Step straight from a private plunge pool into a calm house-reef lagoon on a butterfly-shaped island — a 40-minute speedboat from Velana, all-inclusive, opened September 2023.
5-Star Resort Speedboat 40 min Plunge Pool All-Inclusive
Joy Island is Cocoon Collection's newest 5-star — opened September 2023 on Kassanfushi, a butterfly-shaped island 40 minutes by speedboat from Velana. The point of difference is pricing: all 151 villas have a private plunge pool, yet rates undercut most pool-villa 5-stars in the atoll.
151 villas split evenly between the sunrise and sunset sides of the butterfly-shaped island — 91 on the beach and 60 over the lagoon. Italian design house LAGO fitted out the interiors, and every category from the 50 sqm entry-level Beach Villa to the 300 sqm Beach Residence comes with its own plunge pool — an unusually generous standard at this price tier.
BeachAll pool
Beach Villas & Suites
From
$460
50–100 sqm ·44% smaller than avg
Beach Villa (Sunrise)Sleeps 350 sqmPool$460
Beach Suite Sunset ViewSleeps 4 · max 3 adults70 sqmPool$5••
Beach Suite with Private PoolSleeps 4 · max 3 adults100 sqmPool$7••
FamilyAll pool
Family Beach Villa
From
$7••
100 sqm ·24% smaller than avg
Two Bedroom Family Beach VillaSleeps 6 · max 4 adults, 2 children100 sqmPool$7••
OverwaterAll pool
Lagoon Villas & Suites
From
$5••
60–100 sqm ·42% smaller than avg
Lagoon Villa (Sunrise)Sleeps 360 sqmPool$5••
Lagoon Suite Sunset ViewSleeps 4 · max 3 adults70 sqmPool$6••
Lagoon Suite with Private PoolSleeps 4 · max 3 adults100 sqmPool$8••
SignatureAll pool
Joy Residences
From
$1,•••
280–300 sqm ·2.2× larger than avg
Two Bedroom Lagoon Residence with Private Pool (Overwater)Sleeps 6 · max 4 adults280 sqmPool$1,•••
Two Bedroom Beach Residence with Private PoolSleeps 6 · max 4 adults300 sqmPool$2,•••
Not sure which villa is right? We'll match you based on your group size, budget and priorities.
Prices shown are indicative low-season per night. See the season guide in the sidebar for how rates vary by time of year. We'll confirm exact pricing for your dates.
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Dining
4 Restaurants & 1 Bar
Dining at Joy Island revolves around The Market's international buffet, with three à la carte specialty venues covering Italian, Japanese teppanyaki, and beachfront seafood. Rainbow Bar is the poolside cocktail lounge that doubles as the resort's evening social hub.
The Market
International
The island's main buffet — live cooking stations rotating daily themes from street food to international grills. Breakfast here is particularly strong, with a fresh juice bar and made-to-order egg counter.
SettingMain buffet · Live stations · All meals
Our tipThemed evening nights rotate weekly — ask reception for the schedule
Japanese Corner
Japanese
Teppanyaki theatre with a live counter — chefs prepare sushi, sashimi, and grilled wagyu tableside. One of the more interactive specialty venues at this price tier in North Malé.
SettingIndoor · Teppanyaki counter · Dinner only
Our tipBook the counter seats — the chef show is the whole experience
Il Basilico
Italian
Authentic Italian — wood-fired pizzas, fresh pasta, and a proper tiramisu. Cocoon Collection is Italian-owned, and it shows in the depth of the menu compared to token Italian options elsewhere.
SettingIndoor · Wood-fired oven · Dinner only
Our tipPizza from the wood-fired oven is the standout — save room
Palm Beach
Seafood
Beachfront à la carte on the sunset side of the island — Spanish paella, fresh seafood, and grilled meats with sand underfoot. The daily sunset dining slot is the prime reservation.
