Excellence Oyster Bay vs Sandals for Your Jamaican Wedding

Hey, destination wedding couples and honeymooners!

We just did a review on planning a destination wedding at either Sandals or an Excellence Resort.

If you haven’t checked that article out yet—no worries. Here’s a link: Excellence Resorts vs Sandals: A Destination Wedding Guide.

The biggest difference between an all-inclusive, adults-only Sandals and Excellence property is that these resort brands are mainly located in different tropical destinations.

But there is one Caribbean island that has seven Sandals resorts and an Excellence resort, and spoiler alert: you’ll see that super-special island mentioned in the title of this article!

So we thought it would be fun to review and compare a Sandals vs. Excellence resort in Jamaica to help you choose the best resort for your big day.

We chose Sandals Royal Caribbean in Montego Bay and Excellence Oyster Bay in Falmouth, Jamaica.

Here’s what we’re bringing to you:

  1. A comparison of resort locations.
  2. A comparison of accommodations and resort amenities.
  3. How wedding planning compares between the resorts and any special promotions you need to know about!

We had fun doing this review and comparison of Excellence Oyster Bay vs. Sandals Royal Caribbean, and we hope you love it too.

Let’s get destination wedding planning!

Sandals Royal Caribbean vs. Excellence Oyster Bay—Best Destination Wedding Resort in Jamaica

Montego Bay, where Sandals Royal Caribbean is located, and Falmouth, home to Excellence Oyster Bay, are just over twenty miles apart on the A1 highway.

Here’s how the two areas compare.

Resort Location 

SANDALS Royal Caribbean: Beach Resort In Montego Bay

This luxury all-inclusive resort in Jamaica embraces the refined British heritage with a Georgian-style Great House, manicured gardens with roaming peacocks, authentic British Pub, and afternoon tea traditions. 

Montego Bay is a lively resort area and home to the first Sandals ever—Sandals Montego Bay. Sandals Royal Caribbean is two miles away from its sister property, and the cool thing is, Sandals offers full exchange privileges between the resorts (it’s called 2X the Fun, check it out!).

Falmouth is a quieter area surrounded by lush vistas and ocean waters. Excellence Oyster Bay is located on a secluded point facing Bush Cay.

Excellence Oyster Bay

Excellence Oyster Bay is a luxurious all-inclusive resort nestled along the pristine shores of Montego Bay, Jamaica. With its stunning beachfront location, elegant accommodations, and a plethora of upscale amenities, guests can indulge in a truly indulgent and unforgettable vacation experience.

Distance from Airport

Travelers fly into Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay to get to Royal Caribbean or Oyster Bay. 

  • Sandals Royal Caribbean is approximately ten minutes from Sangster International, and roundtrip airport transfers are always complimentary
  • Excellence Oyster Bay is about forty minutes from Sangster International when traffic is good. Reviewers note that you must pre-book transportation to coordinate with your arrival time, which can be confusing, but the add-on-cost private transportation generally receives positive reviews.

Sandals likes to ensure guests have access to important details before your arrival. Sandals Royal Caribbean travel checklist is really good information to keep on hand!

Comparing Royal Caribbean and Oyster Bay Accommodations

Sandals Royal Caribbean was extensively modernized in 2016, and the original property has been an established Jamaican resort for many decades. Royal Caribbean is also the only resort in Jamaica with a private offshore island for the exclusive use of Sandals guests.

Crystal Lagoon Hideaway Swim-up Club Level Jr. Suite w/Patio Tranquility Soaking Tub

Excellence Oyster Bay was built in 2017 and opened its doors in June 2018. It’s a large, Victorian-style resort situated on its own private peninsula, and although there’s not much available near the resort, it promises a quiet experience for couples seeking seclusion.

Here’s how the accommodations compare between Sandals and Excellence—under each resort, we’ll explain or provide:

  • What kind of accommodation categories are available
  • A resort map
  • An approximate cost for a specific time period (we chose June 2024 as a starting point or flexible times when a suite we’ve described is shown to be sold out on the resort booking engines).

We selected a top-tier accommodation (or accommodations) and a more cost-friendly room at each resort. 

