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Better understanding the community's perspective is a process that will take a while and is expected to affect the destination development timeline.
July 28, 2026
'We remain heavily engaged with key stakeholders to create sustainable tourism that includes lasting environmental, economic and social benefits for the region,' Jason Liberty said
Royal Caribbean hasn't given up on its Mexico ambitions but the company's tone has shifted and comments focus on the Mahahual community.
Perfect Day Mexico is scarcely mentioned.
"Our commitment to Mexico and the destinations we visit is stronger than ever," Royal Caribbean Group Chairman/CEO Jason Liberty said during Tuesday's earnings call, proactively introducing the topic early on. "This includes the great community of Mahahual, where we continue to maintain a constructive dialogue with community leaders and public officials, as we work to develop a tourism destination that will create long-term opportunities for the region, for Mexico and for our guests."
Weeks of public comments by the Mexican administration acknowledge the community's support for development, Liberty stated.
"The government is continuing to engage with community stakeholders to better understand their perspectives, a process that will take some time and is expected to affect our previously planned timeline."
He added: "We remain heavily engaged with key stakeholders to create sustainable tourism that includes lasting environmental, economic and social benefits for the region, including investments in critical infrastructure to protect the local environment."
Plans for Mahahual K'iin Community Center
Just last week, Royal Caribbean released plans to advance the development of the new Mahahual K'iin Community Center, exemplifying its soft diplomacy approach.
With the Mexico development timeline in question, an analyst asked if that will impact Royal Caribbean's target of a Western-Eastern Caribbean 50-50 split in the 2028-29 period?
"We'll see if there will be any impact," Liberty responded.
"We are generating strong demand out of homeports like Galveston and Tampa and South Florida for cruising in the Western Caribbean that we believe we'll be able to deliver with differentiated destination experiences like Mahahual, Cozumel, etc.," he said.
"So there may be some changes in deployment on the margin. That's not our expectation today. There might be."
Recently Galveston Wharves CEO/Port Director Rodger Rees indicated Royal Caribbean's interest in the Port of Galveston's proposed fifth cruise terminal. It is planned to go in at Pier 14, which is adjacent to Royal Caribbean's Cruise Terminal 10.
Meanwhile, the company continues to sound pleased with its Caribbean deployment and cited "strong" onboard spending.
"The ongoing geopolitical situation has affected near-term travel plans for some consumers, primarily preferring closer destinations over international trips due to the cost of air travel," Liberty said. "Consumers tell us they are booking closer in due to flexibility and ease, which is reflected in the strong close-in booking volumes we have been seeing."
Half of Royal Caribbean guests are millennials or younger. They are taking shorter, more frequent vacations but, according to Liberty, "tend to spend the same amount of money on a short vacation as they would on a long vacation."
Caribbean deployment is up this year. The region comprises 57% of Royal's 2026 capacity, and 44% in the third quarter.
"What we have seen is demand for differentiated assets, which we bring to the table with our ships and our destinations," Liberty told analysts, adding the company is in a "very good position" for the Caribbean the rest of the year and going into 2027.
Royal Caribbean International President/CEO Michael Bayley noted the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in Nassau is highly rated, and said Perfect Day CocoCay will host just shy of 4m crusiers in 2026 with two Icon ships and a third coming from Europe, and Oasis-class vessels on short itineraries.
According to Liberty, Royal Caribbean is delivering Caribbean net promoter scores in the mid-70s, which he called "unicorn territory."
