Cruise & Cruise Line

Royal Caribbean Officially Purchases 50% Stake in Sandals Resorts

Image: Sandals Resort Dunn's River, Ocho Rios, Jamaica (Photo Credit: Sandals)
Image: Sandals Resort Dunn's River, Ocho Rios, Jamaica (Photo Credit: Sandals)
Patrick Clarke
by Patrick Clarke
Last updated: 4:15 PM ET, Tue September 22, 2026

UPDATE: Wednesday, September 23: Royal Caribbean Group officially announced a mega deal to purchase 50% equity interest in Sandals and Beaches Resorts, for approximately $3 billion, representing a forward EBITDA multiple of approximately 10x. 

Click here to learn more about the partnership and what CEOs Jason Liberty and Adam Stewart had to say about it.  


 

Royal Caribbean is in talks to purchase a majority stake in Sandals Resorts International in a potential deal valued at approximately $3 billion, sources familiar with the discussions told the Financial Times.

According to the Times, "as part of the ongoing deal discussions, some of the Stewart family would retain equity holdings in the business, with Royal Caribbean becoming the controlling shareholder, according to people familiar with the matter."

The sources added that Royal Caribbean could eventually take full control of the business.

The outcome is far from certain, however. The Times reported that an agreement could be reached in the coming days or the talks could collapse entirely.

If a deal ultimately comes to fruition, it would be a strategic one for Royal Caribbean, which would be able to add land-based vacations to its existing cruise offerings. 


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Patrick Clarke

Patrick Clarke

Senior Editor

A Maryland native and wanderer who has lived across the U.S. from North Carolina to SoCal, Patrick Clarke graduated from Towson University with a B.S. in journalism. He previously worked for Bleacher

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