If the thought of spending the day on a private island appeals, read on. A resort pass is your ticket to a life of luxury without the hefty price tag, albeit for just a day. From private islands to five-star hotels, here are our favourite four day passes for cruisers.
Atlantis Paradise Island, Nassau
Located just 15 minutes from the port in Nassau, Atlantis Paradise Island is the playground of the Bahamas and it offers one of the very best day passes for cruisers. The $120 per person Aquaventure & Dolphin Cay Pass offers access to the 141-acre Aquaventure Water Park, entertainment and activities at family-friendly Dolphin Cay, access to 5 miles of Bahamian beaches and a choice of seven pools, including the 7-acre Paradise Lagoon Beach. If you’re travelling as a group, booking a room at the resort could work out more cost effective than paying for a pass per person. Rooms at Atlantis Paradise Island start at $400 per night and will not only give you access to all facilities and activities, but also a place to shower, change and chill before heading back to the ship.
Renaissance Aruba Private Island, Aruba
Aruba’s flamingos may be famous but they’re harder to find than you might think. Unless you head for Renaissance Aruba Private Island, where the flamingos have made their home since arriving on the island years ago and now happily interact with visitors in the water. The 40-acre island is an 8-minute water taxi from shore and is home to the only private beaches in Aruba, meaning it is quieter than other beaches on the main island and retains an air of exclusivity too. For ultimate peace and quiet, head for the adult-only beach.
A $99 day pass to Renaissance Aruba Private Island will provide access to the beaches, non-motorised watersports, lunch at Papagayo Bar and Grill, plus a drink at Mangrove Beach Bar. Not that it really matters what is included; we’d pay that just to see the flamingos.
Hard Rock Hotel, Tenerife
Spend a day living it up like rock royalty at Tenerife’s new Hard Rock Hotel, located on the coast near Costa Adeje. A €40 day pass (€20 for children) will buy you access to all hotel amenities, including the Rock Spa, three pools, a sparkling saltwater lagoon and the Hard Rock Roxity Kids Club. Day guests of the five-star resort will receive the cost of their pass as credit in any of its ten bars and restaurants too, making it even better value for money. With Asian fusion at Narumi, steak at Montauk or healthy eats with an ocean view at The Beach Club, plus cocktails overlooking the Atlantic at ‘The 16th’ rooftop sky lounge, it’s a great alternative to Mount Teide or Santa Cruz excursions if it isn’t your first time in Tenerife.
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Young Island, Saint Vincent
Most visitors to St Vincent head to Indian Bay but the busy beach isn’t a patch on Young Island. It’ll cost you somewhere in the region of $500 per person to spend a night there, but a water taxi will take you there for just $5 each. Once on the island, you’re free to laze for as long as you like, provided you keep to the left side of the beach. You’ll need to take your own towels as the swish sun loungers are reserved for private island residents only, however you’re free to snorkel the reef just off the beach, swim out for cocktails at the floating Coconut Bar and tuck into a plush Caribbean lunch in a restaurant with gorgeous views of the tropical gardens and St Vincent.
