Royal Caribbean agrees to $3 billion Sandals joint venture
The cruise company plans to acquire a 50% stake in Sandals Resorts International, with closing expected in early 2027.
Royal Caribbean International announced on Sept. 23, 2026, that it had agreed to invest $3 billion for a 50% interest in Sandals Resorts International. The transaction is structured as a joint venture and is expected to close in early 2027.
Royal Caribbean said it had obtained committed debt financing from Morgan Stanley to fund the investment. The deal would give the cruise company a share of 20 Sandals and Beaches properties across Jamaica, The Bahamas, Saint Lucia, Grenada, Barbados, Antigua, Curaçao, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
The companies said existing Sandals and Beaches operations, reservations, and loyalty programs would continue. Although cruise-and-resort packages have not been confirmed, the joint venture plans to consider cross-distribution, joint marketing, and ways for customers to access experiences across both companies’ portfolios.
