Royalton CHIC Cancun Review: Is the Diamond Club Upgrade Worth It?

Our second stay at Royalton CHIC Cancun — we paid $114/night extra for Diamond Club. Here's whether the butler, private pool, and VIP perks are actually worth it.

After checking out of Hyatt Secrets The Vine, we headed over to the Royalton CHIC Cancun, an Autograph Collection Resort. If you are looking for a five-star, adults-only, all-inclusive resort with a major focus on partying and high energy, this is the place to be.

This was actually our second stay here. We first visited in December 2021, so we were excited to return in 2024 and see how things had changed. The short version: the energy is the same, the beach was better this trip, and the Diamond Club upgrade justified itself in ways that were not immediately obvious from the perks list. Here is our full, honest review of the rooms, the party scene, and whether paying extra for Diamond Club is actually worth it at the Royalton CHIC Cancun.

The Diamond Club: Check-In and Perks

We paid around $114 extra per night to upgrade to Diamond Club, and the VIP treatment started immediately. Instead of the main lobby, we were escorted to the private Diamond Club Lounge for check-in. The lounge is stocked with premium liquor you can pour yourself and a rotating selection of snacks. Your room key is built right into your wristband, which is a nice touch that also makes the all-inclusive experience feel more seamless. No fumbling for cards at every bar.

After check-in, our personal butler met us and gave a full resort tour. Having a dedicated contact who knows the property and can get things done quickly is worth more than it sounds on paper. Over the course of the stay, we used the butler for reservations, timing questions, and a couple of logistics that would have required significant back-and-forth with the front desk otherwise.

Here is what the Diamond Club upgrade actually includes:

Butler Service: Dedicated assistance throughout your stay
Exclusive Pool and Beach Areas: Private Diamond pool and designated beach loungers
Premium Liquor: Top-shelf alcohol at the Diamond pool and lounge that standard guests cannot access
Spa Benefits: Discounted massage rates and complimentary hydrotherapy circuit access (steam room, dry sauna, and water pressure pools)

The upgrade also unlocked access to Level 18, the rooftop restaurant, at no extra charge, which is one of the best dining options on property. That last point is significant because Level 18 is a cost that standard guests pay on top of their all-inclusive rate.

The hydrotherapy circuit is worth building into at least one morning of the stay. The combination of the steam room, dry sauna, and the different water pressure pools is legitimately restorative after a big pool party day, and having it included removes any hesitation about using it.

The Party Scene: Level 18 Rooftop and Nightlife

If you love pool parties or are planning a bachelor or bachelorette trip, this resort is built for you. The Royalton CHIC Cancun makes no apologies for what it is: a high-energy, adults-only party resort with a world-class beach as its backdrop. The guests who enjoy it most are the ones who arrive having made peace with that premise.

The Level 18 Rooftop: During the day, they host massive foam parties with a DJ right in the pool. The foam parties are a thing you have to see to understand the scale of. The DJ setup is serious, the crowd is enthusiastic, and the whole production runs with a level of organization that makes it feel like an event rather than just a pool day.

Standard lounge chairs in the back are free. VIP seating costs extra: a daybed starts at a $150 minimum bottle spend, sofas around $200, and a private cabana with jacuzzi runs about $300. We did the lounge chairs and did not miss the VIP setup.

Nighttime: The resort completely transforms. Nightly stage shows in the main courtyard are fantastic. The performances are polished and varied, with different themes each evening. Late at night the area becomes a full-blown nightclub with dancing, drinking, and live entertainment into the early hours. We went out for two of the three evenings of our stay and both times the energy was electric in a way that is hard to replicate at a traditional hotel.

The Rooms: Ocean Front Suite vs. Presidential Suite

Thanks to our Diamond status, we were upgraded to a Luxury Ocean Front Suite, spacious, modern, and with an incredible view of the bright blue Cancun water. The suite is large enough that it does not feel cramped even after spending significant time in it during a longer stay. The ocean view from the balcony is genuinely striking in the morning light when the water is a deep, clear turquoise.

We also stayed in the Luxury Ocean Front Presidential Suite during our 2021 visit. If you are considering that splurge, here is what you get on top of the standard suite:

Massive Bathroom: Larger than most home master bathrooms, with a huge walk-in shower and an indoor jacuzzi tub
In-Room Bar: A full bar setup with a wider alcohol selection stocked in the room
Expanded Balcony: Significantly more outdoor space for the ocean views
Guest Half-Bath: An additional bathroom at the entrance of the suite

The Presidential Suite is the better choice for a longer stay or for groups traveling together. For a two or three night weekend trip, the standard Ocean Front Suite with Diamond upgrade is sufficient and the balcony view is the same.

The Beach

The beach situation at the Royalton CHIC Cancun in 2024 was dramatically better than what we experienced on our 2021 visit. In 2021, the sargassum seaweed situation was significant enough that it affected the beach experience noticeably. In 2024, the water was clear, the beach was clean, and the Cancun shore was doing what it is supposed to do.

Seaweed in Cancun is seasonal and variable. It is worth checking recent reviews specifically about beach conditions before you book or travel. Our 2024 visit happened to coincide with a very good stretch, but that is not guaranteed. The resort does run regular beach cleanup crews, which helps, but the underlying conditions are driven by ocean currents that are outside anyone's control.

One Honest Heads Up: The Water Situation

Cancun occasionally experiences local water infrastructure issues, and a fully booked resort can amplify the problem. One evening we waited one to two hours just to take a shower. The front desk was accommodating and offered access to a shower in another room, but we chose to wait it out. Not a trip-ruiner, but worth being mentally prepared for.

This is not unique to the Royalton CHIC Cancun. It is an infrastructure reality in the Cancun Hotel Zone that affects multiple properties. The resort handled it as well as they could have, but the delay itself is a real possibility. Pack accordingly for an evening where you might not have immediate water access if you are planning to shower before a dinner reservation.

Practical Tips

Book Diamond Club if the party energy matches what you want. The butler, private pool, premium liquor, and hydrotherapy access all add up to a meaningfully better experience.
Arrive at Level 18 early for the best seat positioning before the foam party begins. VIP cabanas book up quickly.
Check beach conditions before you book if the beach is a primary reason for your trip. Sargassum is seasonal and unpredictable.
Use the butler for restaurant timing. They know when the peak wait times are and can advise on the best windows to arrive.
Build a spa morning into the schedule. The hydrotherapy circuit is complimentary with Diamond and is the quietest part of the resort during peak pool hours.

Final Thoughts

We had a fantastic time returning to Royalton CHIC Cancun. The energy is unmatched, the beach was stunning (clear water, minimal seaweed this trip), and the Diamond Club perks genuinely elevate the stay, especially the private pool access, premium liquor, and complimentary hydrotherapy.

If you are a high-energy traveler who wants a true party resort experience in Cancun, the Diamond Club upgrade is worth it. The combination of better rooms, faster service, and the Level 18 access all contribute to a noticeably smoother experience than the standard all-inclusive. If you prefer a quieter, more relaxing all-inclusive, look elsewhere. The Royalton CHIC is not trying to be a serene retreat and it does not pretend to be. It is very good at what it is.

For a full breakdown of every restaurant on property, read our Royalton CHIC Cancun food guide, ranking all seven restaurants we tried across both visits.