This way, you can see what features meet your wedding budget and choose the ideal honeymoon suite for you!

Excellence Accommodations

The Excellence Oyster Bay resort map gives a good overview of where things are situated, although online resort photos might give a more favorable impression. 

Oyster Bay has three accommodation categories and 315 guest rooms and suites in total:

  • Excellence Suites are Junior Suites with either garden views or ocean views or are located oceanfront
  • Excellence Club Suites are a step up with ocean or beach views, and some units feature a private plunge pool
  • Beach Villas are the ultimate accommodation at Oyster Bay with a private stretch of beach, a terrace for two with a pool, and a lounging area.

For the most lavish destination wedding and honeymoon accommodation at Oyster Bay, the recommendation will probably be one of the five luxurious Beach Villas. So let’s take a peek!

Beach Villa Description

Each villa is just over 1,500 square feet with a private pool that measures 226 square feet on a beachfront porch. There’s also a hidden courtyard garden with an outdoor jacuzzi for two.

Inside are two main areas—a living room with a wet bar and a bedroom with ocean views, and a walk-in closet. The bathroom is described as “spa-like” with a separate toilet apart from the shower. 

Approximate cost for June 2024: Based on a minimum three-night stay on June 10, 2024, the average cost is $1,800 per night but this rate is nonrefundable.

Next, we decided to investigate Excellence Club Suites as our budget-friendly choice for wedding couples. This is the mid-range category at Oyster Bay, with good features and amenities for destination wedding couples.

Excellence Club Suite—Honeymoon Suite Ocean Front

A honeymoon suite at Oyster Bay includes a separate bedroom, living room, and private outdoor terrace. 24-hour room service is included in this accommodation category, and you should be offered luggage service to your room during check-in.

Approximate cost for June 2024: Based on a minimum three-night stay on June 10, 2024, the average cost is $585 per night but this rate is nonrefundable.

Sandals Royal Caribbean Accommodations

Sandals Royal Caribbean Accommodations

Sandals Royal Caribbean has received awards from Conde Nast Traveler and the World Travel Awards.

The Royal Caribbean resort map is an animated birds-eye view that really shows you the beauty and luxury of your super-special destination wedding location!

Royal Caribbean has four accommodation categories to suit every wedding budget. Each category offers a variety of included amenities, and there are 272 guest rooms and suites in total:

  • Love Nest Suites are a Sandals exclusive accommodation, and the link describes in breathtaking detail what these top-tier honeymoon suites provide to couples
  • Butler Elite suites are another Sandals exclusive, and the link describes how your professional and efficient butlers offer maximum pampering during your destination wedding
  • Club Sandals is a wonderful mid-range accommodation category with suites including club amenities and concierge services for more independent couples on their honeymoon
  • Sandals Luxury rooms are the most cost-effective rooms and suites for eloping couples or destination wedding guests!

We couldn’t choose just one of the top-tier Love Nest Suites available at Royal Caribbean—because this Sandals property is renowned worldwide for its honeymoon suites that you won’t find anywhere else. 

So we’re featuring three Love Nest Suites to give you a peek at the most luxurious accommodations available for lovers like you, starting with an Over-the-Water Villa on a private island (you will not believe this until you see the link!).

Over the Water Private Island Butler Villa with Infinity Pool

If your heart is absolutely set on a once-in-a-lifetime experience during your destination wedding, an Over-the-Water Villa just off the private island at Royal Caribbean will exceed all of your romantic expectations, and every luxury amenity available at Royal Caribbean is included in this unbelievable Love Nest Suite!

Over the Water Private Island Butler Villa with Infinity Pool

From your private infinity pool to a hammock for two suspended over the ocean, you’re surrounded by breathtaking seas and refreshing waters.

Inside, you can view the beauty of the undersea world through glass floors, and your luxurious living space ensures comfort and relaxation anywhere you choose to recline together.

The extraordinary bathroom with dual vanities, a separate shower, and a freestanding tub with ocean views are unforgettable. This Love Nest Suite includes Butler Elite service, in-room dining, travel back and forth to the main resort in a luxury boat, and private airport transfers in a luxury BMW.

