Royal Caribbean has never been shy about re-inventing the very idea of a holiday at sea, and its freshly announced Ultimate Destination collection is proof the cruise line still loves a big, bold leap forward. With the headline act – Perfect Day Mexico – slated to open in late 2027, plus three new Royal Beach Clubs on the way, families, couples and groups of mates will soon have more ways than ever to mix sun-kissed shores with the high-tech thrills found on the latest ships.
It’s been six years since Royal Caribbean’s Bahamian jewel, Perfect Day at CocoCay, set a new standard for private-island fun. Rather than simply rinse-and-repeat the formula, Royal Caribbean is taking the best bits – think free-fall slides, over-water cabanas and lagoon-size pools – and spicing them with Mexican culture, flavours and design. Travellers who loved zip-lining over CocoCay’s harbour or splashing through the original Thrill Waterpark will find familiar favourites in Mexico, only on a grander scale.
Company president Michael Bayley says the 200-acre Perfect Day Mexico will be “bigger and bolder than anything we have done to date”. That’s no small claim from a brand that routinely launches the world’s largest cruise ships, but the numbers back him up: more than 30 slides, seven themed neighbourhoods, 24 bars and a lazy river that loops for an hour. It’s the sort of place where a family can race each other down a mat slide in the morning, learn to make authentic tortillas at lunch, and sip margaritas while mariachi music fills the air at sunset.
The master plan splits the peninsula-style site into distinct zones, each tuned to a particular holiday vibe. Loco Waterpark covers thrill-seekers, Splash Cove keeps every age happy, while El Hideaway is adults-only and Costa Beach Club ups the luxury quotient with infinity pools and personal cabana attendants. Factor in nearly two kilometres of public beach across Chill Beach North and South plus a colour-popping Fiesta Plaza arrival area, and the promise is clear: however you define “holiday mode”, you’ll find it here.
If CocoCay is the benchmark, the Mexican edition is set to push the dial from “wow” to “how on earth did they build that?” All seven neighbourhoods are designed to be walked (or floated) in a single visit, but each is packed with enough action to merit a dedicated day.
Ambition peaks – literally – at Jaguar’s Peak, a 170-metre-high slide tower that grabs the title of tallest waterslide structure across the Americas. Ten slides twist from its summit, including a pair of duelling free-fall chutes and the longest coaster-style water ride on the planet. Families can jump aboard a six-person raft to conquer the tallest group slide, while braver souls test hydrolaunch tubes that fling riders skyward before they splash back to earth. Every slide exit feeds into adventure pools where DJs keep the energy high and lifeguards cheer on freshly minted dare-devils.
Need a breather? Splash Cove’s hour-long lazy river meanders past palms, waterfalls and unexpected bars that serve up coconut water or chilli-salted micheladas direct to your float. For those who crave a little chaos between the calm, a “crazy” spur dumps into rapids, waves and 360-degree spins before re-joining the mellow main loop. In the river’s heart is a 100,000-square-foot family pool ringed by sun-loungers and the largest Splashaway Bay Royal Caribbean has ever built.
El Hideaway bans entry for anyone under 18, swapping cannonballs for cocktails and a swim-up DJ mixing Latin house sets. Grab a day bed in the sand or pool-hop between the zero-entry shallows and the private Ultimate Party Cabana – essentially a mini-clubhouse with its own bar, plunge pool and VIP service for up to 20 friends. One cove over, Costa Beach Club levels-up the serenity with a heated infinity pool, refined Mexican-Mediterranean cuisine and shaded cabanas that come with butler-style attendants.
Arrive hungry because the chef team has drawn inspiration from Yucatán street markets, Baja fish-taco stands and Oaxaca’s mezcal bars. Nearly all venues are complimentary, covering everything from hand-pressed blue-corn tortillas to churros dusted in cinnamon sugar. The scene stealer is Tipsy Sombrero: the world’s largest sombrero doubling as a thatched roof above an open-air margarita lounge. Local artisans, papel-picado flags and live mariachi bands give the plaza genuine small-town-fiesta charm.
Not every cruise guest craves water-coasters and wave pools. For those who define heaven as a perfect stretch of sand, Royal Caribbean’s Royal Beach Clubs deliver an inclusive, boutique-resort vibe – all bookable as a shore day on select itineraries.
Opening first, the Nassau-based Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will let guests slide into hammocks, sample Bahamian conch salad and toast sundown at The Floating Flamingo, the world’s largest swim-up bar. Day passes bundle unlimited Caribbean bites, cocktails and non-motorised water sports, making budgeting simple.
Following in 2026, Royal Beach Club Cozumel pairs sugar-white sand with tequila tastings, ceviche workshops and a livelier main pool where DJs spin cumbia remixes. Families can snorkel coral gardens in the morning, then retreat to shaded loungers for a siesta. It’s an ideal warm-up for cruisers also booked to visit Perfect Day Mexico, just across the Yucatán Channel.
Australians craving something closer to home should mark early 2027, when the Vanuatu outpost opens. Surrounded by reef-protected lagoons, Royal Beach Club Lelepa promises low-key luxury: nature trails, paddle-boarding and Ni-Vanuatu cultural shows under a sky crammed with southern constellations.
Royal Caribbean already sails from Brisbane and Sydney, but the new destinations will appear on global schedules – handy if you fancy tacking a North American road trip or a Mexican city break onto your cruise.
When Perfect Day Mexico launches, ships departing Galveston and New Orleans will offer Western Caribbean loops that call at both Cozumel Beach Club and the new mega-destination in one week. That combo means back-to-back beach days without repeating an experience.
Families booking the upcoming Star of the Seas in 2025 can already pair six record-breaking waterslides, an ice-skating rink and robot-bartended cocktails with stops at CocoCay. By 2027, 90 percent of Caribbean itineraries will include a “Perfect Day” stop, making it easy to tick both private islands off your bucket list in one holiday.
Peak surf-and-slide season runs December to April when humidity dips and sea temps stay a balmy 26 °C. Secure your stateroom the moment itineraries open this autumn; early-bird discounts often include reduced deposits and Wi-Fi bundles. If you’re dreaming of a cabana at El Hideaway or a taste-tour of the Cozumel street market, pre-book via the Cruise Planner app – slots sell out months ahead.
Still deciding whether you’re a water-coaster warrior or an infinity-pool lounger? Jump onto our Cruise Finder and filter itineraries by embarkation port, ship and destination. We’ll show you which sailings include Perfect Day at CocoCay, Perfect Day Mexico, or one of the new beach clubs so you can match the right vibe to your holiday wish-list.
The tool also highlights bundled airfare options from major Australian cities and flags limited-time promotions like kids-sail-free dates and on-board credit offers. One quick search could save hours of spreadsheet planning – and secure that dream cabana before someone else snaps it up.
Royal Caribbean’s vision for late-decade cruising promises a kaleidoscope of energy: record-setting slides, tranquil lagoon pools, Mexican street-food feasts and Bahamian hammock naps – all backed by the line’s famously friendly crew and tech-smart ships. Locking in a 2026 or 2027 sailing puts you front-of-queue for these brand-new shoreside playgrounds.
Ready to turn holiday daydreams into concrete plans? Let’s chat about dates, ships and shore-excursion wish-lists, then craft a seamless itinerary that flows from your Sydney lounge room to a margarita-clinking moment under the giant sombrero at Perfect Day Mexico. Start the conversation and one of our cruise specialists will be in touch faster than you can say “Vámonos!”