Princess Cays Cruise Port Guide 2026: The Ultimate Eleuthera Beach Escape

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In a 40-acre resort at the southern tip of Eleuthera, Princess Cays offers over a half-mile of white sand beaches surrounded by Bahamian water. Built as a private beach stop for Princess Cruises (and select sister-line sailings), the island gives you a completely self-contained day of swimming, beach volleyball, and watersports without city crowds or commercial tour operators.

Unlike sprawling mega-resorts packed with high-tech waterparks or massive freshwater pools, Princess Cays keeps the classic, laid-back Caribbean beach vibe front and center. Everything is connected by paved, flat walkways linking beach bars, open-air barbecue pavilions, shade rentals, and water sports stations.

Tender boat schedules, shade, and how food and drink rules work ashore is goign to help you with a relaxing, budget-friendly day off the ship. You can check official resort details directly on the Princess Cruises Princess Cays Guide.

Our Private Cruise Islands Guide breaks down beach setups and amenities across all major line-owned stops

Princess Cays Math: Free Inclusions vs. Paid Upgrades (2026)

Visiting Princess Cays does not require spending extra money to enjoy a complete beach day. The vast majority of cruise guests enjoy the island entirely for free, taking advantage of over a half-mile of white sand beaches, oceanfront lounge chairs, and open-air barbecues.

However, Princess Cruises offers optional shade rentals, equipment passes, and private air-conditioned bungalows if you want added comfort or private service.

Experience Level	What’s Included / Options Available	Cost Per Person / Group
100% Free Experience	Access to all main beaches, ocean swimming areas, complimentary beach loungers, shade trees, beach volleyball courts, Grill Crazy BBQ & Sea Breeze Grill BBQs, and Lookout Tower view point.	$0 (Included in cruise fare)
Mid-Tier Upgrades	Clamshell shade rentals ($45–$55 for two people), paddleboard or kayak rentals ($25–$45), snorkel gear sets ($30–$40), or banana boat rides ($35–$45).	$25 – $55 (Per item or activity)
High-Tier Upgrades	Air-conditioned Bungalow rentals ($250–$350 for up to 4 guests) or Sanctuary Adults-Only Bungalow rentals ($350–$500+) with dedicated server support.	$250 – $500+ (Per bungalow group)

The Value Verdict: Should You Spend Extra Money?

Stick to $0 if: You want a classic, relaxing day by the water. The soft sand beaches, free beach loungers, natural palm tree shade, and included beach barbecue lunch give you everything you need without spending an extra dime.

Spend money if: You want guaranteed shade right at your loungers by reserving a clamshell pass or if you want a private air-conditioned bungalow and have deeper pockets.

Which Cruise Lines Visit Princess Cays in 2026/2027?

Because Princess Cays is an exclusive 40-acre resort owned by Carnival Corporation, you can pretty much work out which ships and which cruise liens will call here!

• Princess Cruises: The signature host of the island. Ships across the fleet – including Regal Princess, Caribbean Princess, Sun Princess, Enchanted Princess, and Coral Princess – regularly call here on 3- to 14-night Bahamas and Caribbean itineraries. Most sailings depart from Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades) or Port Canaveral.
• Carnival Cruise Line: Carnival Cruise Line ships frequently visit Princess Cays on short Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean sailings. Vessels including Carnival Elation, Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Conquest, Carnival Magic, Carnival Paradise, Carnival Pride, and Carnival Spirit stop here regularly from homeports like Miami, Port Canaveral, Jacksonville, and Tampa.

If your ship stops at Carnival’s other regional beach spot next, see our Half Moon Cay Cruise Port Guide for tender tips and cabana options

Staying Online & Paying on Princess Cays (2026 Rules)

Here is how money, internet, and towels work when you step off the tender boat:

• OceanMedallion & Card Scans: You do not need credit cards or cash for island bars, food, equipment rentals, or bungalows. Everything scans directly using your OceanMedallion or ship key card. The single exception is the local Bahamian straw market near the center of the island,
• MedallionNet Wi-Fi Ashore: If you purchased a MedallionNet Wi-Fi plan on your ship (or if it is included in your Princess Plus or Princess Premier package), your internet connection shoudl work on the island. You can review high-speed coverage options on the Princess MedallionNet Internet Guide.
• Towel Stations & Exchange: You can pick up beach towels from your stateroom or the ship pool deck before stepping onto the tender. If your towel gets soaked during the day, you can swap it for a dry one at the towel station near the Welcome Center. Make sure to bring your towels back to the ship at the end of the day to avoid a towel charge.

What to See & Do on Princess Cays (3- 6 Hours) – Zones Breakdown

Because the Princess Cay is over 40 acres on the coast of Eleuthera, choosing where to set up camp early in the day helps you not spend the day walking back and forth under the sun. Footpaths and open-air shuttles connect all major beaches , barbecue pavilions, and rental huts.

You can check ship arrival schedules and real-time port updates on the CruiseMapper Princess Cays Schedule to see how many ships are sharing the anchorage during your stop.

