‘Things would have to change’ for Mexico private island to open in 2027, says Royal boss

Royal Caribbean Group chairman and chief executive Jason Liberty has admitted “things would have to be different for us to make a 2027 [opening] date” for the group’s new private island in Mexico, following the government’s rejection of its proposal due to environmental concerns.

Speaking on the shakedown cruise for the line’s newest ship, Icon Class Legend of the Seas, Liberty said: “We’ve been going to Mexico for a very long time. It’s one of the biggest cruise ports in the world and we have a great relationship with the Mexican government.

“There have been many countries that have reached out offering opportunities as [our private islands] are a big economic driver and have a substantial impact on a community. So it’s a complete home-run.

“We think it’s a good project and we’re going to continue to have conversations with Mexico. But things would have to be different for us to make a 2027 date,” he added, noting that autumn 2027 was the planned date for a soft opening, with a full opening in 2028.

Liberty said “enhancing the customer experience” was a key focus for the group, whether by “taking pressure off communities” by building its own destinations, “spreading guest flow and distribution better throughout a day” in iconic ports, or “removing friction through technology”.

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He insisted “taxes are not the way” to tackle overtourism, in reference to Barcelona which is tripling its cruise tax.

“We’re always engaging with countries and governments,” Liberty said. “It’s clear we stimulate a lot of economic activity, but do you want one thing or do you want the other? You don’t want the volumes but you do want us and our guests to spend. So it’s about finding the balance – listening and working in partnership – but I don’t think taxes are the way to do it.”

Liberty said building a hotel next to the airport for Silversea guests going to Antarctica was one example of how to elevate the guest experience and provide differentiation over rival polar cruise lines. He added that the group would look to develop, build or acquire wherever it resulted in an improvement to their product offering.

Commenting on the group’s expansion into the river cruise market via its Celebrity Cruises brand, Liberty said he could have acquired an existing line but felt building its own ships would allow it to differentiate, describing the design “as if we’ve shrunk Edge Class”.

He confirmed the group would look to expand beyond the Rhine and Danube to other rivers.

“We expect to be a big player in the river space because our customers thirst to go to a lot of destinations,” he said, adding that the river expansion was all part of the group’s plan to “keep customers happy, excited and dreaming, but within the ecosystem of our brands”.

Asked if it was still the plan to take Silversea onto the rivers alongside Celebrity, Liberty said: “We want to make sure we have things up and running with Celebrity first, but there is clear high-quality demand from Silversea guests to be on the rivers.

“We have to execute this at a high level first and make sure it’s as perfect as it can be before we look at anything else, but if we were to do it for Silversea, it would be very on-brand.”