Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas (RCI Royal Beach Club)

Paradise Island (Bahamas) has total area approx 1 mi2 (2,8 km2, or 277 hectares / 685 acres) and is located close to Nassau (just offshore New Providence Island's northern tip). Just 3 mi (5 km) to the east is Rose Island.

Paradise Island is privately-owned (resort and residential property). It is best known for the Atlantis Resort - a huge leisure complex with Aquaventure (water park), exclusive beach, several premium hotels, restaurants, shops, casinos. Both islands (New Providence and Paradise) are connected via two bridges over Nassau Harbour. Passenger ferries provide regularly scheduled service from Nassau to the surrounding islands, and mainly to Paradise Island.

Until 1999, Paradise Island had its own airport that served the carriers (now defunct) Paradise Island Airlines and Chalk's International Airlines, as well as US Airways Express (linking to Fort Lauderdale's Hollywood Airport). Today, the airport's area is occupied by the 18-hole Paradise Island Golf Course. The top-luxury golf course is surrounded by the "Ocean Club" - one of The Bahamas wealthiest residential areas, with the top-properties priced from ~USD 40 million.

Initially named Hog Island, the isle's development started in 1959 following the island's purchase by George Huntington Hartford II (owner of A&P - US chain of grocery stores, 1859-founded, 2015-bankrupted). Hog Island was previously owned by Axel Wenner-Gren (Swedish entrepreneur, one of the world's wealthiest men during the 1930s).

Paradise Island was officially opened in 1962. In 1984, Paradise Island was purchased by Merv Griffin (USA TV show host). The island's current market value (as of 2020) is ~USD 2 billion.

Royal Beach Club Bahamas (Royal Caribbean's property on Paradise Island)

In mid-March 2020, RCCL-Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd announced plans to build a second (after St Johns Antigua) Royal Beach Club (private resort property) at Paradise Island's western end. The complex is exclusive (for RCI-Royal Caribbean International cruise ship tourists only) and visited as a "beach day" shore excursion option via private tours from Nassau.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island was developed with premium beaches and RCI's signature beachside resort amenities and services. In February 2020, RCG purchased land from private landowners ("multiple real estate parcels"/13,5-acres/5,5-hectares) on Paradise Island's western coast, at the cost of ~USD 50 million (~EUR 42 million). Additional 7 acres/2,8 hectares were leased by The Bahamas government.

Royal Beach Club has max capacity 3500 (cruisers plus staff) and consists of two dining pavilions (sized 35000 ft2/3252 m2 each/ with max guest capacity 1500 each), a resort-style swimming pool (sized 26000 ft2 / 2415 m2), splash pad for children (sized 4000 ft2 / 371 m2), beach facilities (14 bars, restrooms, cabanas for rent, large swimming pools) and dining/entertainment (Bahamian food, beach-style barbecues, live music and dancing by local performers). The facilities are supported by a reverse osmosis plant (for water desalination), wastewater plant and waste management facility, fuel storage, storage building.

Royal Beach Club Bahamas has 3 primary zones - Family Beach, Serenity Beach, and Activity Zone (with pools).

RCI's Royal Beach Club admission is all-inclusive, covering water taxi transportation (to/from the resort), all food and beverages (including alcoholic), beach access (chairs, umbrellas), non-motorized watersports activities (swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, paddle boarding).

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island has a total of three resort-type swimming pools, three distinctive zones (one for families, one for parties, one for relaxation) each with a large pool and swim-up bar.

Royal Beach Club Bahamas now totals 17 acres/~7 hectares, including 13 acres of RCG-owned land and 4 acres of Crown Land. This is a public-private venture that includes 51% RCG ownership, with the remaining 49% equity being owned by Bahamian businesses and entrepreneurs.

Construction works were scheduled to start in October 2021 and to be completed by May 2023. However, due to the COVID crisis, the project was postponed. The construction was officially started on April 22, 2024, with completion in 2025. The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Jason Liberty (RCG's President and CEO), Michael Bayley (RCI's President and CEO), as well as Philip Davis (The Bahamas’ Prime Minister) and Chester Cooper (Deputy Prime Minister).

The development project was based on Royal Caribbean’s sustainability principles and proven practices, and fully compliant with The Bahamas' environmental requirements. These include the 100% elimination of single-use plastics, the use of compostable packaging and biodegradable cutlery, biodigesters (for processing organic waste), partnerships with Bahamian recycling companies, using renewable energy sources (solar, wind, hydro), as well as protecting the marine environment by avoiding dredging of the seabed, not building overwater cabanas, and installing the best wastewater treatment plant.

A Bahamian company conducted environmental monitoring during construction and operation, with public reporting of the results.

By this project, Royal Caribbean also restored Paradise Island's western end by removing invasive plant species and adding native plants and vegetation.

In August 2024, RCI signed contracts with two architectural firms for the development of the Royal Beach Club - ArchVenture Company (Bahamas/design), and Stantec (Canada/engineering). Key commitments included zero waste-to-landfill, using renewable energy, no dredging or overwater cabanas, sustainable wastewater treatment, habitat protection and environmental monitoring.

More details on the project are expected in the coming months.

Paradise Island Atlantis Resort

The world-famous resort was officially opened in 1968 (as Paradise Island Hotel & Casino) and renamed (to Atlantis Paradise Island) in 1998. The property was initially owned by Resorts International (one of Merv Griffin's companies). In 1994, the resort was purchased by Kerzner International Ltd (a company of Solomon Kerzner - the founder of South Africa's largest hotel chains - Southern Sun Hotel Group, and Sun International). In 2007 were two large, top-luxury hotels - The Cove (600-room) and The Reef (497-room). Today, the Atlantis Resort is owned and operated by Brookfield Property Partners LP (2013-founded real estate company, subsidiary of Brookfield Asset Management). In 2014, the Resort became a member of Autograph Collection Hotels (independent premium hotels within Marriott International Inc's brands).

Besides The Cove and The Reef hotels, the Atlantis Resort also includes The Beach Tower (casual hotel), The Coral Tower (600-room, with resort pools and swim-up bar), The Royal Tower (one of the world's most expensive), Harborside Resort (392 villas, seafront restaurant, swimming pool area), The Marina (yacht/boat berthing facility where can dock even world's largest superyachts), Marina Village (shopping center).

The Aquaventure waterpark's signature attractions include Mayan Temple Slides (6-stories high structure with water rides, including a near-drop slide plunging into a shark-filled lagoon / via transparent submerged tunnel), Rapid River (1 mi / 1,6 km long artificial river with waterfalls, waves, rapids, steam and lighting effects), Power Tower (height 120 ft / 37 m, with 4x waterslides), The Dig (Atlantis-themed complex with 14x artificial lagoons and 50,000+ marine animals / 250+ different species), Ocean Club Golf (18-hole golf course sized ~63900 ft2 / 6000 m2, with restaurant and clubhouse bar).

Atlantis Resort guests can charter boats for exclusive tours to nearby islands (including Rose Island). Resort-owned luxury tour boats also do scenic cruising around Paradise Island and in Nassau Harbour.