In the Aegean Sea waters, where passenger traffic presses heavily upon limited anchorages, RCG-Royal Caribbean Group introduced its first private resort complex in Europe with the opening of the Royal Beach Club Santorini on April 27th.
The exclusive facility stands as RCG's initial venture of this kind in the Mediterranean, following similar developments in the Caribbean and the South Pacific.
Access to the Royal Beach Club Santorini is restricted to tourists ariving on RCG-owned ships, from the fleets of RCI-Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity and Silversea. Provision has also been made for entry by residents under controlled conditions.
The Royal Beach Club Santorini is integrated into the packaged shore program "Ultimate Santorini Day", through which passengers are transported between designated points on the popular Greek island. The arrangement affords time ashore along a volcanic sand coastline, where fixed amenities include sheltered loungers, provisions for prepared meals and beverages, and service areas arranged for continuous supply.
The same itinerary extends inland, directing visitors toward the settlements of Oia and Fira, where established patterns of shore leave include passage through narrow streets, commercial quarters and vantage points overlooking the caldera.
RCG statements have indicated that the Santorini installation forms part of a wider program intended to expand a portfolio of controlled land destinations to 8 sites by 2028, following the earlier commissioning of a comparable facility in Nassau and with further locations already under development.