Sandals Royal Caribbean - All-inclusive Couples-only

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Located up the beach approximately 5 minute drive away from the active Sandals Montego Bay, Sandals Royal Caribbean offers a convenient alternative to guests searching for a more refined atmosphere. Compared to its sister resort down the road, Royal Caribbean offers more luxury, a quieter atmosphere, and a more laid back environment. The resort also features larger pools but still smaller in comparison to most other Sandals resorts. Standout accommodations are the swim-up suites which were introduced in 2009. The resort incorporates a British style theme including afternoon tea time, continental breakfast in bed, and a British Pub. Adding additional dimension is the resort's private offshore island known as Sandals Cay featuring another pool, swimup bar, authentic Thai restaurant, and the best beach at the resort including a private nude section. At night, the resort brings in entertainers and performers but the environment is more quiet overall as compared to down the road. Guests of Sandals Royal Caribbean have full exchange privileges with Sandals Montego Bay and Sandals Carlyle Inn and are welcome to dine and utilize the facilities along with complimentary shuttle transfers.
Sandals Royal Caribbean (Official Website)
Description (Sandals Website)

Location - The resort is located along the Jamaica northern coast east of downtown Montego Bay and about 10 minute drive to the airport. Sandals Montego Bay is located approx 5 minutes away and Sandals Carlyle Inn approx 15 minutes.

Atmosphere -  The resort welcomes couples of all ages but averages slightly higher in guest age, especially when compared to Sandals Montego Bay. The resort also attracts a higher number of Europeans. Sandals Royal Caribbean is considered a bit higher on the luxury scale which is noticable especially around the entrance and general lobby areas. The atmosphere is much more refined as compared to Sandals Montego Bay.

Layout & design - 15 acres with 197 rooms & suites. Series of accommodation buildings from 1 to 3 floors feature rooms and suites with varying views including the high end swim-up Crystal Lagoon Suites. An open-air lobby leads out to several of the restaurants and pool/beach areas. The resort has a series of beach sections but the best beach is located on the resort's private offshore island which is visible from the mainland. The resort pools are average in size and range from active to quiet. Sandals Royal Caribbean is not a large resort and walking around the flat beachfront property is easy, although guests with mobility issues will prefer a 1st floor unit as none of the buildings have elevators with the exception of the Clarence building.

Dining
Sandals Royal Caribbean features 7 restaurants from casual to elegant. British style afternoon tea served in the tea room. Guests also have full complimentary access to the 7 restuarants at Sandals Montego Bay and the 3 restaurants at Sandals Carlyle Inn (shuttle transportion included).

Royal Thai (Thai) - Casual open-air setting under the thai decor roof located on the offshore island. Resort casual, no smoking, reservations required. Dinner 6-8pm.

The Regency Suite & Deck (international) -  Primary restuarant with indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the sea. No reservations, resort casual, no smoking. Breakfast 7:30am-10:30am, lunch 12:30-2:30pm, dinner 6-9:30pm.

Le Jardinier (Mediterranean) - Intimate romantic terrace setting. Reservations required, resort evening attire, no smoking. Dinner 6-10pm.

The Pavilion Restaurant (Jamaican) - Outdoor patio under the star setting. No reservations, resort evening attire, no smoking. Dinner 6-9pm.

Cricketers Pub - traditional pub dishes in authentic English pub. No reservation, resort casual, no smoking. Dinner served 6-10pm.

Bamboo Shack (Jamaican buffet) - Located on Sandals Cay offshore island. Serves grilled favorites and salads during lunch hours. Lunch 12-3pm

The Mariner Seaside Bar & Grill (beach grill) - located mainland beach area serving lunch favorites and late night snacks.Afternoon hours 10:30am-6pm and late night 10pm-3am.

Restaurant Descriptions (Sandals Website)

Bars (5)

Beach Bar - 10am-6pm
Island Bar - 11am-5pm (swim-up & land service)
Piano Bar - 5pm-1am
Pool Bar - 10am-5pm (swim-up & land service)
The Cricketers Pub - 6pm-2am

Parties & Entertainment:
Manager's Cocktail Party - Mondays
All White Night - Mondays
Sandals Select Cocktail Party - Tuesdays
Island Romance - Tuesdays
Honeymooners Huddle - Wednesdays
Chocolate Buffet & Musically Yours - Wednesdays
Concierge Cocktail Party - Thursdays
Guest & Staff Talent Show - Thursdays
Boonoonoonoos Beach Party - Fridays
Raggae Fest - Saturdays
Caribbean Night - Sundays

Daily & nightly entertainment includes bands, singers & dancers, piano bar sing-along, karaoke, contests & tournaments, Jamaican arts & crafts classes, cooking demos, mixology classes, and game shows.

