By the Caribbean Journal staff

Princess Cruises has released the details on its upcoming 2020-2021 season in the wider Caribbean, with plans for 127 departures across 15 different voyages around the region.

That will range from four to 20-day sailings, stopping in a total of 24 destinations across 20 countries in the Eastern, Western and Southern Caribbean, according to the company.

Princess will be sending an array of ships, including its Caribbean Princess, Crown Princess, Enchanted Princess and Sky Princess ships in the region, all of which include the company’s OceanMedallion wearable tech experience.

“Our 2020-21 Caribbean cruise season offers both the best experiences ashore and onboard,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president. “With four ships, including our newest Enchanted Princess and Sky Princess, offering our highly-desired Princess MedallionClass experience, guests will find an enhanced level of service and ease onboard. This, combined with the sun-drenched beaches and diverse cultures of the Caribbean, offers our guests various itinerary options to experience this popular destination.”

That will include Enchanted Princess, which will be making its first debut in the hemisphere in Fort Lauderdale on Nov. 21, 2020, sailing 21 cruises alternating between the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

Princess will be bringing back its “Rhythm of the Caribbean” onboard offering for the season, which adds locally-inspired cuisine and entertainment as travelers pass from port to port.

— CJ

The post Princess Cruises’ New Caribbean Voyages appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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… :15 p.m.
Thousands of Puerto Ricans marched to the rhythm of … .
Many in the crowd waved Puerto Rican flags made in black and …

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Puerto Rico’s post-Maria tourism rebound didn’t take long.

Indeed, by the beginning of last year much of the island’s airlift had returned, while the cruise industry saw rapid growth.

Now, a year later, it’s not just a recovery, though — Puerto Rico is seeing an “unprecedented” resurgence, according to the latest numbers from Discover Puerto Rico, the island’s first-ever Destination Marketing Organization.

Lodging demand in Puerto Rico has already reached levels from the first quarter of 2017, just 14 months after the storm.

Total demand for independent rentals is up by 72 percent in the same period, while the forecast for the rest of the year is booking 24.1 percent higher than 2018 levels.

Old San Juan.

“Puerto Rico is looking more and more like a historic comeback story, and I’m proud to see the Island’s travel and tourism industry plays a starring role,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. “Discover Puerto Rico has proven that a destination’s marketing arm is an indispensable component of a successful turnaround.”

Puerto Rico has already seen strong growth in the all-important meetings and incentives sector, with leads and bookings in the sector already far surpassing the past three and five-year averages.

Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in Puerto Rico.

That’s while air access continues to grow, as reported by Caribbean Journal earlier this month.

And the island’s vital cruise sector is surging too, with an increase in January of 28.9 percent in cruise arrivals in San Juan, along with a 56.6 percent increase in homeport cruise passengers.

The new-look Palmeras restaurant at the Caribe Hilton, slated to reopen this month.

“We learned a great deal from our tourism counterparts in other destinations who have faced adversity, and that helped focus our efforts. We gleaned insights and historical data related to perception, and closely observed how media handled recovery coverage. We optimized our plans to ensure strong results,” said Brad Dean, CEO of Discover Puerto Rico.

And while most of the island’s luxury resorts have reopened, too, from Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve to the St Regis Bahia Beach, another iconic hotel will relaunch later this month with the reopening of the Caribe Hilton.

— CJ

The post Puerto Rico’s Strong Tourism Comeback Continues appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

One of Costa Rica’s leading hotels has announced the upcoming launch of a major new spa.

The Retreat Costa Rica, set on Crystal Mountain in Atenas, is set to debut a new 7,000-square-foot Vida Mia Ayurvedic Healing Center and Spa.

The center, which will be the first Ayurvedic healing center in the country, is slated to debut June 8.

The brainchild of owner Diana Stobo, the property will include seven treatment rooms along with resting lounges and special events areas.

It was designed by local architect Luis Edwardo Ortiz, with interiors by France’s Veronique de la Cruz and Costa Rica’s Andrea Artinano.

Every guest at the center will receive customized assessments by the center’s in-house “healer,” while a medical practitioner will also be on staff along with a personal trainer.

“After traveling the world as a healing and spa junky, I have discovered the most effective and exciting tools to create the perfect healing experience,” Stobo said.

— CJ

The post This Costa Rica Hotel Is Opening a Major New Spa appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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… SAN JUAN (Reuters) – Puerto Rico‘s federally created financial … -Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY) Puerto Rico Inc, as well as individuals … to the people of Puerto Rico to recover any payments … The board contends that Puerto Rico was insolvent at the time …

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