This is the highest-rated cruise destination in the world — and it's not what you think
What's the highest-rated cruise destination in the world?
If you guessed Barcelona; Rome; Athens, Greece; or Amsterdam — four of the most iconic cruise destinations in Europe — you'd be wrong. Ditto if you named Sydney or Tokyo.
It's also not Jerusalem (reached from the port of Haifa, Israel) or Buenos Aires, Argentina.
In fact, it's not any of the world's most famous travel destinations that are filled with historic sites, cultural attractions, great restaurants and world-class entertainment, as you might think it would be.
It's a decidedly more laid-back — and recently created — getaway: Perfect Day at CocoCay.
That's the word from Royal Caribbean Group, which has been telling Wall Street analysts lately that the recently revamped and expanded private island in the Bahamas has been knocking it out of the park when it comes to passenger ratings.
Related: How to visit Perfect Day at CocoCay on zero dollars
In a research report released this week, Barclays analyst Brandt Montour said Perfect Day at CocoCay's growing dominance as a destination was a topic of discussion this week during a meeting with Royal Caribbean Group chief financial officer Naftali Holtz, who noted it was now "the highest rated destination in the company's portfolio."
Royal Caribbean Group is the parent company of the world's largest cruise line Royal Caribbean, as well as Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises. It's also a part owner in Germany-based lines Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and TUI Cruises.
The ships operated by the five brands collectively account for a significant portion of the cruise business worldwide and stop at just about every major destination around the world accessible by water. That gives the company unique insight into the preferences of cruisers, which it mines by seeking feedback from every customer after every sailing.
Until recently, only the company's Royal Caribbean ships had been visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay, but the company's Celebrity Cruises ships are beginning to stop at the island this year, too.
Over the past few years, Royal Caribbean Group has poured hundreds of millions of dollars into overhauling and expanding Perfect Day at CocoCay, including adding a major new adults-only zone called Hideaway Beach this year that makes room for another 2,000 people a day.
Related: Royal Caribbean debuts Hideaway Beach: See photos of the adults-only beach club
The revamping of Perfect Day at CocoCay (which until a few years ago had much less infrastructure and was just known as CocoCay) also has included the addition of the biggest water park in the Bahamas or Caribbean and the region's largest freshwater pool.
The additions have turned the destination into a massive beach and amusements escape for cruisers on a scale not seen anywhere else in the world. With the addition of Hideaway Beach this year, it now has room for around 13,000 people at a time. It's expected to draw about 3 million visitors this year — a new record.
The additions also are turning cruises that include a stop at the destination into an increasingly popular alternative to a trip to such land-based mega destinations as Disney World near Orlando and the megaresorts of Las Vegas, Royal Caribbean executives have noted in recent conference calls with Wall Street analysts.
Related: Labadee vs. CocoCay: Which Royal Caribbean beach is right for you?
That may be giving Royal Caribbean Group a leg up on some of its cruising competitors.
In his research report this week, Montour noted Royal Caribbean Group felt that the success of Perfect Day at CocoCay along with the debut of blockbuster new Caribbean-based Royal Caribbean ships such as Icon of the Seas — the largest cruise ship ever — had given the company a "sustainable competitive advantage" in the Caribbean versus other cruise companies.
Royal Caribbean Group in recent months has been reporting record bookings and pricing for cruises, with voyages booking out further in advance than ever.
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The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless carries a $95 annual fee but offers plenty of ways to get more value from it year after year. You’ll get automatic Silver elite status, which awards 10% bonus points on stays, and enjoy a pathway to Gold status (with 15 elite night credits each year) to lock in some even better benefits. Cardholders also receive an annual free night certificate (worth up to 35,000 points) each cardmember anniversary. Those who can maximize this certificate can lock in a room with a rate far exceeding the $95 annual fee.Pros
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- Earn 125,000 Bonus Points + 1 Free Night Award after qualifying purchases.
- Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases annually on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.
- Earn 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend.
- 1 Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.
- Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card.
- Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, automatic Silver Elite status, and path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each calendar year.
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| 17X | Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card. |
| 3X | Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases annually on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining. |
| 2X | 2X points for every $1 spent on all other purchases. |
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Earn 125,000 Bonus Points + 1 Free Night Award after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within 3 months of account opening with your Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card. Free Night Award valued up to 50,000 points. Certain hotels have resort fees.125K Points + 1 Free NightAnnual Fee
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Why We Chose It
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless carries a $95 annual fee but offers plenty of ways to get more value from it year after year. You’ll get automatic Silver elite status, which awards 10% bonus points on stays, and enjoy a pathway to Gold status (with 15 elite night credits each year) to lock in some even better benefits. Cardholders also receive an annual free night certificate (worth up to 35,000 points) each cardmember anniversary. Those who can maximize this certificate can lock in a room with a rate far exceeding the $95 annual fee.Pros
- Annual free night certificate (up to 35,000 points) each cardmember anniversary
- Automatic Silver elite status with a pathway to Gold
Cons
- There are better Marriott cards if you want higher tier status or no annual fee
- Earn 125,000 Bonus Points + 1 Free Night Award after qualifying purchases.
- Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases annually on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.
- Earn 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend.
- 1 Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.
- Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card.
- Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, automatic Silver Elite status, and path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each calendar year.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Your points don't expire as long as you make purchases on your card every 24 months.
- Member FDIC