Looking for a perfect day? It’s at CocoCay.

Life isn’t always easy and we work hard for most of our lives, that’s why it’s important to take time when we can to recharge and have fun. It may seem like you don’t have enough time to have a rejuvenating or adventurous trip, but you do have time for a perfect day.

Royal Caribbean is now offering a long weekend cruise to the Caribbean paradise where you can experience your own Perfect Day at CocoCay.

How to get there:

Miami, Miami, Miami! The stunning port city is where the cruise originates on Friday afternoon. We had a few extra days, so we decided to stay on South Beach for a couple of nights before the cruise.

Whether you fly in on Friday or take an extra day, grab a Lyft to head to the docks. It’s local knowledge that Uber prices tend to be higher than Lyft.

Where to stay:

When booking your cruise, you have a variety of options that can fit your budget. If you plan to use your room just to sleep, you can get an interior room without a window and spend your waking hours above board, or you can choose a sea view, a sea balcony, or a suite.

I highly recommend getting a room with your own private balcony overlooking the ocean – the calming effects of this is priceless. I loved waking up to it and throughout our days, we’d end up there to find peace, clarity, and an epic view of the Atlantic Ocean or crystal blue Caribbean Sea. Our highlight was streaming the Game of Thrones finale on our balcony, on my laptop, under the stars on open ocean with lightning storms crackling in the distance. It was quite epic.

How to get around:

The cruise ship is big, so you’ll probably hit your 10k steps pretty easily. There is so much available to do and see throughout the ship that you’ll barely realize how much you are walking. Make sure you have comfortable shoes and sandals to switch between.

The Perfect Day at CocoCay island is made for walking around, swimming, and straight up lounging. There are pathways connecting most of the attractions with signs to direct you from one area to another. Do try to study the map before you head to the island so you have an idea of where you’re going before you get there.

When you’re at Nassau, depending on how far you want to go — I recommend using their taxi services to get to Atlantis, Paradise Island. If you want a closer beach destination, walk through their famous Bey Street for shopping and end up at Junkanoo Beach. Just a 10-15 minute walk from the docking port.

Find the fresh juice stand and get your first drink there after passing up some of the touristy spots. The Fruit Smash with a healthy dose of spirit will get you feeling right. If you walk the path behind the beach, you’ll find a few guys chopping fresh coconuts open with machetes. They’ll let you take a healthy sip from the coconut water before filling it back up with amaretto. It’s a surprisingly delightful combination!

What to do:

There are so many attractions, shows, and things to do on board and on the islands. From chill to thrill, Royal Caribbean makes sure to provide something for everyone. Once you’e on board, you can also schedule excursions on land such as swimming with pigs, reef snorkeling, wine & walking tours, sailing, and much more.

The island of CocoCay has just about everything you can ask for including zip lines, hot air ballon, tons of huge waterslides, swim up bar, sports courts, shopping, snacks, beaches, and more.

From plunging down the tallest waterslide in North America and traveling up to 450 feet in the air in the Up, Up and Away helium balloon, to conquering the Caribbean’s largest wave pool, thrill seekers can find plenty of ways to put their courage to the test. For those looking to relax, Perfect Day features the Caribbean’s largest freshwater pool, Oasis Lagoon; and pristine, white sand beaches with crystal-clear tropical water, so guests of all ages can create their perfect beach day – no matter what that may look like.

My advice is to start with one of their attractions that takes you to the top where you get a clear view of the entire island. From there it was easy to spot the exact locations I wanted to go.

Each day, they provide you with a very helpful pamphlet that gives you all the information you need to know. READ IT. It’s very helpful and informative. There is also a schedule on all activities for the day where we each found things that aligned with our interest.

With 3 full days of relaxing and excitement on vacation, I still found it hard to get completely off of work-mode. So I was convinced I needed to start my vacation with the ultimate treat – a Swedish massage at Vitality Spa. You know, to truly unwind and maximize all our vacation time.

The Vitality program offers enrichment seminars, Medi-Spa and holistic spa services, out-of-this-world fitness facilities powered by Technogym and specialized fitness classes, separate spa for teens and a beauty salon that promises to make you look as good as you feel. It’s never been easier to find balance on vacation – or in your life!

I also love how Royal Caribbean incorporated fitness into their program. We set sail on Friday and Saturday morning, at 7 am, when I went to join their Fab Abs class in their Fitness Center — the place was packed with people and good energy.

Where to dine & drink:

If you like spirited cocktails, get the Deluxe Beverage package that covers your tab both on board and on the island at CocoCay. Once on the island, be sure to check out their Snack Bar during their BBQ lunch hours from 11:30 to 1:30 pm — it’s a massive and solid buffet.

We got a hot tip from the CEO for an off-menu item, get the Chicken Sandwich from the Snack Shack and ask them to put mozzarella sticks on top for a chicken parm hack.

There are tons of options, all over the place. My best advice is to pace yourself, it’s a long weekend.

“Live in the sunshine. Swim in the sea. Drink in the wild air.” – Emerson

Cruises have certainly come a long way in the past few years, and CocoCay has taken the experience up to yet another level. If you’re the type that loves all-inclusive experiences, you will have a great time spending a long weekend with Royal Caribbean.