Here is how the island zones break down:

The Marina & Observation Tower (Arrival & Views)

Right next to the marina, you will find the Welcome Center, shore excursion desks, restrooms, and towel stations.

• Observation Tower: A short walk from the pier leads to a multi-story lookout tower offering 360-degree panoramic views of the entire resort sanctuary, your ship anchored offshore, and the surrounding Atlantic reefs.

Watersports Beach & King’s Bay (High Energy & Swimming)

Located north of the tender pier, this active beach area sits at the center of the resort’s action.

• Water Equipment Rentals: This is the rental area for stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, aqua chairs, floating mattresses, and Hobie Cat sailboats. You can also book banana boat rides or glass-bottom boat tours from here.
• Snorkel Reef: The waters off this beach have limestone ledges and coral filled with yellowtail snapper, parrotfish, and sea urchins. Note that the seabed near the water entry can be rocky, so wearing water shoes is strongly advised.

Pelican’s Perch & Family Beaches (Kids & Gentle Wading)

Designed specifically for parents traveling with children, this area offers protected, shallow water entry and clam water.

• Pelican’s Perch Play Area: A supervised playground featuring a wooden replica galleon ship, climbing structures, slides, and shaded sand play areas.
• The Grill Crazy BBQ pavilion sits right behind the play zone, allowing families to grab burgers, chicken, and fresh fruit without dragging gear across the island.

Bungalow Beach & Sanctuary Adults-Only Retreat (Relaxation & VIP Service)

If you prefer a quiet atmosphere away from beach volleyball games and playground noise, head toward the southern end of the shore.

• Serenity & Bungalow Beach: Offers soft sand, quieter waters, and rows of complimentary sun loungers.
• Private Air-Conditioned Bungalows: Tucked into palm groves behind the sand, these colorful private retreats feature ceiling fans, air conditioning, outdoor showers, plush loungers, and dedicated food server service.
• The Sanctuary Bungalows: Reserved exclusively for adults 18 and older, these upgraded cabana setups feature private ocean views and optional VIP lunch service.

The Shopping Bazaar & Local Straw Market (Local ((ish)) Culture)

Located near the center of the resort, this area has Princess-branded retail shops alongside an open-air Bahamian straw market. Local stalls from nearby Eleuthera settlements (such as Bannerman Town and Rock Sound) set up shop here to sell handmade straw hats, woven bags, and wood carvings.

Stalls in this section operate independently from the cruise line , so you must bring physical US Dollars in cash if you plan to shop.

Dining & Drinks Ashore: What’s Included on Princess Cays?

Dining and drinking setups on Princess Cays make it easy to spend $0 extra all day. The island features open-air barbecue pavilions serving complimentary buffet lunches, and ship drink packages carry over directly for Princess Cruises guests.

Complimentary Beach BBQ ($0 Extra)

A large open-air beach barbecue lunch is served from late morning through mid-afternoon at two main island pavilions: Sea Breeze Grill (located near the center of the resort) and Crazy grill (located near the family play area).

• What’s Served: The buffet line includes grilled burgers, hot dogs, jerk chicken, pulled pork, corn on the cob, potato salad, coleslaw, fresh fruit slices, and chocolate chip cookies.
• No Card Scanning Required: Unlike some private islands that require key card scans for lunch, you can simply walk through the buffet line and grab your food at no charge.

Drink Package Rules Ashore

• Princess Plus & Premier Rollover: If you are sailing on a Princess Cruises ship and purchased a Princess Plus or Princess Premier package, your beverage package works at every bar across Princess Cays. You can order cocktails, beers, wines, and sodas without paying extra.
• The Carnival Exception: If you visit Princess Cays aboard a Carnival Cruise Line ship, Carnival’s CHEERS! beverage package does not carry over to the island. All drinks ordered at beach bars are charged individually to your Sail & Sign card.
• Popular Island Bars: Check out King’s Bay Bar near the marina or Reef Runner Bar along the main beach for signature Bahamian cocktails like the Banana Breeze or Bahama Mama.

Free Drinks Without a Package

Self-serve iced water, iced tea, and lemonade stations are set up at all main barbecue pavilions and dining areas, giving you some free drink options without needing a drink package.

Final Verdict: Is Princess Cays a Good DIY Port?

Included with the cruise you get access to over a half-mile of soft white sand, complimentary oceanfront loungers, clear waters for swimming, and a full open-air beach barbecue lunch at Sea Breeze Grill or Grill Crazy BBQ.

Plus, if you sail with Princess Cruises, your Princess Plus or Premier beverage package works at all island bars. You can review full inclusions directly on the official Princess Cruises Princess Cays Overview.

Unless you want to reserve a private air-conditioned bungalow, a clamshell shade canopy, or book water sports like paddleboarding and snorkeling gear, there is little reason to pull out your cash.

Pack your water shoes, hop on the tender shuttle, grab a shaded spot by the water, enjoy a hot barbecue lunch, and head back to your cabin completely satisfied without spending a dollar extra.

Princess Cays Cruise Port: Frequently Asked Questions (2026)

You can verify official island policies and real-time shore details on the Princess Cruises Directory.