We stayed at Negril Cabins Resort (NCR) during mid-February 2004. We enjoyed it very much. If we could be assured of the exact same experience on future visits we would return again. But that is the catch! BEWARE: Negril Cabins Resort was recently purchased by new management and renamed Sunset at the Palms Resort and Spa. The new management owns the massive Sunset Resort in Montego Bay. It is uncertain what the fate and style of NCR/Sunset will be.
Everything that other reviewers of NCR have written is absolutely true and accurate. The grounds are beautiful. The cabins are very well designed and appointed. You do feel like you are suspended in a tropical canopy. CAUTION: As others have noted, noise from the road and adjacent resorts can be very severe in some cabins and will very much undermine your experience. Be sure to request a cabin away from the road. Specifically ask for cabins in the 400 block.
The great majority of guests during our stay were Europeans, mostly Germans and Italians. That lent a nice international flavor. Note though, Europeans smoke much more than Americans. But they also tend to be less obnoxious.
The food was very good, ample, and well presented. The dining area was clean and attractive. Meals were a delight. One small problem seemed to annoy many guests (us included) - while the food is self-serve buffet style the beverages are not. Drinks were served by way too few staff for the large dining room. You often had to wait half way through your meal for coffee at breakfast and beer or wine at dinner. That definitely took away from the dining experience.
In the past one of the big attractions to NCR was that it was not your typical swinging hot spot resort. Very quiet, subdued and relaxing. NCR was like that during our stay and we greatly appreciated it. No tacky steel drum bands or blaring reggae. (That comes from the resorts across the street!) Who knows what the new NCR/Sunset resort will be like?
What the future holds for Sunset remains to be seen. Buyer beware!!! We were told by staff that the new management was looking to build additional cabins across the street and directly on the beach. One of the beauties of NCR is that it is on Bloody Bay, which traditionally has been the quiet, less-visited portion of Negril away from the long seven-mile strip of resorts. Alas, those days of seclusion and serenity may be nearing an end. Not only is NCR/Sunset planning to build on the beach but also a GIGANTIC resort is about to open north of NCR/Sunset.
NCR/Sunset used to be the last resort on the north end of the beach.
The new north-end resort will dump thousands of more visitors on the beach. While the beach can absorb that number much of the peacefulness, uncrowdedness and quiet will be lost.
In summary, we really enjoyed our stay at Negril Cabins Resort.
However, Negril Cabins Resort does not exist any more. The buildings are still there but the spirit may be gone. As they say, past results are no guarantee of future performance. If you want to go to Sunset at the Palms (the resort formerly known as Negril Cabins Resort) you might want to wait to see what reviewers write in the next six months.