A first look at a brand new resort in Jamaica with overwater villas
Princess Hotels & Resorts celebrated the official grand opening of the adjacent Princess Senses the Mangrove and Princess Grand Jamaica on Dec. 12 with the announcement that the combined 1,005-room property on Green Island will soon be home to Jamaica’s first casino.
“These two resorts promise to elevate Jamaica’s all-inclusive experience and draw more tourists to our shores than ever before,” Enrico Pezzoli, managing director of the newly opened resorts shared on stage during the grand opening festivities. “Princess is proud to be the first in Jamaica to offer a full-service style casino where guests can enjoy a state-of-the-art gaming lounge and at the same time world-class food and beverage. Construction has already started and we are planning to open our casino by the fourth quarter of 2025.”
The adults-only Princess Senses the Mangrove and the family-friendly Princess Grand Jamaica mark the first openings in Jamaica by the Spain-based brand. The festivities saw Jamaica’s prime minister Andrew Holness and minister of tourism Edmund Bartlett on hand for the ribbon cutting ceremony.
“This is the first casino in Jamaica’s history — a significant addition to our tourism product — further enhancing Jamaica’s position as a premier destination,” Bartlett noted. Bartlett highlighted that the development is the largest hotel to be opened in Jamaica in 15 years. Notably, all suites on the first floor are swim-outs.
“This hotel has a very unique profile because it caters to very different and distinct clientele. So we have the family side, which is Princess Grand, then we have Princess Senses the Mangrove, for adults-only,” Angella Bennett, regional director, Canada of the Jamaica Tourist Board, told PressToday in destination at the resort. “Within the Senses Mangrove are 75 pleasure suites with a hedonistic appeal, mood lights in the room, so we cater to that particular market. Then they have the overwater villas, which caters to the luxury market. It’s an exceptional hotel.”
Introducing Princess Senses the Mangrove
Princess Senses the Mangrove is an adult-only, all-inclusive resort, with 401 ocean suites and 14 overwater villas. The resort features a rooftop infinity pool with a nightclub and a beachfront pool, eight bars including a swim-up bar, six restaurants including the buffet and four speciality restaurants. There are daily activities like music trivia and aqua fitness in the pool.
Unlike some resorts which charge extra for its cabanas, Jaimie Robinson, leisure sales manager noted that they are free of charge and don’t require bookings. Guests here have access to everything at Princess Grand Jamaica.
“All these cabanas, bali beds, all these fancy chairs, they are first come, first serve, they are not reserved,” Robinson shared, noting they are by the pools and the beach. “Our mutual clients will have more than enough space to chill by the beach or the pool areas.”
For added luxury, there are Platinum Club suites with exclusive areas and restaurants, upgraded amenities including an outdoor soaker tub and butler service complete with a private lounge and beach area.
Finally, there are 14 overwater villas offering an elevated experience. The overwater villas have glass floor sections with views of the clear ocean below and private infinity-edge swimming pools. Guests here have butler service and all Platinum Club services.
For the sensual crowd
For adults who want to add some spice to their trip with an intimate and sensual vacation, pleasure suites are available with elements like a dedicated area for topless swimming and sun-bathing, suites with mirrors above the bed and a romance kit with a vibrator and lubrication.
“It’s an exclusive section for clients seeking a more sensual experience — even Platinum Club guests can’t decide one morning I want to come here,” Robinson said. “For this area, only guests who are staying here have access to the O’club and can go topless. In the suites, there is a romance kit, I like to call it a starter kit, with condoms, lubrication and a small vibrator.”
For kids and kids at heart, Princess Grand Jamaica offers a fun waterpark
Meanwhile, Princess Grand Jamaica is an all-inclusive, family-friendly resort with an aquatic park complete with water slides, a kids club, teens centre, nanny service and activities like tennis and water sports. There are 590 ocean-view suites ranging from swim out suites to connecting suites and two-bedroom family suites and master suites.
There are seven bars, eight restaurants including a buffet, a food truck area, speciality dining and Platinum Club offerings. There’s also a convention centre for meetings and events. The fitness and wellness centre features an ocean view. The resort also has a multi-functional sports field that includes soccer, archery, pickle ball, tennis and basketball. The kids club offers everything from princess and pirate makeovers to cooking classes, catering to different ages.
“We have the largest swim-out inventory on the island of Jamaica,” Robinson said, adding that the property has a total of nine accessible rooms for those with disabilities.
For wedding clients, the resort has 14 tailored and commissionable packages including a South Asian package. The resort also has a 25,000 square ft. private island that is popular for weddings and private functions like welcome cocktail parties for groups.
In celebration of the hotel’s opening, Princess Senses the Mangrove and Princess Grand Jamaica are offering agents a promotional offer of 50% off bookings, accompanied by complimentary roundtrip airport transfers, with a minimum stay of three nights.
Canadian tour operator partners include Sunwing, Air Canada Vacations, WestJet Vacations and Transat.
