Why I built Private Island Insider

Andre MckenzieFounder & Editor · Private Island Insider

Cruise line private islands have become one of the most marketed — and most confusing — parts of any sailing. Every line says theirs is the best, prices for cabanas and waterparks change constantly, and it's genuinely hard to know which island fits your family before you've already booked.

I'm Andre Mckenzie, and I started Private Island Insider to fix that. The site is new and independent — no cruise line owns us or pays for coverage. My job is to do the unglamorous research so you don't have to: I pull together official cruise-line information, island maps and itineraries, then organize it into clear, honest, side-by-side guides.

How we keep it honest

• Editor's Scores, not fake reviews. Every island gets a transparent 0–5 score that reflects our editorial assessment — here's exactly how we score. We don't invent user reviews or review counts.
• Independent. We make money through clearly-labeled affiliate links and ads — never by selling a better score. Read our editorial policy.
• Kept current. Islands change — new ships, new attractions, new pricing. We date every guide and revise as things change.
• Your experience counts. Been to one of these islands? Tell us what we got right or wrong — real reader input makes the guides better.