We have visited Sandals Royal Caribbean several times and it has become one of our favorites.
Why we love Sandals Royal Caribbean
- Located close to the airport
- Great variety of food
- Friendly and attentive service
- Beautiful beach resort perfect for relaxation
Why some people do not like Sandals Royal Caribbean
- It’s too quiet
- There is jet noise from the airport
Located in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Sandals Royal Caribbean is a great choice for couples who want both relaxation and activity on their beach vacation. It’s a smaller resort with a mellow vibe, but you also have access to everything at nearby Sandals Montego Bay, which is more lively.
Since it is smaller, people feel more friendly and the staff feel more attentive to each guest. Even after a short conversation, they seem to remember me, making me feel at home.
There’s also a really cool private island here, with beaches, a pool with a swim-up bar, an excellent Thai restaurant, and luxurious overwater bungalows. And I can’t go without mentioning the Indian restaurant, Bombay, which always leaves me craving the Goan Shrimp Curry. We talk more about the food here.
We also love the variety of rooms, with even the most affordable rooms being high quality. More on the rooms here.
Arriving at Sandals Royal Caribbean
Since this is one of the closest Sandals to the airport, it’s super easy to get here. We flew into Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, headed to the Sandals lounge, and were on the shuttle and to the resort in a matter of minutes.
At the Sandals Lounge you check in with the attendant who will tag all of your luggage. Inside the lounge there are snacks, coffee, beer, soft drinks, restrooms and seating areas to relax while you wait for the shuttle to come.
When it comes to your arrival, there are a few options. You can go with the provided shutter. The only con is you may end up waiting for 20 minutes for there to be enough people to be enough people. Another options is to pay for a private transfer so you will not be waiting around and you will not need to stop by other resorts to drop other guests off.
Rooms and Suites
Sandals Royal Caribbean has a huge variety of rooms at different price points. We love that at the same resort, you can have more traditional rooms that are more affordable but still high quality and get the same all inclusive amenities as more luxurious rooms.
On our first, we chose a Crystal Lagoon Hideaway Caribbean Poolside Luxury with Balcony Tranquility Soaking Tub, which was in a quiet area further from the beach. It was a luxury level room, so we weren’t able to order room service, but this made it more affordable. (If you want room service, be sure to book a club or butler room.)
The room was very nice—spacious and modern with an oversized soaking tub on the balcony.
On our second visit we stayed in the Royal Beachfront Butler Suite w/ Balcony, Tranquillity Soaking Tub. This is one of the higher categories and has an amazing wrap-around balcony with amazing views of the ocean where you can hear the sounds of the waves crashing.
There are also poolside walkout rooms, beachfront walkout rooms, oceanview suites, swim-up suites, penthouse suites, and more. Most of the rooms have been updated, and new rooms have been added. These include Beachfront Club Suites with Balcony Tranquility Soaking Tubs, Beachfront Butler Suites with Private Pools, and Beachfront One-Bedroom Skypool Butler Suites with Rooftop Terraces.
But the most well-known accommodations at Sandals Royal Caribbean are the overwater bungalows. Located on the private island, set around a heart-shaped walkway, these romantic suites are perched over the Caribbean and have private decks with soaking tubs, hammocks, and loungers.
Some of the overwater bungalows even have private pools for the ultimate luxury. All of them come with 24-hour in-room dining and personal butler service. These are very popular for honeymoons and special occasion trips.
Butler Service
Some of the rooms including the one we recently stayed at include butler service.
Arrival and Orientation
Upon arrival, your butler greets you with refreshing lemongrass-scented towels and a welcome cocktail. They escort you to your suite, manage your luggage, and conduct a private check-in within the comfort of your room. A personalized resort orientation follows, during which your butler provides a mobile phone for direct communication throughout your stay.
During Your Stay
• Dining and Reservations: They handle all dinner reservations, tour bookings, spa treatments, and on-resort activities, ensuring you have access to preferred times and venues. They will even make your reservations at Sandals Montego Bay nearby.
• Beach and Pool Service: Your butler will save your seats by the pool or beach and bring drinks and meals throughout the day.
• In-Suite Dining: If you prefer to eat in your room, they can bring you meals from the room service menu or from the restaurants on the resort.
The Beach at Sandals Royal Caribbean
The beach at the main resort is sandy and divided into a few sections with nice, soft white sand and several different areas, including an active spot with entertainment and watersports and a smaller, quieter stretch.
The beach was created by bringing in sand and covering rock and reef so sometimes that comes through. The reef can be seen off shore and is perfect for stopping the waves from getting to the resort and also providing the sound of waves passing.
The private island has a beach as well and one of the beaches is clothing optional. These aren’t the best beaches for swimiing but are great for relaxing.
The Pools
Sandals Royal Caribbean features 7 beautiful pools, each offering a different vibe to match your mood.
- The main pool is lively and social, with upbeat music, daily games, a swim-up bar, and entertainment that keeps the energy high. It is smaller than you usually find at other Sandals Resorts.
