A Barbie-themed escape is coming to the Caribbean, with Barbie-style accommodation and menus, a pink carpet and mermaids. Rose Dykins reports
Toy manufacturer Mattel and the Atlantis Paradise Island resort in the Bahamas, have teamed up to develop “Barbie Bahamas Beach Vacation: Where Atlantis Dreams Come True“, an immersive, Barbie-themed paradise experience in celebration of Barbie’s 65th anniversary. (Pricing has yet to be announced.)
Debuting on Memorial Day weekend (May 25, 2024) and lasting through the summer, the Barbie-core vacation (prompted by the huge success of 2023’s Barbie movie) will offer a host of Barbie-themed experiences, as well as Barbie-themed guest rooms and suites, a bespoke retail offering and entertainment.
The “Barbie Bahamas Beach Vacation” will be an “immersive experience” set within the Royal hotel, against a backdrop of the largest open-air marine habitat in the world. There will be several instagrammable Barbie-themed sets, activity stations and Barbie doll boxes for guests to climb inside and take photos, as well as portholes offering a glimpse of “real-life mermaids.” Other fun highlights will include the pink carpet that covers the Royal’s grand staircase and a Barbie ball pit.
Barbie-themed beachside guestrooms and cabanas will incorporate iconic Barbie design elements and details, such as pink pillows and throw blankets, and customised cushions and cabana accessories. (Last year, Airbnb offered stays Barbie’s Malibu Dreamhouse, pictured below.)
Meanwhile, the Coral’s Sun and Ice café will be reimagined as a Barbie culinary adventure, complete with an exclusive, Barbie-inspired menu featuring desserts, cocktails, mocktails, and themed décor. Atlantis Kids Adventures will also offer Barbie-themed experiences, such as cooking classes and entertainment. Guests can also enjoy a free Barbie movie night both poolside and in the Atlantis Theater.
Julie Freeland, senior director of Location Based Entertainment at Mattel, says: “What better way to celebrate Barbie’s 65th anniversary than to create a one-of-a-kind guest experience for the first time ever at Atlantis Paradise Island. Atlantis is unmatched in offering top of the line experiences, a commitment to consumers and fans that we deeply value at Mattel.
Audrey Oswell, president and managing director of Atlantis Paradise Island, says: “Atlantis Paradise Island’s collaboration with the global toy and entertainment company Mattel adds to the resort’s 25-year history in providing world-class, experiential entertainment.
“What makes the ‘Barbie Bahamas Beach Vacation: Where Atlantis Dreams Come True’ special, is that it is meant to be enjoyed by all generations and will offer a range of accessible experiences. We are a resort that has a long history of delivering unforgettable experiences to our guests, and firsts to The Bahamas. Barbie fits that bill.”
The collaboration follows the Atlantis Paradise Island’s 25th anniversary year, which brought multimillion-dollar renovations, including the complete revamp of the Royal, a reimagined Atlantis Casino, and the new Bar Sol.
Atlantis has gained new restaurants, including Silan, the Mediterranean-inspired restaurant from James Beard Award-winning chef Alon Shaya, and Paranza at The Cove, a coastal Italian restaurant by Chef Michael White, making Atlantis the only resort in the Caribbean with three Michelin-star-rated chef-led restaurants.
The Perch at the Cove also offers the first and only Shake Shack in the Caribbean, with specialty menu items unique to the Bahamas, and a full bar.