SettingBeachfront · Sunset-facing · Dinner only
Our tipReserve a sunset table on arrival day — the island's best evening view
Rainbow Bar
Cocktails
Poolside cocktail bar and the resort's evening social hub — craft cocktails, wine list, and the dedicated JOY drinks menu. Theme nights and live entertainment run several evenings a week.
SettingPoolside · Open-air · All day
Our tipThe signature JOY cocktail menu has three drinks worth trying
Meal Plans
Dining Inclusions
The Premium All-Inclusive is the package most guests book. Half and Full Board are available but only sensible if you plan to eat mostly at The Market.
Plan
Restaurants
Alcohol
Minibar
~pp/day
Bed & Breakfast
The Market (breakfast)
—
—
Included
Half Board
The Market (B+D)
—
—
+$55
Full Board
The Market (B+L+D)
—
—
+$95
Premium All-Inclusive
All 4 restaurants + Rainbow Bar
Premium
Daily
+$160
Bed & BreakfastIncluded
The Market (breakfast)
Alcohol—Minibar—
Half Board+$55 pp/day
The Market (B+D)
Alcohol—Minibar—
Full Board+$95 pp/day
The Market (B+L+D)
Alcohol—Minibar—
Premium All-Inclusive+$160 pp/day
All 4 restaurants + Rainbow Bar
AlcoholPremiumMinibarDaily
Meal plan prices are a guide only — generally an average across the year. Resorts can change them at any time, they often vary by season, and a plan sold in one season may not be offered in another. We'll confirm what's available and the exact price for your dates.
Experiences & Activities
Your Days on the Island
Joy Island's activity programme leans sociable and active — PADI diving through Joy Dive Maldives, twin tennis and padel courts (still rare in the Maldives), a Kiddie Cove kids club, and an evening entertainment calendar that uses the Rainbow Bar and beach as its stage. The house reef and Turtle Point snorkeling are the marine highlights.
Water Sports & Diving
Joy Dive PADI centre · House reef · Turtle Point excursions · lagoon-calm eastern side
Joy Dive PADI centreOn-site · beginner to advanced courses · night dives available
House reef snorkelingDirect shore access on eastern side · breakwater keeps water calm
Turtle Point guided snorkelingReliable green turtle sightings · Boat excursion
Snorkeling directly from Lagoon VillasOverwater villas on sunrise side have ladder reef access
Kayaking & stand-up paddleboardingComplimentary with non-motorised water sports
Windsurfing & catamaran sailing
Jet ski ridesChargeable · 30 min guided laps
Glass-bottom boat tours
Fun tube & banana boat rides
Joy Dive Maldives. The in-house PADI dive centre runs beginner-through-advanced courses, with 20+ North Malé dive sites within boat range. The house reef — protected by a breakwater on the sunrise side — stays calm year-round and is accessible directly from the overwater villas or beach entry points on the eastern side.
Excursions & Cruises
Destination dining · dolphin cruises · local island visits · sandbank picnics
Sunset dolphin cruiseSpinner dolphins regularly seen in North Malé channels
Sandbank picnicPrivate sandbank drop with hamper — one of the signature experiences
Local island visitNorth Malé inhabited islands · cultural tours and markets
Malé city tourShort speedboat makes Velana/Malé accessible as a half-day trip
Destination dining — lagoon dinnerPrivate table under the stars on the overwater deck
Destination dining — beach BBQChef-grilled seafood set up on a private stretch of sand
Big game fishingWahoo, tuna, barracuda · half and full-day charters
Fitness centreFully equipped gym · cardio and weights
Manicure & pedicure
Dream Spa. The overwater Dream Spa has treatment pavilions suspended above the sunrise lagoon — the signature ritual is a couples massage with the sound of the water underneath. Therapists use a mix of Ayurvedic and Balinese techniques, and the spa runs an in-house yoga programme on the beach at sunrise.
