By the Caribbean Journal staff

Sir Richard Branson’s highly-anticipated cruise line has revealed its first-ever port in the Caribbean: Cuba.

Virgin Voyages’ first ship, Scarlet Lady, which will launch in 2020 out of PortMiami, will make Havana its first port of call, the company announced Wednesday.

“We’re going to Cuba,” the company said in a statement.

Old Havana.

Select itineraries on Virgin Voyages in 2020 will include both daytime calls and overnight stays in Havana Harbor, the company said.

“[We’re] giving sailors the opportunity to discover one of the world’s most desired destinations, Virgin Voyages style,” the company said.

A rendering of the new, eco-friendly ship.

Virgin Voyages, which will be an exclusively adults-only cruise line (or as Virgin calls it “adult by design,”, is looking to disrupt the Caribbean cruise industry with provocative design, unorthodox amenities like on-ship tattoo parlors and what seems to be a clear focus on millennial travelers (although not exclusively).

Virgin is looking to change the, well, look of cruise ships.

Virgin has an initial launch planned of three cruise ships, spearheaded by the aforementioned Scarlet Lady.

The company has already launched sales for its first itineraries.

For more info, visit Virgin Voyages.

— CJ

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… afternoon, an attorney for Puerto Rico‘s government admitted … , the head of the Puerto Rico Emergency Management Agency, Carlos … , told a committee of Puerto Rico‘s Congress that, … court Tuesday – five months into Puerto Rico‘s hurricane season — …

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By LK Hewlett BASSETERRE, St Kitts (WINN) –The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Authority, the highest decision-making body of the nine-member sub-regional bloc, has responded to the recent Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report that listed five of its members for tax evasion concerns with regard their citizenship by investment (CBI) programmes. […]

The post OECD position on economic citizenship programmes unreasonable, says OECS appeared first on Caribbean News Now.

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By Ray Chickrie Caribbean News Now contributor GEORGETOWN, Guyana — As Guyana continues to draw global attention as a result of massive oil and gas discovery, the country is set to see production start in 2020 and “as small countries, we need as many friends abroad as possible to survive,” the foreign minister of Guyana, […]

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By Dana Niland
CJ Contributor

It’s the place to eat, the place to be, the place to be seen in Dominica, and it just got even better.

The Palisades restaurant at Dominica’s Fort Young hotel has officially relaunched, with a newly designed, expanded eatery and a new menu by renowned Jamaican Chef Kevin Broderick.

The waterfront eatery, which relaunched this week, has an open design, with al fresco dining on a wrap-around balcony and another level under a canopied roof.

“We’re thrilled to open the new Palisades Restaurant and to continue connecting the community and visitors through culinary experiences,” said Marvlyn James, Fort Young Hotel’s general manager. “We’ve harnessed our landmark location and designed the space to feature a more open floor plan and indoor-outdoor setting to really capitalize on our treasured views. We’ve also created an inventive menu that showcases the natural bounty of the island, including locally-sourced ingredients straight from nearby farms and, of course, the Caribbean Sea.”

Broderick has taken the reins at the restaurant after having served as a guest chef in the middle of 2018.

“Sometimes the key ingredient to any successful restaurant is to stay true to its roots, so with this philosophy, The Palisades Restaurant’s menu pays great homage to a few components—our rich historical legacy, local ingredients and magnificent architectural features,” Broderick told Caribbean Journal. “Out of this amalgamated excellence comes a culinary artistry celebrating iconic island gastronomic flavors, highlighting each course as a conversational piece that breathes life into a new Caribbean contemporary cuisine and satisfies even the most discerning palette.”

It’s another big step for the Fort Young, which has emerged as the centerpiece of Dominica’s tourism recovery.

— CJ

The post A New Look (And a New Leading Chef) at Dominica’s Signature Eatery appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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