Description: There are two luxury all-inclusive Sandals resorts in The Bahamas. Let us help you choose the best one for your wedding!
If you’ve never been to The Bahamas, get ready to be enthralled by another world you won’t believe is this close to home!
There’s so much to love about The Bahamas, specifically the islands of Nassau and Great Exuma, where two exceptional, adults-only Sandals resorts are located.
Sandals Royal Bahamian is a romantic fixture on Cable Beach in exciting Nassau. It has three small but private stretches of white sandy beach and an offshore island (click on “Barefoot Cay” for a video and details), with all amenities included for destination wedding couples and honeymooners.
Sandals Emerald Bay offers so much for lovers on the more secluded island of Great Exuma. The mile-long beach is an ideal backdrop for your wedding, and your luxury amenities include green fees at the Greg Norman-designed Emerald Bay Golf Course.
Sandals Royal Bahamian vs Emerald Bay Cost Overview
The pricing for an adults-only Sandals resort is always luxury-included.
When we come across any amenities or activities that are an additional cost, that’s considered a vacation extra.
Sandals also provide convenient information on who to tip (click the link and do a quick find for “tips” on the page).
For instance, your shuttle driver or third-party employees survive on tips, and Sandals recommends guests tip their butler or resort spa employee for excellent service.
We provided all three links for you to review at your leisure so you know what’s included and there’s no confusion during your wedding and honeymoon!
Sandals Royal Bahamian Costs
Sandals Royal Bahamian is the most elegant all-inclusive resort with an exotic offshore island adventure.
Royal Bahamian rates start at $396 per person per night during the low season.
Check out Wedding Pioneer’s Sandals Royal Bahamian review for in-depth resort information, including the best time to visit.
Sandals Emerald Bay Costs
A premier destination for lovers of all things exclusive, Sandals Emerald Bay offers a distinct enclave of refinement.
Emerald Bay rates start at $497 per person per night during the low season.
Check out Wedding Pioneer’s Sandals Emerald Bay review for in-depth resort information, including the best time to visit.
Getting Married at Sandals Royal Bahamian vs. Emerald Bay
Whether you choose Royal Bahamian or Emerald Bay for your destination wedding and honeymoon, you’ll be pampered in the same extra-special Sandals way!
Sandals resorts are designed for destination weddings and honeymoons. They also specialize in elopement getaways, vow renewals, anniversaries, and engagement trips!
Sandals Wedding Packages include:
- A Free Tropical Wedding for stays of three nights or more (including your personal Sandals wedding planners, a gift registry and wedding website, a one-hour cocktail reception, and more… click Wedding Inclusions to see).
- Up to $1,500 in Premium Perks for seven-night stays or more (including up to $500 towards wedding admin fees, $200 wedding photography credit, and $100 towards “vacation extras” like a candlelight dinner or introductory scuba).
Sandals also knows that your wedding guests are VIPs too! Click on Wedding Groups for all the bells and whistles.
Wedding Pioneer Travel Tip: Sandals Wedding and Honeymoon promotions are a great value for couples and destination wedding groups.
Sandals Royal Bahamian vs. Emerald Bay—Things in Common
Each resort is renowned for different things, but here are five things that both Sandals resorts in the Bahamas have in common:
1. Convenient Flights from North America
Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau is the largest airport in The Bahamas, with daily flights from major North American cities, including New York, Miami, Charlotte, and Toronto.
Exuma International Airport is gradually becoming a hub for more international routes from North America, including regularly scheduled flights weekly from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta, Charlotte, and Toronto.
Wedding Pioneer Travel Tip: Passports are required to enter the Bahamas. For detailed travel information to Sandals resorts, keep these links handy—Royal Bahamian travel checklist and Emerald Bay travel checklist.
2. Quick Airport Transfers—Always Included
Sandals Royal Bahamian is approximately 15 minutes from Lynden Pindling International Airport, and airport transfers are always included for Sandals guests.
Wedding Pioneer Travel Tip: Wedding couples—how about a luxury airport transfer to Royal Bahamian in a Rolls Royce or Mercedes Benz? Click the link to read more!
Sandals Emerald Bay is approximately 20 minutes from Exuma International Airport. You’re transferred to the resort in a complimentary shuttle.
3. Gourmet Dining and Premium Beverages
Sandals Royal Bahamian features 10 world-class restaurants, 8 bars, and 2 all-new food trucks! We’ll tell you some of our favorites, and click Royal Bahamian dining to see hours and sample menus under each restaurant!
Guest Favorite Meals at Royal Bahamian
- Fabulous French breakfast at La Plume (click for sample menu)
- Lunch at Calico Cafe
- Dinner at Soy or Gordon’s Pier Restaurant
- Mid-day to late-night snacks at the Bahamian food truck Coco Queen and delicious treats and coffees at Sweets’ n’ Tings!
Sandals Emerald Bay features 11 restaurants and 6 bars. As we go along, we’ll tell you more, and click on Emerald Bay dining to see hours and sample menus under each restaurant!