Sports & Recreation
Tennis · padel court · nightly entertainment · pool parties
Crafts, games & treasure huntsDaily scheduled programme
Marine biology sessionsLagoon-based reef and turtle education
Shallow lagoon swimmingSunrise side is breakwater-protected · safe for young children
Babysitting on request
Kiddie Cove. The Kiddie Cove club runs supervised activities for ages 3–12 — crafts, treasure hunts, beach games, and marine-biology lessons on the lagoon. The short 40-minute speedboat removes the seaplane complexity that makes Maldives travel harder with young children, and the Family Beach Villa has an interconnecting door for parent-child privacy.
Resort Facilities
What's on the Island
Checked against the resort's own information. If something you need isn't listed, ask us before you book.
Dive centre
Spa
Gym
Yoga
Tennis court
Padel court
Kids club
Family & Kids
Family-Friendly Features
Kiddie Cove runs supervised activities for ages 3–12 with crafts, treasure hunts, and marine-biology sessions on the lagoon. The sunrise side's breakwater-protected shallow water is safe for young swimmers, every villa has a private plunge pool so swim time doesn't have to be at a public pool, and the 100 sqm interconnecting Family Beach Villa gives parents their own privacy. The 40-minute speedboat removes the seaplane friction of getting young kids to a Maldives resort.
Kiddie Cove
Ages 3-12
Babysitting
Available on request
Shallow Lagoon
Calm, shallow water safe for young children
Highlights for Kids
Plunge pool in every villaBreakwater-protected shallow lagoonTurtle Point guided snorkelingPadel & tennis courts
Family Villa Options
Two Bedroom Family Beach VillaTwo-Bedroom Beach Residence
Snorkeling & Marine Life
House Reef & Underwater
6
Good House Reef
Lux Atolls Reef Score · top 50% of Maldives resorts
Shore entry · eastern side · breakwater-protected calm water
Small nurse sharks · eagle rays · Turtle Point nearby · ladder access from overwater villas
The house reef on the sunrise (eastern) side of the island is protected by a breakwater, which keeps the water calm year-round and makes it one of the more forgiving shore-entry reefs in North Malé. Guests consistently describe it as an aquarium-like shallow swim with small nurse sharks, eagle rays, and vivid reef fish. The coral is still recovering from the 2016 bleaching event and the island itself is partly reclaimed, so the reef is better described as good and accessible rather than elite. Turtle Point is a short boat ride away for reliable green-turtle sightings.
PADI dive center on-site. Night snorkeling available. Marine life observations sourced from dive logs and guest reports.
Regularly spotted here (+7)
Reef Sharks
Small nurse sharks seen on house reef — blacktips on dive sites
Sea Turtles
Green turtles reliable at Turtle Point — short boat excursion
Stingrays
Eagle rays and stingrays spotted in the lagoon shallows
Tropical Reef Fish
Parrotfish, butterflyfish, angelfish — aquarium-like in the shallow lagoon
Octopus
Occasional on reef dives — less common than at older reefs
Dolphins
Spinner dolphins seen on sunset cruise — frequent in the channel
Manta Rays
Seasonal at North Malé cleaning stations — accessible via Joy Dive boat trips
Not typical at this reef (−1)
Whale Sharks
Not seen locally — South Ari excursions available from resort
Getting There
Transfer from Malé
Joy Island sits on Kassanfushi in the North Malé Atoll — a 40-minute speedboat from Velana International Airport. No seaplane is required, which means arrivals at any hour are straightforward. The shared speedboat runs on fixed schedules aligned with major international flights; return transfer is approximately USD 360 per person.
Speedboat
Shared speedboat
Velana Airport → Kassanfushi (40 min) · 24/7 scheduled service
~$360 pp roundtrip
Day and night arrivals accepted — no daylight restrictions. A free speedboat transfer offer runs year-round on stays of 7+ nights for two adults.
Resort island map — Joy Island Maldives by Cocoon Collection
Our Take
Who This Resort is For
Reviewed by Tym Lewtak, founder of LuxAtolls·Updated Sep 27, 2026
Joy Island's trick is pricing: plunge pool in every villa, premium all-inclusive, and a fresh-off-the-build Italian-designed 5-star — all at rates that undercut most pool-villa peers in North Malé. The trade-offs are honest — the reef is good rather than exceptional, and the island feels young because it is. But for couples or families who want the pool-villa 5-star experience without the usual five-figure bill, Joy is one of the stronger value propositions to open in the atoll in the last five years.