Over-the-Water Villa bedroom

Approximate cost for a flexible time period: Over-the-Water Villas start at $2,285 per person per night. This link explains qualifying discounts to save money, and these spectacular honeymoon suites are in hot demand—availability is short in 2023 and 2024, but Villas open up in January 2025 and beyond.

Swim-up Crystal Lagoon Honeymoon One Bedroom Butler Suite

This gorgeous honeymoon suite is a top-tier accommodation at Royal Caribbean with a down-to-earth price. 

Your One-Bedroom Suite in the Clarence Building offers direct and private access to the amazing Crystal Lagoon pool! You’ll enjoy lounging and dining together in privacy on an oversized patio.

Inside, your suite is separated into a king-sized bedroom with a four-poster bed, a stocked wet bar, and flat-screen television. There’s a large whirlpool tub, a walk-in shower, and dual vanities in the bathroom. 

Approximate cost for a flexible time period: Swim-up Suites start at $563 per person per night, and qualifying discounts are available.

Sandals recently renovated its most affordable room category, and here’s a stunning suite that meets any wedding budget!

Caribbean Poolside Grande Luxe Walkout with Patio Tranquility Soaking Tub

These ground-floor walkout suites are steps away from your semi-private pool and feature a patio with a soaking tub for two behind privacy curtains.

You’ll enjoy outdoor refreshments from your in-suite bar stocked with varietal wines, local beers, juices, and sodas. Your plush king-sized bed is heavenly, and there’s a large HD Smart TV to catch up on entertainment!

Approximate cost for a flexible time period: Poolside Grande Luxe Suites start at $281 per person per night, and qualifying discounts are available.

Excellence Oyster Bay vs Sandals: Resort Amenities

The best way to learn about what’s included at a destination wedding resort is by checking out the following links—we’ve included as many as we could find for both Royal Caribbean and Oyster Bay.

Restaurants and Bars

Sandals Royal Caribbean Spices

Both resorts offer delicious dining including French, Italian, Seafood, Steakhouse, and local Jamaican jerk specialties:

  • Sandals Royal Caribbean offers you nine delicious dining possibilities, but there are 21 restaurants to choose from when combined with Sandals Montego Bay. Click on Royal Caribbean Dining for full restaurant and bar descriptions including menus and photos that take you there!
  • Oyster Bay Flavors and Spirits provides decent information on the resort’s restaurants and what’s available at an additional charge, like pool and beach service.

Activities

Both resorts offer activities and entertainment daily:

  • Oyster Bay has five swimming pools (two are for Excellence Club guests only) and four hot tubs.
  • Check out Oyster Bay Activities for what’s included (scuba diving is apparently an additional cost).
  • Royal Caribbean offers a private island with a swim-up pool bar for all guests, a main pool, an East pool, a South pool, two Crystal Lagoon pools, and five whirlpools.
Sandals Royal Caribbean paddleboardlife

Now, the most important detail for wedding couples. Planning your destination wedding in Jamaica!

Resort Wedding Planning

Sandals Royal Caribbean Wedding

Anyone who’s planned a wedding knows that hopes, dreams, and (unfortunately!) stress all factor into the experience.

So we wanted to find out how stress-free it is to plan your wedding at Sandals Royal Caribbean versus Excellence Oyster Bay.

Here’s what we discovered:

  • Weddings at Oyster Bay provides general information on their three wedding packages, a brief mention of venues, and additional services available at cost. You need to complete a contact form to get more information.

Sandals makes it fun with full details on Wedding Venues, Catering Menus, Entertainment, and additional services like beauty packages, and photography or video

Most of all, you can Customize Your Wedding from the comfort of wherever you are right now—click that link for wedding lookbooks, decor items, and premium perks! 

More From Blog

Bryanna and Branden’s Big Day (Oh, and Bo the Dog Too!)

Top 10 Craziest Culinary Experiences at All-Inclusive Resorts

11 Things That Totally Annoy Housekeeping Staff – And What to Do Instead

Thank you!

This feature will be available shortly, we’ll notify you when it’s ready. For now, please take a look at our hand-selected vendors.

Enter to win a free All-inclusive honeymoon

4 days/3 nights at any Sandals resort (airfare not included) 

Login