Guest Favorite Meals at Emerald Bay
- Sweet and decadent crepes for breakfast at Cafe de Paris
- Brick oven pizza for lunch at Dino’s Pizzeria
- Exotic East Indian dinner at Bombay Club
- Lunches and mid-afternoon snacks at delicious Jerk Shack!
Wedding Pioneer Travel Tip: Click on Wedding Catering to see a breathtaking selection of reception drinks, themed dinners, breakfast receptions, lunch menus, and customized menus that can be catered to your wedding day dreams and your budget.
4. Most Romantic Suites in The Bahamas
There’s a reason why Sandals Royal Bahamian and Sandals Emerald Bay have been voted the leading all-inclusive resorts in The Bahamas.
The Sandals resorts in The Bahamas offer Sandals-exclusive Love Nest Suites and Butler Elite service. We’ll tell you our favorite suites at both locations and give you options that meet your budget!
Wedding Pioneer Travel Tip: Click on Sandals resorts and select “Compare Resorts” or do a filter “By Resort Location” to review and compare Royal Bahamian and Emerald Bay side-by-side.
5. Most Beautiful Wedding Venues in The Bahamas
Sandals Wedding Venues take the best of each island and provide an amazing backdrop for your wedding day.
Wedding Venues at Sandals Royal Bahamian
Have you got a lucky destination wedding photographer in mind? Whatever your plans are, click the links to see wedding venues at Sandals Royal Bahamian:
Wedding Venues at Sandals Emerald Bay
You can customize your wedding at Sandals—most couples do! Click the link for stunning ideas on mixing and matching to design the “wedding of your dreams!”
Here are the wedding venues at Sandals Emerald Bay:
- European Garden Emerald Bay
- Real Weddings at Emerald Bay (click the reel to magnify!)
The possibilities are endless for an unforgettable destination wedding trip with your family and friends.
For even more inspo, click on Courtney and Matt’s wedding video at Sandals Emerald Bay!
Overview of Accommodations—Sandals Royal Bahamian vs. Emerald Bay
There’s a greater range of accommodations at Sandals Royal Bahamian in various categories. That’s excellent news for destination wedding groups because you can select rooms and suites to be more affordable, luxurious, or a good combination.
We recommend top-tier suites for wedding couples who deserve all-out honeymoon pampering. Still, you might prefer a Club Sandals room for greater independence or a budget-friendly Sandals Luxury room—it’s all about what’s perfect for you!
Accommodations at Sandals Emerald Bay come in either top-tier (Love Nest, Butler Elite) or Club Sandals rooms with concierge access.
We know our favorite rooms and suites at these properties, and we’re sharing them with you!
Sandals Royal Bahamian Accommodations
To get a good idea of the layout of Royal Bahamian, click the link for an overhead view.
Each room link will take you directly to full descriptions, gorgeous pictures, and accurate pricing with an availability calendar!
Our favorite Love Nest suites at Royal Bahamian are located in the West Bay building and the Island Village section of the resort.
West Bay One Bedroom Oceanview Swim-up with Soaking Tub
Private and expansive with breathtaking views, the top-tier suites in the West Bay building include a full living area, a separate bedroom, dual bathroom vanities, and direct access to the pool.
Island Village One Bedroom Butler Villa Suite w/ Private Pool
Your private ground-floor villa has a plunge pool just for you, and the open-concept living area includes two smart TVs and a huge walk-in shower with dual controls.
West Bay One Bedroom Butler Suite
This uniquely affordable Love Nest suite has a beautiful garden view from the West Bay building’s second and third-floor balconies. The four-poster king bed is romantic and relaxing, and the amenities are both casual and elegant.
We enjoy the Club Sandals rooms in the East Bay and West Bay buildings that offer concierge service and freedom to explore the resort and Nassau.
East Bay Beachfront Club Level Room
Your oversized private balcony faces the ocean from the East Bay building, and this entire suite is spacious for a couple in love to spread out and enjoy time together.
West Bay Oceanview Penthouse Club Level Suite
Newlyweds get a romantic ocean view from these private penthouse suites with a flat-screen TV and a stocked bar for your enjoyment.
Sandals Luxury rooms deliver all-inclusive amenities to please you and your wedding budget! These rooms are also great for eloping couples or guests at your destination wedding.
East Bay Oceanview Grande Luxe
You two get premium top-floor seats for all the action on the private balcony of your oceanview Sandals Luxury room in the East Bay building.
East Bay Honeymoon Zen Garden Room
Your East Bay Honeymoon room is tucked away in the resort’s tropical gardens for some romantic peace and quiet.
East Bay Premium
Great for guests and adventurous couples, an East Bay Premium room is the most affordable accommodation at Royal Bahamian!
Sandals Emerald Bay Accommodations
To get a good idea of the layout of Emerald Bay, click the link for an overhead view.
You’ll see the difference between Emerald Bay and Royal Bahamian. Because these resorts are also on different islands, the resort layout and accommodations are unique to each property.
Each room link will take you directly to full descriptions, gorgeous pictures, and accurate pricing with an availability calendar!
