Royal Caribbean president defends private destination strategy  

Royal Caribbean’s president has defended the line’s investment in private destinations, saying they are “incredibly helpful for communities” and “deliver phenomenal experiences” for customers.

The line plans to take its portfolio of private destinations from two to eight by 2028, with the first new addition being Royal Beach Club on Paradise Island in Nassau in December.

In its most recent earnings, the cruise company also announced a “strategic expansion” to open the Royal Beach Club Santorini in summer 2026, which will host passengers from Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises vessels.

Speaking on a Travel Weekly webcast about the decision to invest more in land-based products, Michael Bayley said the company had leveraged learnings from decades of experience with cruise ships and its island in the Bahamas, Perfect Day at Coco Cay.

He said: “We’ve figured out that when we curate that experience in the right way, it is phenomenally successful.

“It’s also incredibly helpful for the communities, because, in many ways, it is master planning and when you look at some of the issues that people are concerned about with regards to overtourism, much of that is the consequence of not planning.

“This is really about looking into the future and trying to plan to accommodate and deliver phenomenal experiences.”

When asked about concerns around investment in local economies and authentic experiences in destinations, Bayley said the criticism was “a little superficial” considering the relationships, development and investment the cruise line had established over years.

“Often, it’s convenient for people to throw these tags on corporations and big business, and it’s not right,” he said. “It is projecting negativity. It is impossible to develop these projects if you don’t have the full support of the community and the government.”

He cited further examples such as the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island having a private public partnership where the people of the Bahamas have a 49% share of the destination and being entirely operated, staffed and supplied by Bahamian companies.

In addition, Bayley revealed Perfect Day Mexico creating 3,000 jobs for the local area and is supported by the state governor, as well as Royal Beach Club Santorini being “entirely operated and run by the local community”.

On Santorini as a choice for a new opening, he said it was “an incredibly important destination” but recognised it had “some challenges because of overtourism”.

He said: “It was important to rethink that experience as part of our overall destination strategy, and so we think that the acquisition of an existing beach club and then the redevelopment of that to a Royal Beach Club, combining it with what’s called the Ultimate Santorini Day, is going to be a winner.

“It’s going to deliver much higher experience guest satisfaction and allow a different way for people to move around.”

When asked about potential future developments, for instance mirroring sister line Silversea in developing hotels, Bayley said: “I think you can take it where our customers want us to take it.”