Royal Caribbean has made it clear that it's betting big on private islands and destinations. In addition to Perfect Day at CocoCay and Labadee, Haiti, the cruise line plans to add private destination "Beach Clubs" in Nassau, on Paradise Island, and in Cozumel.

A Beach Club is a little different from Perfect Day in that they will be limited capacity, added fee pool and beach experiences. They will borrow heavily from what people love about Perfect Day, but the Royal Beach Club experience won't be an included part of your cruise in the way that CocoCay is.

Related: Royal Caribbean makes booking change passengers will love

While the cruise line does not say it this way, the Nassau and Cozumel Beach Clubs will take ports that many frequent passengers are bored with and add something that should make those stops desirable. In addition, Royal Caribbean will make money from charging for access to these new destinations.

In addition, Royal Caribbean also plans to build Perfect Day Mexico at what's currently the Costa Maya port. The cruise line took a big step toward making that happen, and Doug Parker has all the news about what the cruise line did on the latest Cruise News Today.

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Royal Caribbean closes on Costa MayaTranscript

Royal Caribbean has finalized a deal to purchase the port of Costa Maya, Mexico.

This according to a recent SEC filing, the $292 million acquisition includes the port and additional land attached and is expected to officially close next year pending regulatory approval. This purchase aligns with Royal Caribbean's recent announcement of its new Perfect Day Mexico, a water park and private destination in Costa Maya.

The port will be included in Western Caribbean itinerary starting in 2027 and will use Costa Maya's existing infrastructure rather than building new docking facilities.

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Now to be clear, other cruise lines can still use the port area as Perfect Day Mexico will be built on an adjoining piece of land.

And, Carnival Cruise Line has introduced a new mascot, Ducky the Duck. Yeah, joining the fleet to celebrate the cruising ducks trend. Ducky recently debuted aboard Carnival Jubilee. It will eventually be rolled out to other ships. Carnival, of course, is known for its series of mascots, including Fun Ship Freddy, Cat in the Hat, and a Towel Animal Elephant.

If you'd rather skip the duck hunt, you could still find a smoked version of Ducky on the main dining room menu.

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

And Tropical Storm Raphael has developed unexpectedly late in the 2024 hurricane season with the National Hurricane Center forecasting it to intensify into a hurricane by tomorrow. Now, warnings are already in effect for Jamaica and the Cayman Islands as the path of the storm threatens parts of the Caribbean and will potentially make landfall on the Gulf Coast by this weekend.

In response to the storm, MSC Cruises, Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity have already made itinerary changes as its wind field is going as far as the Bahamas. If you're cruising out of the Gulf Coast, especially this weekend, make sure to monitor your cruise line.

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