Royal Caribbean announces its luxurious new private island—with a sustainable angle.
Earlier this week, cruise line Royal Caribbean announced its plans to build a sustainable private island in the South Pacific.
According to the announcement, the island, located in Vanuatu, will be called “Perfect Day at Lelepa” and will be built with features that will “safeguard the island’s ecosystems,” and will be the first carbon-neutral cruise destination in the world.
“We believe our destinations should be sustainably designed,” Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley said in a statement. “That idea goes beyond simply protecting the ecological features of Lelepa and includes showing respect for the people and traditions that make this a special place.”
Bayley also stated that the island was created in collaboration with the community of Vanuatu to provide employment and education opportunities for locals while showcasing the “distinct natural ecological beauty” and diverse culture of the island nation.
“Today marks a major step forward in our island nation’s close relationship with Royal Caribbean and one that will support sustainable growth for future generations,” said Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai in a statement. “The Ni-Vanuatu people look forward to welcoming Royal Caribbean guests from around the world to enjoy extraordinary adventures and relaxation during their Perfect Day at Lelepa.”
According to Royal Carribean, Perfect Day at Lelepa will have a distinctly different look and feel from the cruise line’s other private islands, Perfect Day at CocoCay, “because our guests around the world all have different definitions for their perfect day—and all of them are right,” says Bayley, “Our designers and nature have created the ideal South Pacific experience and we expect the results will be stunning.”
The island is set to open sometime in 2022.