Some links on this page earn Conteluma a commission at no extra cost to you, and no resort sponsored this guide. How we make money
Resort comparison · Updated October 25, 2026 · Includes notes from Levi's stays at both resorts; other details are researched. Levi stayed at Royalton Riviera Cancun before its renovation; it reopened in December 2025, so rooms and restaurants may differ from what he saw. Prices change, so confirm the final total before you book.
Quiet beach resort, or water park?
Same brand, same points, very different days.
Royalton Riviera Cancun is more your traditional luxury all-inclusive. I would pick it to remove myself from the hustle and bustle of the water parks, but it still keeps me close enough if I want a day of water adventure.
Side by side
| Royalton Riviera Cancun | Royalton Splash Riviera Cancun | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Couples, multi-generation families, anyone who wants a calmer stay | Families with kids who want a water park |
| Vibe | Traditional luxury beach resort | Busy, active, built around the water park |
| Water | Several pools, an infinity pool, swim-out suites and a kids' splash area; no big slides | Two lazy rivers, more than 10 slides and toddler splash zones |
| Adults only | Yes: Royalton Hideaway, an adults-only section with its own suites, pools and restaurants | No adults-only section |
| Kids and teens | Kids club (4–12) and a teens lounge (13–17) | Kids club (4–12); bowling, laser tag and a trampoline park cost extra |
| Size | About 840 rooms; opened 2014, renovated 2025 | 1,005 suites; opened December 2022 |
| Food and drink | About 10 restaurants, including Italian, Indian, Japanese and a steakhouse, plus a casino | 12 restaurants and 10 bars, including an adults-only French restaurant |
| Upgrade | Diamond Club: butler, lounge and private beach area | Diamond Club: butler, lounge and its own pool area |
| Same-date price | About $1,091 for 3 nights | About $1,419 for 3 nights |
| Loyalty program | Marriott Bonvoy (Autograph Collection) | Marriott Bonvoy (Autograph Collection) |
Prices: Luxury Junior Suite for two adults, January 18–21, 2027, on Booking.com, before 16% VAT and a $5 nightly environmental fee.
Royalton Riviera Cancun
The original Royalton on this stretch of coast, a large beachfront all-inclusive that reopened on December 7, 2025 after a full renovation. It has a long beach, several pools, about 10 restaurants and a casino, and it keeps families, adults and Diamond Club guests in separate areas. Couples can book the adults-only Royalton Hideaway section for a quieter stay inside the same resort.
Strengths
- Calmer than Splash, with an adults-only section for couples.
- Freshly renovated rooms and public areas.
- Lower prices than Splash in our same-date check.
- Kids club and a teens lounge for families who don't need a water park.
Watch out for
- No big slides or lazy rivers; for those, you'd buy a Splash day pass.
- A big resort, so ask for a room near the beach and the pools you'll use.
- Little to walk to outside the resort.
Sources: Caribbean Journal: reopening · Air Canada Vacations: resort facts
Royalton Splash Riviera Cancun
The newer, bigger sister resort, opened in December 2022 around one of the largest resort water parks in the Caribbean: two lazy rivers, a long run of slides and splash zones for young children. It's a family resort first, with 12 restaurants and indoor games, though adults can have a good time too. See our full Royalton Splash Riviera Cancun guide.
Even though it's not adults only, it surprisingly can be fun for adults. I especially liked lounging and relaxing in the lazy rivers.
Sources: Travel and Tour World: Royalton water facilities · Visit Caribbean
Can you use both resorts?
They're separate resorts, booked separately, so an all-inclusive stay at one doesn't cover the other. The two are within walking distance, but if you're not staying at Splash you'll need a day pass for its water park. The resort confirmed in a May 2026 reply on Tripadvisor that Royalton Riviera Cancun guests can buy one. Day-pass rules and prices change, so ask the resort before you count on it.
That makes one plan work well for mixed groups: stay at Royalton Riviera Cancun, and buy a Splash day pass for the day the kids most want the slides.
Which is better for couples?
Royalton Riviera Cancun, and its Hideaway section if you want adults-only pools and restaurants. Splash is fun for a day in the lazy rivers, but it's a family resort and the pools are busy with kids. If you want a party rather than quiet, look farther afield: Royalton CHIC in Punta Cana is Royalton's adults-only party resort; see which Royalton in Punta Cana to book.
Which is better for families?
For kids who want slides all day, Splash, no contest. For families with teens, or grandparents along who want a calmer pool, Royalton Riviera Cancun has a kids club and a teens lounge, costs less, and leaves the Splash day pass as an option.
Using Marriott Bonvoy points
Both resorts are part of Marriott's Autograph Collection, so you earn Marriott Bonvoy points on paid stays and can book award nights at either. Book direct with Marriott if you want points and elite benefits; third-party bookings usually don't earn them. Compare award prices with the cash rate in the points-or-cash calculator, and see how Marriott compares with Hilton and Hyatt at all-inclusives in our hotel rewards guide.
What they cost
In our October 25 check on Booking.com, a Luxury Junior Suite for two adults on January 18–21, 2027 cost about $1,091 at Royalton Riviera Cancun and $1,419 at Royalton Splash for three nights, both with free cancellation. Add 16% VAT and a $5 nightly environmental fee to both: roughly $1,280 and $1,660 all-in. Christmas to early January and Easter are the most expensive weeks.
- Visitax: Quintana Roo's tourist tax for foreign visitors, about 280–300 Mexican pesos (roughly $15–$18) per person in 2026. Pay it online at the official Visitax site.
- Seaweed: sargassum can wash up on the Riviera Maya from about spring to early fall. Puerto Morelos's reef helps, but it varies by year.
Compare before you book
- Puerto Morelos guide: the town, the resort strip and costs to plan for
- Royalton Splash Riviera Cancun: the full guide to the water-park resort
- Hyatt Ziva Cancun: a family all-inclusive inside Cancun's Hotel Zone
- Costa Mujeres: quieter beaches north of Cancun
Not sure which resort fits? Take the 1-minute resort quiz →
Sources
Resort details: Caribbean Journal, Air Canada Vacations, Travel and Tour World and Visit Caribbean. Day pass: resort reply on Tripadvisor, May 2026. Marriott Bonvoy status: Royalton press release. Prices: Booking.com, checked October 25, 2026. Conteluma isn't affiliated with Royalton or Marriott.
Was this page helpful?
Thanks, glad it helped.
Thanks for telling us. What was missing? Email Levi and we'll improve it.
Plan it before you book it.
Find your resort in a minute, then check what the stay really costs: taxes, resort fees, points or cash, and flexible rates.