Royal Caribbean to Take $3B Stake in Sandals
Sandals is reopening Jamaica resorts damaged by Hurricane Melissa, as Royal Caribbean Group moves toward a stake in the brand.
Updated on Nov. 15, 2026 in Cruises
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Gary Sadler, executive vice president of sales and industry relations for Sandals and Beaches resorts, thanked travel advisors at CruiseWorld in Fort Lauderdale. Royal Caribbean Group plans to take a stake in Sandals in a deal worth $3 billion.
Why it matters
Hurricane Melissa damaged Jamaica and left roughly 3,000 Sandals staff unable to work, making the reopening of hurricane-hit properties a key test for the brand. The proposed Royal Caribbean investment could reshape how Sandals resorts are sold and packaged for travelers.
The planned Royal Caribbean deal is valued at $3 billion, and about 3,000 Sandals employees were unable to work after Hurricane Melissa damaged Jamaica. Sandals has said it paid every employee, but the deal's final terms and closing date have not been disclosed.
The players
Sandals Resorts
Sandals Resorts is a Caribbean all-inclusive resort brand operating properties across Jamaica and the wider Caribbean, including its Beaches sister brand.
Royal Caribbean Group
Royal Caribbean Group is one of the world's largest cruise companies, operating brands such as Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea.
Gary Sadler
Gary Sadler is Sandals' executive vice president of sales and industry relations, who spoke to travel advisors on the mainstage at CruiseWorld.
Jason Liberty
Jason Liberty is the chief executive of Royal Caribbean Group, leading the company's cruise and resort strategy.
The details
At CruiseWorld, Sadler thanked travel advisors for continuing to sell Jamaica after the storm, a message Sandals' chairman had also urged last year. The three most impacted Jamaica resorts are being brought back online with extensive renovations, and 20 new Rondoval Butler Villas, each 1,000 to 2,000 square feet, opened this month at Sandals St. Vincent.
Timeline
Last year (2025): Sandals chairman urged advisors to keep selling Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa.
Nov. 18, 2026: Sandals South Coast resort reopens.
Dec. 18, 2026: Sandals Montego Bay and Sandals Caribbean Cay reopen.
Industry Dynamics
The planned Royal Caribbean stake extends the trend of cruise operators moving into land-based all-inclusive resorts, pairing a major cruise company with a Caribbean resort brand. Cruise-resort packages are one likely product of the partnership, in a category expected to grow quickly.
Travelers planning Caribbean trips can watch reopening dates for the Jamaica resorts that were hit by the hurricane. Advisors who sell Sandals may see new cruise-resort packages if the partnership moves forward.
The takeaway
Recovery from a major storm depends on sustained demand, so travelers who return to the Caribbean help keep local jobs intact. Watching reopening dates and advisor recommendations can help you plan a trip with confidence.
What happens next
The Sandals South Coast resort reopens on Nov. 18, and Sandals Montego Bay and Sandals Caribbean Cay reopen on Dec. 18.
Further reading
For more on how cruise lines are expanding their reach, explore Cruises.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Travel Weekly.
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