Activities & Facilities
Sandals Royal Plantation has beaches on the mainland property as well as Sandals Cay offshore island. The mainland beach is broken into multiple sections including the main section located in front of the beach bar between the Windsor and Sandringham accommodation buildings.  The offshore island beach also includes a private nude beach section. The resort has 7 pools with 6 mainland pools and 1 offshore island pool. The property also has 5 whirlpools. Beach Cabana service available ($).  The resort has a full service Red Lane Spa ($), beauty salon ($), and a fully equipped air-conditioned fitness center with two saunas. Resort scuba certification & PADI or NAUI Dive certification available ($). Full range of water sports, 2 day/night tennis courts, and basketball court. Scuba dive & snorkeling boats, glass bottom boats directly off the resort docks. Two beach gazebos are available for weddings and private romantic dinners. Full schedule of activities throughout the week. Gift shop located on property.
($ designates additional charge)

Activity descriptions (Sandals Website)
Off-property excursions (Sandals Website)

Accommodations

11 accommodations buildings of various sizes ranging from 1 to 3 floors. All rooms with luxury mahogany furnishings with king bed, plasma TV, refrigerator, and Sandals standard accommodation inclusions, WIFI service ($). Concierge and Butler units with complimentary in-room bar.
Room descriptions (Sandals Website)

Grande Romeo & Juliet Crystal Lagoon 1BR Suites
Situated in the 3-floor Clarence building facing the Cystal Lagoon Pool, gardens, and the beach/ocean. Building has elevator servicing 2nd & 3rd floor guests. All suites with expansive living room with 42" plasma TV, separate bedroom, 37" plasma TV, fine mahogany furnishings, tiled floors, whirlpool tub, and separate walk-in shower. Patio/balcony furnished with sofa and round table with 2 chairs. Patio units also have 2 lounge chairs within Lagoon Pool entrance. All suites with butler, concierge, and room service. Suites in this building differ based on access to pool, floor, and view.
(1B) Grande Romeo & Juliet Honeymoon Swim-up 1BR Crystal Lagoon Suite with Private Entrance - Ground floor with direct access to the lagoon pool from the patio. Views of the gardens and lagoon pool.

(PH) Grande Romeo & Juliet Honeymoon Penthouse Oceanview 1BR Crystal Lagoon Suite - Top floor suite with best ocean views. Large balcony with ocean views. Access to the Lagoon Pool is thru the common staircase or elevator.

(PS) Grande Romeo & Juliet Honeymoon Private Stairway 1BR Crystal Lagoon Suite - 2nd floor suite with ocean, garden, and Lagoon pool views. Large and private staircase that leads directly down to the Lagoon Pool.

Royal Honeymoon Crystal Lagoon Suites
Situated in the 2-floor Buckingham and St. James buildings facing the Crystal Lagoon Pool, gardens, and beach/ocean. The ground floor suites in general are set back further from the Lagoon Pool compared to the (1B) category. Internal design and decor similar to the Romeo & Juliet Suites but without the separate bedroom. Suites have marble bathrooms, whirlpool tub, and separate walkin shower. All suites with Butler, Concierge, and Room Service.

(OR) Royal Honeymoon Oceanview Crystal Lagoon Suite Extraordinaire - 2nd floor Buckingham building with balcony, luxury suites overlook the Lagoon Pool and ocean.

(WS) Royal Honeymoon Walkout Crystal Lagoon Swim-up Suite Extraordinaire - Ground floor with walkout access to the Lagoon Pool and grounds. Views of the Lagoon Pool and gardens. 1st floor of the Buckingham and St James buildings.

(GR) Royal Honeymoon Crystal Lagoon Suite Extraodinaire - Similar to (OR) but with views of gardens and Lagoon Pool. 2nd floor St James building with balcony.

Additional Suites with Butler Service
Located Balmoral building 1st floor with walkout patio, 2nd floor with balcony. Patio/balcony furnished with table and 2 chairs. Butler, concierge, and room service.

(RW) Royal Water's Edge 1BR Suite with Butler Service - Newly refurbished and painted one bedroom suite, situated on the water’s edge features a king bed with a marble bathroom adjacent to the ultimate living area, all suites feature two plasma televisions and an oversized balcony or patio. View of East Pool and partial ocean views.

(RS) Royal Beachfront Suite - These are the premier beachfront units at the resort. These suites are among the closest units to the beach throughout the Sandals brand. Combined living room and bedroom area, large marble bathroom with tub/shower (no whirlpool tub). View of ocean, beach, and East Pool.

Beachfront Rooms
Beachfront rooms smaller in size compared to the beachfront suites. All with views and within close proximity to the beach & ocean.

(WB) Honeymoon Concierge Beachfront Walk-out Room - beachfront walkout rooms with patio. Bathroom with tub/shower (no whirlpool tub). Concierge and room service. Located 1st floor Balmoral and Windsor buildings.

(HB) Royal Honeymoon Luxury Beachfront Concierge Room - Similar to (WB) category but with whirlpool tub and separate shower. However, located in the Kensington building which is set a bit further back away from the primary beach. 1st floor with patio, 2nd & 3rd floors with balcony. Concierge and room service.

(GB) Royal Grande Luxe Beachfront Room - Rooms with tub/shower (no whirlpool tub). Standard service (no concierge or room service). Walkout patio or upper floor balcony. 1st & 2nd floors Balmoral and Sandringham buildings, 2nd & 3rd floors Windsor building.

Garden Rooms
Garden view rooms within various resort locations. All rooms with standard service.

(RG) Royal Grande Luxe With Semi Private Pool View Room - large rooms with jacuzzi tub/shower combination. Views of the gardens and quiet south pool. Caernarvon building 1st floor with patio, 2nd floor with balcony.

(GL) Royal Grande Luxe Room - Located within the single floor Glamis building, these rooms are the closest rooms to the beach among the garden view room categories. Bath/shower combination. 1st floor with large patio, garden views.

(PR) Royal Premium Room - Most rooms located in the South Pool area with views of the pool and gardens. Bath/shower combination. Arundel building 1st floor with patio and 2nd floor with balcony. Also 2 ground floor rooms with patio in the Edinburgh building which is closer to the beach.

(DL) Royal Deluxe Room - Located 2nd floor Carisbrooke building above the lobby area. Bath/shower combination. No balcony. Limited garden views.