What I Loved and Didn’t Love about Princess Cays

After visiting twice in the same year, I have some definite opinions about this Princess Cruise Line resort…

Calling Princess Cays a private island really isn’t correct. It is technically a 40 acre cruise ship resort on the island of Eleuthera.

We visited in January and then again in July of 2025. Both times, we woke up early and got on the first tender boat over to the island where we basically had the place to ourselves at least for the first few hours. 

When you get off the tender boat, you can either go to the left or the right. I would advise heading to your right. The beach is less crowded and you can grab chairs and umbrellas close to the water. Don’t worry, as long as you arrive early, you will have your pick of loungers while the towel hoggers sleep off their hangovers on the ship.

Both during our winter and summer sailings, the water was crystal clear and calm. We brought our water shoes but really didn’t need them. We mainly walked along the beach when we arrived in January because the water was a little cold. But in July, we got right in, and no the ocean did not feel like bath water. It was cool and calm and bluer than I have ever seen.

Honestly Bahamian water, especially on Eleuthera, is the most spectacular in the world, I think.

We grabbed a soda at a nearby bar when it opened, I think around ten a.m. When it was time for lunch, we made the mistake of going all the way to the other side of the island for the buffet. It was already crowded when we arrived around 11:30. We stood in line for an assortment of burgers and chicken with a few sides available plus a large fruit stand outside of the tent.

After returning to our chairs, we realized, we could have eaten at the buffet only two seconds away. It offered the same food and no wait! For some reason, we thought there would be something different at the other tent. But no, both serve exactly the same food.

So, wherever you are on the island, grab a plate and stand in line at the closest tent. The earlier you get there, the better. The food looked a little picked over by around 1 p.m.

I had chicken and my husband grabbed a burger. But honestly, if we find ourselves in Princess Cays a third time, we will eat a big breakfast, head to the island again on the first tender boat, but skip the food on the island and head back to the ship for a late lunch.

It’s not that the food is bad, it’s just that I am not a big meat eater, and the sides were just OK. Also there is more to choose from on the ship. And ferrying back is actually quicker than getting to the island, There always seems to be a tender boat ready, unless I would guess, if you wait until late in the day.

How does Princess Cays Compare to other Private Islands?

As of this writing, I have only been to one other ship’s island, and that was Disney’s Castaway Cay in the Abacos. I found both to be very similar. Beautiful clear blue water and “picnic type” food to eat. Granted I was on the Disney cruise 25 years ago, so I am sure some things have changed.

We are cruising to Royal Caribbean’s CocoCay in about a month. It is located in the Berry Islands and is supposed to be one of the nicest. My husband and I booked the Coco Beach Club there, so I will definitely do a detailed write up.

Would I recommend Princess Cays? Absolutely. The beach is gorgeous and the water is the bluest we have ever seen. Just don’t expect gourmet food.