NEWS SPECIAL REPORT


Michael Bayley


Artist’s impression of Perfect Day Mexico


Royal command R


Cruise line reveals details of four new private destinations. Ella Sagar reports from New York Perfect Day


oyal Caribbean International’s president and chief executive claims the line’s forthcoming


private destination in Mexico will be “leaps and bounds above anything else in the market today” when it opens in 2027. Michael Bayley told a media


event in New York that Perfect Day Mexico would be the “crown jewel in our portfolio” as he detailed plans for four new private destinations. He said: “We have taken


everything we have learnt and all the guest feedback from Perfect Day at Coco Cay [launched in 2019], so Perfect Day Mexico is going to be bigger, better and more incredible in terms of the experiences we deliver.” The 200-acre destination will


feature seven neighbourhoods based around the line’s “thrill and chill” concept. Attractions will include a Loco Waterpark with more than 30 waterslides – including the western hemisphere’s tallest, called Jaguar’s Peak – alongside the world’s largest lazy river, plus 10 pools that collectively will be the size of four football pitches. Bayley predicted Perfect Day


Mexico will be “huge” for all markets, highlighting short cruises on Utopia


travelweekly.co.uk


of the Seas from Port Canaveral as “perfect” for UK agents to dynamically package trips featuring the new Epic Universe theme park. From 2027, more than 90%


of passengers who sail in the Caribbean with the line will visit either Perfect Day at Coco Cay or Perfect Day Mexico. Currently, more than 40% of the line’s cruises are five nights or fewer in duration. Chief innovation officer Jay Schneider added: “Today, the


Mexico will be bigger than anything we’ve done to date


number-one tourist destination in the world for Americans is Mexico, and by the end of the decade, Mexico will be our number-one destination as well. “Perfect Day Mexico will be


bigger than anything we’ve done to date, both in size and the way we are bringing the ultimate thrill and chill to our guests.” Over the next four years, Royal


Caribbean will debut three more private destinations: the first Royal Beach Club, in Nassau in December 2025; the second Royal Beach Club, in Cozumel in 2026; and Lelepa in the South Pacific in early 2027. Perfect Day Mexico is due to open in autumn 2027.


‘We’re trying to close the gap to land-based vacations’


Royal Caribbean’s new private destinations present “a unique opportunity” to entice more customers of land-based holidays as well as appeal to younger and new-to-cruise demographics. That is the view of Royal Caribbean Cruises


president Jason Liberty (pictured), who said: “Ultimately, we’re trying to close the gap to land-based vacations, and one of the ways we’re doing that is by making sure we are addressing all different segments of the generations. “Half of our guests today


are millennials or younger, and the focus there is not on taking


the


share from our cruise competitors, but how we close that gap with land-based vacations, because we’re ultimately in the experience business.” Royal Caribbean International senior vice-president Angie Stephen added the line’s “biggest challenge” was awareness of cruise as an option in the wider holiday market. “Two out of three guests are new


to Royal Caribbean,” she said. “We want to make sure travel partners know we’re offering a great experience by combining the best of innovative ships and experiences on land that you cannot find


anywhere else in the cruise industry.” 22 MAY 2025 9


Angie Stephen


Jay Schneider


PICTURES: Royal Caribbean; JACH; Ben Velazquez


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52