What's more, it's just a start. Through its Perfect Day Island Collection, Royal Caribbean will be developing exciting private island destinations around the world.
CocoCay is 'radically transforming,' Labadee is in store for changes and, over the coming months, other destinations in regions like Asia and Australia will be announced, Royal Caribbean International president and CEO Michael Bayley revealed at a major media event in Lower Manhattan Wednesday night.
Each will offer experiences shaped to the desires of the region's demographic.
'We are introducing Perfect Day Island Collection to ensure that we deliver the most memorable vacation for adventure-seekers on land, as well as on board our ships,' Bayley said.
The first, Perfect Day at CocoCay, will provide distinct experiences and iconic features. Cruisers can soar in a helium balloon 450 feet in the air, race down North America's tallest waterslide (135 feet), ride the tide of the Caribbean’s largest wave pool and unwind at the Caribbean's largest (more than four acres) freshwater pool or at the Bahamas' first over-water cabanas, with slides.
Retail leaders who previewed Perfect Day at CocoCay via augmented and virtual reality Wednesday night were impressed.
'A lot of the time Caribbean ports start to look the same. This is amazing. There's so much to do. It's the thrills and the chill. It's a great family destination, and a great extension of the ship,' said Libbie Rice, co-president of Ensemble Travel Group.
'It will help sell the cruise with families,' she predicted.
Joyce Landry, CEO of Landry & Kling Meetings at Sea, said Royal Caribbean has always been more forward-thinking than other cruise lines and Perfect Day Island Collection shows that in several ways. It creates new destinations to serve all the new ships being built. It will grab the attention of millennials, who want both action and relaxation. And, in areas like Asia, 'where there are not enough ports,' Landry said, 'to create their own port infrastructure is very smart.'
Royal Caribbean's Vicki Freed, SVP sales and trade support & service, said Perfect Day at CocoCay is 'Royal Caribbean delivering the wow in a whole new way.' The message for travel agents: 'It will sell cruises.
'There is a difference,' Freed continued. 'Besides Royal Caribbean ships being different, there's a difference in the destinations.'
Scheduled for completion in fall 2019, the new Perfect Day at CocoCay will offer discoveries and shareable moments across a range of island experiences.
A dynamic arrivals plaza, visible to passengeers as soon as they step ashore, will let them jam out to a welcoming party of live music or brave a zip line ride soaring across the harbor, get soaked by more than 30 water cannons on a shipwrecked galleon or by the surprising spout of a geyser spraying water 82 feet in the air. Royal Caribbean’s largest Splashaway Bay will give kids more fountains, pools, sprinklers, geysers, water cannons and whirlpools, plus five kid-size waterslides and two massive drench buckets.
At the heart of CocoCay, Thrill Waterpark will dare adrenaline-seekers to conquer two brag-worthy water towers with 13 slides, the most slides found in any Caribbean water park, as well as the Caribbean’s largest wave pool and a kid-friendly obstacle course pool.
Thrill Waterpark will feature Daredevil’s Tower with seven slides, including twin Dueling Demons drop slides and the duo of Manta Raycers, the high-speed, fully vertical Screeching Serpent, the coiling Green Mamba and the 135-foot-tall Daredevil’s Peak.
Family Tower will offer six multi-rider slides, including The Twister, a winding tube slide for two sharing a raft; The Slingshot, a zero-gravity slide for four; and the four-lane Splash Speedway racing slides.
A 1,600-foot zip line ends with a water landing.
At Adventure Pool, younger kids will find an obstacle course with lily pads, a rock-climbing wall and swing ropes to bounce, climb and swing on.
Oasis Lagoon, the Caribbean’s largest freshwater pool, will have three distinct coves, each with its own vibe. A kid-friendly beach entry, a swim-up bar, three mini swim-up islands with in-water loungers and private cabanas, with a cabana attendant, are all available here.
CocoCay's Chill Island will beckon with white sand, the largest dining venue on the island and wave runner excursions, boat tours, snorkeling and cabanas and daybeds.
The action-packed South Beach will offer volleyball, beachside basketball, soccer, paddle boarding, glass-bottom kayaking and zorbing in an inflatable zorb ball. Photo-worthy teepee cabanas, as well as daybeds, are ideal for napping and snapping in the shade.
At the exclusive Coco Beach Club are luxurious over-water cabanas with an over-water hammock, slide and private attendant. In addition, beachside cabanas and daybeds will offer privacy in paradise. Elsewhere, are a freshwater infinity edge pool and bar and an exclusive dining venue serving freshly made Mediterranean fare.
Perfect Day at CocoCay will roll out in phases, beginning this September with the completion of the pier, which can take two ships, and the majority of the island will launch in spring 2019. Coco Beach Club, the final experience to be completed, is set to open in November next year.
Additional Perfect Day Island Collection destinations will be announced at a later date.
Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. Seatrade, a trading name of Informa Markets (UK) Limited. Add Seatrade Cruise News to your Google News feed.
