Short answer: The best Royal Caribbean shore excursions in Costa Maya, Roatan and Cozumel are the ones that get you past the cruise-port shops and into the real place. On this week’s Mouse Chat, the team just sailed Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas, skipped the standard beach day, and tested three off-the-beaten-path tours — then settled the debate over which cruise line has the best private island.
By Steve Griswold and the Mouse Chat team — hosts of the Mouse Chat family travel podcast (15 years and 860+ episodes) and Authorized Disney Vacation Planners at Pixie Vacations since 2009. This week’s hosts: Lisa, Steve, Caitlin and Sharpie.
What We Cover This Week
We just got off Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas, the Icon-class ship that debuted in 2025, and this sailing was all about the ports. Instead of the usual “find a beach chair” day, we booked three excursions that pushed us a little further out — one each in Costa Maya, Roatan and Cozumel — and talked through what was worth the money, what we would skip, and how to book shore excursions without overpaying.
Costa Maya and Cozumel are Mexico’s Yucatan cruise stops, and Roatan (Honduras) is one of the Caribbean’s best islands for snorkeling and diving. In the episode we walk through how each day went, how much walking and travel time to expect, and the small things that make or break a port day with kids in tow — from tender versus dock to how early you really need to be back onboard.
Then we get into the debate cruisers love: whose private island is best? We compare Disney’s Castaway Cay, Disney’s newer Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, and Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay — what each one does well, who it is really built for, and whether a private-island day beats a day ashore in port. According to Royal Caribbean, Star of the Seas sails these Western Caribbean itineraries with Perfect Day at CocoCay built into many of them.
Here is the quick lay of the land on the three private islands we compare:
| Private Island | Cruise Line | Best Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Castaway Cay | Disney Cruise Line | Relaxed, family-first Bahamian beach day |
| Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point | Disney Cruise Line | Newer Eleuthera island with Bahamian culture and art |
| Perfect Day at CocoCay | Royal Caribbean | Thrill day: waterpark, zip line, pools and beach clubs |
Listen to This Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which ship is this episode about?
Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas, the line’s Icon-class ship that debuted in 2025, on a Western Caribbean sailing.
What ports does this itinerary visit?
This episode covers three Western Caribbean stops: Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico, and Roatan in Honduras.
Are cruise shore excursions worth it?
It depends on the port and your group. We break down when a booked excursion is worth the money versus when you are better off exploring on your own, and how to avoid overpaying either way.
Which cruise line has the best private island?
There is no single winner — it comes down to what your family wants. Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay lean relaxed and family-first, while Perfect Day at CocoCay is built for thrills. We talk through who each one is right for.
Plan Your Cruise with Pixie Vacations
Ready to sail? You can browse and book almost every major cruise line online through the Pixie Vacations cruise booking engine — compare live prices on Royal Caribbean, Disney, Virgin Voyages and more, and book in a few clicks.
Want a human to help you plan the whole trip? Pixie Vacations offers free cruise and vacation planning with no booking fees. Get a quick vacation quote, call us at 678-815-1584, or learn more at PixieVacations.com. Not sure which cruise line fits your family? Take our 60-second cruise line matcher for a head start.
Last updated: October 2026