- The south pool is a smaller, quiet pool in the back of the resort.
- The private island pool is a quiet pool on the island with its own swim up bar.
- There are also several crystal lagoons throughout the resort near the swim up suites.
- You’ll also find 5 whirlpools scattered throughout the resort—perfect for soaking and unwinding under the Jamaican sun or stars.
Watersports
One thing we love about Sandals Royal Caribbean is the watersports that are included in the stay.
- Scuba diving (for certified divers) is included.
- Snorkeling trips area available daily to reefs just offshore.
- Try paddleboarding, kayaking, or Hobie Cat sailing—all included with instruction if needed.
Land Activities
When you aren’t in the water, there are plenty of additional activities on land.
- Play a match on the tennis courts or join in a game of pickleball.
- Beach volleyball, croquet, shuffleboard
- The fitness center is tucked away and has a few group classes like Yoga and Ab workouts. The equiptment is pretty old but its enough to get a good workout in.
Nearby Excursions (Additional Cost)
Sandals Royal Caribbean is a fantastic choice if you want the option to explore off-property easily.
Bookable excursions (for an additional fee) include:
- Catamaran cruises and snorkeling adventures to vibrant reefs and hidden beaches
- The Luminous Lagoon is nearby, but not worth it in my opinion.
- Ziplining, ATVs and Horseback riding
About 90 minutes away is Ocho Rios where you can go to Dunn’s River, the Blue Hole and river tubing which we think is definately worth the trip.
Nightly Entertainment
Nightly entertainment includes theme parties, live music, and beach parties with bonfires and dancers.
Some nights end with a DJ while others have Kareoke at the pub.
Food and Drink
Sandals Royal Caribbean has one of our favorite restaurants: Royal Thai, which serves delicious authentic Thai food and is located on the private island for a fun experience. There’s also a great Indian restaurant, Bombay.
Sandals Royal Caribbean in Montego Bay, Jamaica, offers nine gourmet restaurants, each providing a unique dining experience. Guests also have access to 12 additional restaurants at the nearby Sandals Montego Bay resort, expanding the culinary options available.
- Bombay Club – This is our favorite restaurant at Sandals Royal Caribbean. The Indian cuisine is delicious, and you can sit on the patio outside over the water and enjoy the sunset. You can also go here for a la carte breakfast.
- Royal Thai – In a close second is located on the private island and served Thai dishes. We loved being about to try so many different things at once, something we don’t have the chance to do at a restaurant at home.
- Spices – This restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For breakfast, it’s a buffet with omelets made to order. For lunch,h it is a rotating menu including Caribbean and international cuisine. For dinner it’s a sharing menu perfect for trying a variety of dishes in one meal.
- Le Jardinier – French cuisine in a romantic garden setting; dinner only; reservations required.
- La Tavola – Italian specialties; dinner only; reservations required.
- The Mariner Seaside Grill – At the heart of the resort, this casual beachside grill serves burgers, seafood, and local fare. We prefer sitting at the bar and getting a drink while enjoying lunch. The ham and cheese panini and the Jamaican patties are our favorites.
- Bella Napoli Pizzeria – Brick-oven pizzas made to order; open for lunch.
- The Jerk Shack – This is a can’t miss lunch spot on the private island with traditional Jamaican jerk dishes.
- Cricketer’s Pub – British pub fare; open for dinner and late-night snacks. I am a big fan of the chicken wings.
Additional Dining Options at Sandals Montego Bay:
Guests of Sandals Royal Caribbean can also enjoy dining at Sandals Montego Bay, which features 12 restaurants, but several are very similar. We recommend going to these restaurants.
- The Oleander Room – Refined Jamaican cuisine served family style. This is a new menu with amazing food and with great variety.
- Butch’s Steak & Seafood – Premium cuts of meat and fresh seafood. We actually do not care for this restaurant and find it boring, but most people love it.
- Soy Sushi Bar – Freshly prepared sushi and sashimi. You can even just go here for appetizers before dinner somewhere else.
- Tokyo Jo’s – For lunch, enjoy Pan-Asian stir-fry dishes in an over-the-water setting.
- Café de Paris – Great place to grab some ice cream, crêpes, coffee, and tea.
- Cricketer’s Pint – Authentic British pub offering traditional fare and ales.
This diverse selection ensures that guests have a wide array of culinary experiences to choose from during their stay.
Is Sandals Royal Caribbean all-inclusive?
Yes, like all Sandals resorts, Sandals Royal Caribbean is all-inclusive and adult-only. Your rate here covers practically everything, including all meals and snacks at all dining options; all drinks including Robert Mondavi wines and premium spirits; inroom minibars that are restocked daily; watersports including snorkeling and scuba diving; land activities including tennis and beach volleyball; a fitness center; daily and nightly entertainment; Wifi; roundtrip airport transfers; access to Sandals Montego Bay; and all tips and taxes.