Is the new Princess Grand Jamaica the best kid friendly all inclusive resort in Jamaica? My family and I spent 7 nights there, and here is the honest truth on everything we experienced.
My husband, mother-in-law, and 2 littles just got back from 7 nights in Jamaica’s newly built resort called Princess Grand! . My oldest just turned 6 years old and my youngest was almost 2 years old.
I was super nervous because the resort is less than a year old. Princess Grand opened in Nov 2024 and we traveled July 2025. While there were lots of positive reviews, we also read so many negative reviews. I almost canceled our stay, but I’m so glad I didn’t because we LOVED IT!
Let’s dive into everything we experienced! Full disclosure, this review is long and thorough. Utilize the table of contents I provided to skim to the parts you’re most interested in.
Arriving in Montego Bay and Using Club MoBay
We flew out of O’Hare on a 4 hour non-stop flight to Montego Bay/Sangster airport. I will dive into flying with littles in another post.
When we booked our trip, we also booked Club MoBay. It’s a VIP expedited service through the Montego Bay airport, which fast tracks you through customs, getting your bags, and leaves in you a comfy lounge with unlimited drinks (including rum punch) and food until your transportation arrives.
Upon landing, you’re greeted by a Club MoBay associate who will have your name on a sign waiting for you.
Princess Grand’s Check-In Process
When you arrive at the lobby, a bellman greets you and grabs your luggage. You’re guided to a seating area, asked if you’d like a rum punch or a fruit punch (non-alcoholic), and asked to provide your passports.
The check-in process was a little weird… reception gave us a form to fill out, including passport number and names/DOB. Felt repetitive and time consuming considering they just grabbed our passports and had our information from our reservation.
After the forms are filled out, they tie wristbands on us which double as our room keys. Having your room key on your wrist is extremely convenient! Kids wristbands do not open the doors, and they aren’t required to keep it on. Ours took theirs off as soon as they got to the room.
Boat Shaped Bunk Beds in Our Room
We stayed in a Bunk Bed Family Suite. We did not pay for platinum – which includes a few extra perks and a butler. The room had:
- 1 king sized bed
- 2 twin sized bunk beds
- a walk-in shower with rain shower head + extension, no tub
- 2 sinks
- toilet in a separate room
- toiletries including shampoo, body wash, hand soap (surprisingly no conditioner)
- mini fridge with water bottles, soda and Red Stripe beer that is restocked daily
- safe
- an iron
- NO blow dryer
- TV (not a smart TV, so no streaming apps, only the provided channels)
- full length mirror
- coffee bar
- a large balcony with 2 chairs
Our kids LOVED the bunk bed, but my oldest felt most comfortable sleeping on the bottom bunk while my youngest slept in our bed (lol, just like at home). The room felt clean, new, and well-maintained.
All of the bunk bed family suites are in building 7 on the 3rd floor. We had a magnificent view of the ocean, the sunset, the waterpark, and the kids club.
While there is no ceiling fan in the room, the AC worked well. It turns off when the balcony door is opened for energy efficiancy, but turns back on as soon as the door is closed.
The only weird thing about the room is that there was no peep hole on the door. That felt unsafe to me, because if someone knocked, there’s no way to verify who is on the other side. We started traveling with a portable hotel door lock. We’ve used it in 4 different hotels so far – everything from side of the highway Hampton Inn to luxury resorts – and our hotel door lock has worked perfectly in all of them! I highly recommend for peace of mind.
Here’s an affiliate link to buy your own lock: https://a.co/d/hBTUFYL (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases).
Housekeeping
Based on where our room was (building 7, 3rd floor), housekeeping came everyday around 4/5pm. This was awkward for us because we were just getting back to our room at that time and anxious to shower after being in the pool and ocean all day. We sometimes had to wait for housekeeping to finish or ask for new towels if they didn’t replenish the old ones.
A lot of reviews I read complained about housekeeping either not coming daily or not replenishing towels, toiletries, or the mini bar. While this wasn’t overly disruptive, housekeeping was inconsistent. Some days they replenished the snacks, some days they didn’t. Some days they took the used glasses, other days it sat. Some days we had to ask housekeeping for new towels or call the front desk for more soap and shampoo. Whenever we did ask, they came within 15 minutes with the items we requested. I think they try to be energy efficient and environmentally conscious by encouraging people to reuse their towels unless absolutely necessary.
There is a “light switch” by the front door of the room that allows you to request or decline housekeeping for the day. The light will be green if you want service that day or red if you do not.
Was the Food Good at Princess Grand Jamaica?
We ate so much that I had not experienced the feeling of hunger ONCE during our 8 days at Princess Grand Jamaica. In other words, YES, the food at this all inclusive resort was really good!
