PRIVATE ISLANDS- WORTH THE VISIT OR NOT?

In the busy Caribbean cruise market, what is known as the 'private island' has become all the rage. Ever since the as-was Norwegian Caribbean Line introduced the first one at Little San Salvador back in 1977, every major player in the region has ramped up it's efforts to purchase one or more of these alternatives to the mainstream destinations visited on a typical. seven night Caribbean cruise.

Typically, the idea is to create a slice of pre-programmed 'paradise' ashore in a setting that is exclusive to one (or sometimes more) cruise lines. For instance, the ships of both Carnival and Holland America Line visit HAL's private venue at Half Moon Cay, while ships of both lines also visit the Carnival developed beach resort and complex on Grand Turk.

in the old days, the formula was fairly simple; the prime requirement was a large, ideally flawless sandy beach, with a readily accessible area to which large numbers of passengers could be safely disembarked and picked up again. There had to be facilities to lay out a vast, all day buffet, plus of course a bar or two. With some water sports laid on, a volley ball pitch as an optional extra, and thousands of sun beds sprinkled everywhere, the whole ethos of the 'private island' was for a relaxed, no hassle day of fun in the sun before the end of the voyage.

My, how times have changed! With a renewed determination to siphon as much money from passengers' pockets as possible, many lines have now added a series of seductive extras, though naturally these come at a price. From use of jet skis to the hiring of private, prime location luxury cabanas, the cruise lines are rolling out ever more ingenious ways to pad out their bottom lines.

Thus, there are now zip lining rides, shore side shops that sell local, 'ethnic' products, horse riding opportunities, and even water parks for tjhe kids. What was once about sheer relaxation has now largely become just another, amplified exercise in making money, albeit with some pretty damned stylish and ingenious takes that most people actually love.

Now, with lines such as Royal Caribbean building actual docking piers at Coco Cay in the Bahamas, the race is on to make these little gems ever more accessible for the hordes carried on the largest ships. Having got us hooked on the first generation of private islands in the Seventies, the cruise lines are now seeking to hone and redefine the concept for a whole new generation of cruise fans.