Moon Palace The Grand – Montego Bay: what to know before you book

My local take

Two different resorts carry the Moon Palace name in Jamaica, and people mix them up. Moon Palace Jamaica is the open family all-inclusive on the waterfront in Ocho Rios, which Palace Resorts opened about a decade ago. Moon Palace The Grand – Montego Bay is a separate, much bigger project in Success, St James, near Montego Bay. Prime Minister Andrew Holness broke ground on it on August 11, 2025, and the Jamaica Information Service reported plans for 1,200 suites, overwater bungalows, a water park and the largest spa in the country.

The timeline is the part to read carefully. In September 2026, Travel Market Report put the opening at 2028–2029. A July 2026 government filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission, reported by the Gleaner, lists a “Moon Palace Phase 2” of 1,350 rooms as still going through approvals, with design plans not finalized. That is probably the same project, but the room counts differ and the filing doesn’t name the site. My take: treat 2028–2029 as a target, not a date, and don’t book anything that claims to be this resort until Palace Resorts opens reservations.

For a big family all-inclusive near Montego Bay that’s open now, look at Royalton Blue Waters or Riu Palace Aquarelle, both with water parks near Falmouth. More options: Jamaica resorts with water parks and the best all-inclusive family resorts in Jamaica.