6 cruise lines that have their own private islands

With chic staterooms, high-end amenities, and over-the-top service, the only thing many cruise ships are missing is a long sandy beach. To get their fix, many passengers buy day passes to island resorts, where they have to battle it out with registered hotel guests for beach cabanas, umbrellas, and towel space.

To remedy that, many cruise lines have purchased or leased private islands. Norwegian started the trend in 1977, when it bought Great Stirrup Cay from Belcher Oil Company. (And it will become the first cruise line with an island in Belize when Harvest Caye debuts off the coast of Placencia this fall.) Other companies with their own isles include Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line, and Holland America, which all have outposts in the Bahamas, and Paul Gauguin, which claims a motu in French Polynesia. MSC is set to join the club in December 2017, when it debuts its own Bahamian isle, Ocean Cay.

Here's what to expect from a private-island port of call: Ships generally dock in the morning and take off late in the afternoon. For lunch, a beach barbecue is practically a given, and there are generally enough bars to keep thousands of passengers’ cups full of rum punch and daiquiris. Water activities are also abundant, as most islands offer snorkeling, kayaking, jet skiing, parasailing, and paddle boarding.

As for shopping, while most activities and food can usually be paid for with on-ship cards, straw markets run by local islanders are often cash only—check before you leave the ship. But for many passengers, a day on a private isle is all about the beach.

Areas near the tender or pier will often be the most crowded, so ask about more secluded options before you leave the ship. And if the island doesn’t have its own pier, you’ll want to get a ticket on one of the first tenders. That way you can stake a claim on a primo spot on the sand.

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MSC Cruises: Ocean Cay, Bahamas

MSC Cruises is spending $200 million to turn this 95-acre former sand extraction station into a marine reserve and private port of call.  Set to welcome ships starting December 2017, Ocean Cay will feature 11,400 feet of white sand, a zip line, inland lagoon, and a wedding pavilion, plus a spa and wellness center for MSC Yacht Club guests. And unlike on other islands, there will be nightlife: MSC is building a 2,000-seat amphitheater for live performances, as well as multiple bars and restaurants. (Ships will dock at a pier, making it easy for passengers to go back to their cabin and change for dinner.)

Insider Tip: The 4,140-passenger MSC Seaside, set to debut in December 2017, will be the first ship to visit the island. 

Norwegian Cruise Line: Harvest Caye, Belize

Norwegian’s newest private island is set to open in November of 2016 off the southern coast of Belize. Four ships—Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Escape, and Norwegian Jade will call here on Western Caribbean cruises; sister brands Oceania and Regent Seven Seas also plan to visit on select itineraries. Among the over-the-top draws: a seven-acre beach with 10 private villas, a 15,000-square-foot pool with a swim-up bar, and the 130-foot-tall Flighthouse where guests will find ziplines, free-fall jumps, suspension bridges, and a ropes course.

Insider Tip: The island will serve as a launching pad for excursions to Belize’s mainland, but those who’d rather stay put can still check out some local wildlife at the aviary, which will house toucans, as well as a breed-and-release program for scarlet macaws. 

Paul Gauguin Cruises: Motu Mahana, French Polynesia

The vibe on this tiny private islet, just off the coast of Taha’a, is pure Polynesian. Arriving passengers are greeted with Tahitian singers and dancers known as Les Gaugines, there are pareo-tying and basket-weaving classes, and you can even learn how to make poisson cru (raw fish marinated in lime juice and coconut milk). Still, the real reason to visit these islands is that unfathomably clear turquoise water. Thankfully, there’s a palm-frond-covered floating bar so you can place your drink orders without leaving the sea.

Insider Tip: If you plan on having an overwater spa treatment on Motu Mahana, book yours as soon as you climb onboard them/s Paul Gauguin—slots go fast.