Ideal for
Couples after a 5-star all-inclusive with every villa having its own plunge pool — a spec usually reserved for $1,000+/night properties
First-time Maldives visitors — 40-minute speedboat removes seaplane complexity, and a brand-new 2023 property means everything still feels factory-fresh
Families who want a short transfer — Kiddie Cove for ages 3–12, interconnecting Family Beach Villa, shallow breakwater-protected lagoon, and a large 300 sqm Beach Residence for multi-family groups
Value-led 5-star hunters — Italian-run Cocoon Collection delivers authentic pizzas at Il Basilico and premium-spirits AI at a price point that undercuts most North Malé pool-villa peers
Consider elsewhere if
Snorkeling purists who want elite house reef — coral is still recovering from 2016 bleaching and the island itself is partly reclaimed; Baros and Vabbinfaru nearby are stronger
Travellers who want a long dining list — four restaurants is solid for the price but narrow compared to Kurumba's seven or Meeru's seven
Guests seeking mature trees and shade — a recently built island has limited canopy; existing resorts like Bandos feel more established
Why Book Through Lux Atolls
More Than Just a Booking
What you get with us vs. booking direct or through a generic OTA
Book with Lux Atolls
Best rate guarantee on partner resorts — we match or beat what you find elsewhere
Exclusive package inclusions negotiated through our direct resort relationships
Transparent pricing — transfers, taxes, and meal plans quoted upfront, no hidden fees
Personal trip advisor — villa matching, meal plan guidance, and honest recommendations
Maldives-only expertise — we know every reef, transfer route, and seasonal sweet spot
Direct resort contact — if something needs fixing, we call the GM, not a call centre
No booking fees, no hidden charges — the price we quote is the price you pay
Book Through Others
Published rack rate — no negotiated extras
No package inclusions beyond the standard rate
Transfer costs and taxes added at checkout
Generic customer support with no local knowledge
One-size-fits-all recommendations across dozens of destinations
Issues routed through a ticketing system, not a person
Hidden fees and service charges added late in the process
Frequently Asked Questions
Joy Island Maldives by Cocoon Collection — FAQ
How do you get to Joy Island Maldives?
Shared speedboat from Velana International Airport — approximately 40 minutes. No seaplane is required, which means both day and night arrivals are straightforward. The return transfer costs around USD 360 per person, and the resort runs a year-round free-transfer promotion on stays of seven nights or more for two adults.
When did Joy Island Maldives open?
Joy Island opened on 1 September 2023 on Kassanfushi Island in the North Malé Atoll. It is the third Maldives property in The Cocoon Collection portfolio, joining Cocoon Maldives in Lhaviyani and You & Me by Cocoon in Raa. The Italian-owned group handles interior design through Italian brand LAGO.
Do all Joy Island villas have a private pool?
Yes — every one of the 151 villas has a private plunge pool, from the 50 sqm entry-level Beach Villa to the 300 sqm two-bedroom Beach Residence. Larger Pool Suites (100 sqm) have a full-size private pool rather than a plunge. This is unusually generous for the mid-tier 5-star bracket in North Malé.
Is Joy Island Maldives all-inclusive?
Most guests book the Premium All-Inclusive. Bed & Breakfast, Half Board, and Full Board are also available, but only make sense if you plan to eat mostly at The Market buffet.
Is Joy Island Maldives good for families?
Yes — Kiddie Cove runs daily supervised activities for ages 3–12, the Family Beach Villa has an interconnecting door, and the two-bedroom Beach Residence sleeps up to six. The eastern lagoon is breakwater-protected for safe shallow swimming, and the 40-minute speedboat removes the seaplane complexity of Maldives travel with young kids.
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