Update October 23rd 2017.

Here is the current official word from the Royal Islander Club.

Unfortunately due to the severity of the damages sustained by hurricane Irma , Royal Islander Club La Plage and La Terrasse is closed until further notice for renovations. Although we have a tentative date in mind, (summer of 2018) we are still awaiting the final report from the insurance adjusters.
As a precautionary measure RCI is cancelling all reservations for St. Maarten through 2018

I will miss La Plage this February but so happy they will be reopening in the summer of 2018. Looking forward to seeing all of our friends and the wonderful employees of Royal Islander who make this timeshare our winter home every year....looking forward to SXM 2019!

OK - I feel bad for the people of the island but if RI is going to be closed till 2018 what do we do about MF's that are coming in January - pay them or wait till 2019? I have flights already booked for April and my "week" will be over. I can't get a refund and all I can do is change the date. Is it possible that we can relinquish our unit and call it a day?

Spiker...

I have been an owner at RI for almost 30 years. We started with one week....then another.....and then another. Our weeks run mid march to 1st week in April. I was hoping that we would get to use them come March...but not according to the latest communication. This is the third time in all the years that we have been closed down. Every other time, maintenance fees were either returned or credited to the following year. Also...with all the other storms prior....insurance covered the expenses...and we were NEVER charged any assesment for damages. The Spadarros have always been upright and fair with the owners. As of this time, we havent had any direct communication of what will be...and what they are going to do about the fees...so I wouldn't put the horse in front of the cart just yet. My guess...and it is only a guess....is that people that have owned the weeks AFTER Irma, will be credited for next year...since they are already paid. People that owned weeks 1 up to the week of the storm, will probably be billed....but credited for 2019. Relinquishing your week because of a maintenance fee is nuts. Welcome to the world of real estate. I am 110 percent certain, that management is just as upset as EVERY owner is....but this is what happens when Mother Nature reels her ugly head. I have all the faith in the world, that the Spadarros and Management want to get the resort fixed, and fully operational AS SOON AS POSSIBLEm and will do everything possible to make it happen. Personally, i am thankful that so far they haven't sent out a blanket assesment for each unit, like the owners of the Atrium already has. This way, the full damage can be assesed, fixed, and then plan on how to move forward. In the meanwhile, it is all speculation. Am i looking forward to paying three weeks worth of maintenance fees plus three possible assesments?? ABSOLUTELY NOT... but am anxiously waiting to see how it plays out. Praying for everyone in the Royal Islander family and their well being during this very difficult time.

EdB
Well said! As owners of weeks 5 and 6 since 2001, I couldn't agree with you more! Royal Islander is an exceptionally well run resort that treats its owners very well. Definitely the best run timeshare on the island. Are we sad that we won't be able to use our weeks this year? Of course we are! However we are much more upset that the staff have lost most everything they own. Much more upset that so many people we have met on the island and now call friends are having to deal with the devastation caused by Irma. We too know that we will be treated fairly by the Spadarros. We only wish there was more we could do to help the island heal in the short term, other than donate to various relief funds - (the Royal Islander Employee Relief Fund being one of them)
Looking forward to returning to the Royal Islander, our home away from home, just as soon as they are ready for us!
Beth

Watch the flight. If it is significantly changed you can get a refund. We just got one for Feb. Our return flight was changed to a two stop overnight.

Edb, Thanks for that insight. But I like to be practical and as much as I liked traveling to SXM I've decided that it's shine has just worn off. I've been an owner for about 5 years and I traded into RI for a couple of years before that. On one occasion (I don't remember what year it was) they were hit with a hurricane and no one sent me a letter or email that they were closed. I hurried and transferred into Oyster Bay at the last minute. Furthermore the last few years I especially don't like because it seemed as though I always got sick from their A/C system and emptying out the dehumidifier every few hours! The MF's went up but I never saw any improvements other than the vegetation outside which was very nice. As far as our unit I loved the location but the furnishings were never changed. $770 for a 1 bedroom is pretty high. Now comes the flights - from were I live (Chicago) the price is pretty high and I've always understood that they were in the hurricane zone but I didn't think it would affect week 16. Finally I do not belong to any of the exchange companies so this week would be forfeited and I would just be paying for a possible year 18. I guess I'm a little bit disappointed with SXM -cost, bugs, crime and since I like to drive around I don't feel comfortable with that anymore. So, I feel very bad for the people of all of the islands. I know that they all lost so much and that it will take a lot of effort to bring back the island - it's just that I was thinking about letting it go before Irma and now I will.

770 for a one bedroom is far from high. In fact....it is quite a bit less than any of the other timeshare resorts on the island. Also, take into account, there has NEVER been an assesment charged to the timeshare owners. Most of the other resorts, would LOVE to have a 770 week maintenance fees. Every year there have been subtle changes to the units. Are the units ultra modern?? NO...they are not. One thing that has always been excellent condition....it's view on fixing before it's broken....the beautiful grounds....the pool area...and THE STAFF. It's proactive maintenace keeps it looking perfect. I bet you didn't notice that beds were replaced...along with draperies. subtle changes...but again..proactive. also...two years ago....the sleep sofas and mattresses were replaced. Is it the most beautiful place in the world?? NO...but it is reasonable...it is clean...and i have called it home for almost thirty years.

$770 is nothing.

Our one bedroom was $1,061

This may be low for SXM but yea I'm a bit spoiled. I pay $1800 for a 2 bedroom at Marriott Aruba Surf Club and I'm able to split it for 2 weeks and at different times of the year. And another 2 bedroom Marriott in Ft. Lauderdale for $1500 that I'm also able to split. So $770+ for RI is a bit much considering how outdated it is and for a given week. I like the area and SXM but I don't like their A/C - I think that really sucks! They need to replace those units.

So why not join an exchange company. You'll bank your weeks and can also take advantage of Getaway trips (last year, Puerto Vallarta, $299 for oceanfront suite!). I've had very positive results from II - give it a try. I understand your negative attitude with the problems you're encountered, very justified. But give exchanges a try. IN MY not so HO! The trick is learning to use what you own effectively.

I do have II for the Marriott's but not for RI. I didn't think it was necessary especially because it appeared that RI uses RCI. And I do like going to SXM at that time of the year which I have always - so no need to exchange. But thanks for your input.

I don’t think even having rci now would matter. Rci is not taking exchanges currently with RI. The resort being closed is not a week they can exchange.

La Vista arranged with RCI for us to be able to deposit our weeks, even though they aren't open. I think they had to pay in order for us to be able to do that. Just one more reason I'm happy I own there.

Apparently, the Towers either has or is going to do the same thing. I can’t imagine the confusion (and disappointment?) that will come about when these properties are all back on line and available for exchange again. That should prove to be very interesting. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />