Royal Caribbean’s plans for a 200-acre private resort in the Mexican Caribbean have been rejected by politicians because of environmental concerns.
The cruise line had been scheduled to open the Perfect Day Mexico private resort in autumn 2027.
Royal Caribbean President and CEO Michael Bayley had described the venture as ‘the ultimate vacation’ and ‘bigger and bolder than anything we have done to date’, with 24 bars, 12 eateries, more than 30 waterslides, two miles of beaches and an exclusive beach club with a heated infinity pool.
However, on Monday, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) said it wouldn’t approve the project, in Mahahual, which has a population of fewer than 3,000 people. The area has the largest reef in the western hemisphere, the Mesoamerican Reef, and Royal Caribbean’s plans had been criticised by Greenpeace, among others.
In addition, a Change.org petition was launched in July 2025 demanding the project be halted. It has more than four million signatures.
Cruise Hive reports Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Monday that SEMARNAT was conducting a detailed analysis of the project, adding ‘but I can already tell you that we are not going to do anything that puts the ecological balance of that area at risk’.
Later, SEMARNAT Secretary Alicia Bárcena said: “We are not going to approve Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day project.”
In a statement issued to Cruise Hive, Royal Caribbean said it was disappointed but added: “Mahahual is a special place that deserves care and protection. We continue to believe in Mexico and are optimistic in the potential to advance our investment responsibly.
“Over the coming weeks, we will re-engage stakeholders to move forward in a way that delivers shared prosperity through the development of essential environmental infrastructure, the creation of thousands of local jobs, and community programs that support the people of Mexico.”
Royal Caribbean already operates a 120-acre Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas; Labadee in Haiti, which is currently closed to passengers; and Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in Nassau, which opened in December 2025. It plans to open a Royal Beach Club Santorini this summer and a Royal Beach Club Cozumel, also in Mexico.