Beachfront Village Love Nest Suites
Love Nest Suites with butler service in the Beachfront Village have a private patio or balcony facing the electric blue seas. There’s a good variety of suites here to suit every budget!
- Prime Minister Honeymoon One Bedroom Beachfront Butler Villa Suite with Walkout Patio
- Beachfront Oversized Butler Villa Suite with Walkout Patio
- Beachfront Butler Junior Villa Suite with Walkout Patio
- Beachfront Honeymoon Butler Villa Suite with Walkout Patio
- Beachfront Oversized Butler Villa Suite with Private Balcony
- Beachfront Honeymoon Butler Villa Suite with Private Balcony
- Beachfront Butler Junior Villa Suite with Private Balcony
Beach House Love Nest Suites
Affordable Love Nest Suites in the Beach House area feature private walkouts or balconies overlooking the lush landscaping, and it’s just a short stroll from here to the sea or the green!
- Beach House Oceanview One Bedroom Walkout Butler Suite
- Beach House Oceanview One Bedroom Butler Suite
- Beach House One Bedroom Butler Suite
Club Sandals Accommodations
All Club Sandals accommodations at Sandals Emerald Bay are located in the Beach House section of the resort.
- Beach House Oceanview Walkout Club Level Junior Suite
- Beach House Oceanview Grande Luxe Walkout Club Level Room
- Beach House Grande Luxe Walkout Club Level Room
Luxury Included Amenities at Sandals Royal Bahamian
Are you a pool-loving and hot-tubbing couple?
You’re in luck because both Sandals resorts in the Bahamas offer a perfect pool setting!
Main Pools at Sandals Royal Bahamian
There is a main pool located in both the East and West Bay sections of the resort. The East Bay pool is quieter (it’s also unheated), while the West Bay pool is heated with more scheduled activities daily and a general party atmosphere.
There is also a smaller pool located within the Island Village and selected suites have private plunge pools. In addition, you’ll find six whirlpools spread across the resort.
Crystal Lagoon Pools
The East and West Bay buildings each have a crystal lagoon pool, and you may wish to choose a luxurious swim-up suite in either section.
Luxury Included Activities at Sandals Royal Bahamian
Royal Bahamian Activities can be your go-to link for everything to enjoy at the resort that’s luxury included.
This includes scuba for certified divers, an impressive amount of watersports, land sports, and a fitness center with a heavenly view!
Barefoot Cay—Private Island at Sandals Royal Bahamian
Honeymoon couples searching for a hideaway will love Barefoot Cay—the private island that’s included at Royal Bahamian!
You’ll enjoy two secluded beaches, a pool with a swim-up bar, a whirlpool, a seafood restaurant, and some “vacation extras” that we recommend, like a couples massage in paradise!
Luxury Included Amenities at Sandals Emerald Bay
The main pool and whirlpool at Sandals Emerald Bay are instantly recognizable! Click the links for pictures.
Emerald Bay also has a quiet pool and whirlpool between the Beach House and Beachfront Villages.
There is also a private pool for guests staying in the Royal Estate Beachfront Villa.
Luxury Included Activities at Sandals Emerald Bay
Emerald Bay Activities can be your go-to link for everything to enjoy at the resort that’s luxury included.
This includes scuba for certified divers, an impressive amount of watersports, land sports, and the resort’s fitness center.
Greg Norman-Designed Emerald Bay Golf Course
Are you two golf lovers?
Wouldn’t it be fun to have a destination wedding group golf tourney at the Emerald Bay Golf Course directly attached to Sandals Emerald Bay?
Comparing Nightlife at Sandals Royal Bahamian vs. Emerald Bay
Nassau is the capital of the Bahamas, and you’ll definitely get the “tropical city” feel when you stay at Sandals Royal Bahamian.
Royal Bahamian Entertainment
You can expect all-day pool parties and fun at Barefoot Cay. Nightly theme parties at Sandals Royal Bahamian include:
SUNDAY: La Vie Est Belle
MONDAY: Happiness is everyday
TUESDAY: Love is all you need
WEDNESDAY: Spread positivity
THURSDAY: Be the Good
FRIDAY: Love Comes in every color
SATURDAY: Love, Equality & Kindness
Nassau is a major duty-free shopping destination in the Bahamas, and you can also experience casino action in Nassau on Cable Beach and Paradise Island.
Emerald Bay Entertainment
Great Exuma Island has a smaller local population of friendly residents, and Sandals Emerald Bay feels more secluded.
But you’ll still experience nightlife at Sandals Emerald Bay, and if you’re traveling with a destination wedding group, all the better!
Nightlife at Emerald Bay includes live bands and cabaret shows, a singalong piano bar and karaoke, an authentic Bahamian Junkanoo Rush, the delicious Chocolate Buffet Night, and nightly antics at the Drunken Duck English Pub!
Fun Excursions Off the Resort
This Sandals blog also compares Royal Bahamian vs. Emerald Bay.
While the article is dedicated to all adult guests looking for an off-resort experience, it has great tips on unforgettable activities like a Historical Tour Of Downtown Nassau or Swimming With The Pigs in Great Exuma!
