Princess Cays

Princess Cays: A Barefoot Paradise on Eleuthera's Southern Shore

Princess Cays occupies a forty-acre private resort on the southern tip of Eleuthera, one of the Bahamas' most naturally beautiful islands — a slender ribbon of land stretching a hundred miles through the shallow turquoise waters between the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Bahama Bank. Eleuthera's name derives from the Greek word for "freedom," bestowed by the Eleutheran Adventurers — Puritan settlers from Bermuda who arrived in 1648 seeking religious liberty and found an island of extraordinary natural beauty. The Princess Cays property, operated exclusively by Carnival Cruise Line, sits on a stretch of coastline where the sand is fine enough to squeak between your toes and the water graduates through every shade of blue the eye can distinguish.

The character of Princess Cays is deliberately, blissfully simple. There are no motorised vehicles, no high-rise buildings, and no attempt to impose anything beyond the essentials of beach relaxation on the landscape. The resort occupies a crescent bay sheltered by a natural breakwater, creating calm swimming conditions even when Atlantic swells run high on the island's eastern shore. Palm-thatched cabanas line the beach. Hammocks hang between coconut palms. The snorkelling is easily accessible from shore, with healthy coral heads harbouring parrotfish, sergeant majors, and the occasional southern stingray gliding across the sandy bottom. For those who want more active engagement with the water, kayaks and paddleboards are available, and a dedicated area for parasailing offers aerial views of Eleuthera's impossibly thin silhouette stretching northward.

The dining experience at Princess Cays centres on a beachside barbecue that captures the spirit of Bahamian outdoor cooking. Grilled chicken, ribs, and burgers are the staples, but the conch fritters — golden, crispy, and served with a tangy dipping sauce — are the authentic Bahamian highlight. Fresh tropical fruit, coleslaw, and corn on the cob round out the buffet, while the beach bars mix Bahama Mamas, Goombay Smashes, and rum punch in quantities calibrated to the warmth of the sun. The flavour profile is uncomplicated and perfectly suited to the setting — food that tastes best when eaten barefoot with sand between your toes and the sound of small waves breaking on the shore.

The natural environment surrounding Princess Cays is surprisingly rich. The southern tip of Eleuthera is sparsely populated, and the surrounding waters are part of the vast shallow banks that make the Bahamas one of the most important marine ecosystems in the Caribbean. Green sea turtles graze on seagrass beds just offshore. Osprey nest in the casuarina trees behind the beach. The limestone rockshore beyond the resort's boundaries reveals tidal pools teeming with sea urchins, small crabs, and colourful molluscs. At low tide, the sandbar extends far enough to wade several hundred metres from shore, the water barely knee-deep and impossibly clear.

Carnival Cruise Line operates Princess Cays as an exclusive port of call, with ships tendering passengers to the beach from offshore anchorage. The experience is curated for relaxation rather than adventure — this is not a port for cultural exploration or historical discovery, but rather a day designed to deliver the Caribbean beach fantasy in its purest form. The proximity to the reef provides better snorkelling than most private islands can offer, and the overall atmosphere is one of unpretentious enjoyment. Visit any time from November through May for the most pleasant temperatures and lowest humidity, though the Bahamas' warm climate makes Princess Cays appealing throughout the year.