Photos taken at Perfect Day at CocoCay on February 4, 2026 show the damage to the island’s cruise pier following a powerful winter storm. Because of the damage sustained, Royal Caribbean has been forced to limit access to one ship per day at its private destination in the Bahamas.
Candid Cruise & Travel was aboard Utopia of the Seas, which successfully docked at Perfect Day at CocoCay on February 4. While visiting the private island, two of our writers, Patty Vognild and Beda Pavek, observed the damage firsthand and spoke with local Royal Caribbean staff members stationed on the island.
The photos reveal missing catwalk sections along portions of the pier. These catwalks are narrow aluminum walkways that normally connect the main pier to offshore concrete mooring platforms, often referred to as bollard islands, where ships’ mooring lines are secured.
Multiple photos show that the attachment points where the catwalks were previously secured are still clearly visible, while the walkways themselves are no longer in place.
During Utopia of the Seas’ departure, additional images show dock workers standing on the offshore concrete platforms where the catwalks once connected.
Because pedestrian access between the pier and the platforms was no longer available, a small work boat was used to ferry dock workers to the platforms so they could secure and later release the ship’s mooring lines.
This boat-based access replaced the normal pier-to-platform movement that would typically occur via the catwalks.
Additional photos show divers preparing equipment near the pier as the ship departed, consistent with ongoing efforts to locate and retrieve the broken catwalk sections that fell into the water during the storm.
Extensive catwalk damage during storm
According to Royal Caribbean staff members on CocoCay, the damage occurred during an unusually intense winter storm that moved through the region over the weekend of January 31, 2026.
The system brought strong winds and heavy seas to the Bahamas, creating hazardous marine conditions across the area.
One staff member explained that waves during the storm were high enough at times to wash over parts of the pier. During those conditions, multiple catwalks on the eastern side of the pier broke free and fell into the water.
While the main pier structure remains intact, the loss of these catwalks created an immediate safety concern. The fallen sections landed near the mooring platforms, raising the risk of underwater obstructions in the docking area.
How the pier damage limits docking capacity
Although ships can technically dock without catwalks, the damage has significantly altered how docking operations can be carried out at CocoCay.
Under normal conditions, dock workers walk along the catwalks from the pier between the concrete platforms to receive and secure mooring lines. This system allows crews to safely move between platforms and secure ships on both sides of the pier, even when two vessels are docked at the same time.
Without the catwalks in place, workers cannot move between platforms on foot. Access by small boat becomes the only alternative, but that workaround is only feasible when a single ship is docked.
When two ships are alongside the pier, their hulls block boat access to the outer platforms, making it impossible for line handlers to safely reach the bollards.
On February 4, only Utopia of the Seas was docked at CocoCay, allowing dock workers to be transported by boat to handle line operations.
Royal Caribbean staff indicated that this method cannot be safely used when more than one ship is present, effectively limiting the pier to one ship per day until repairs are completed.
As a result, Royal Caribbean has restricted docking at Perfect Day at CocoCay to a single vessel per day.
Divers are locating the catwalk, but repairs are still pending
Local Royal Caribbean staff told Candid Cruise & Travel that divers have since located the fallen catwalks a short distance from the pier. However, specialized equipment is required to retrieve them safely.
Once recovered, local staff said they will still need to be inspected to determine whether they can be safely reused. If the structures sustained significant damage, repairs or full replacement may be required before they can be reinstalled.
As a result, while the fallen catwalks have been located, it remains unclear how long the one-ship-per-day restriction at Perfect Day at CocoCay will remain in place. If repairs or rebuilding are required, normal two-ship docking operations could take additional time to resume.
Itineraries already affected by the damage
The pier damage has already resulted in multiple itinerary changes for Royal Caribbean and Celebrity cruise ships.
On February 4, Celebrity Reflection was scheduled to dock at CocoCay alongside Utopia of the Seas but was diverted to Freeport, Bahamas. On February 3, Wonder of the Seas was the only ship able to dock at the island while Freedom of the Seas skipped its planned stop visit.
Guests were informed after embarkation that unresolved pier damage prevented safe docking, and the ship instead enjoyed a sea day before visiting Cabo Rojo, Dominican Republic.
While Royal Caribbean has not outlined how it will prioritize ships on days when multiple vessels are scheduled to visit CocoCay, the cruise line will likely allow whichever ship has more passengers onboard.
Larger vessels generate significantly more onboard and shore-side revenue, particularly at private destinations where excursion sales, cabana rentals, food, and beverage spending are controlled by the cruise line.
Perfect Day at CocoCay was not the only private island affected by the storm. Norwegian Cruise Line’s Great Stirrup Cay also sustained pier damage, forcing ships to tender passengers ashore when conditions allowed. Unfortunately, the cruise line just completed its long-awaited pier in December 2025.
Across the region, multiple cruise lines reported canceled port calls, altered itineraries, and unexpected sea days as the storm disrupted marine operations.
Photo credit: All images in this report were taken by Candid Cruise & Travel while docked at Perfect Day at CocoCay on February 4, 2026. Photos may not be reproduced, redistributed, or republished without proper credit and a direct link to Candid Cruise & Travel.
I see that both Liberty and Adventure were able to dock today!
Very interesting! Thanks for pointing that out. Looks like maybe two “smaller” vessels might be able to dock without utilizing the catwalk. The Oasis and Icon class ships require more length for docking.