Princess Cays--shade options

[Eskwire]

Can anyone tell me the booking options to have shade at the beach at Princess Cays? Can you just get an umbrella when you get off the ship or do you have to book that in advance? What if you want a chair? What are the other options?

[NeurosurgeryNP]

You can find many shady spots under the palm trees on the island and drag a lounger under them. Beach loungers are first come, first serve. You can rent a "clamshell" which is what we did for shade - it can get hot, but it was worth it IMO to have the shade on a day where the sun was very intense when we went. You can pre-reserve this in your cruise personalizer online. You have to pre-reserve, they will sell out prior to the ship getting on the island. They alo rent "beach bungalow" for around $200 for the day.

 

Enjoy your own private beach bungalow while at Princess Cays. The colorful beachfront bungalows are perfect for families or for those who want to make the most of their visit to Princess Cays. Located in the picturesque palm grove just behind the beach, each bungalow features air-conditioning and ceiling fan, a table and four chairs inside, two sun loungers outside on the deck, and a private shower. Additional amenties may be included for a supplemental charge such as a gourmet picnic. Ask for details at the Shore Excursion Desk onboard.

 

SPECIAL NOTES

A bungalow can accommodate up to six guests. Please book per bungalow. One ticket is valid for up to six people. This rental is non-refundable.

[GloriaF]

I agree with Jen & Tim above.

 

We usually go to P Cay early, are able to get loungers or a hammock in a shady location, and set up "camp". We take snorkel gear (also can be rented on the island), books and the ship's towels and just kick back and relax. We have lunch and enjoy ourselves, but head back before the rush at the end of the day when the lines can be long.

 

A few other things that may be of interest about P Cays - The soda card is not good on the island as all they have in the bars are canned sodas and the usual bar drinks. There are free ice water stations around the island. The complimentary BBQ is served from about 11 to 1 with chicken, hamburgers, hot dogs, and sides + dessert. There is also a small native market with a few goods and hair braiding for which you will need cash. Princess also has shops on the island with souveniers. Your cruise key card is good for everything but the native market.

[Toto2Kansas]

Princess Cays has a lot of shady spots. From palm trees to little thatched umbrellas with loungers underneath (these go fast so arrive early if you want to claim one). We normally try to get off the ship ASAP for a permanent umbrella with lounge. As said, there are not many and they are gone very quickly.

 

As long as you don't want to be right next to the water, there are always shady spots to find on the island.

 

The clamshells, as said, can be very hot so we have never even considered renting one. But we have visited others that have, it's how we know how hot they can get.

 

The Bungalows are nice, but quite pricey unless you find another two couples to split the cost. And if you are interested in one, book one as soon as your excursions open up, as after about 24-48 hours of the excursions showing on the Princess website, they are usually gone with a waitlist for others waiting to book one.