One of the cruise industry’s best-known brands is adding a private beach club to the growing list of cruise line-operated destinations set to open over the next two years.
Royal Caribbean plans to introduce the Royal Beach Club Cozumel in 2026. It will be the line’s first exclusive area in Mexico, which the line says will offer the “ultimate beach day,” with swim-up bars, family-friendly pools, private pools, cabanas, activities like snorkeling and kayaking, and more.
Foodies will be in luck too, as the beach club will house a specialty restaurant and street market, a bar and lounge area with fantastic views, and hands-on cooking classes and tequila tastings.
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The addition of a new port option in Cozumel – a frequent stop on Western Caribbean cruises – means passengers have a little more variety when departing from Galveston, Texas, where Royal Caribbean recently built a new terminal. Although the port has recently gained popularity, with Royal Caribbean and several other cruise lines docking ships there, itinerary choices are limited – a topic brought up during the 2023 President’s Cruise on Allure of the Seas.
When passengers in the audience of a special question and answer session with Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean, asked about the potential for a private island in the area, Bayley alluded to the possibility.
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“Ooh. What a great idea,” Bayley said during the question-and-answer session. “Could there be a private island for cruisers from Texas for a seven-day cruise? It’s a great idea. I would do that.” Love I can’t say more, but I can’t. But I can tell you that I completely agree with that idea. It’s a great idea. It’s on our wish list of things we’re going to get done at some point.”
It seems that “at some point” is now.
“Now is the perfect time to announce the next version of this [Royal Beach Club] collection with Royal Beach Club Cozumel,” Bayley said in a statement from the line sharing details of the beach club. “Cozumel is an incredible destination, and the beach club will be a perfect addition to all that the island has to offer as a experience that combines familiar Royal Beach Caribbean touches on the spirit of Mexico, in addition to amenities and activities for every type of vacationer.”
The Royal Beach Club Cozumel is Royal Caribbean’s second Royal Beach Club. It follows the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, which will open in 2025 in the Bahamas. The line also operates the private island Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas (which has two of its own private beaches, the Coco Beach Club and Hideaway Beach). ) and destination Labadee on the island of Haiti.
Royal Caribbean joins Carnival Cruise Line and Disney Cruise Line on the list of cruise lines ready to launch new private destinations. Disney will unveil the new Lighthouse Point venture on the Bahamian island of Eleuthera in June 2024, and Carnival will open Celebration Key on the island of Grand Bahama in 2025.
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