Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, told analysts in October that its continued success can be partly attributed to its highest-rated port, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

I've visited the in-demand destination three times since 2022. It's no surprise the 5½-year-old Bahamian retreat has become the inspiration for the company's quickly growing private port-folio.

However, behind this superiority complex, I also secretly love indulging in a vacation.

Not an emotionally taxing trip — a mushy-brained break where I get to rot on the beach and indulge in frivolous luxuries like guiltless naps and sugary beverages.

That about sums up why cruisers love Royal Caribbean's private island.

Some travelers criticize CocoCay for being an inauthentic Bahamian experience. While true, and for better or worse, that was never its promise.

The island was designed as an extension of Royal Caribbean's ships — a beach resort on steroids.

The island has options for every type of paradise-seeking traveler. And much like going on a cruise, there's no need for planning as part of your visit (save for excursions like entry to its beach clubs). It's all set out for you.

For kids, CocoCay has a waterpark, a zipline, a water playground, and easygoing activities like ping-pong tables.

For adults, the island has two pool clubs: a boozy Vegas-style party at Hideaway Beach and a pricier high-end retreat at Coco Beach Club.

For traditionalists seeking a no-frills beach day, CocoCay's sandy waterfront is lined with innumerable lounge chairs and slow-sloping banks.

Several popular cruise ports are in destinations where the US Department of State has issued travel advisories, such as Mexico's Ensenada, Baja (Level 3 — "reconsider travel" ) and Manzanillo, Colima (Level 4 — "do not travel").

The agency also suggests travelers "exercise increased caution" when visiting the Bahamas, home of CocoCay.

Yet, the island felt like one of the safest places I've recently toured.

As such, the only people there are its staff and the ship's crew and guests.

My biggest fear there? Getting a sunburn.

That's great news for concerned parents traveling with children or folks who may have read one too many cruise-related horror stories.

Travelers love splurging during their daylong visit. The island doesn't require third-party excursion operators, allowing Royal Caribbean to maximize these profits.

Sections like the waterpark and beach clubs cost money to enter, from about $100 per person for the former to upward of $300 for Coco Beach Club.

Free parts of the island also have eye-catching upgrades, such as snorkeling equipment and costly cabanas.

Liberty told analysts that the cruise giant is "very mindful of having sizable significant returns" as it relates to its private properties. (It recently acquired the land for Perfect Day Mexico for $292 million.)

The company is using what it learned from CocoCay to design the Mexico location, which would also have free and paid amenities.

The same can't be said for the coming Royal Beach Club Collection.

The inaugural Paradise Island resort would accommodate about 4,000 guests a day. All would have to pay to enter, which would it a strong revenue driver.

For Royal Caribbean, the island is a source of demand and increased revenue.

These private ports are a win-win all around, although competition could soon be stiff.

Carnival Corp is also racing to expand its private port portfolio.

The competing cruise giant plans to debut its $600 million private resort, Celebration Key, in 2025 and expand its existing private island, RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, in 2026. It's already selling 2026 itineraries that include both destinations, starting at about $350 per person for a four-day sailing.

Don't expect to find a prime lounge chair by the water if you disembark the ship a few hours late. You'll still have options, but they might not be what you daydreamed about during the sea day.

CocoCay has different areas for different travelers, whether you're an adult looking for a boozy party or a child looking for waterslides.

I've visited every section of the island, including the upcharged ones. Your experience won't be miserable if you stay in the free zones.

The complimentary beaches will be satisfactory if all you want is to lay in the sun and intermittently cool off in the ocean.

It can get noisy (the shoreline will likely be filled with sandcastle-building children). Still, they'll have everything you need for a proper beach day, including rows of lounge chairs, food stands, and outdoor activities like ping pong.

Coco Beach Club is perfect for relaxing with your hands around a piña colada and your legs dipped in the infinity pool. It's the island's highest-end retreat, where visitors can take a quiet nap on the beach after their filling filet mignon and lobster sandwich lunch.

However, peace is a luxury — cruisers have reported entry fees between $200 to $300 per person.

If you're dead set on an upscale and calm experience, no other part of the island will compare. If you're not picky about ambiance or food, save your money.

If Coco Beach Club is for detoxing, Hideaway Beach is for "retoxing."

It's where Las Vegas pool clubs meet the Bahamian breeze — where a visit to the five bars will quickly teleport you to your glorious Greek life days.

Hideaway Beach is boozy, rowdy, and loud. There's no escaping the DJ's booming speakers.

You could drink anywhere around CocoCay — the island has more than 10 bars. But if you're exclusively looking for a Jersey Shore pool club-like ambiance, Hideaway Beach will be perfect.

Admission ranges from about $40 to $90 per person, a spokesperson told BI in February.

The island's complimentary Oasis Lagoon pool, saddled with a water playground and swim-up bar, is popular with families. In my opinion, it looks like every other large resort pool.

For something more memorable, consider the waterpark. There, you'll find 14 waterslides, a wave pool, and another with jungle gym-like activities.

It's as fun, stomach-dropping, and exhausting as any traditional waterpark. Plus, there are plenty of lounge chairs for parents who'd rather sit out the tallest 135-foot-long slide.

Expect to pay around $100 per person.

CocoCay has several complimentary buffets and food kiosks. All offer easy bites like salads, hot dogs, and burgers.

If you need dessert, find one of the three Snack Shacks. They're the only stands that serve funnel cakes, presented hot out of the fryer with a snowy sprinkling of powdered sugar.

Delectable, nostalgic, and easy to throw back.

Don't feel forced to spend the full day at CocoCay. Instead, I suggest returning to the ship a few hours before the all-aboard time.

Most guests will still be meandering around the island, giving you free range of the ship. It's the best time to try any popular onboard activities with long lines during sea days, such as the waterslides, zipline, and dry slides.