Princess Cays cruise port guide

Princess Cays — Bahamas.

Princess Cays is Carnival Corporation's private beach destination on the southwestern tip of Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas — run by Princess Cruises and also visited by Carnival Cruise Line ships. Unlike some cruise line private islands, Princess Cays is at the end of a real Bahamian island with a genuine local character in the surrounding villages; the destination itself is beautifully maintained, with a long crescent of white sand and the characteristically turquoise, shallow Bahamian water. It is always a tender port — the water is too shallow for the ship to dock, so guests are ferried ashore in small boats. The included BBQ lunch is one of the better private island buffets in the industry.

Getting ashore

Where do cruise ships dock in Princess Cays?

Princess Cays is a tender-only port — the ship anchors offshore and small boats ferry guests to the beach pier. The tender ride is roughly 15–30 minutes. On busy days or in rough conditions, tender wait times can be 30–45 minutes in peak periods; go early to beat the queue or wait until the mid-morning rush subsides. Once ashore, the beach and facilities are immediately in front of you at the pier.

Getting around

Princess Cays is compact and entirely walkable. The beach stretches about a kilometre, with facilities (hammock areas, watersports centre, restaurant) spread along it. There are no trams — everything is on foot. The quieter far end of the beach (walk away from the pier) is the best spot for those seeking a calmer experience. To see more of Eleuthera beyond the resort, check the ship's shore excursions.

Don't miss

• The beach itself (free) (Half day or more) — The signature experience — a wide, curved crescent of fine white sand with shallow, extraordinarily clear turquoise Bahamian water. The colour of the water at Princess Cays is exceptional even by Caribbean standards: the pale sandbar floor reflects the light to produce an almost luminous blue-green. Stake out a spot early; chairs in the prime areas (shaded hammock zones) fill quickly.
• Snorkelling (free swim zone / paid rental) (1–2 hrs) — The water around Princess Cays has healthy reef sections accessible from the beach — snorkel gear is available for rent at the watersports centre. The rocky headlands at the far ends of the beach have the best fish life. Clear visibility makes it accessible even for beginners.
• Watersports (paid) (1–3 hrs) — The watersports centre rents kayaks, paddleboards, aqua cycles, banana boats and floats. A full range of beach toy rentals at rates broadly comparable to other private island destinations. The calm, shallow water makes kayaking and paddleboarding easy and accessible.
• Hammock area (free) (As long as you like) — A section of beach with shaded hammocks strung between palm trees — the most sought-after free spots at Princess Cays. Arrive on the early tender to claim one. Genuinely comfortable and the best napping spot in the Bahamas.
• Bahamian straw market (free to browse) (30 min) — Local vendors from nearby Eleuthera settlements such as Bannerman Town sell straw work, crafts and souvenirs at their own stalls. They operate independently of the cruise line, so your ship card won't work — bring US dollars in cash.

Planning your day

Take the early tender — this is the most important decision at Princess Cays. The hammock areas and prime shaded beach chairs go fast; being ashore by 9am gives you first pick. Watersports are best mid-morning before the wind picks up and before rental equipment is fully booked. Snorkelling the reef sections at the far end of the beach is the best free activity (bring or rent gear). Lunch at 11:30am at the pavilion, then a long afternoon beach swim. For local crafts, browse the Bahamian straw market (bring US cash). Build in 45 minutes minimum for the tender queue back.

Food & drink

Princess Cays's complimentary BBQ lunch is included with your cruise fare and consistently rated among the best in the private island category — grilled burgers and hot dogs, plus a substantial selection of salads, Caribbean sides and fresh tropical fruit. Paid beverage options are available at two beach bars throughout the day. There is no specialty paid dining at Princess Cays — the included buffet is the only food option.

Where to eat

• Princess Cays beach dining pavilion — The main covered dining pavilion at the beach — the included buffet. Lines are longest 12:00–1:30pm; go at 11:30am or after 2pm. The pavilion is well-shaded and has indoor and outdoor seating.
• Beach bars (paid) — Two beach bars distributed along the beach serve cocktails, beer, soft drinks and non-alcoholic tropical options. Princess Plus and Premier drink packages apply; Carnival's CHEERS! package does not. The rum punch is the right order.

Must try

• Complimentary BBQ buffet — Included with cruise fare — grilled burgers, chicken, hot dogs, rice and beans, coleslaw, fruit salad and Bahamian-inspired sides. Princess consistently receives good feedback on the quality and variety of the Cays buffet compared to competitor private islands. Open roughly 11:30am–2pm.
• Grilled chicken with jerk seasoning (included) — The buffet's standout protein — jerk-marinated chicken quarters grilled over charcoal. Well-seasoned by private island standards. Arrive before noon for the freshest pieces.
• Fresh pineapple and watermelon (included) — The fruit station is one of the buffet's genuine highlights — fresh-cut Bahamian pineapple and watermelon, properly ripe and cold. In the heat of a beach day, this is frequently what people remember most.
• Rum punch at the beach bar (paid) — A Caribbean rum punch — rum, tropical juice, grenadine and a bit of lime — served from the beach bars throughout the day. Princess Cruise's beverage packages apply at the Princess Cays bars.

Know before you go

• 🗣️ Language — English — Bahamian English, spoken with a distinctive local accent. Staff are a mix of Princess crew and local Bahamian employees. Communication is seamless for all English speakers.
• 📋 Documents — Your ship card (Medallion card for Princess, OceanCompass card, or equivalent ship card) is your ID and charge card ashore. No passport required to go to Princess Cays. Keep your ship card dry and accessible — it is your ticket back to the ship on the tender.
• 🛍️ Shopping & hours — Princess Cays has small shops with branded Princess merchandise and beachwear, plus a Bahamian straw market where independent local vendors take US dollars in cash, not ship cards. Hours follow ship arrival and departure. The selection is limited; if shopping is a priority, save it for a Bahamas port with a town centre.
• 🌤️ Weather — Eleuthera is a central Bahamian island — warm and typically sunny (82–88°F). Trade winds keep it comfortable. Afternoon showers are possible in summer; winter can occasionally be breezy. The shallow water heats to a bathtub-warm temperature in summer months.
• 📶 Connectivity — Limited cell signal at Princess Cays. No island-wide Wi-Fi. The Princess app works with pre-downloaded content; useful for activity times and restaurant menus. This is one of the better private island disconnections — leave the phone in the beach bag.
• ♿ Accessibility — The tender transfer creates a significant accessibility challenge — boarding small boats from a gangway is difficult for limited mobility visitors. Once ashore, the main beach area has paved paths to the dining pavilion. Beach wheelchairs may be available — request through Princess before sailing. The watersports and hammock areas are mostly sand-surface only.
• ⏱️ Getting back — The tender queue in the final 60 minutes before all-aboard can be long. Build in at least 45 minutes between leaving the beach and the ship's departure. The tender pier is at one end of the beach — if you're at the far end, add 15 minutes' walking time. Do not cut it close at a tender port.

Sources: princess.com/princess-cays; cruisecritic.com; thenaughtynavigator.com; bahamaslocal.com