Food Market Jamaica – The Main Buffet
This is one of the only places to have breakfast outside of the coffee shop and room service. Some of the main areas for breakfast include:
- 2 Omelet making stations
- Fresh crepe making station
- Fresh smoothie making station
- A section with Jamaican foods (for breakfast this was everything from curry chicken, boiled dumplings to saltfish and ackee)
- A kids section with kids plates where they can serve themselves. In the kids section, I typically saw cheesy scrambled eggs, pancakes, french toast sticks, bacon, chopped fruit, yogurt and cereal.
- Cereal and milk bar
- Juice bar (their juices are FRESH)
- Fresh fruits including exotic tropical fruits like Sour Sop and Papaya
- Pastries (I love their banana bread)
- Bread station with toasters
- “American” breakfast with bacon, sausage (my husband loved the jerk sausage), pancakes, waffles, french toast, hashbrowns (a favorite in our party)
- Warm corn meal porridge, fresh hot cocoa, and oatmeal plus spices to top them
- Cold items like smoked fish, antipasta, cheeses and veggies
- While the bars don’t start serving alcohol until 10am, the breakast buffet provides bottomless mimosas all morning! Waiters will bring it to you + fresh Blue Mountain coffee if that’s what you’re preferring.
The Food Market Buffet is also opened during lunch and dinner. We never came for lunch as there are other lunch areas closer to the pool fun, we did come for dinner a few times.
The dinner buffet changed daily, but usually included the following:
- Jamaica cuisine section (we saw oxtail, curry goat, brown stew chicken, dumplings, rice and peas)
- Pasta making station
- Fresh fruits
- A lot of desserts including gluten free desserts
- Cold smoked fishes, cheese, antipasta, veggies, salad bar
- A roast (I saw pork and lamb)
- Kids section (usually mac and cheese, chicken tenders or nuggets, fries, fruit, cupcakes)
- Fresh fish like sea bass, shrimp, salmon cooked different ways each day
- Indian food or Mexican dishes
- Grill station where they grilled steaks and fish on demand
Your waiter will always ask if there are any allergies and can bring you anything you’d like to drink from the bar.
The Reef Restaurant – The Lunch Buffet
This place is a VIBE. Surrounded by open walls, you have a stunning view of the ocean and greenery. The music is calming and the crowds are minimal. This is a much smaller buffet compared to the main buffet. It’s right next to the “party” pool and the Oasis swim-up bar. If you’re hanging out at this pool during the day, this is a great, significantly more chill, cooler, and faster than grabbing lunch at the food trucks.
You can find the following types of food at The Reef:
- Beef patties and curry chicken patties
- Jerk chicken
- Rice and peas
- Burgers and hot dog bar
- Taco bar
- Fries and potato wedges
- Salad bar
- A smaller selection of desserts
- A smaller selection of fruits (I usually found more berries, plums, and pomegranates here than I did at the Food Market Buffet)
- A self-serve Red Stripe beer tap and water dispenser
Your waiter can also bring you any drink you’d like from the bar.
We stumbled in here one day when my youngest was ready for a nap in the stroller and it started raining. While the rest of my family stayed in the pool, I hung out here while the baby napped. I enjoyed a mimosa, a little snack from the buffet, and the most relaxing atmosphere to read my book. Days prior we had gone to the food truck for lunch. The Reef has faster service and less waiting than the food trucks.
The Reef Restaurant is only open 12-3pm, and some days you might find it closed for private events like weddings.
Food Trucks
Every morning, if you’re close by the food trucks or The Reef Restaurant, you’ll smell the delicious grill firing with jerk chicken being prepared for the day. The restaurant prepares the jerk chicken, burgers, and patties, then splits the food between the food truck and The Reef buffet. What I’m saying is – The Reef and the food trucks have the same exact food. You get to decide how and where you want to enjoy it for lunch!
There are 2 food trucks:
- One food truck has Jamaican cuisine (jerk chicken, rice and peas, beef patties, curry chicken patties).
- The other food truck has “American” cuisine (cheeseburgers, hot dogs, fries and potato wedges).
If you want something from both trucks, then you have to wait in two separate lines. Waiting in line for your food can take up to 45 minutes depending when you go. Plus it’s HOT. There is no shade. This is another reason why we prefer The Reef for lunch.
The food trucks have tables and seating around it, and it’s convenient that they package it so you can take your food with you no matter where you are on the resort. We found the food truck convenient in the beginning when my oldest was in the pool and refused to get out to eat. My husband waited in line for the food while we continued to swim, and when he came back, my daughter could come back to the pool chairs to grab a bite then jump back in the water.
