Caylana's Castle Cove Aqua Park Caylana's Castle Cove Aqua Park--the largest Aqua Park in the Bahamas--features several attractions that are perfect for your water-loving kids.
One of the two giant floating sand castles is meant for climbing, while on the other kids can enjoy a fast slide down into the water. Your aquanauts can also bounce on the huge 25-foot square water trampolines, rock and roll on the floating "Water Totter" and test their balance as they run across the log roll.
Caylana's Castle Cove Aqua Park is fun for both adults and kids.
Waterslide Royal Caribbean boasts that its SeaTrek Water Slide is the world's largest inflatable water slide. Standing 45 feet high and 175 feet long, the slide features a steep slope and an extended sliding area.
Plunging down this three-story slide is an exciting adventure for the whole family. It can be an opportunity for thrill seekers, or simply a nice cushy ride for those less daring. Hey, adults enjoy the experience as much as kids! And kids love to see their parents making the plunge!
Located on Wanderers Beach, just south of the Tender Lagoon, it's hard to miss. Royal Caribbean sells individual rides as well as daily passes that let users slide down as often as they like.
Royal Caribbean staffers are on hand to ensure that all rides down the SeaTrek Water Slide are safe and fun for all.
Adventure Ocean Kids from 3-17 are invited to take part in Royal Caribbean's complimentary Adventure Ocean Youth Programs. Adventure Ocean was specially designed to blend educational activities with just plain fun.
Your child will learn about local customs, conduct cool science experiments and make great new friends. To participate, children must be three years of age and potty-trained (diaper and pull-up free). Every member of the staff holds a college degree in education or other related field, or has qualified experience in working with children.
On CocoCay, the Adventure Ocean facility is located near the Lighthouse on the north side of the island.
Swimming CocoCay is a great place to enjoy a swim, as the water is clear and refreshing. And it doesn't cost anything, and there's nothing wrong with free.
There's a main swimming area, located adjacent to Snorkel Beach, but you can really swim anywhere--that includes Watersport Beach, Wanderers Beach and Barefoot Beach.
During the winter months, the water temperatures drop to the high 60s F, so it may seem too cool to swim. But in the afternoon it warms up a bit, and you'll want to take a dip if just to cool off.
The snorkel vest rule is not enforced for swimmers, only snorkelers.
When you're swimming at CocoCay, you may encounter jellyfish during certain times of the year--especially late summer and early fall. Move to avoid them if you can, as a jellyfish sting can hurt worse than a bee sting. If you encounter a dead jellyfish on the beach, don't mess with it. And if you get stung, head to the first aid hut.
If you plan on swimming, make sure to bring a towel from the ship, as there are no towels available on the island. And don't forget to reapply your sunscreen whenever you get out of the water--the Bahamian sun can be brutal, and there's nothing worse than a bad sunburn to turn a great vacation into a so-so one.
Snorkeling The overall quality of the snorkeling on CocoCay is good, but not great, as there's not much of a reef experience. But Royal Caribbean is doing all it can to enhance the reef experience. The water is pretty clear, and if you're waist deep in the water, you'll be able to see any critters swimming around your ankles.
You can rent your snorkel gear at the Snorkel Shack. If you've brought your own, that's good, but not good enough, as everyone who snorkels on CocoCay is required to wear a snorkel vest (rental fee is $6 for the day).
The snorkeling area is located on, unsurprisingly, Snorkel Beach. There are several lifeguards who watch over the area, and they rigidly enforce the snorkel vest rule by blowing whistles as if a Great White is on the loose. The folks at Royal Caribbean and Celebrity have sunk an airplane, a small ship and a cannon as props to lure both snorkelers and fish to explore the area. Several times a day, the lifeguards come out to feed the fish, creating a frenzy that's worth witnessing up close and personal. Don't even think about feeding the fish yourself.
When you're snorkeling at CocoCay, you may encounter jellyfish during certain times of the year--especially late summer and early fall. Move to avoid them if you can, as a jellyfish sting can hurt worse than a bee sting. If you encounter a dead jellyfish on the beach, don't mess with it. And if you get stung, head to the first aid hut.
If you plan on snorkeling, make sure to bring a towel from the ship, as there are no towels available on the island. And don't forget to reapply your sunscreen whenever you get out of the water--the Bahamian sun can be brutal, and there's nothing worse than a bad sunburn to turn a great vacation into a so-so one.
Nature Trail A 3-mile nature trail that will take you around the 140-acre island begins near the western end of Wanderers Beach. The far end of the island is called "land's end," and from there the realization that you're in the middle of nowhere comes down hard and heavy.
The nature trail will take you through the lush Bahamian foliage. You'll encounter some interesting trees, including coconut palms (which are not native to the Bahamas), sea grapes, red mangroves, coppice and Gumbo Limbos (also called the "Tourist Tree," because they have a bright red peeling bark, much like a tourist with a bad sunburn).
You may also encounter a number of migrating birds, including green herons and royal terns. Black iguanas can be found all over the island; they can grow up to 5 feet in length, and are the fastest running lizards on earth. While they are generally harmless, don't try to pet them.
Fisher Price Power Wheels Track If you're bringing your little ones on your cruise, they will have a ball on the Power Wheels Track, located near the Water Slide. Created for the exclusive use of 3 to 8 year olds, the Power Wheels Track is where they can take one of about a dozen miniature cars, including a Hummer, Jeep or Cadillac Escalade, for a spin. Just make sure to oil them up liberally with sunscreen before they take on the world.
Hair Braiding Want to keep cool and look cool? Have your hair braided, Bahamian style, by one of the local people on the island. The hair braiding services can be found in the area adjacent to the Straw Market. Payment for the braiding services is made in cash only--both Bahamian and U.S. dollars are accepted..
Shoreside Games If you're looking for activities that don't involve water, you can participate in volleyball, shuffleboard and horseshoes activities on CocoCay.
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