Joy Island Maldives, part of The Cocoon Collection, has expanded its leisure offering with the launch of Joy Arcade, the resort’s first dedicated gaming room.

The new facility has been introduced as an indoor entertainment space where guests can play individually or with friends and family, adding another activity to the resort’s programme beyond the beach, lagoon and outdoor experiences.

Joy Arcade features four gaming stations built around simulation and virtual reality technology. The line-up includes a three-screen racing car simulator, equipped with a force-feedback steering wheel and pedals; VR Moto, a motion-based motorcycle simulator that moves in response to the virtual terrain; a 9D VR Platform, featuring two motion pods and a selection of adventure, horror and flight experiences; and VR Gun Shooting, which combines a headset with a motion-tracked controller and an in-room leaderboard.

The racing simulator accommodates one player at a time and is recommended for guests aged eight and above, while VR Moto is recommended for those aged 10 and above. The 9D VR Platform can accommodate up to two players and is recommended for guests aged six and above, while VR Gun Shooting is designed for one player at a time and recommended for ages eight and above.

The arcade operates daily from 10am to noon, 2pm to 6pm and 9pm to 11pm. Walk-in guests do not need to make an advance booking, with passes available from the arcade desk during operating hours.

Guests can choose from one-, two-, three- and four-hour Play Passes, as well as an Unlimited Day Pass. Each pass provides access to all four gaming stations, with the duration determining the amount of playing time available. The resort advises guests to check with the arcade desk for current pricing and any rates linked to resort or stay packages.

Joy Arcade is open to guests of all ages, although younger players may require a parent or guardian when using motion-based equipment. Headsets, controllers and safety equipment are provided and sanitised between uses. The room can also be booked for birthday parties and other events, with private sessions, party host assistance and refreshments available for groups.

The addition expands the range of recreational facilities at Joy Island, which positions activities as a central part of its guest experience. The resort also offers tennis and padel, fitness and wellness sessions, excursions, diving and water sports, while its Kids’ Club, Kiddie Cove, provides supervised activities for children aged three to 12.

Its Dive & Water Sports Centre offers activities including scuba diving, snorkelling, kayaking, paddleboarding, windsurfing, jet skiing, parasailing, wakeboarding and waterskiing. Other experiences include dolphin cruises, fishing trips and marine excursions.

Joy Island is located in North Malé Atoll, around 40 kilometres from Velana International Airport and approximately 40 minutes away by speedboat. The resort has 151 villas, comprising 91 beach villas and 60 overwater villas, with accommodation options that include villas with private plunge pools. Interiors feature furnishings and design elements by Italian design company LAGO.

The resort also operates Oasis Spa, where treatments combine Eastern and Western wellness approaches, including Balinese massage, hot stone massage, aromatherapy and couples’ treatments. Its fitness programme includes yoga, Pilates, Zumba, aqua fitness, gym sessions, beach volleyball and racquet sports.

Joy Island’s food and beverage offering comprises three restaurants and a bar. The Market serves international cuisine through buffet and live cooking stations, while Il Basilico focuses on Italian dishes, including wood-fired pizza. Palm Beach offers beachfront dining, including seafood and grilled dishes, while Rainbow Bar, located beside the swimming pool, serves drinks throughout the day. The resort also offers destination dining experiences, including sandbank picnics, lagoon dinners, beach dinners and garden dining.

With Joy Arcade, the resort is adding an indoor gaming component to an activity programme that already spans water sports, diving, wellness, excursions, children’s activities and racquet sports, providing guests with an additional option for entertainment throughout their stay.

Milaidhoo Maldives is set to welcome four-Michelin-star Chef Daniel Galmiche to the island for an exclusive guest chef residency on 5th and 6th September 2026.

With a career spanning five decades, Chef Daniel Galmiche is one of the most respected French chefs working in the UK today. One of only a handful of chefs in British culinary history to have earned four individual Michelin Stars across four different restaurants, he is recognised for his thoughtful approach to cooking, blending classical French techniques with influences from his travels and a deep respect for seasonal ingredients.

Known for creating cuisine that is elegant yet approachable, Chef Daniel believes that great food begins with understanding where ingredients come from and the stories behind them.

At Milaidhoo, dining is an important part of the island experience. It is a way to discover the destination, connect with local traditions and create meaningful memories. Chef Daniel’s passion for nature, sustainability and authentic produce reflects the same values that inspire our culinary journey at Milaidhoo.

“I am very much looking forward to visiting Milaidhoo Maldives and discovering the wonderful ingredients, traditions and flavours of the islands. Cooking is about connection, with nature, with local communities and with the people who gather around the table. I hope to bring a little of my French heritage while celebrating the beautiful flavours of the Maldives,” said Chef Daniel Galmiche.

The experience begins on 5th September with a journey to the nearby local island of Kendhoo, where Chef Daniel will meet local fishermen and select the fish that will inspire his culinary experience. Back at Milaidhoo, he will visit the Chef’s Garden, selecting home-grown herbs and ingredients for a special cooking workshop. The workshop will give guests an opportunity to see Chef Daniel bring his French fine-dining techniques to Maldivian ingredients while also discovering the flavours and traditions behind Ba’theli, Milaidhoo’s signature Maldivian restaurant specialising in Maldivian cuisine.

The day will continue with a complimentary cocktail reception for in-house guests at 17.30 at the Compass Pool Bar. This relaxed gathering offers the opportunity to meet Chef Daniel, hear stories from his culinary journey and enjoy conversations over a drink.