Aqua Snack Bar
This place is also open for lunch, and it has a different menu than the food trucks or The Reef. Aquabar is next to the beach and the main pool. If you’re hanging out at the beach or this pool, this is a great option for lunch.
We tried their pesto grilled salmon with rice and peas, and my daughter had spaghetti.
As the name says, they are also a fully stocked bar, so you can order anything your heart desires! The Aquabar has two sides to it. The side that faces the pool is outside with open walls and is fully shaded with cozy seating. This is a great calming space to relax midday. The other side of the Aquabar is only bar, has even more seating, and is fully inside the lobby. This side is directly next to the coffee shop.
Coffee Shop
The coffee shop is opened 24/7. They’re located in the lobby next to the Aquabar. They serve Blue Mountain coffee, lattes, coffee drinks mixed with ice cream, plus a selection of ice cream, pastries, and sandwiches.
Fine Dining Restaurants
The family side has 4 al a carte restaurants. These restaurants are included at no additional cost and you can order anything on the menu. Go early (like before 7) to avoid a long wait or being denied entry altogether. We found that we were seated and served the fastest when we went when they opened at 5:30 or 6pm.
Jamrock (Jamaican)
Jamrock is their Jamaican restaurant. Cozy, warm Jamaican decor and a menu filled with Jamaican favorites. We tried their oxtail, curry goat, and fried snapper. They also have a salad, fruit, and soup bar. Surprisingly, this restaurant wasn’t our favorite, but we did enjoy what we ordered.
El Delirio (Mexican)
This spot was so good we went back twice! They have a taco bar, where there is a chef who cooks tacos on demand and you can add your own toppings. You can also order off the menu.
Our favorite was the short rib taco! We ordered like 10 of them during our stay. I also had a fantastic margarita with reposado! Off the menu we shared a NY strip steak and guac, and mole chicken enchiladas. It was good, but the short rib tacos was better.
Fusion 360 (Asian)
The decor at Fusion 360 is stunning. It was also a mix of self serve apps and desserts plus ordering off the menu. Some of the foods at the buffet included poke bowls, tom yum soup, edamame, and matcha cheesecake. You can also order chicken and beef skewers – both very tender and delicious! They grill these on demand in an open kitchen, so you can enjoy your apps and watch them cook.
Off the menu we tried their noodles, fried rice, beef dish, and butter chicken dish. Order their special drink “the ginger smash.” It’s a mix of fresh pineapple juice, ginger, and some kind of liquor. We all loved it!
Il Palazzo (Italian)
Beautifully decorated, and so many yummy dishes to pick from. Our kids tried the cheese pizza, which is large enough for multiple kids to share. I ordered the filet and seafood risotto, my husband ordered the rigatoni, and my mother-in-law had the seafood stew.
The Grand Waterpark
Princess Grand Waterpark has:
- 3 kid slides
- 5 adult/teen slides
- an inflatable water bouncy dome
- a splash pad
- two shallow pools for wading and watching over your kids as they play.
There are plenty of pool loungers and plenty of shade, as well as a restroom. Waitresses walk around asking if you’d like anything to drink from the bar, and they can bring you water bottles if you ask.
If you need privacy or a place for a larger group, you can rent private cabanas for the day. These cabanas come with a TV, mini fridge, bed, and privacy with a curtain. We never felt the need to rent cabanas because we always found plenty of shaded seating together plus the waitresses came by frequently to provide bar service.
The waterslides are SO FUN! I went down all 3 kid slides with my two littles. We didn’t tackle the larger slides, but by witnessing people go down them, I know they are a blast.
An important tip is to have your child wear water shoes around the pool. It is so wet and slippery. Multiple people have reported witnessing or experiencing slips and falls. Your child can remove their shoes once they’re in the pool, but please encourage them to wear it as soon as they exit the water.
There’s 4 Kid Friendly Pools
There are so many pools to suit your needs! In addition to the 2 waterpark pools, there are 3 other large pools:
The infinity pool
This pool is next to the beach and Aquabar. It hosts water aerobics and trivia on some days. It’s a much quieter pool, perfect for toddlers and babies (and adults) who need a poolside nap during the day. There is also a super shallow depth pool for babies and toddlers. This pool is about 6 inches deep, and is a great size!
They have numerous free-for-all Bali beds with privacy curtains. These beds do not have to be rented or reserved; it’s first come, first served! We discovered these beds on our 2nd to last day and it was the perfect spot to have my littlest nap while his sister continued to swim in the pool. Even grandma and I found time to nap on these beds!
As always, waitresses will come by to take your drink order. And if you get hungry, head over to Aquabar for lunch.
