Lelepa Island Chiefs Challenge Royal Caribbean Beach Club EIA

Customary leaders on Lelepa Island in Vanuatu have formally challenged Royal Caribbean’s plans for a private beach club, saying the project’s environmental impact assessment (EIA) does not meet Vanuatu’s legal standards and that consultation with customary landowners has been insufficient.

In a letter dated February 26, Lelepa’s council of chiefs urged the cruise operator to pause progress until additional assessments and consultations are completed and accepted by customary owners. The planned Royal Beach Club Lelepa is targeted to open in October 2027 on leased land on the roughly 5-kilometre-long island, home to about 500 residents.

What Royal Caribbean is proposing for Lelepa

Royal Caribbean has marketed Royal Beach Club Lelepa as a beach-club style day-visit destination for cruise passengers on South Pacific itineraries departing Australia. The proposed site is intended to host up to 5,000 visitors per day, with passengers ferried ashore, as the destination is expected to operate as a tender port rather than a pier-docking facility.

In promotional descriptions, the company has referenced two private beaches, 10 bars, and two eateries, along with designated areas including an adults-only retreat. Royal Caribbean has also highlighted activities such as snorkeling, paddleboarding, and other beach-club amenities designed around the island setting.

Royal Caribbean President and CEO Michael Bayley linked the concept to feedback from Australia, saying, “We are developing a beach club experience that is completely connected to the Australian guests who’ve told us exactly how they want to experience that.”

Keri-Ann Chin-Sang, Royal Caribbean’s Senior Director of Product Development, said planning has focused on the landscape and visitor experience. “We have spent a lot of time really understanding the topography of the island. The plan is to really showcase the natural beauty of the destination,” she said, describing the intent to highlight “crystal-clear waters,” marine life, and mountain backdrops as part of what the company has called an “exclusive experience” for passengers.

Chiefs seek deeper consultation and added assessments

Lelepa’s paramount chief, Ruben Natamatewia III, is among the signatories to the February 26 letter. He has said he wants more engagement with residents and customary owners so the project is clearly understood and supported before it moves forward.

Natamatewia has said he viewed the proposal positively in principle, while questioning whether the EIA work reflects local realities. He also objected to Lelepa being marketed as a private resort before key issues with the community are resolved.

The chiefs’ letter described the EIA commissioned by Royal Caribbean as “incomplete” and “misleading,” and said it does not meet requirements under Vanuatu law. They also called for a cultural heritage assessment to protect customary sites.

Environmental and cultural concerns highlighted by landowners

Community representatives and environmental advocates have raised concerns about potential impacts on fragile marine ecosystems and local resources, including turtle nesting areas and fishing grounds.

Chief Tungulman Albert Solomon Peter Manaure, an Australia-based council representative, tourism business owner from Lelepa, and a spokesperson for the community, said landowners broadly support tourism but want clarity on safeguards. “The ocean and the land are our bank… If Royal Caribbean wants to do this project on Lelepa, we want to make sure it is done in the right way, with the environment properly protected,” he said.

In their request for added cultural assessment work, the chiefs cited concern about Fels Cave, a culturally significant Unesco world heritage site with ancient rock art located south of Lelepa. More broadly, they have asked for consultations and assessments that customary owners accept before any construction begins.

Where the approvals process stands

Construction has not started. Royal Caribbean has said it is progressing through permitting and assessment requirements tied to the EIA.

The company initially said it had submitted its EIA and met Vanuatu’s environmental requirements, while also maintaining that the development site is far from the nearby world heritage area. In a subsequent update, Royal Caribbean said it was still incorporating public consultation input into the final EIA prior to submission, including issues tied to environmental protection and waste management.

A Royal Caribbean spokesperson said: “Royal Caribbean is progressing all necessary permits in relation to the EIA to support and advance the Royal Beach Club Lelepa development.” The company has also said it is working with government, chiefs, environmental organizations, and local residents, and has emphasized that protecting Lelepa’s ecosystems is a priority. Royal Caribbean has additionally pointed to its leasing process, saying it worked with government and customary landowners to secure the agreements needed for the project.

