‘Costa Maybe' cruise port nickname proves true for Royal Caribbean
When Royal Caribbean closed on the purchase of the Costa Maya cruise port in Mahahual, Mexico in summer 2025, the company was eager to get to work on its plans to build Perfect Day Mexico, a 200-acre beachfront resort destination featuring a massive waterpark.
Although Perfect Day Mexico promised to upgrade Royal Caribbean cruise vacationers' visits to Costa Maya in a big way, it raised significant environmental concerns that have now halted the development indefinitely. Despite clearing environmental reviews earlier this year, Royal Caribbean's plan for Perfect Day Mexico was rejected by Mexico's environmental authorities in May, as reported by Reuters.
Environmental experts determined that - even with conservation initiatives included - the project posed too great a threat to delicate coastal ecosystems in the town of Mahahual. The area Royal Caribbean selected for Perfect Day Mexico contains protected mangroves and borders the Mesoamerican Reef, the second largest coral reef system in the world.
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Royal Caribbean's Perfect Day Mexico plan isn't dead
Perfect Day Mexico may still happen - just not at the Mahahual site Royal Caribbean selected. Mexican authorities are now in talks with Royal Caribbean about the possibility of moving the project to another site that doesn't have such significant environmental considerations, as reported by Mexico's El Universal.
"We are in talks with the company to see if there are any locations where the project could be developed without these environmental impacts, and we will first analyze whether it truly has environmental viability," Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo said in a press conference held on May 27.
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Ideally, Royal Caribbean wants to develop the exclusive destination in an area easily accessible from the Costa Maya cruise port. That could require significantly reducing the resort's footprint if a large enough site can't be identified.
To make the project happen, Royal Caribbean may have to trade its Perfect Day plans for a Royal Beach Club similar to those it recently opened in Nassau and Santorini, and plans to open in Cozumel in 2028.
‘Costa Maybe' nickname continues to ring true for Royal Caribbean cruisers
While Royal Caribbean works toward a way forward with Perfect Day Mexico, it's also facing continued challenges at the Costa Maya cruise port.
Earlier this year, local residents blocked the port entrance while three cruise ships were visiting Costa Maya to demand that Royal Caribbean deliver on promises to help improve local infrastructure. Then, a labor protest forced the cruise line to cancel shore excursions while two of its cruise ships were visiting the port on June 1.
"We sat on a bus until 9:30 only to be told all the excursions were cancelled. A couple of the locals told us it was because there were some workers on strike blocking the port exit," iprayforwaves shared in the Royal Caribbean community on Reddit. "Second time visiting Costa Maya. I'm definitely underwhelmed and won't make a point to come again. It's literally the worst port I've ever been to."
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This time the protest wasn't against Royal Caribbean, but against local tour operator Mayan Connection. Workers say the company failed to deliver on profit-sharing obligations, according to Riviera Maya News.
Regardless of the reasoning, protests and Perfect Day Mexico uncertainty combined with the fact that ships are often unable to dock in Costa Maya due to unfavorable wind conditions, make the port's "Costa Maybe" nickname seem more accurate than ever these days.
If luck is on your side and you get the chance to explore it, Costa Maya has much to offer, especially as a gateway to Mexico's Mayan ruins.
"It's sad that the Costa Maya port is such a disaster zone because it's the best port to reach Mayan ruins. I hope they can sort out whatever difficulties are going on," jfeathe1211 added in the Reddit thread.
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This story was originally published June 2, 2026 at 6:19 PM.