The swim-up bar pool
This is where the fun is on the family side during the day. Because this pool has the Oasis swim-up bar, they keep the party going with a DJ and water games/foam party on select days.
With it being a family pool, everything is still kid-friendly – including the foam party! Kids can swim up to the bar and order their own drinks. The virgin mango daquiri, virgin strawberry daquiri, and virgin pina colada were favorites for all the kids including my own. A tip is to get a mango daqiuri + pina colada mixed together for your child; it’s so good!
While the main pool is 4 feet deep, there are two shallower pools with bench seating connected to the main pool. This is a great spot to sit and relax while your child swims in the shallower water.
Floats are allowed in all pools except the waterpark. There are plenty of pool loungers and some spots get more shade than others. The spot we found was shaded from 10am – 4pm, perfect since we usually left the pool at that time.
If you don’t want to swim to the bar or wait for a waitress, you can walk to the Oasis bar to order drinks because there is a dry standing side. There is also the moonlight bar, another spot you can walk to for drinks.
If you’re hungry, you’ll be next to the food trucks and the Reef beachside buffet.
There are two restrooms, one on each end of the pool.
Lastly, this pool has private cabanas you can rent for the day. These cabanas come with your own private pool!
The Beach is Not Natural, it’s Manmade
Saving the beach for last, not because it’s the best, but because it’s actually not my favorite! Jamaica is known for its’ beautiful beaches with soft sand and clear turquoise waters. Sadly, this resort does not have a great beach.
Princess Grand was built on a man-made beach. To build the resort, they had to demolish an existing Mangrove (hence the name of the adult’s only side “Princess Mangroves”). Because of the natural environment the beach was built on, the sand is VERY ROCKY. Water shoes are highly recommended, including when you’re in the ocean.
There are an abundance of rocks of all sizes in the sand and along the shore. My baby boy had a blast finding rocks and chucking them into the sea. I made sure we all wore water shoes when we played in the sand and swam in the water.
Despite the rockiness, the ocean water feels warm and comforting. We saw little fish, hermit crabs, and regular crabs.
The beach houses many free water sports, including: kayaking, pedal boating, paddleboarding, and snorkling. If you have a sailing license, you can take out a sail boat.
There are Bali beds and loungers with umbrellas along the shore, but they always filled up by mid-morning. Waitresses will serve you at your beach chair too!
Activities, Entertainment, and Kids Club
As I mentioned earlier when describing the pools, there are different activities everyday, you just have to check the schedule in the Princess App.
The infinity pool has morning water aerobics, trivia, and a quieter DJ.
The swim-up bar pool has a louder DJ, water games, and a foam party once a week.
Somedays there is yoga and volleyball on the beach.
There is nightly entertainment in the form of musical performances by the Princess entertainment team.
Outside of the ala carte restaurants you will find live music by different artists. Such a vibe!
The kid’s club is one of the reasons we chose this resort, and surprisingly we only spent about 1 hour there TOTAL! We are not the type to drop off our kids at the kid’s club. But if you are, there will be plenty for them to do all day! Your child has to be at least 3 years old to be left without a parent. If you don’t want to leave your kids or if they aren’t old enough, you’re welcome to hang out with them in the club.
The kid’s club has small, kiddie sized toilets and sinks. There’s a craft room, lunch room, performance space with stage, video game pods, toys, and an outdoor playground. When we were there, the kids were performing something they had been practicing. Another time we went, they were serving ice cream!
Check-out
Check-out is relatively simple depending on the type of transportation you have. We had shared transportation through Amstar, which was a large tour bus. I do NOT recommend going that route. While it got us to the airport on time, Amstar gave us the wrong pickup time. If my husband wasn’t on top of checking in with the bellmen, we would’ve missed the bus. Amstar told us 9:55am pickup, but the bus was ready to leave the hotel at 9:15am. My husband had to wave the bus down to stop them from leaving us!
Other than that – the bellmen will bring all your bags to the lobby from your room, so aside from you ensuring your transportation is ready, there’s nothing else you need to worry about during check-out!
Departure/Club MoBay
As I mentioned previously, I highly recommend Club MoBay. If nothing else, get it for departure!
The departure lounge of Club MoBay has a decent sized buffet, a fully stocked bar, coffee bar, plenty of comfortable seating, WiFi, a kids play room, and two adults only sections. There are clean bathrooms and even a spa (an additional charge). This is a great place to unwind after security but in the time you’re waiting for boarding. You can come and go as you please, so if you need any last minute souvenirs, it’s easy to go back into the airport to shop, then back to the Club MoBay lounge. While the airport itself feels hot and humid, Club MoBay is perfectly cooled with AC!
