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Royal Caribbean is bringing its Royal Beach Club concept to Europe for the first time, and it’s heading to Santorini.
Set to open in summer 2026, the new Royal Beach Club Santorini will welcome guests from both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises. The destination will combine the island’s volcanic beaches with the cruise line’s signature service and experiences, creating what the company calls an “Ultimate Santorini Day.”
Cruisers will be able to visit popular island highlights such as Oia’s whitewashed buildings and blue-domed churches, stroll through Fira’s shops and cafes, and then spend the rest of the day relaxing by the Aegean Sea at the Royal Beach Club Santorini.
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Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, said the new addition is part of the company’s plan to grow its land-based vacation portfolio.
“Expanding our Royal Beach Club Collection to include Santorini – one of the world’s most popular and beautiful locations – is a bold step forward in growing our vacation portfolio from two to eight by 2028,” he said. “We’re thrilled to connect guests with Santorini’s gems — from its iconic villages to the Aegean Sea’s famous beach club culture.”
To help ease crowding on the island, the company plans to stagger guest arrivals by starting excursions from three different locations, giving cruisers more time to explore without adding to congestion in Santorini’s busiest areas.
Access to Royal Beach Club Santorini will be sold as an optional day pass, similar to other Royal Beach Club experiences. Pricing hasn’t been announced yet.
The Santorini project follows the debut of Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in Nassau, opening this December, and joins other upcoming destinations, including Royal Beach Club Cozumel and Perfect Day Mexico. Royal Caribbean Group expects to expand its land-based destinations from two to eight by 2028, spanning The Bahamas, Mexico, Chile, Greece, and Vanuatu.
Several ships are already scheduled to call at Santorini in 2026, including Odyssey of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, and Celebrity’s upcoming Celebrity Xcel.
Images rendering courtesy of Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
Meet Kathy Ava, a food, travel, and cruise writer based in Los Angeles/Pasadena, and the owner and main writer of Tasty Itinerary. With over 20 years of experience planning trips and logistics at her full-time job and for herself, she’s become a pro at crafting unforgettable tasty itineraries. She’s always on the hunt for delicious, fun travel destinations and cruise itineraries. She firmly believes that life is short and we must make the most of it, so always say yes to dessert.
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