Royal Caribbean International will open five ‘Perfect Day at CocoCay’ private islands around the world over the next five years, primarily in the fast-growing source markets of Asia and Australia.
“We have been busy acquiring land around the world and each one will have a slightly different concept, depending on what each market’s idea of a perfect day is,” Royal Caribbean International CEO, Michael Bayley, told Travel Weekly.
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Bayley added that Royal Caribbean’s yet-to-be-named ‘Spectrum 2’ ship will sail in Europe roundtrip from Barcelona following her launch in 2020.
The Spectrum 2 ship will be a sister ship to Spectrum of the Seas, which is the first of the line’s Quantum-Ultra-class cruise ships. Spectrum herself will cruise from Dubai in 2019 as she is to be repositioned for the China market.
Royal Caribbean is in the midst of a major investment in its fleet and private island offerings. The cruise line will open ‘Perfect Day at CocoCay’ in the Bahamas in May. The private island will be a more advanced version of its Laberdee enclave in Haiti.
Perfect Day at CocoCay is part of the line’s new Perfect Day Island Collection. The island will unveil several new amenities, including the Oasis Lagoon, the largest freshwater pool in the Caribbean; Captain Jack’s Galleon, a water play area with slides, a geyser, and water cannons; and Splashaway Bay aquapark.
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Many of the amenities on Perfect Day at CocoCay will be free. Passengers will need to pay for extras such as access to the Thrill Waterpark and cabana rentals.
CocoCay will be followed by private islands in Asia, for the Chinese market, one off the coast of Australia and another in the Caribbean.
During the inaugural season of the first CocoCay, ten ships will visit the island. Next year, Royal Caribbean plans to introduce late-night departures, and in 2021, its itineraries will include overnight port calls at the destination.
The island will also include overnight accommodation for passengers, with a limited number of cabanas offering a “suite-class experience” according to Bayley.
“You could go on one ship, spend a few days at CocoCay and get back on another ship,” he said.
A pier that can accommodate two ships, including one Oasis-class vessel, is being constructed.
Royal Caribbean has five ships due for delivery over the next five years, but is likely to exercise five options for new-builds it has registered with shipyards, bringing its order book to ten new vessels.
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