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Looking for a romantic luxury, adults only, all-inclusive resort in Jamaica? There certainly are so many great options to choose from! It is hard to narrow it down, but if you are looking for an intimate, unique resort in Montego Bay, you definitely need to consider Sandals Royal Caribbean for your next vacation.
Sandals Royal Caribbean Review: Adults Only, All-Inclusive in Montego Bay, Jamaica
I stayed at Sandals Royal Caribbean back in December of 2020. Despite the on-going pandemic I felt totally safe and had an amazing time.
Every Sandals resort is a little different, and the best one is the one that best suits what you want to do and how you want to travel. I loved staying at Sandals Grenada, Sandals Barbados, and Sandals Grande Antigua, Sandals Grande St Lucian (and at Beaches Turks and Caicos and Beaches Negril for a luxury all included family resort). but each resort is a different experience for sure.
In a nutshell, Sandals Royal Caribbean offers that old-world British flair. It’s a small resort (only 232 rooms), intimate, and very romantic.
What else makes Sandals Royal Caribbean unique? Keep reading for more.
Booking a Sandals Vacation is one best left to a certified Sandals Specialist, like myself! No fees for working with me, and I can help choose the best resort for you, and the best room category as well!
Need help planning this trip? The click the banner below to get started planning your Sandals Vacation today! I am a full-service travel agent and a Certified Sandals Specialist! As always, my services are FREE!
Where is Sandals Royal Caribbean?
Sandals Royal Caribbean is located in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The resort is about a 10-15 minute ride from the Montego Bay airport. Be sure to add Club Mobay VIP fast tracking to your vacation package and you will be on the resort in no time! Plus book a butler level room at Sandals Royal Caribbean and private, BMW transfers are included.
Sandals Royal Caribbean is a 5-minute ride from Sandals Montego Bay, and there is a complimentary shuttle that goes between the two resorts. You can stay at one resort, and play at two!
Overwater Bungalows at Sandals Royal Caribbean
I’m going to start this review with the best Sandals Royal Caribbean has to offer – 12 overwater bungalows and 5 overwater villas.
These will rival anything you will find in the South Pacific, and I should know, I honeymooned in Bora Bora and Moorea! In fact, since Sandals is all-inclusive resort, these bungalows are a much better value than a trip to Tahiti.
It’s no surprise these Caribbean overwater bungalows and villas book up very fast.
The overwater bungalows at Sandals Royal Caribbean are butler level rooms. When you arrive on property, you (and your luggage) will take a private water shuttle over to the private island where the bungalows are located.
The private island, Sandals Cay, is open for all Sandals Royal Caribbean resort guests, but only those staying overwater bungalows/villas can access that area. Also worth noting that resort guests can take the dragon boat to and from the private island. Overwater guests have private boat service.
The overwater villas are the top room category. There are five of them, and all have 360 degree ocean front views. Complete with a glass floor, 1800 square feet of space, and a two person infinity pool on the patio.
What more could you need for a honeymoon or romantic getaway?
The overwater bungalows, the ones that make the heart in the lagoon, are 1200 square feet, complete with a soaking tub on the patio, an indoor/outdoor shower, and a hammock on the porch.
Private Island at Sandals Royal Caribbean
One of the most unique features at Sandals Royal Caribbean is the private island, named Sandals Cay. This island is a one-minute boat ride from the main resort, and the dragon boat shuttle runs back and forth all day, starting at 10am.
On the private island you will find the jerk shack (open for lunch), and Royal Thai restaurant (reservations required for dinner). There are beach cabanas for rent, beach chairs, and a pool/hot tub/bar.
Sandals Royal Caribbean Pro-Tip: At the jerk shack, order “the combo”
I also heard word there is a clothing optional beach on the far side of this island, but we never found it!
If you have a butler, ask them to set you up for the day over on the private island! This was so nice to have our own space (with a cooler of drinks) to hang out and relax.
Rooms at Sandals Royal Caribbean
At Sandals Royal Caribbean there are only 232 rooms, with 29 different room categories!
Again, I cannot stress enough the importance of working with a Sandals specialist to help you navigate all of the room options!
This resort is small, so no room is all that far from the lobby, pool or restaurants. None of the buildings are higher than three floors, although worth noting that some do not have elevators.
This resort offers a few swim out suites, luxury and club level rooms as well as butler level accommodations. My personal favorite is the second or third floor corner room in the Sondheim building. The wrap around balcony offers incredible ocean views.
On my recent trip, I stayed in a Romeo and Juliet butler suite with a balcony tub and a partial Ocean View. This room was very romantic with an open shower (glass door toilet as well) and BOTH a balcony soaking tub, and a soaking tub in the room!
