CocoCay
{{Short description | Private Bahamian island used for tourism}}
{{distinguish|Cayo Coco}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Perfect Day at CocoCay
| settlement_type = Island
| other_name = Little Stirrup Cay
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| image_skyline = Perfect_Day_Coco_Cay_PANO.jpg
| image_caption = CocoCay
| imagesize = 200px
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| shield_size = 100
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| pushpin_map = Bahamas
| pushpin_label_position = left
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| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{BHS}}
| subdivision_type1 = Island
| subdivision_name1 = Little Stirrup Cay
| subdivision_type2 = District
| subdivision_name2 = Berry Islands
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| population_as_of = 2010
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| population_total = 38
| population_density_km2 = auto
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| timezone = Eastern Time Zone
| utc_offset = -5
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| coordinates = {{coord|25|49|N|77|56|W|region:BS|display=inline,title}}
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| area_code = 242
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CocoCay or Little Stirrup Cay, sometimes titled Perfect Day at CocoCay ({{IPAc-en|k|oʊ|k|oʊ|k|eɪ}}) is one of the Berry Islands, a collection of Bahamian cays and small islands located approximately {{convert|55|mi|km}} north of Nassau.{{Cite news |date=January 21, 2007 |title=Coco Cay |pages=P10 |work=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/19/AR2007011900550.html |accessdate=2009-01-17}} It is used for tourism by Royal Caribbean Group exclusively. Little Stirrup Cay is adjacent to Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian Cruises' private island since 1977.
Geography
The island is less than a mile (1.57 kilometer) long from east to west and less than 480 yards (0.43 kilometer) from north to south. It has a population of 38 (2010 census).{{Cite web |title=Berry Islands Population by Settlement and Total Number of Occupied Dwellings 2010 Census |url=http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/wps/wcm/connect/a8fb83dc-2813-4ba1-bc71-4b9a54dae167/BERRY+ISLANDS+POPULATION+BY+SETTLEMENT_2010+CENSUS.pdf?MOD=AJPERES |publisher=Bahamas Department of Statistics}}
History
On the night of October 13, 1848, the ship Susan Drew ran aground on the island. To lighten the ship enough to raise it off the sea floor, the captain ordered the masts cut and disposed of. Afterwards the ship was able to be towed to Nassau.{{cite news |date=November 3, 1848 |page=4 |work=New York Daily Herald |title=Herald Marine Correspondence: Miscellaneous |url=https://archive.org/details/susan-drew-ship}} On April 7, 1855, the ship Oswego took on water and was beached near the island to save it from sinking. The lower cargo hold was one-third full of water when the ship was abandoned.{{cite news |url=https://archive.org/details/disasters-oswego |title=Disaster: Ship Oswego |work=New York Daily Herald |date=April 27, 1855 |page=8}} In February 1868, the brig C. B. Allen, Bray was badly damaged and had to beach itself on Little Stirrup Cay.{{cite news |title=Marine Disasters |date=February 16, 1868 |page=10 |work=New York Daily Herald |url=https://archive.org/details/marine-disasters}} In February 1871, the USS Pawnee was beached and had to be towed off the sandbar by HMS Philomel.{{cite news |date=February 17, 1871 |page=3 |work=The Fremont Weekly Journal |location=Fremont, Ohio |title=U.S. Ship "Pawnee" |url=https://archive.org/details/us-ship-pawnee }} In December 1872, the Prestissimo, Dahms was beached and had to throw overboard 3,000 bushels of salt to free itself.{{cite news |date=December 9, 1872 |page=4 |work=The Baltimore Sun |title=Ship News }}
On July 30, 1986, a fire broke out in a storage locker upon the Eastern Steamship Lines' SS Emerald Seas, soon after departing the island. 20 shipboard fire fighters fought the blaze before the arrival of the U.S. Coast Guard. Temporarily, 987 passengers were evacuated to the island and 17 passengers were treated for smoke inhalation.{{cite news |title=Inspectors Examine Ship For Clues to Fire, Explosion |work=The Morning Herald |page=22 |location=Hagerstown, Maryland |url=https://archive.org/details/inspectors-examine-ship}}
Tourism
