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THE RISE AND FALL OF CANADA'S BLUE DIAMOND RESORTS IN CUBA

Timeless Tourist

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The era of the cheap Canadian winter getaway to Cuba has officially changed forever. 🇨🇦✈️

In this travel investigation, we pull back the curtain on the shocking corporate withdrawal of Blue Diamond Resorts (Memories, Sanctuary, Starfish, and Royalton) from Cuba. Controlling over 11,000 hotel rooms across Varadero and the Cayos, this Canadian-born resort empire was the absolute "safe bet" for Canadian tourists looking for predictable, budget-friendly comfort.

But almost overnight, they packed up and handed the keys back to state-run entities.

What really happened behind closed doors? In this video, we break down the corporate maneuvers, the severe geopolitical impact of re-activated US sanctions (Helms-Burton Act Title III & IV), and the systemic food and energy blackouts that made operating in Cuba impossible for a premium Canadian brand.

But we aren't leaving you stranded. If you are a "Cuba Loyalist" forced to rethink your upcoming winter vacation, we track down exactly where WestJet and Sunwing are shifting their flights, where Royalton operates now, and the top 3 budget-friendly Caribbean alternatives that occasionally approache the old Cuban price point—including a first-hand look at Samaná, Dominican Republic in 2026.

👇 CHAPTERS
00:00 - Chapter 1:The Cold Overture: Canada's Cuba Contract is Broken
01:24 - Chapter 2: The Apprentice Empire (Who Was Blue Diamond?)
03:31 - Chapter 3: The Squeeze (The Real Reasons They Fled Cuba)
06:18 - Chapter 4: The New Frontier (Where Are They Now?)
08:00 - Chapter 5: The Stranded Loyalist (Where to Go Now?)
10:50 - Chapter 6: Beyond the Beach (The Future of Cuban Travel)
11:36 - Conclusion

20 Comments

@jeff_rogerson 2 days ago Pinned

Thank you for this great content. Finally a straight forward explanation of what has happened to Cuban tourism in the last few months and what to expect in the near future.

@danconnell954 3 days ago (edited)

Our research for a Cuba replacement pointed to Dominicus, DR (lower end - Sunscape). Booked just a month ago for early Jan, and already the rate has jumped by 2/3. Loved Cuba ... you could feel like a 'million bucks' when the forecast at home showed a spell of -30 coming up, you got yourself a last minute booking, then the short flight, and found yourself relaxing on a stunning beach for a great extended weekend ... very fun to pull off. Enjoyed this video - great background info.

@Sockieknowshockey 1 day ago

Best explanation of the loss of travel to Cuba from Canada.

@canadacuba 3 days ago

Canada just turned her back on Cuba , shame on you Canada 😢

@nataliebriere4578 2 days ago

Sanctuary Grand Memories was our favorite place to go. We hope to be back one day

@carlin2252 3 days ago

I used to travel to Royalton Hicacos every year where I met and made many great friends with the staff. This is very sad.

@miriamdiaz5292 1 day ago

Cubas resort closure prompted me to visit Negril this August. Wonderful experience and a great facility at Couples Negril.

@Anchy-l4l 3 days ago

I had many beautiful vacations at Melia Varadero hotel, everything was just great, staff, food, cleanless and frendiness is beyond believe, I love and miss them all❤❤❤
Hope we will reconect soon❤❤❤🙏🙏🙏

@SassZaz 19 hours ago

Seeing your report unfold as you were walking throught The Sanctuary! Been there a handful of times. It was such an amazing adult resort. Safe for solo female travellers. I would not go elsewhere as I don't feel safe in the countries that you mentioned as a female solo traveller. This is really sad and the ones who lose out are the Cubans as that was their livelihood! Sad!

@ronaldmarks5772 3 days ago

The minimum requirement for Cuba is that it contractually guarantee enough fuel to Canadian airlines for return flights.

@timelesstourist Creator 3 days ago

Have you visited a Blue Diamond resort in Cuba and/or been to Cuba since the foreign resort management companies pulled out? Please comment on your experience.

@smash62 2 days ago

Went once over 20 years ago. No thanks. Costa Rica, Panama, Mexico for the winter places that are close

@tome7186 1 day ago

love Cuba.

@HOLDSWATH 3 days ago

We are going to try Sosua next year, if I was single I would have been to Cuba twice already. I really hope direct flights start again, but that requires reliable oil. No matter what happens, as long as it's, better for Cubans, that's what really matters 🇨🇺🇨🇦💕

@marie-sophie4 1 day ago

I stayed at the Sanctuary at Grand Memories Varadero so many times and had the best time there. I am heartbroken to see what is happening to this beautiful and wonderful country. Prayers for all our Cuban brothers and sisters 🇨🇺❤️🏖️☀️😎

@charliedougan1459 1 day ago

Great summary and video Since 2023, my girlfriend and I have found a few nice spots in Cancun and,Mayan Rivieria. But as you mentioned, price is double. Mind you, that is,off peak like mid December and Early April flying with WestJet. These spots are Royal Catalonia Tulum on Xpu Ha beach and Hotel NYX in the Cancun Hotel zone Sargassum never a big issue at these sites. We are returning to these 2 hotels this year once again. My feeling is that Cuba will open up again, but will cost relative to the other Caribbean markets. Food will become better as well as amenities. But what once cost $1250 will cost $2500. Double the cost just like everything else in our economy Yes, I will subscribe to your channel

@johncowper3499 3 days ago

I am sticking with Cuba. It’s a great country. I love going there. There’s still one resort open close to our memories used to be. We do have to fly into Havana to get there, but it’s only four hours on the bus or you can plan it so you stay in a few resorts on the way it’s up to the traveller just like what they’re doing.

@ringram141 2 days ago

I am going back to Cuba next month. I am not interested in alternatives because Cuba is where my dear friends are.

@derekthomas5611 3 days ago

Grand Memories Holguin, was my favourite resort. I am disappointed that the Canadian government hasn't fought to establish the sovereignty of our corporate glass, or our citizenship to travel freely without touching, or involving the US. There is a Canadian law to defend and forbids corporations operating in Canada from following foreign laws instead of our own. Foreign Extraterritorial Measures Act. This should have been enacted immediately. Going a step further we should sell oil and fuel to Cuba as a trade partner and bolster our own tourism partnerships. In the meantime I planning my next trip for November and again in February. My dollars are better spent there than anywhere else.

@billwells5139 2 days ago

As a former blue diamond corporate director for 4 years, can i day, punta cana is great choice, but hotels are open in Cuba, the staff are all still there, and cuban management is first class, your only problem is the flight. I still live in cuba, the only way in or out is via Cancun or panama, to use Miami route, rumor is there's a hidden sir have to pass through USA and onto cuba using the 12 weekly flights currently available. Cuba loves Canadian people, we miss you . But how funny that Marriott and others from USA including Trump resorts have their greedy eyes on all ex blue diamond and Iberostar and melia hotels.