Federal Judge Halts Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day Mexico Project

Editorial Summary

Doug Parker reports on several significant developments within the cruise industry. Margaritaville at Sea has implemented its second automatic gratuity rate increase within a single year. Standard stateroom guests will now be charged 22 dollars per person per day, while suite guests will pay 25 dollars. This new rate places the cruise line among the highest in the industry for daily gratuities. In Mexico, a federal judge has issued a temporary injunction halting construction on Royal Caribbean's planned Perfect Day resort in Costa Maya. The legal pause follows challenges from environmental groups regarding land use approvals, though local officials maintain the permits are legal. A court hearing is expected to address the matter. Additionally, Carnival Cruise Line has expanded its Cheers Zero Proof beverage program to all sailings for the remainder of the year. This non-alcoholic package includes items such as specialty coffee, sodas, and non-alcoholic cocktails. The program is designed for guests seeking a bundled beverage option similar to the standard Cheers package. Finally, the report notes a downward trend in cruise stocks, with Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Viking all seeing declines on Friday.

Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.