As Royal Caribbean prepares its initial phase of development for a new private beach experience, a legal drama is playing out in Mexican court.
An environmental group has challenged the process in which the environmental needs of Perfect Day Mexico were approved. What this means is it's a challenge to the municipality and not Royal Caribbean's plans directly.
In short, this is a glimpse into the Mexican legal system.
According to a Mexican news outlet, the project’s potential environmental impacts are currently under review at the request of Defending the Right to a Healthy Environment (DMAS), which argued that there are irregularities in the approval of the land-use changes granted to Royal Caribbean International.
While the civil organization isn't against the proposed water park plan, it is "...in favor of respecting the law, urban planning, and the community’s right to a healthy environment."
This isn't the first time that activists have raised concerns about the large-scale project. Locals have warned that the village of Mahahual has serious drainage and sewage management problems, which could potentially be worsened by the proposed water park.
Environmental activists have also wondered about whether the Perfect Day Mexico water park could damage the nearby mangroves.
As such, a federal judge issued a provisional suspension of work while the case is reviewed pending a formal hearing in the coming days.
Royal Caribbean issued a statement on the news, "We are aware of the matter; however, we do not provide public commentary on pending litigation. We are committed to continued transparency, regulatory compliance, and the highest environmental standards in the development of Perfect Day Mexico and we deeply value our partnership with the people and government of Mexico.”
Jay Schneider, Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer, was questioned about the project by El Financiero last year.
"We are not going to touch anything at all in the mangrove conservation area," Schneider promised, adding that the mangroves are already dying due to pollution from the municipal water treatment plant.
He then emphasized the cruise line's plan to restore the mangroves' health by building a new water treatment plant for the Mexican community.
Read more: When is Perfect Day Mexico going to open? Here are the latest details
Perfect Day at Mexico is a massive tourist project
Building on the success of Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas, Perfect Day Mexico is expected to span over 200 acres and feature a large water park, pools, beaches, an upscale beach club, dining venues, and more.
Once complete, the world-class destination is estimated to attract up to 6 million tourists per year, transforming Costa Maya into a major stronghold for Royal Caribbean in the Western Caribbean.
According to the cruise line's plans, the proposed Loco Water Park will feature 30 adrenaline-pumping waterslides across five slide towers, including the tallest in North and South America.
The 170-foot-tall Jaguar’s Peak will have two dueling slides. As the longest coaster waterslides in the world, riders can expect more than two minutes of twists, turns, and drops.
Other highlights include the world’s longest lazy river, the tallest family raft slide that's designed for four to six riders, more than two miles of white-sand beaches, and a 50,000 square foot adult-only party pool.
Royal Caribbean hasn't revealed an opening date yet for its Perfect Day Mexico project. However, they've mentioned that it will likely open in late 2027.
This, of course, is dependent on the cruise line obtaining the necessary permits, paperwork, and approvals, as well as avoiding the possibility of a definitive suspension by the Mexican government.
