Comparing Sandals Negril vs Sandals Royal Caribbean
If you are looking for a Sandals Resort in Jamaica and have narrowed it down to Sandals Negril and Sandals Royal Caribbean, we’re comparing the two to make your decision easier.
Sandals Royal Caribbean Overview
Sandals Royal Caribbean is known for being close to the Montego Bay airport where you can get your vacation started quickly. It is a more relaxed resort with a great variety of restaurants. A highlight is its exclusive private island where there is a Thai restaurant a secluded beach and overwater bungalows. With access to Sandals Montego Bay through the Stay at One, Play at Two program, visitors can indulge in expanded dining options, activities, and beachfront relaxation across two resorts.

Sandals Negril Overview
Sandals Negril is known for its location on the famous Seven Mile Beach 90 minutes from the airport. Sandals Negril offers a laid-back atmosphere and 2 new restaurant concepts. There are a variety of rooms at different price points and almost all the rooms are beachfront.
Amenities
Negril and Royal Caribbean are both all-inclusive, adult-only resorts with unlimited access to dining and top-shelf wine and liquors. Both resorts offer round-trip airport transfers with all tips and taxes included. Like most Sandals resorts, both Negril and Royal Caribbean offer several play amenities at no additional cost: multiple pools, snorkeling, glass bottom boat tours, tennis and other land games, scuba diving, daily and nightly entertainment, and 24-hour fitness centers.
Rooms
Sandals Royal Caribbean offers a diverse selection of luxurious accommodations, ranging from elegant beachfront suites to the resort’s exclusive overwater bungalows.
The budget friendly accommodations are modern rooms set in the back of the resort. These are some of the best value rooms in all of Sandals. In the same area are the Crystal Lagoon Swim-Up Suites which are a little more expensive but are worth the price for the swim-up pool. This can be a fun area to socialize as well with other guests.
The Beachfront Honeymoon Walkout Suites provide direct beach access, perfect for couples seeking a seamless indoor-outdoor experience.
The newest suites are the Skypool Suites and Suites with private plunge pools. These are directly on the beach and elevate the entire experience of the resort.
The Over-the-Water Villas and Bungalows provide the ultimate luxury experience, featuring glass floor panels, private infinity pools, outdoor soaking tubs, and direct access to the turquoise Caribbean waters.
While Sandals Royal Curacao has seen a lot of new construction, Sandals Negril has both refurbished older rooms and constructed new room. Our favorite are the Skypool suites similar to those at Sandals Royal Caribbean.

Additionally, there are swim-up suites, two-story suites, and then there are more basic rooms. The good news is almost all are beach front rooms.
Dining and Cuisine
Negril has 8 all-inclusive restaurants with varying cuisines.
Sandals Negril has eight restaurants included in your stay. Additionally, you can go to Beaches Negril if you’d like during your stay.

Casual & Beachfront Dining
1. The Bayside – A buffet-style international restaurant serving breakfast and lunch, transforming into an à la carte French brasserie for dinner.
2. Barefoot by the Sea – A seafood-focused, open-air dining experience right on the sand, specializing in fresh catches with Caribbean flavors. This is also an a-la-carte breakfast spot that we love!
3. Bella Napoli Pizzaria – Get brick-oven pizza made to order.
4. Perla– seaside restaurant with beautiful views and the best ceviche you’ll find at the resort
Upscale & Specialty Dining
5. Sundowner – An elegant Caribbean fine-dining restaurant with tropical flavors, located in a beautiful oceanfront setting.
6. Kimonos – A lively Japanese teppanyaki restaurant, where chefs cook hibachi-style meals right in front of you with theatrical flair.
7. Brava – A new Spanish tapas restaurant, and our favorite on property.
Sweet Treats & Snacks
8. Crema– One of my favorite places to go serves specialty coffees, pastries, crepes, and sweet treats throughout the day.

Royal Caribbean has 9 all-inclusive restaurants but in addition, guests can shuttle over to neighboring Montego Bay for an even larger variety of dining to switch it up.
Bombay – Indian fare serving traditional breakfast and dinner items like butter chicken and samosas
Royal Thai – delicious Thai fusion that is located on Royal Caribbean’s private island. To get there, guests hop on an authentic dragon boat
Le Jardinier – French cuisine serving dinner
The Cricketers Pub– British Pub with a fun comfortable atmosphere that is open late.
Bella Napoli – Brick oven pizza with fresh toppings
The Mariner – beachside bar and grill serving up classic burgers and local favorites like Jerk Chicken or Pork
The Jerk Shack – Casual shack setting with local Jamaican Jerk menu items
Spices Caribbean Cuisine-Caribbean views with breakfast and lunch buffets and made-to-order, Caribbean-inspired menu items at dinner
La Tavola– Lovely Italian setting for dinners with comforting classics like Penne Alfredo and Chicken Scaloppini

Location and Nearby Attractions
Negril sits on the Western shore of Jamaica along Seven Mile Beach, it is about 90 minutes away from the Sangster International Airport. Royal Caribbean is located on Jamaica’s north coast, just 10 minutes away from Sangster International Airport, making it a convenient option for attractions and airport transfers.
Royal Caribbean is a more commercialized feel but has a very nice ambiance and resort setting with beautiful gardens. The nice thing about staying at Sandals Royal Caribbean is the proximity to attractions and the airport while still maintaining a private landscape. Additional cost excursions include Reggae Catamaran Cruises, snorkeling, ATV rides, and ziplining. Outside of the resort, visitors enjoy Dunn’s River Falls, Mystic Mountain, and Doctor’s Cave Beach.
Negril’s Seven Mile Beach Access keeps guests busy with endless water sports and sunbathing but there are many excursions from Negril including going to Rick’s Cafe. Don’t let the name fool you. No one really goes there for the food. The location has very high cliff platforms you can jump from or watch locals dump from. We recommend going by catamaran and stopping to snorkel on the way.
Overall Cost
Standard rooms start around 6,000 USD weekly and steadily increase based on room and amenity options. Higher priced suites or bungalows can cost upwards of 27,000 USD for one week. Visitors should look for seasonal discounts as these can impact cost greatly.
Overwater bungalows are a feature that Royal Caribbean has over Negril, they are on the pricier end of accommodation but a once-in-a-lifetime experience, especially for honeymooners or special occasions.
Between the two resorts, the prices start at similar amounts with Sandals Negril being more affordable, but when you compare similar rooms the prices are fairly close. You will generally spend more for a luxury room at Sandals Royal Caribbean.
Which resort is better for a honeymoon?
Negril and Royal Caribbean both offer luxurious stays and the Sandals mark of excellent service, quality, and relaxation suitable for honeymoons. However, couples looking for more of a beachy stay will love Negril’s location on Seven Mile Beach. Honeymooners wanting more of a resort feel with the unique bungalows and lively nightlife will prefer Royal Caribbean.
Final Thoughts
When choosing between Negril and Royal Caribbean, it is important to remember that whichever resort you end up going to, you’re guaranteed to have a good time. Whether you want to experience off resort excursions or bask in all the Sandals offerings, you’re bound to have a smile on your face and a nice tan to return home with.