Sandals Resorts has announced a new strategic partnership with cruise group Royal Caribbean, to exploit new opportunities to grow in the resort space.
The joint venture will enjoy a 50% investment from Royal Caribbean, and take its lead from the experience the Sandals and Beaches Resorts have built up over more than four decades in business, operating resorts across the Caribbean. The aim is to work together to create a collection of resort, cruise and private destination choices for travellers, building on the resort brands but also Royal Caribbean’s portfolio.
A Partnership Focused on Making Memories
“For nearly 60 years, we’ve reimagined what a vacation can be,” said Jason Liberty, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group. “Our partnership with Sandals and Beaches Resorts is an important next step on that journey – bringing together two iconic leading vacation companies to further strengthen and grow one of the most admired resort portfolios in the world.”
Royal Caribbean will pay USD3 billion for a 50% stake in the resorts business, backed by funding provided by Morgan Stanley.
The Sandals Resorts business operates two main brands. Sandals is its adult only, all-inclusive offering and it has properties across many Caribbean islands. In contrast, Beaches Resorts are designed to provide family-friendly properties, again with an all-inclusive pricing for those who like to know up front what their vacation will cost them.
The investment from Royal Caribbean comes as Sandals is making a major investment in upgrading three of its resort properties on Jamaica. The improvements include revitalising Sandals Montego Bay, the company’s first ever resort which opened over four decades ago.
At Sandals Montego Bay, improvements include refreshing all 255 guest rooms, redesigning the lobby to improve the welcome guests receive, and reformatting the resort’s main pool, adding swim-up accommodation. The Parisol Beach Club will retain the sector-first swim-up bar, with the new design including bricks carved with guest names from years gone by. The project is scheduled for completion allowing a reopening in December 2026.
At Sandals Caribbean Cay, on the north coast of the island, a new extension will take the resort’s capacity up to 291 rooms. Room choices include SkyPool Suites, Swim-up Suites and an innovation arriving in 2027, Oceanview Butler Suites. The resort has its own private island with a beach club, featuring a choice of dining venues.
Upgrades Drive Innovation
And the evolution of Sandals South Coast will see the 380 room resort enhanced with new junior suites, designed for groups enjoying a trip to Jamaica together. The resort features overwater villas, which will be refreshed, while dining additions include Butch’s Chop House, new to the resort.
During 2027, the group expects to reopen its Bahamas resort as Beaches Exuma. The property closed in 2024, and despite some regulatory hold-ups along the way, is now well into its planned transformation in to a family-friendly Beaches property. With 249 rooms, the resort will welcome families to an expanded water park, and will include accommodation designed for families and groups to stay together.
