from a menu, not a quick burger stop between beach chairs. On my visit, the meal included a bento-style appetizer setup, and we could ask for more of the items we liked. The menu also included options like filet and lobster, which gave the lunch a much more upscale feel.
This is where the price started to make more sense to me.
You are not just paying for a quieter beach. You are also getting a meal that feels like part of the upgrade.
If food quality matters to you, Coco Beach Club has a stronger case.
Drinks Are Not Automatically Included
One important thing to know before booking: drinks are not automatically included with Coco Beach Club admission.
If you already have a Royal Caribbean beverage package, it should generally work here. But if you do not have a package, alcoholic drinks still cost extra.
That is worth knowing because the phrase “premium beach club” can make it sound like everything is included. It is not.
The food is part of the experience. The drinks depend on your package.
The Cabanas Are a Different Level of Splurge
If the day pass is a splurge, the cabanas are the next level.
Coco Beach Club has beachfront cabanas and overwater cabanas, and the prices can climb into the thousands depending on the sailing. These are designed for groups and come with more private space, upgraded seating, and attendant service.
The overwater cabanas are the true luxury option, with direct water access and the kind of setup that looks incredible in photos.
Would I personally need one? Probably not.
For most people, the regular Coco Beach Club pass gives you the core experience. The cabanas make more sense if you are splitting the cost with a group, celebrating something special, or truly want the most premium version of the island.
Coco Beach Club vs the Free Beaches
This is the comparison that matters most.
You do not need Coco Beach Club to enjoy CocoCay.
The free beaches are good. You can get off the ship, find a lounger, swim, relax, grab included food, and have a great day without paying extra.
That is why I would not describe Coco Beach Club as a must-do.
It is a comfort upgrade.
The free beaches are about having a good beach day. Coco Beach Club is about making that beach day quieter, smoother, and more elevated.
So the question is not, “Are the free beaches bad?”
They are not.
The question is, “How much is it worth to you to make the day easier?”
Coco Beach Club vs Hideaway Beach
Coco Beach Club and Hideaway Beach are both paid areas at CocoCay, but they are not trying to be the same thing.
Hideaway Beach is adults-only, louder, more social, and more focused on music, drinks, and pool energy. It feels more like a beach party.
Coco Beach Club is calmer and more refined. It is more about space, service, food, and relaxation.
If you want adults-only fun, music, and a more upbeat atmosphere, Hideaway Beach probably makes more sense.
If you want quiet luxury, a nicer lunch, and a more peaceful day, Coco Beach Club is the better fit.
They are both premium options, but they are selling very different moods.
When Coco Beach Club Is Worth It
I think Coco Beach Club makes the most sense if:
You want a quieter CocoCay day
You value space and fewer crowds
You care about better food
You want a heated infinity pool
You like stronger service
You are celebrating something
You are okay treating this as a splurge
At the right price, this can be a really nice upgrade.
For me, around $125 is where I can start to make the case for it. Once it starts pushing toward $150, $180, $200, or more, I would think a lot harder.
When I Would Skip It
I would skip Coco Beach Club if:
You are happy with the free beach areas
You are trying to keep your cruise costs down
You only plan to spend a short time on the island
You want adults-only energy and music
You are traveling with kids who mainly want splash areas or activities
The price on your sailing feels too high
This is not one of those upgrades where I’d say everyone should try it once.
It depends heavily on price and what kind of day you want.
Final Verdict: Smart Splurge or Easy Skip?
Coco Beach Club is a smart splurge if you want the premium version of CocoCay.
The beach was calm, the loungers were comfortable, the infinity pool was beautiful, the service was strong, and the lunch felt like a real upgrade. I had very few complaints about the experience itself.
The only real issue is the price.
If the cost is reasonable for your sailing and you want a polished, quiet, resort-style day, I think Coco Beach Club delivers.
If you just want a nice beach day, save your money. CocoCay already has good free options.
For me, Coco Beach Club earned the premium label. But it is a splurge, not a must-do.
FAQ
Is Coco Beach Club at CocoCay worth it?
Coco Beach Club can be worth it if you want a quieter, more premium CocoCay experience with more space, better food, upgraded loungers, stronger service, and a heated infinity pool. It is not necessary if you only want a simple beach day.
What is included with Coco Beach Club?
A Coco Beach Club day pass typically includes access to the private beach club area, upgraded loungers and umbrellas, the heated infinity pool, and a sit-down lunch. Verify current inclusions before sailing because details can change.
Are drinks included at Coco Beach Club?
Drinks are not automatically included with Coco Beach Club admission. If you have a Royal Caribbean beverage package, it should generally work there, but check the current rules for your specific sailing.
Is Coco Beach Club adults-only?
No, Coco Beach Club is not adults-only. However, the higher price point may make the area feel calmer and less family-heavy than some other parts of CocoCay.
Is Coco Beach Club better than Hideaway Beach?
It depends on the vibe you want. Coco Beach Club is quieter, calmer, and more upscale. Hideaway Beach is adults-only, more social, and more energetic.
Can you enjoy CocoCay without Coco Beach Club?
Yes! CocoCay has several good included beach areas, and you can absolutely have a great day without paying extra for Coco Beach Club.
Suggested Links
Perfect Day at CocoCay beach guide (coming soon!)
