Nassau Bahamas!

This stop is like the VIP Lounge for cruise ships. So many ships are registered there that you’ll find “Nassau” tattoo’d on most all cruise ships.

We’ve been to Nassau a few times, so the plan was simple: stay on the ship, avoid crowds, and embrace our inner hermits. But then Royal Caribbean went and opened the Royal Beach Club a few weeks ago. Cue the research phase—for our family this means binge-watching YouTube videos like we were preparing for a PhD in beach lounging. The verdict? Two thumbs up from everyone. So, we caved. And WOW—best decision ever.

The place was paradise with a side of “why didn’t Royal do this sooner?” Our teens claimed Chill Beach, while hubby and I took the younger kids to Family Beach. Hubby lounged while I took the kids to play in the zero-entry heated pool. We played pool tag and my calves paid the price for that the next day. We coaxed hubby into the pool where is promptly made his way to the swim up bar for a drink. After consuming his drink, we gathered our belongings and headed to the beach for some sun and sand.

The Atlantic wasn’t exactly warm, but that didn’t stop people from diving in like it was a dare. The waves were a little rowdy, so I gave my kids the classic “stay back” speech. My 4-year-old listened… until he didn’t. He sprinted toward the waves like he was auditioning for Baywatch. Spoiler: Baywatch didn’t call. I fished him out with a head full of sand and a new respect for gravity. He didn’t try that stunt again.

The Royal Beach Club is all-inclusive, which I learned means: skip the buffet breakfast and save room for the good stuff. Our teens figured that out faster than I did and ate like royalty. By the end of the day, we all agreed: we’re coming back—and yes, we’ll pick cruises that stop in Nassau just for this.

Back on the ship, we showered, dressed up, and headed to dinner followed by the Aqua Theater show. If you’re ever on an Oasis Class ship, DO NOT miss the aqua show. It’s like Cirque du Soleil met the Olympics and decided to throw a pool party. Dancers, divers, tightrope walkers—Utopia’s show had it all. I was so mesmerized I didn’t take a single photo. Luckily, my daughter saved the day with a few snaps.

After a day of sun, sand, amazing food, and jaw-dropping entertainment, we collapsed into bed like happy, sunburned zombies.