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., which owns Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises, assumed the lease of the island upon acquisition of Admiral Cruises in 1988. In 2019, the island was extensively renovated by Royal Caribbean at the cost of $250 million and renamed Perfect Day at CocoCay.{{Cite web |title=This Is Your Perfect Day: Royal Caribbean Opens $450 Million Private Island in The Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay |url=https://www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com/press-release/1394/this-is-your-perfect-day-royal-caribbean-opens-250-million-private-island-in-the-bahamas-perfect-day-at-cococay/ |access-date=2022-07-22 |website=www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com |language=en}} Upon being announced in 2018, the renovation plans were criticised by activists, who raised concerns about harm to the environment and "natural beauty", drawing Disneyland and Disney World comparisons, and to small local businesses.{{Cite web|url=https://observer.com/2018/04/royal-caribbean-expansion-cococay-island-environment/|title=Activists Slam Royal Caribbean's $200 Million Expansion at CocoCay|journal=Observer|first=Kaitlynn|last=Keller|date=17 April 2018|accessdate=3 April 2023}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.tribune242.com/news/2018/mar/16/activists-slams-royal-caribbeans-200m-coco-cay-pla/|title=Activist slams Royal Caribbean's $200m Coco Cay plans|journal=The Tribune|first=Morgan|last=Adderley|date=16 March 2018|accessdate=3 April 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://future-cruise.nridigital.com/future_cruise_sep18/private_cruise_islands_drawing_ethical_lines_in_the_sand|title=Private cruise islands: drawing ethical lines in the sand?|website=Future Cruise|first=Ross|last=Davies|date=5 September 2018|accessdate=3 April 2023}}
File:Liberty of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas docked in CocoCay.png
A pier was constructed on the north side of the island, which allows cruise ships to dock directly instead of using tenders.{{Cite web |date=2019-03-16 |title=First look at first new venues at Perfect Day at CocoCay |url=https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2019/03/16/first-look-new-offerings-perfect-day-cococay |access-date=2022-07-22 |website=Royal Caribbean Blog |language=en}} A waterpark was constructed on the "thrill" side of the island, with two towers containing waterslides, including North America's tallest Daredevil's Peak, and two pools. On the "chill" side is the beach with cabanas.{{Cite news |date=July 31, 1986|title=Cruise Ship Evacuated In Bahamas After Blast |publisher=Miami Herald |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/07/31/us/cruise-ship-evacuated-in-bahamas-after-blast.html |accessdate=2020-08-10}}
The east end is the centre of recreational activities with beaches fronting a coral basin where manatees, rays, and numerous fish can be seen.{{Citation needed|date=May 2022}} Nature trails run the entire length and width of the island.{{Citation needed|date=May 2022}}
Climate
{{Weather box
| location = CocoCay, Bahamas
| width = 50%
| single line = Y
| Jan high F = 77
| Feb high F = 77
| Mar high F = 81
| Apr high F = 82
| May high F = 84
| Jun high F = 88
| Jul high F = 90
| Aug high F = 90
| Sep high F = 88
| Oct high F = 86
| Nov high F = 82
| Dec high F = 79
| Jan record high F = 90
| Feb record high F = 91
| Mar record high F = 91
| Apr record high F = 91
| May record high F = 96
| Jun record high F = 98
| Jul record high F = 97
| Aug record high F = 99
| Sep record high F = 97
| Oct record high F = 95
| Nov record high F = 91
| Dec record high F = 89
| year record high F = 99
| year high F = 84
| Jan low F = 63
| Feb low F = 63
| Mar low F = 64
| Apr low F = 66
| May low F = 70
| Jun low F = 73
| Jul low F = 75
| Aug low F = 75
| Sep low F = 75
| Oct low F = 72
| Nov low F = 68
| Dec low F = 64
| Jan record low F = 46
| Feb record low F = 45
| Mar record low F = 50
| Apr record low F = 54
| May record low F = 59
| Jun record low F = 61
| Jul record low F = 63
| Aug record low F = 67
| Sep record low F = 67
| Oct record low F = 59
| Nov record low F = 54
| Dec record low F = 48
| year record low F = 45
| year low F = 69
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 1.5
| Feb precipitation inch = 1.7
| Mar precipitation inch = 1.2
| Apr precipitation inch = 1.8
| May precipitation inch = 4.6
| Jun precipitation inch = 8.5
| Jul precipitation inch = 5.9
| Aug precipitation inch = 6.6
| Sep precipitation inch = 7.0
| Oct precipitation inch = 7.2
| Nov precipitation inch = 2.4
| Dec precipitation inch = 1.7
| year precipitation inch = 50.1
| Jan humidity = 75
| Feb humidity = 73
| Mar humidity = 72
| Apr humidity = 71
| May humidity = 73
| Jun humidity = 76
| Jul humidity = 74
| Aug humidity = 75
| Sep humidity = 77
| Oct humidity = 76
| Nov humidity = 74
| Dec humidity = 75
| year humidity = 74
| date = November 2021
}}
References
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External links
{{Commons category}}
- [http://marinas.com/view/overview/544 Aerial photos of Little Stirrup Cay]
- [http://www.blue-n-gold.com/halfdan/bahamas.htm A former caretaker writes about life on the island] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130309041631/http://www.blue-n-gold.com/halfdan/bahamas.htm |date=2013-03-09 }}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20060426171300/http://www.bahamas.com/bahamas/island/templrgstandard.aspx?sectionid=74032&level=2 About the Stirrup cays]
- [https://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/cococay/interesting/ Images tagged with "Coco Cay" at Flickr]