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Royal Caribbean buying, will transform Costa MayaRoyal Caribbean buying, will transform Costa Maya

To create Perfect Day Mexico, Royal Caribbean Group is acquiring and will transform Puerto Costa Maya.

Anne Kalosh, Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

October 15, 2024

4 Min Read
Under Royal Caribbean, Costa Maya's current look, here, is going to change, with a colorful new welcomePHOTO: ANNE KALOSH

At a Glance

  • Reported $600m investment
  • Major changes in store, including a new transportation hub
  • Will other lines continue calling?

The cruise giant is buying the port and adjacent land — totaling more than 200 acres — in what Quintana Roo Gov. Mara Lezama identified as a $600m investment.

Royal Caribbean plans to transform the port, built by Mexico's ITM Group with its backing in the late 1990s, to present a colorful new look and welcome from the water, a new transportation hub and, for its Perfect Day, an all-new water park and other amenities.

Adios, Lost Mayan Kingdom?

The nearby Lost Mayan Kingdom with its slides and lazy river that ITM opened in 2015 are likely to be going away, though Royal Caribbean hasn't confirmed plans for the site which is part of the land it's buying.

Lost-Mayan-Kingdom-water-park.jpg

Ships from other cruise lines will continue to be welcomed at Costa Maya, and Royal Caribbean indicated the experience for all passengers will improve with its redevelopment.

'Costa Maya as it exists today will no longer be'

Though the company isn't ready to share specifics, it's safe to say the current port offering will be quite different, starting with the arrival.

'Everything gets an uplift,' a Royal Caribbean spokesperson told Seatrade Cruise News, adding: 'The Costa Maya port experience as it exists today will no longer be.'

Working closely with the Quintana Roo government, there will be infrastructure enhancements, and local vendors and service providers will still have opportunities though the current shops won't be there in the same format as today.

Related:Royal Caribbean announces Perfect Day Mexico

Who knows? It's even possible the Costa Maya name could change.

Perfect-Day-Mexico.jpg

The Royal Caribbean spokesperson pointed out sustainability is key for the Mexican government and citizens. Of the more than 200 acres the company's acquiring, about half will be put aside as a protected area.

Guest satisfaction challenges

Costa Maya is an important western Caribbean destination but a cruise executive not associated with Royal Caribbean Group said historically the port has not been highly rated 'because aspects of it don't resonate with guests. A big piece of it is the lack of a beach.'

(The fishing village of Mahahual's public beach is a stroll or trolley ride away.)

Details on Perfect Day Mexico are to begin emerging in spring 2025 so exactly how things work in relation to the port aren't public yet, and Royal Caribbean said the project is still in development.

Split arrival

However, arriving passengers will be split between those from Royal Caribbean ships going to Perfect Day Mexico, who'll be able to walk right into the attraction. Those from other cruise lines will still have access to standard port facilities and the new transportation hub for excursions.

The hub is expected to add a shuttle to Tren Maya, which traverses the Yucatán Peninsula, linking coastal cities and tourist areas to archaeological sites and other interior attractions.

Mahahual-beach-vendor-hammocks-bikes.jpg

And all cruisers will be able to visit nearby Mahahual, with its beaches, small vendor stands, waterfront bars and casual dining spots.

'Brilliant move'

For Royal Caribbean, acquiring Costa Maya is critical to creating and controlling its Perfect Day Mexico experience.

A competitor called the deal 'a brilliant move.'

Mexico is one of the most popular destinations for North Americans, so adding the Perfect Day cachet there — in a place that can be reached on short cruises from the Port of Galveston and Port Tampa Bay — is expected to be a huge boost for Royal Caribbean.

Accessible to new markets on short cruises

Currently, it would take an eight-night cruise from Galveston to reach Perfect Day at CocoCay, and this doesn't fit into the mainstream seven-day vacation. From Galveston and Tampa, Perfect Day Mexico will be reachable on three-, four- and five-night cruises.

And this makes cruising from Texas via Royal Caribbean's new Galveston terminal all the more appealing for Midwesterners. For example, for those living in Chicago, a major source market, a flight directly south to Houston is faster and easier than going east to Florida, plus Galveston has a huge drive market.  

'It's not how can we take more people to CocoCay? It's how can we bring Perfect Day to more people?' the Royal Caribbean spokesperson said.

'Tale of Two Ports?'

The cruise industry source not associated with Royal Caribbean questions how other lines calling Costa Maya will view the port going forward.

'It's almost like a "Tale of Two Ports,"' he said. 'It's the same port but completely different experiences between Royal Caribbean guests and other guests.'

Should the Lost Mayan Kingdom water park go away, he added, that reduces the attractions for non-Royal Caribbean passengers.

Also of concern: 'Cruisers to Costa Maya may decide to switch brands to enjoy the amenities that only Royal Caribbean customers have,' he said.

About the Author

Anne Kalosh

Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

Anne Kalosh covers global stories, reporting both breaking and in-depth news on cruising's significant people, places, ships and trends. A sought-after expert on cruising, she has moderated conferences around the world, including the high-profile State of the Industry panel at Seatrade Cruise Global. She created and led the acclaimed itinerary-planning case study for Seatrade's cruise master classes held at Cambridge and Oxford universities. She has been the cruise columnist for AFAR.com, and her freelance stories have appeared in a wide range of publications, from The New York Times to The Miami Herald.

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