On 6th September, Chef Daniel will host an intimate five-course dinner for only 15 guests at Milaidhoo. The menu will showcase his signature contemporary French fine-dining style, with one of the five courses taking inspiration from the ingredients and culinary traditions of the Maldives, interpreted through Chef Daniel’s distinctive French culinary approach. The signature dinner is priced at USD 265++ per person.

Born in the Franche-Comté region of France, Chef Daniel’s love for cooking began on his grandparents’ organic farm, surrounded by seasonal produce and a strong connection to nature. His journey has taken him through some of the world’s most celebrated kitchens, including the legendary Le Gavroche in London, before leading Michelin-starred restaurants of his own.

A familiar face to food lovers through his appearances on BBC’s Saturday Kitchen and ITV’s James Martin’s Saturday Morning, Chef Daniel is also the author of four cookbooks and continues to share his passion for sustainable and thoughtful cooking around the world.

Milaidhoo Maldives is where every meal tells a story. Reserve your stay from the resort’s official website and experience this exclusive guest chef residency with Chef Daniel Galmiche. 

This festive season, Adaaran Resorts invites couples and friends to experience Christmas in the Maldives through a glowing new seasonal concept: When the Island Blooms. Across Adaaran Prestige Vadoo and Adaaran Prestige Water Villas, the islands will come alive with blooming lights, shimmering trees, ocean-inspired installations and evenings shaped by romance, celebration and tropical wonder.

By day, the season unfolds through ocean adventures, festive workshops, private dining experiences and slow moments above the lagoon. By night, pathways glow, beaches turn into celebration spaces and Christmas takes on a softer, warmer island rhythm.

At Adaaran Prestige Vadoo, the festive season begins with romance at the centre. Set above the lagoon and shaped around overwater privacy, the island transforms into an adults-only festive escape where every evening feels made for two. From cake mixing by the shoreline to cocktail soirées, fire performances, private beach dinners and New Year celebrations, Vadoo brings the bloom concept to life through intimacy, sparkle and island charm.

Highlights include:

• The Grand Festive Formation Christmas Cake Mixing Ceremony by the lagoon
• 25 Days of Festive Moments, with daily games and seasonal surprises leading up to Christmas
• Saint Nicholas Cocktail Soirée at Sky Bar with festive cocktails, gourmet tapas and live acoustic music
• Romantic Sand Bench Dinners and Tropical Romance Dinners, both designed for couples by the beach
• Interactive festive experiences including spice blending, smoked cocktail demonstrations, wine blind tasting, latte art, Thai cookery and molecular cocktail sessions
• Christmas Tree Lighting & Cocktail Evening with carols, handcrafted cocktails, live music, fire performance and Tanoura dance
• “Festive Paradise Glow” Christmas Eve Celebration with festive cocktails, Santa’s arrival, gala dining, raffles, live music and a Christmas party by the lagoon
• Christmas Elegance Dinner, a romantic overwater dining experience with 360° ocean views
• New Year’s Eve “The Majestic London”, featuring cocktails, gala dining, entertainment, fireworks, DJ celebrations and the crowning of the Vadoo Queen
• Extraordinary New Year’s Dinner in the Tree House or Floating Deck, created for an intimate start to 2027
• Orthodox Christmas Eve with gala dining, DJ entertainment, free-flow drinks, games and Santa’s arrival

Vadoo is where the island blooms with romance, celebration and the easy magic of overwater living.

At Adaaran Prestige Water Villas, the festive season takes on a quieter, more exclusive rhythm. Set within Meedhupparu’s glowing island landscape, this adults-only overwater enclave offers a private festive escape above the lagoon, with access to the wider celebrations unfolding across the island. Guests can step into beachfront festivities, ocean adventures and signature dining experiences, then return to the calm of their own overwater sanctuary.

Highlights include:

• Christmas Tree Lighting by the beach as Meedhupparu begins to glow for the season
• Christmas Eve Magic, a moonlit celebration inspired by Maldivian island legends, ocean journeys and festive island storytelling
• Festive ocean adventures including dolphin cruises, snorkelling safaris, sunset jet ski experiences and sunset fishing by dhoni
• Floating Champagne Breakfast served in the Water Villa lagoon for a refined festive morning
• Private Sandbank Festive Lunch & High Tea surrounded by open ocean views
• Signature dining experiences including Lobster Beach Barbecue, 21-Course Progressive Dinner, Seven-Course Modern Gastronomy Dinner, Tree House Dinner and Chef’s Table – Indian Ocean Edition
• Private Cinema Under the Stars and Jungle-Themed Movie Night for couples seeking a quieter festive evening
• New Year’s Eve Extravaganza, a beachfront celebration with cocktails, gala dining, DJ entertainment, countdown, fire show and fireworks
• New Year’s Eve VIP Water Villa Dining Experience with champagne, seafood and premium countdown moments
• New Year dining experiences including Fire & Flame Steak Dinner, Romantic Sandbench Dinner and Sunset Sushi & Sake Experience
• Orthodox Festive Dinner with beachside grills, seafood, lobster and live duo music

Adaaran Prestige Water Villas is where the island blooms with stillness, privacy and beautifully crafted festive indulgence.

Together, Adaaran Prestige Vadoo and Adaaran Prestige Water Villas offer two adults-only ways to celebrate Christmas in the Maldives. One brings playful romance and festive energy close to Malé, while the other offers secluded overwater calm in the Raa Atoll. Across both, the season glows with ocean light, intimate dining, warm hospitality and memories made beneath a blooming island sky.

This Christmas, the islands do not simply celebrate. They bloom.