by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 12:15 PM ET, Thu May 28, 2026
About a week after Mexican officials rejected Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day Mexico plans, Royal Caribbean Group issued a statement on the scrapping of the $600-million plan that would’ve expanded the group’s private island destinations.
“We are disappointed by SEMARNAT’s decision and respect the role of Mexico’s environmental authorities,” a Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson told TravelPulse. “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.
“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.”
The plan was scrapped on May 20 due to environmental concerns, a day after Mexico’s President, Claudia Sheinbaum, expressed concerns over the major site, which would have welcomed 21,000 guests a day.
Perfect Day Mexico would have been located in Mahahual, along the Mexican Caribbean and would have been easily accessible to cruise ships. It would have debuted in 2027.
Sheinbaum and the Minister for the Environment, Alicia Barcena, explained that the region is critical for “ecological balance” and home to the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second-largest barrier reef system in the world, second only to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Additionally, Mahahual is home to 3,000 people.
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