Royal Caribbean Announces Details for New Private Destinations in Mexico, Bahamas and South Pacific

16 hours ago 2

Royal Caribbean announced a significant investment in land yesterday. The cruise line revealed the next steps in its Ultimate Destination lineup of onshore locations with the opening in 2027 of Perfect Day Mexico, as well as the company’s first Royal Beach Clubs in The Bahamas (December 2025), Cozumel, Mexico (2026), and the South Pacific (2027).

At an elaborate presentation, Michael Bayley, CEO of Royal Caribbean International, said the company is bringing its history of service and innovation to these destinations that offer more locally inspired perfect days and beachfront getaways. He said Perfect Day Mexico “is bigger and bolder than anything we have done to date.” This destination, he said, “will be the ultimate vacation for families, and we cannot wait to welcome adventurers from around the world to Mexico for an experience only Royal Caribbean can provide.”

According to Jason Liberty, CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, the goal is to build an “ecosystem” so that customers stay with Royal Caribbean for all their holidays. He said half of the company’s guests are now Millennials or younger and that the potential is enormous, with cruising accounting for just $80 billion of a $2 trillion travel industry. "We have to close the gap," he said, “with land-based choices.”

Regarding general global uncertainties, Liberty said that while there has been “a lot of noise in the geopolitical environment,” the company continues with the booking strength it reported on a recent first-quarter earnings call. He said internal surveys show that 7 out of 10 respondents plan to vacation more this year than last.

Kara Wallace, chief marketing officer, told TravelPulse that the outreach to travel advisors about the land destinations would be like that done with the company’s ships – immersive training, road shows and familiarization trips as the destinations open. She said the Perfect Day and beach club locations would have premium options that advisors could sell at commissionable rates.

CocoCay, according to Wallace, has been the line’s top-rated destination almost from when it opened six years ago – although the company offers over 350 destinations, including highly desirable ones like Alaska and Australia. “When you think of a cruise plus a perfect day,” she said, “it becomes more than just a cruise. Anything that can be done on land is available.”

Bayley said at the presentation that this year, three-and-a-half million people will visit Perfect Day at CocoCay, and two out of three guests there are first-timers with Royal Caribbean. He said 40% of the line's programs are now five nights or less.

Jay Schneider, chief product innovation officer, told TravelPulse that the launch of Perfect Day at CocoCay changed how the cruise industry and land-based vacations approached destinations. He said Royal Caribbean “is now building off that strength on the journey to curate experiences for guests.”

Perfect Day Mexico, said Schneider, will be an evolution of Perfect Day at CocoCay, “but these are not copy and paste destinations.” He added, “We will look for the best of Mexico in Mexico and the same with the other locations. But it will all be built on our traditional service.”

He would say to advisors, said Schneider, that “the number one reason people travel with us is the destinations. They are seeking a destination experience, and we will curate these experiences based on the region and the itinerary.”

“We don’t want to replicate cultures,” said Schneider. “We don’t want to build the largest Mayan ruin. Our mission is to amplify the culture – the food, entertainment and art -- and bring that to life.”

Perfect Day Mexico

Spanning more than 200 acres on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, Perfect Day Mexico will open in 2027 and will feature something for visitors of all ages across seven neighborhoods. Highlights include:

Loco Waterpark –30 waterslides across five slide towers, including the tallest waterslide tower – and waterslides – across North and South America. The more than 170-foot-tall Jaguar’s Peak features two dueling slides, taking riders through more than two minutes of “pure thrill” and the longest coaster waterslide in the world. Also, hydrolaunch slides shoot riders into the air and the world's first sombrero slide. There are also adventure pools, a wave pool and slides designed for younger kids.
Splash Cove – This central neighborhood will introduce the longest lazy river in the world – with a “crazy” side. Along the hour-long float are multiple entry and exit points and plenty of ways to stay hydrated with float-up bars and a cupholder in every tube. There is an optional “crazy” section of the river that features unexpected twists and turns with waves, rapids and spins. In the center of it all is a 100,000-square-foot pool – just one of Perfect Day Mexico's more than 10 expansive pools that together span the size of four football fields. Younger guests have their own adventures at Royal Caribbean's largest Splashaway Bay, with waterslides sized just for them. The first-ever Splashaway Cabanas are designed for families.
El Hideaway – At this adults-only neighborhood, day pass holders 18 years and older can party all day with a zero-entry pool, swim-up bar and in-pool DJ. There is also an Ultimate Party Cabana for 20 guests, with its own pool and bar.
Costa Beach Club – This enhanced experience features a heated infinity pool and premium dining at Costa Beach Club. Visitors can spend the day in a private cabana with a personal cabana attendant, amenities and a dedicated pool.
Fiesta Plaza – This arrival area features live music, dance, and the world’s largest sombrero atop the Tipsy Sombrero bar, welcoming guests with margaritas, beer, and more.

Also at the destination are 12 regionally inspired dining options, from sit-down spots to grab-and-go eateries, with nearly all food spots complimentary to guests. Plus, there are 24 bars, including six swim-up bars. Mariachi performances, art installations, and local artisans for souvenir shopping further bring the Mexican culture to life.

Upon opening in fall 2027, Perfect Day Mexico will welcome Western Caribbean itineraries sailing from Galveston, New Orleans and all Florida homeports. Itineraries featuring Perfect Day Mexico will become available for booking this fall.

By 2027, 90% of the brand’s Caribbean vacationers will experience a Perfect Day across Perfect Day at CocoCay and Perfect Day Mexico. In addition, vacationers sailing from U.S. Gulf ports can choose itineraries that visit both Royal Beach Club Cozumel and Perfect Day Mexico.

Royal Beach Clubs

Set to open in December 2025, Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in The Bahamas is the first beach club to debut as part of the Royal Beach Club lineup. The destination will combine the island’s beaches with Royal Caribbean’s signature experiences to create “the ultimate beach day.”

Following that, Royal Beach openings will be:

Royal Beach Club Cozumel features beaches, pools with swim-up bars, cabanas, snorkeling, kayaking, and more. The club will offer a variety of ways to dine and drink, a street market, and hands-on experiences like tequila tastings and cooking classes.
Lelepa (an island that is part of Vanuatu) –The first private island cruise destination in the Southern Hemisphere will offer a locally inspired experience for guests in Australia and beyond, with beaches, nature trails, water activities and dining.

The main difference between “Perfect Days” and beach clubs, said a spokesperson, is that when guests visit a Perfect Day experience, their entire day – plus the port of call is a Royal Caribbean-based experience. With Royal Beach Clubs, guests can either explore and experience the port of call on their own or opt into the Royal Beach Club experience (similar to how shore excursions operate).

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