On the secluded beach past the aforementioned FlowRider ® you ’ ll find a host of non-motorised watersports . Here , Ralph and the team will kit you out in lifejackets and set you sail in a kayak , pedalo or on a paddleboard . Or simply grab a snorkel and explore the marine life around the resort . Talking of which , you can ’ t fail to notice the fins raise skywards as the onsite dolphins get excited for lunch celebrating with a spectacular jump or two ! Although much has been said about the pitfalls of swimming with animals taken from their natural habitats for touristic memories , we were wholeheartedly reassured by the conservation efforts of the team here where it is illegal to take dolphins from the wild and who instead work with animals that have been injured or recuperated in captivity . In fact , the enclosure is so low that one resident rescue jumps the walls whenever he feels like going back to the wild , reappearing every few weeks when the lure of easy fish and hunger pangs set in .
When our own hunger pangs set in , Moon Palace had us covered .
As with most all-inclusive resorts , the offer here is a mix of the main resort buffet - Buccaneers Reef , pool / beachside casual dining , and pre-bookable á la carte specialities , interspersed with 24-hour coffee and snacks courtesy of Boulangerie , and pizza and sushi thanks to Gourmet Corner .
Unlike most all-inclusive resorts , the service in each and every one was impeccable .
Dining most days in Buccaneers Reef for breakfast and lunch we were ordered by the littlest Ready to sit in Nate ’ s section , such was the rapport built with a day one fist bump , memorised drink order ( easy for an apple juice , not so easy for the decaf , almond milk cappuccino ) and easy reply of ‘ yeah mon ’ to literally any request - ‘ Nate , can I have apple juice please ?’, ‘ Nate , can I have some ketchup please ?’ ‘ Nate , can I have another spoon please ?’ ( the latter probably for the 60 billionth time )... Evidence of the unfaltering attention to detail and service here was further provided by day two where things appeared before they were even requested as Nathaniel and the rest of the team effortlessly surpassed all expectations across the dining room .
Food wise , gone are the days of the help-yourselfbuffet ( another Covid legacy that I secretly rather relish ). Instead , each ‘ buffet ’ station remains but with a host of servers and chefs ready to whisk up fresh omelettes or eggs , hand-carve meats , whip up a fresh salad , serve from the Jamaican , global or kids ’ stations , or simply handover yet another exquisitely prepared mini dessert .
For lunch we also made use of the pool-side options : fresh grilled cheese sandwiches , jerk chicken wraps and crisp french fries from the pool bar and the notto-be-missed and oh-so-good jerk chicken from the jerk hut on the beach . The 3pm churro cart added to the ‘ it ’ s ok we ’ re on holiday ’ daily calorie intake .
For dinner we easily procured early sittings in each of the three main á la carte offerings .
Head chef Michele Cominelli ’ s Gondola transports you from Jamaica beach to Italian villa in a few short steps . Here we were treated to crisp calamari with lemon , basil and pepperoncini aioli , freshly baked lasagne , grilled salmon with caponata , and the most delicious filet of beef . While the children devoured mozzarella sticks , steak , and Bolognese .
Pier 8 offered laid-back beachside Jamaican cuisine with views across the mountains and , again much to the littlest Ready ’ s delight , the departing cruise
ship . Here , chef Troy Murray , who honed his craft at the Culinary Institute of America , has returned to his island roots to bring subtle Caribbean flavours to a refined menu that harnesses fresh catches of the day as well as offering lobster and steak specialities .
No trip is complete without the theatrical flair of Momos , the resort ’ s resident teppanyaki showstopper . Although perhaps a little less authentic Japanese than we have experienced in the past , there was no denying that the added addition of some Jamaican hot sauce was the ingredient we didn ’ t even know we were looking for in our fried rice which was served alongside delicious teriyaki chicken , beef , salmon and prawns . Of course , the added utensil juggling , catching food in your mouth and fire volcanoes proved more than entertaining for the kids too .
Self described as paradise within paradise , Moon Palace Jamaica certainly lived up to expectation and then some . While awe-inclusive is perhaps the most fitting description , the most validated endorsement should surely be the fact that every little ( and big ) Ready begged not to come home , and they all have asked when are we going back … rightful praise indeed !
Moon Palace ® Jamaica jamaica . moonpalace . com / en
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