Royal Caribbean thinks its building a private destination with beaches, pools, and a water park will lure more Texas cruisers.
Right now, Royal Caribbean's private destinations are in The Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean. However, with the launch of Perfect Day Mexico in Costa Maya, those onboard sailings to the Western Caribbean will have an exciting new option.
"Perfect Day Mexico is strategically located to deliver exceptional vacation experiences in both the Eastern and Western Caribbean and supports our ambition that every guest on the Royal Caribbean brand will have a 'Perfect Day' on their Caribbean itinerary," said Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO, during the company's Q4 earnings call on Oct. 29.
"It also allows us to further grow the large and growing Gulf Coast area, including the Texas market, which...has a similar cruise consideration [to Florida] but only half the penetration," he added.
In 2022, Royal Caribbean opened its brand-new terminal in Galveston, Texas. The $125 million terminal allows the cruise line to deploy Oasis Class ships to Texas, giving cruise enthusiasts access to some of the largest ships in the world without having to travel to South Florida.
Though not part of Royal Caribbean's released deployment schedules, Terminal 3 can also accommodate Icon Class ships, should they choose to send them to Galveston in the future.
Galveston is about an hour from Houston, 3.5 hours from Austin, and 4.5 hours from Dallas. Plus, it's also within driving distance of many cities in Louisiana, including Baton Rouge (4.5 hours) and Shreveport (5 hours).
Expanding the short cruise market
That said, sending new ships to Texas is only part of the bigger picture. "...[H]aving assets like the Royal Beach Club in Cozumel [and] Royal Beach Mexico will allow us to drive...more of the Gulf Coast and other markets that can have an easier flight cruise experience and at a lower cost flight cruise experience," Liberty said.
Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO, added that with Royal Beach Mexico and the Royal Beach Club in Mexico, the cruise line will be able to offer more shorter cruises from Gulf ports such as Tampa, Galveston, and New Orleans.
"It really is a great opportunity for us, and we know that that short product really catches with the younger families. And of course, we'll be able to offer...an extraordinary short break from these ports to Perfect Day and Royal Beach Club Cozumel," Bayley remarked.
This approach mirrors Royal Caribbean's shorter itineraries on Oasis Class ships departing from Florida. The line plans to dominate the short cruise market, especially following the launch of Utopia of the Seas, Royal's newest ship that entered service in July 2024 only offering 3- and 4-night cruises from Port Canaveral to The Bahamas.
Read more: Royal Caribbean will move Wonder of the Seas to offer short cruises
What we know about the private destinations so far
Cozumel's Royal Beach Club was announced in March 2024. Like the Royal Beach Club planned for Paradise Island in The Bahamas, this club will be exclusively available to Royal Caribbean passengers, despite being in a port used by all cruise lines—from Carnival to MSC, Disney, Norwegian, etc.
It'll open in 2026 and will be an optional extra-cost activity for passengers, meaning it won't be included in the cost of the cruise fare. Admission into the beach club will include access to swim-up bars, rentable poolside cabanas, snorkeling, kayaking, restaurants, and street markets. The price is currently unknown.
On the other hand, as part of Royal Caribbean's Perfect Day Collection, Perfect Day Mexico will be more akin to CocoCay's private island experience, though it isn't a private island.
Read more: I went to CocoCay for the first time, and here's what I'd do differently
Instead, following a major transformation of the port of Costa Maya, Perfect Day Mexico will be a private destination available to Royal Caribbean passengers.
According to the cruise line, the total project will encompass 90 hectares, equivalent to roughly 220 acres or double the size of Perfect Day at CocoCay. That said, not all the land is developable.
As such, Royal Caribbean is paying special attention to preserving environmentally protected areas, such as nearby mangroves. About 100 acres are in development under the current plan, while the rest will be set aside for conservation.
Once complete, Perfect Day Mexico will have beautiful beaches, an extra-charge beach club (similar to Coco Beach Club at CocoCay), at least one pool, a water park, an adults-only area, a helium balloon, and Mexican food!
Guests don't have to stay within the Perfect Day Mexico complex. There will also be a transportation center for passengers who'd rather book a tour to explore one of the nearby attractions.
Read more: Sneak peek at what’s confirmed for Royal Caribbean’s enormous beach experience in Mexico