No official statement from Vanuatu’s government was included in available reports.

How Lelepa is being sold into South Pacific itineraries

Lelepa has already been a regular stop on Royal Caribbean cruises in the region, with passengers taken ashore for beach time, hikes, and cultural activities. Planning discussions about establishing a permanent tourism facility with local landowners have been underway since at least 2018, with the concept modeled in part on private destination experiences the company operates elsewhere, including Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas.

Royal Caribbean has said Royal Beach Club Lelepa is scheduled to open in October 2027, and it has begun selling cruises that include calls at the destination starting that month. Voyages already marketed include sailings on Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas, with departures from Sydney and Brisbane and trips ranging from short two-night escapes to longer itineraries, including 17-night transpacific sailings.

For the 2027-28 season in Australia, Royal Caribbean has also outlined a deployment featuring Anthem of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas between October 2027 and April 2028, with itineraries ranging from short getaways to longer cruises calling in Australia, New Zealand, and South Pacific islands.

Gavin Smith, Vice President and Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand at Royal Caribbean, said the company views Lelepa as a new private-destination option for the region: “Royal Caribbean continues to raise the bar on the ultimate family holiday with Royal Beach Club Lelepa… inspired by the natural beauty and spirit of the South Pacific region.”

Royal Caribbean has said access to the beach club would be included in cruise fares, unlike some private destinations that charge additional fees, while also indicating some optional upgrades such as daybeds and certain equipment rentals may carry additional charges.

Broader scrutiny of cruise-linked development in small island nations

The disagreement over the Lelepa proposal has unfolded amid wider debate about how cruise tourism affects small island nations, where projects can promise increased visitor spending while raising concerns about ecosystems, resources, and cultural heritage.

Joseph Cheer, a professor of sustainable tourism and heritage at Western Sydney University, said large-scale tourism developments can sharpen longstanding governance pressures. “Cruise tourism is often criticised for its adverse environmental impacts, questionable economic impacts and the way it wields power and influence over small island countries,” he said, adding that effective governance can reduce friction points.

Scrutiny of cruise tourism’s environmental footprint has also intensified in some markets, including parts of Europe where certain ports have limited cruise ship calls due to pollution and overtourism concerns. At the same time, cruise operators including Royal Caribbean have pointed to strong demand in key source markets, including the United States, as they expand and refine destination offerings.

With an October 2027 opening target still in place, the next steps on Lelepa center on finalizing and submitting the EIA, completing any added studies requested by customary owners, and securing the permits required before construction can proceed.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Royal Beach Club Lelepa?

Royal Beach Club Lelepa is Royal Caribbean’s planned private beach club on Lelepa Island in Vanuatu, designed as a day-visit destination for cruise passengers on South Pacific itineraries departing Australia.

When is Royal Beach Club Lelepa expected to open?

Royal Caribbean has set an opening timeline of October 2027, and it has begun selling cruises that include calls at the destination starting that month.

Why are Lelepa’s chiefs objecting to the project right now?

In a February 26 letter, Lelepa’s council of chiefs said the environmental impact assessment is incomplete and does not meet Vanuatu’s legal standards. They also said consultation has been insufficient and asked for further environmental and cultural heritage assessments and consultations accepted by customary owners before any construction begins.

Will the beach club be an extra-cost excursion?

Royal Caribbean has described Royal Beach Club Lelepa as included in the cruise fare, while also indicating some optional upgrades, including daybeds and certain equipment rentals, may carry additional charges.

Which ships will include Royal Beach Club Lelepa on their itineraries?

Royal Caribbean has marketed itineraries that include Lelepa calls on Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas starting in October 2027. The company has also outlined a 2027-28 Australia season deployment that includes Anthem of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas between October 2027 and April 2028.