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Princess Cays

Princess Cruises’ beach resort on Eleuthera, a Princess stop for more than 30 years. Here’s what’s included, what costs extra and what’s changing: from November 2026, Princess sailings call at RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay and Celebration Key instead.

Private island

A laid-back beach day on Eleuthera

Princess Cays isn’t a private island. It’s a 40-acre stretch of beach on the southern tip of Eleuthera, set up as a resort for cruise guests. The style is simple and relaxed: a long run of loungers, roped-off swimming coves, good snorkeling off the beach, a barbecue lunch and a steel-drum band, with bungalows and water toys for an extra charge.

One big change to know: Princess has shifted its Caribbean calls from Princess Cays to RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay and Celebration Key starting in November 2026, and its last scheduled call is in October 2026. Princess says the resort isn’t closing and stays open to cruise lines, so it could return to future itineraries. If you’re booked on a sailing that was changed, your advisor can walk you through the new stop.

What’s included

Free, or worth the upgrade

There’s no fee to go ashore. Anything marked extra charge is booked with the cruise line, and prices vary by sailing; your advisor can pull yours.

Included in your cruiseExtra cost
The tender ride to and from the shipBeach bungalows: air-conditioned, with or without lunch service
Beaches, loungers and roped-off swimming covesThe Sanctuary: adults-only bungalows
The beach barbecue lunch, with desserts and fruitClamshells: shaded beach loungers
Pelican’s Perch, the kids’ play area with a wading poolDavy Jones Locker: snorkel gear, kayaks, paddleboards, sea bikes, lockers
Live island music, volleyball and basketballExcursions: stingray encounter, boat snorkel, lagoon kayaking
Wi-Fi ashore if you have an onboard internet planDrinks, unless covered by your Princess package
The island

Explore Princess Cays

The Sanctuary

Extra charge · adults-only bungalow

The adults-only corner of the resort, with just a handful of bungalows. Each has air conditioning, a fan, a mini fridge, a private patio with loungers and an outdoor shower, plus drink service. You can book with or without lunch delivered. The bungalows overlook the beach rather than opening onto the sand, so you’ll walk a short way to swim.

Beach bungalows

Extra charge · bungalow rental

A longer row of air-conditioned bungalows along the main beach, with a patio, loungers, a shower and drink service. Like the Sanctuary, they have beach views and a breeze but no direct walk-in beach access. The lower-cost option skips lunch service, which works if you’d rather walk to the barbecue.

The main beach

Included · clamshells and rentals extra

The busy heart of the resort, near the marina. You’ll find the barbecue lunch, beach bars, the bandstand with live island music, the craft market and roped-off swimming coves with lifeguard towers. Davy Jones Locker rents snorkel gear, kayaks, paddleboards and sea bikes, and you can reserve them on the ship first.

The quiet south side

Included · clamshells extra

Cross the marina for the calmer half of Princess Cays. There’s a second grill, the Reef Runner bar, complimentary loungers, rentable clamshells, a basketball court and a volleyball court. The farther you walk, the quieter it gets.

Pelican’s Perch

Included

The kids’ area, run as an extension of the Princess youth program. It has a shaded play space, a jungle gym with a slide and a shallow wading pool. Ask the youth staff on board how drop-off works on your sailing before you go ashore.

What to book

Worth booking ahead

  1. Sanctuary and beach bungalows

    Extra charge. The upgrade that matters most here. There’s no big pool and limited natural shade, so a bungalow gives you air conditioning, a fridge and a home base for the day. Choose the Sanctuary if you want an adults-only setting.

  2. Stingray encounter and boat snorkeling

    Extra charge. The stingray encounter is right by the marina, and boat snorkel and glass-bottom trips leave from the same area. Book with Princess before you sail.

  3. Water sports rentals

    Extra charge. Snorkel gear, kayaks, paddleboards and sea bikes from Davy Jones Locker. Reserve on the ship to be safe; anything left over can be rented on the island.

DannyFrom our founder

Inside Princess Cays

This side of the island tends to be quite a bit quieter. There’s less activities, there’s not a band over here playing, rocking out. This is the area where you want to go to chill.
Watch the island tour
Good to know

Before you go ashore

  • Check your itinerary. Princess has moved its Caribbean calls from Princess Cays to RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay and Celebration Key starting in November 2026. If your sailing changed, Princess automatically cancels and refunds Princess Cays excursions and bungalows booked through Princess, and you can rebook for the new stop.
  • Book as soon as you can. Bungalows are limited and first come, first served. If the price drops later, you can usually cancel and rebook at the lower rate, but the one you want could sell out in between, so check it’s still available before you cancel.
  • It’s a tender port. You’ll ride a tender to the marina and back. Lines for the last boats can build late in the day, and like any tender stop, rough seas can cancel the visit.
  • Pack for the beach. Some of the shoreline is rocky with shells, so water shoes help. Bring bug repellent and reef-safe sunscreen, and reapply often. Vendors at the craft market take cash or cards, not your cruise card.
  • Stay within the resort. Princess Cays sits on a larger island, but everything included in your day, and every tour sold by Princess, is here at the resort. Book excursions with Princess so the ship knows where you are.
  • Traveling with mobility needs? Tell your Harr Travel advisor about your mobility needs when you book. Our accessibility specialist can request the right cabana, rentals and cruise-line support before you sail.
Good to know

Your questions, answered

No. Princess says the resort isn’t closing and stays open to cruise lines year-round. Princess itself has moved its Caribbean calls to RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay and Celebration Key from November 2026.

The official name is Princess Cays. It isn’t a separate island: it’s a beach resort on the southern tip of Eleuthera in The Bahamas.

Yes. There’s no fee to go ashore, and the beaches, loungers, barbecue lunch, live music and kids’ area are included. Bungalows, clamshells, water sports rentals, excursions and drinks cost extra.

No. Ships anchor offshore and tender you in to the Love Boat Marina.

Yes. On Princess calls, Princess Plus and Premier and Princess beverage packages carry over to the bars ashore.

Plan with Harr Travel

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We’ll find the right Princess sailing and help you book the upgrades worth having before they sell out. There are never any booking or consultation fees.

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