Royal Caribbean to Open Beach Club in Santorini
Royal Caribbean hasn’t hidden the fact that they want to provide a seamless vacation experience. To do that, they need to control what happens off the ship as well as on it. They’ve already achieved that with their private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, and soon with Perfect Day Mexico. They’re also expanding their Royal Beach Club concept, a for-fee resort experience, with the first one opening in Nassau, Bahamas this December. Now, they’ve announced another location, this time in Santorini, Greece.
What is Royal Beach Club?
Unlike Perfect Day destinations, which are accessible to all guests who visit, Royal Beach Clubs are exclusive and have an entry fee. They’re essentially Royal Caribbean’s version of a luxury beach resort. The Nassau club will feature swim-up bars, private pools, and manicured beaches for the ultimate destination beach day.
Royal Beach Club Santorini
The newest addition will be the Royal Beach Club Santorini. Santorini is one of Greece’s most popular but also most crowded destinations. The beach club will allow Royal Caribbean and Celebrity guests to enjoy a more relaxed and comfortable experience away from the congestion. The new facility is slated to open in summer 2026.
Getting to the island of Santorini can be a challenge, requiring tendering from the ship and then navigating the steep cliffs to reach Fira. According to Royal Caribbean’s press release, the new resort will “feature a new innovative way to alleviate congestion throughout the island by better distributing guests arriving to Santorini. Vacationers can start their journey in one of three locations, minimizing crowding while maximizing time spent enjoying sights and sounds.”
The released images show the resort nestled in the island’s volcanic rock with black sand beaches. Royal Caribbean has confirmed it in renovating an existing beach club to make the new property. The released photos closely match Theros Wave Bar, located at the southern tip of the island, opposite the famous town of Oia.
In a render released by the cruise line, you can see they’re adding a dock to make it easy to guests to get to and from the resort. The does not seem to be a pool and Theros Wave Bar does not currently have one. It does appear there will be a new spot for water activities like kayaking.
The Royal Beach Club Santorini will be part of the “Ultimate Santorini Shore Excursion,” a three-town tour that visits Oia, Fira, and the Beach Club. The excursion includes a ferry ride along the coastline, likely serving as transport between the locations since they are far apart. At the resort, guests will have access to the beach, complimentary dining, umbrellas, and loungers.
The cost for this excursion has yet to be released.
More Royal Caribbean Land-Based Vacations to Come
Royal Beach Club Santorini is just one of several land-based destinations Royal Caribbean will open in the coming years. Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in Nassau is set to open at the end of this year. In 2026, the line plans to debut Southernmost Hotel on Earth: The Cormorant at 55 South in Chile, Royal Beach Club Santorini, and Royal Beach Club Cozumel in Mexico. In 2027, Perfect Day Mexico will open, followed by Royal Beach Club Lelepa in 2028.
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