Photos courtesy Royal Caribbean Group
New private destination to offer luxury thrills in Costa Maya with Riviera Maya destination coming soon
Royal Caribbean Group is set to redefine its concept of perfection again with the announcement of a new Perfect Day destination in Mexico. After years of success with Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas, the company has unveiled plans for a second private island experience: Perfect Day Mexico.
Scheduled to open in 2027, the destination will be located adjacent to the Costa Maya cruise port and represents a significant step in Royal Caribbean’s private destination strategy. Although a little south of Riviera Maya, the island’s proximity will, it’s believed, have plenty of positive benefits for the area, especially as we’ll be getting a Perfect Day destination of our own in the next couple of years (stay tuned for more news as it becomes available).
Perfect Day Mexico will be twice the size of its Bahamian predecessor and feature enhancements to the cruise lines’ popular “thrill and chill” concept. Senior Vice President Vicki Freed explains, “Just like with every new class of ship, even within the same class … each ship adds new bells and whistles and features. So, Perfect Day Mexico will take the best of Perfect Day at CocoCay, and we’ll add some new features.”
Perfect Day Mexico is a Strategic Move
The project, costing $292 million, includes land and port acquisition in Mahahual, Mexico, just south of the Mayan Riviera, with the deal expected to close in 2025. Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty noted the strategic importance of this move, particularly for the Gulf Coast and Texas markets.
“The Gulf Coast has a similar interest in cruising as Florida but half the penetration,” Liberty says, emphasizing the destination’s accessibility from Galveston, Texas, where Royal opened a new terminal in 2022. Perfect Day Mexico complements Royal’s growing portfolio of private destinations, including upcoming Royal Beach Club projects in Nassau and Cozumel and a revised project in Vanuatu.
The popularity of private destinations like CocoCay is undeniable. Rated as Royal Caribbean’s highest-scoring destination based on net promoter scores, CocoCay has transformed into a cornerstone of the brand’s Caribbean itineraries. Liberty explained, “Our ability to deliver a perfect day to basically every Royal Caribbean International guest in the Caribbean just drives greater demand for that brand.”
The Evolution of the Private Island
While Perfect Days are included in cruise fares, Royal Caribbean’s Royal Beach Clubs will offer a fee-based, optional alternative. These clubs are designed to complement the Perfect Day experience with exclusive features. The first club, Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in Nassau, is set to debut in 2025, followed by the Cozumel location in 2026.
The evolution of ship deployments has certainly played a key role in Perfect Day’s success. Royal Caribbean has increased short cruises to CocoCay, including voyages on its newest ships like Utopia of the Seas.
The expansion into Mexico also addresses feedback from travelers who feel they’ve exhausted Costa Maya’s existing attractions, such as Mayan ruins. The potential for a more weather-resilient docking experience offering new options to keep the destination exciting is a key factor in the first Perfect Day Mexico location.
Find out more at www.royalcaribbean.com/perfect-day-mexico.
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Bryan Dearsley is a luxury lifestyles writer, a prolific traveler, and a Co-Founder of the Riley network of luxury lifestyle websites.