When you picture a private beach club in the Caribbean, you probably think of loungers, cocktails, and plenty of saltwater time. Royal Caribbean is adding something extra to that picture at Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, where local Bahamian art will be woven into the experience from the moment guests step ashore. Instead of art being an afterthought, the island itself becomes a gallery for bright murals and expressive sculptures created by local hands.
Royal Caribbean is expanding its Artist Discovery Program to Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in The Bahamas from next month, commissioning 11 local artists to create murals and sculptures across 25 locations. Their work will be anchored in three themes - Underwater Adventures, Junkanoo Jubilee, and Bahama Bliss - bringing Bahamian culture, marine life, and relaxation into every corner of the beach club for visiting guests.
Bringing Bahamian Art Into the Beach Club Experience
This latest chapter of Royal Caribbean’s Artist Discovery Program is about taking something that started on board and planting it firmly in local soil. Instead of seeing art only in corridors and stairwells, guests will wander through a beach club where creative work is part of the landscape, reflecting the people and stories of The Bahamas. For travellers who care about a sense of place, that shift is very welcome.
By focusing on a dedicated group of Bahamian artists, the line is turning its Paradise Island project into more than just another pretty stretch of sand. It becomes a canvas for local voices, which is exactly the kind of detail that can make a private destination feel distinctive rather than interchangeable with any other island stop.
From Shipboard Program to Shore-Based Canvas
Royal Caribbean’s Artist Discovery Program was originally designed to spotlight emerging creators within the fleet, giving them space to show their work to a global audience. Extending that idea onto land at Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is a natural next step. It means the same ethos of discovery and support now reaches into the communities that host the line’s ships.
For guests, it also blurs the line between ship and shore. You might admire art in a lounge on your sea day, then step into a beach club where murals and sculptures carry that creative thread into the sand and palm trees. It is a more joined-up way to think about the whole holiday, rather than treating the island visit as a separate, purely recreational chapter.
Eleven Local Artists, One Shared Stage
The program is working with 11 local Bahamian artists, each bringing their own style, materials, and perspective. Their work will appear across 25 locations around the beach club, which means you will encounter it organically as you move between pools, bars, dining spots, and quiet corners.
Because there are multiple artists involved, you can expect a range of approaches, from bold figurative murals to more abstract pieces that play with colour and shape. What unites them is the focus on local themes, whether that is marine life, festival traditions, or the simple joy of slowing down in the sun.
Art as Part of a Day at the Beach
Crucially, the art is being integrated into the fabric of the beach club rather than hidden away in a gallery. That means you might lean against a wall that doubles as a mural backdrop for your holiday photos, or stroll past a sculpture on the way to the water without feeling you have to step into a formal viewing space.
For families, this creates an easy way to introduce younger travellers to local creativity. It is not a case of “dragging the kids to a museum”, it is simply part of their day, as natural as ordering lunch or hopping in the pool. For couples and groups of friends, it adds something to talk about between swims and cocktails.
Three Themes That Bring the Bahamas to Life
To give the island’s art a clear backbone, Royal Caribbean and its chosen artists are working with three guiding themes: Underwater Adventures, Junkanoo Jubilee, and Bahama Bliss. Each acts as a lens on a different facet of Bahamian life, from the reefs just offshore to the music and movement of local celebrations and the laid-back rhythm of island days.
These themes help ensure the artwork is not just decorative, but rooted in real stories and symbols. As you move around the beach club, you will see them play out in different colours, shapes, and motifs, giving you a richer sense of what makes The Bahamas tick beyond the postcard view.
Underwater Adventures: Celebrating Marine Life
The Underwater Adventures theme focuses on the rich marine life that surrounds the islands, from coral gardens to schooling fish and graceful rays. In mural form, this might mean sweeping underwater scenes that wrap around walls and corners, making you feel as if you are stepping into the water without leaving the sand.
This theme is a nice bridge between snorkelling sessions and time on land. After a morning exploring the real reef, you can wander through painted or sculpted interpretations that highlight details you might have missed or creatures you did not see on your swim. It can also spark curiosity in guests who are not strong swimmers but still want to connect with the ocean environment.
Junkanoo Jubilee: Movement, Music and Colour
The Junkanoo Jubilee theme takes its cue from Junkanoo, the vibrant street parade tradition that blends costumes, music, and dance. Here, you can expect art that pulses with rhythm, whether through swirling patterns, stylised instruments, or figures caught mid-step.
