ROYAL CARIBBEAN GIVES PASSENGERS SOMETHING THEY REALLY WANTED

Many Royal Caribbean cruise ships call often on the same handful of ports. You may have loved Nassau, Cozumel, and Bimini the first few times you stopped there, but after that, the destinations perhaps begin to bore people.

The cruise line has been addressing that in one clear way with its planned Beach Clubs in Nassau and Cozumel. These private-island-like experiences will give people something similar to Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean's highly-rated private island.

Beach Clubs will theoretically make people want to go to Nassau and Cozumel because they will now have a reason to get off the ship. Yes, these new experiences will come with a price tag, but it's likely to be modest compared to many existing beach excursions at those destinations.

And, the Beach Clubs will offer a mix of pools, beaches, and other experiences that Royal Caribbean has proven very good at delivering.

Giving passengers more to do at familiar ports is part of the solution, but it's not all Royal Caribbean passengers have been asking for. Many would like to see the cruise line add new Caribbean ports and, according to emails it has sent to some upcoming passengers, it's doing just that.

Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise.

Royal Caribbean adding new ports

Some Royal Caribbean ships are simply too big to stop in certain ports. That may literally be because they won't fit at the dock, and in other cases, it's because the destination does not have the infrastructure to support the passenger load on an Oasis or Icon-clas ship.

Passengers, however, as much as they love those large ships, have been willing to sail on smaller ships in order to visit different destinations.

Royal Caribbean appears to have listened, according to emails sent to passengers on some upcoming cruises.

The cruise line is adding visits to Cabo Rojo, Dominican Republic, starting in October 2024.

“To provide you with the best experience, we’ve added a brand-new port to our itinerary,” the company said in one of the emails sent to upcoming passengers as shared by Cruise Industry News. "You and your travel party will be the first to experience this beautiful destination, and we’re excited to sail with you.”

ALSO READ: Top travel agents share how to get the best price on your cruise

Cabo Ropa, which is a newly developed port, can support multiple cruise ships at the same time. Adventure of the Seas will be calling on the new port beginning in October. Oasis of the Seas will follow in May 2025.

Carnival's Holland America Line and its Costa Cruises brand, as well as Norwegian Cruise Line, and MSC Cruises will stop in the new port in 2025.

Are you taking a cruise or thinking about taking one? Visit our Come Cruise With Me website to have all your questions answered.

2024-09-13T15:09:28Z dg43tfdfdgfd