Sandals Royal Caribbean Pro-Tip: Have your butler draw you a romantic bubble bath while you are at dinner
Restaurants at Sandals Royal Caribbean
I love the food at Sandals, and Royal Caribbean offers some unique offerings.
For dinner, Sandals Royal Caribbean has the following restaurants:
– Royal Thai (Thai cuisine on the private island)
– Bombay (Indian cuisine)
– Tavolo (Italian Cuisine)
– Spices ( Caribbean cuisine)
– Il Jardinière (French cuisine)
For lunch, enjoy a poolside pizza from Dino’s, the buffet at Spices, or beachside eats at Mariner’s.
Breakfast at Sandals Royal Caribbean can be found at Jardinière, the buffet at Spices (pro tip: opt to sit outside) or room service for Club or Butler level guests.
PS I am a big fan of room service at Sandals!
Guests at Sandals Royal Caribbean also have access to all the bars and restaurants at Sandals Montego Bay, a five-minute ride on the complimentary shuttle. Here you can find sushi, hibachi and Butch’s Chophouse (among other eateries).
Activities at Sandals Royal Caribbean
At Sandals Royal Caribbean you can be as active as you would like! Remember, at all Sandals resorts, SCUBA is included for certified divers. If you are not certified, you can do so at Sandals for a nominal charge!
At Sandals, all non-motorized watersports are complimentary. This includes hobie cat rentals (PS This is harder than it looks my family had a major fail doing this at Royalton Antigua), kayaks, and stand up paddleboards.
If you like to snorkel, there are complimentary snorkeling trips 3x a day! Just go down to the dive shop to sign up the day before. Same with the glass bottom boat tour (offered two times a day). We did this half hour boat ride, and although we did not see any fish, we had a lovely tour of the Montego Bay area!
In the evening, there was nightly entertainment in the courtyard area outside Cricketer’s Pub. The best was the silent dance party!
Destination Weddings at Sandals Royal Caribbean
Want to have your destination wedding on a private island? Well at Sandals Royal Caribbean you can!
The area by the Jerk Shack on Sandals Cay can be converted to the wedding venue of your dreams!
How amazing is that
Sandals Royal Caribbean also has amazing overwater gazebos to have your ceremony. And your destination wedding at Sandals is FREE with your stay – how amazing is THAT?
Plus you can have your wedding at Sandals Royal Caribbean, enjoy time with your family and friends, and then head over to the Overwater Bungalows to enjoy a romantic honeymoon – all at the same resort!
My agency does a ton of destination weddings and we love working with Sandals. EVERYONE loves having their wedding at Sandals!
Sandals Royal Caribbean Pro Tips
I promise you will have a fabulous stay at Sandals Royal Caribbean, but here are some insider tips to make your visit even more special:
- Order an espresso martini, a signature drink
- High Tea is served each day at 4pm in the atrium off the lobby. I loved having an afternoon tea and delicious snacks!
- In the morning, don’t forget there is a coffee bar in lobby
- In the evening, check out the fire pits by the dragon boat shuttle. We loved relaxing here at night.
- Rent a beach cabana for the day, or overwater bed – make your trip even more relaxing and special.
- Take the complimentary shuttle over to Sandals Montego Bay. It’s a five minute ride and there you can enjoy drinks at the overwater bar and dine at any of the restaurants (I personally like Soy the sushi bar, or Butch’s Chophouse is always a popular choice)
There are so many great resorts in the Caribbean, and on the island of Jamaica, but if you like smaller, intimate resorts, with lots of great nooks to get lost in, plus the unique private island to relax all day on – then Sandals Royal Caribbean would be an excellent spot for your upcoming getaway! I loved my stay at Royal Caribbean and cannot wait to help YOU get on your way to paradise.
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Please share:
Gorgeous! You had me at adults only. I need to get here one day with my husband.
Ohhhh! If that’s not paradise then what is? Bucket list!
Wow I love that they have added the overwater bungalows, when we stayed there years ago they did not have those and it was still a great resort. That just upped the ante on they all inclusive
Yes, and anyone can visit the private island. There is a jerk shack there, bar, pool, the Thai restaurant
One of my biggest issues with resorts is the kids running amok. I prefer to get away from that, so this adults only resort sounds perfect!
No kids here! I agree, I don’t want to deal with other peoples kids if I am not with my own kids!
can you go to Montego bay and go out on the catamaran excursion to Margaritaville
I dont see why not. You can take a cab to Margaritaville its so close.