We’re returning to a subject that continues to evolve: Cruise lines’ private islands and destinations. Even after this episode was recorded, Carnival opened its long-awaited Celebration Key and Norwegian Cruise Line announced big plans for Great Stirrup Cay.

Royal Caribbean Group has often been at the forefront of these discussions, with its Perfect Day projects, a planned destination in the South Pacific and a hotel in Chile for Antarctica guests. In this episode, Jay Schneider, the chief product innovation officer for Royal Caribbean International, host Rebecca Tobin and cruise editor Teri West talk about the inspiration for Royal’s thrill-and-chill vibes, competition and the evolution of land-and-sea vacations in the Caribbean.

Episode sponsor

This episode is sponsored by Travel Insured International https://www.travelinsured.com

Summer series:

This episode is part of our annual Summer Series, where we feature some of our favorite recent Folo by Travel Weekly discussions. This episode was recorded May 29 and has been edited for length and clarity.

Related links

Perfect Day Mexico: Royal Caribbean previews its next frontier of fun https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Royal-Caribbean-previews-Perfect-Day-Mexico

The Grand Lucayan overhaul is an $827M bet on cruise tourism https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Grand-Lucayan-Resort-overhaul-analysis

Royal Caribbean expects to open its South Pacific destination in early 2027 https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Royal-Caribbean-renderings-for-Lelepa

Holland America Line reveals plans for an upgraded Half Moon Cay https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Royal-Caribbean-renderings-for-Lelepa

MSC Cruises will develop a private island adjacent to Ocean Cay www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/MSC-Cruises-developing-luxury-island-near-Ocean-Cay

Carnival Corp.'s private-destination plan: Update, build and promote https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Carnival-private-destination-plan

NCLH starts construction of a pier on Great Stirrup Cay https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/NCLH-starts-construction-of-Great-Stirrup-Cay-pier

The evolution of cruising's private islands https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/evolution-of-cruising-private-islands

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