Where will Royal Caribbean build its next beach club for cruisers? We just found out
One of the cruise industry's most well-known brands is adding a private beach club to the growing list of cruise line-operated destinations set to open in the next two years.
Royal Caribbean plans to debut the Royal Beach Club Cozumel in 2026. It will be the line's first exclusive area in Mexico, offering what the line says will be the "ultimate beach day," featuring swim-up bars, family-friendly pools, private cabanas, activities like snorkeling and kayaking, and more.
Foodies will also be in luck, as the beach club will house a dedicated restaurant and a street market, a bar and lounge area with incredible views, and hands-on cooking classes and tequila tastings.
The addition of a new port option in Cozumel — a frequent stop on Western Caribbean cruises — means passengers have a bit more variety when they sail from Galveston, Texas, where Royal Caribbean recently built a new terminal. Although the port has recently gained popularity, with Royal Caribbean and several other lines homeporting ships there, itinerary choices are limited — a topic that came up for discussion during the 2023 President's Cruise on Allure of the Seas.
When passengers in the audience of a special Q&A session with Royal Caribbean president and CEO Michael Bayley asked about the potential for a private island in the area, Bayley alluded to its being a possibility.
"Ooh. What a great idea," Bayley said during the Q&A. "Can there be a private island for cruisers out of Texas for a seven-day cruise? It's a great idea. I would love to say more, but I cannot. But I can tell you I completely agree with that idea. It's a great idea. It's on our wish list of things that we're going to get done at some point."
It appears that "at some point" is now.
"Now is the perfect time to announce the next iteration 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 perfectly complement all the island has to offer as an experience that combines familiar Royal Caribbean touches with the spirit of Mexico, alongside 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 is set to open in the Bahamas in 2025. The line also operates private island Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas (which has two private beaches of its own, 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 poised to launch new private destinations. Disney will unveil new venture Lighthouse Point 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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