For visitors, these pieces are an invitation to look beyond the beach club gates and imagine the island’s festive streets. Even if you are not in town for a major celebration, the art gives you a taste of that energy. It might influence the kind of live music you seek out later in the day, or inspire you to ask local staff about their own Junkanoo memories.
Bahama Bliss: Relaxation as an Art Form
The third theme, Bahama Bliss, leans into the idea of relaxation itself as something worth celebrating. Here, artists might focus on sun-dappled scenes, gentle waves, hammocks, and moments of quiet connection. The mood is softer, yet still rooted in the colours and textures of the islands.
This theme works particularly well in lounge areas, cabana zones, and walkways where you are already in a slower headspace. Seeing relaxation reflected in the artwork can reinforce the idea that it is not just acceptable, but encouraged, to slow down, breathe, and treat this as a genuine pause from daily routines back home.
What This Means for Future Beach Days in the Bahamas
Royal Caribbean’s Bahamian leadership has made it clear that this project is about more than brightening up some walls. As Philip Simon, President of Royal Caribbean Group Bahamas, has noted, Bahamian culture is known for being vibrant and dynamic, and the island’s artwork is intended to reflect that “lively energy and beautiful landscape” throughout the destination.
For guests, that means beach days that feel more rooted in place. For the local community, it signals a willingness to put Bahamian voices and visual language front and centre in a major new development. In a region where many private destinations risk blending into one another, this focus on culture is significant.
A Stronger Sense of Place for Guests
When you arrive at a private island or beach club, it can sometimes be hard to tell exactly where you are beyond the colour of the water. By embedding local art and themes into Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, Royal Caribbean is helping guests feel they are in The Bahamas, not just “somewhere tropical”.
That sense of location can shape how you talk about the trip when you return home. Instead of simply saying you visited a cruise line beach, you are more likely to recall specific murals, sculptures, and motifs that tie back to Bahamian culture, making the destination itself part of the story.
A Visible Platform for Local Talent
For the artists involved, the beach club becomes a high-profile outdoor gallery, with a steady stream of international visitors passing through. That visibility can open doors, whether through future commissions, collaborations, or simply increased recognition of their work.
For guests, seeing local names and styles repeated across the island gently reinforces the idea that there is a living, evolving creative community beyond the pier. If you enjoy taking something home, it may even inspire you to seek out local galleries or maker markets during a longer stay in The Bahamas.
A Template for Cultural Beach Clubs Elsewhere
This approach also sets an interesting precedent for how private destinations might be designed in other regions. If Royal Beach Club Paradise Island proves popular in part because of its art and cultural framing, other beach clubs and island projects may follow suit, leaning more heavily into local partnerships rather than generic décor.
For travellers who value authenticity, that is a promising sign. It suggests that future developments might treat art, music, and storytelling as core components of the guest experience, not just optional extras sprinkled on top.
As cruise lines continue to invest in ports and private destinations, partnerships like this one help shape what those places feel like once guests arrive. Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is being positioned not just as a place to swim and sunbathe, but as a living canvas for Bahamian creativity, which makes it more interesting for families, couples, and solo travellers who enjoy a sense of discovery with their downtime.
If you are starting to think about how to weave Paradise Island into a wider itinerary, it can be helpful to look at the broader picture of Royal Caribbean sailings that call in The Bahamas. Using S.W. Black Travel’s online Cruise Finder, you can explore different routes, ships, and dates that include the beach club, and compare them with other Caribbean options that might suit your holiday plans.
Plan an Art-Filled Caribbean Cruise With Expert Help
Turning this colourful concept into a real holiday starts with choosing the right sailing. You will want to think about when you can travel, which ship suits your style, and how much time you want to spend in the region beyond your day at Royal Beach Club Paradise Island. From there, it becomes easier to filter down to itineraries that fit your calendar, budget, and wish list.
You do not have to map it all out on your own. If you would like tailored guidance on cruise options that include the new beach club, connecting flights, pre-cruise hotel stays, and the best cabin choices for your traveling party, you can message with our cruise travel advisers. With the right support, you can line up a Caribbean voyage that combines easy beach time with a genuine dose of Bahamian art and culture, so your day on Paradise Island feels just as memorable as the moments you spend on board.
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