Carnival Cruise Line has taken delivery of another new cruise ship, the company announced this week. 

The new Carnival Panorama is the 27th ship in the brand’s fleet, and the third in the company’s Vista class of ships. 

Carnival Panorama will be homeporting in Long Beach, Calif., part of a broader strategy to expand its cruises on the West Coast, something that is part of a wider trend across California.

The ship will launch year-round service out of Long Beach on Dec. 11, the first new Carnival ship to homeport in California in two decades. 

“Carnival Panorama is the 15th ship built by Fincantieri for Carnival Cruise Line and once again, the skill and hard work of hundreds of talented craftspeople are on display here aboard the beautiful Carnival Panorama,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “Our guests absolutely love Carnival Vista and Horizon and we are certain they are going to love their sister Carnival Panorama.”

Features on the new ship range from a “Sky Zone” trampoline park to Carnival’s first-ever “culinary studio,” where guests can take cooking classes and gastronomic tastings. 

The Long Beach cruises will focus on the Mexican Riviera. 

— CJ

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Saint Lucia continues to experience a full-fledged tourism boom so far in 2019, according to the latest numbers released by the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority. 

The Eastern Caribbean island reported a total of 21,608 stayover visitors in September, a 15 percent increase over the same month in 2018 that was actually the largest percentage increase of any month this year. 

The sizzling September followed seven record-breaking months of visitor arrival increases so far this year, leading to what is one of the fastest growth rates of any destination in the Caribbean in 2019.

Tourism officials called the September jump “unprecedented,” surpassing a record set in 2017 by more than 1,000 visitors.

Saint Lucia’s growth came in large part due to a 15 percent jump in arrivals from the United States market, or about 1,156 additional visitors. 

Crucially, that increase despite “no major difference in airlift” from the US market. 

“While we welcome the increases, we will not stop in exploring every possible avenue, program, policy or niche that will keep us top of mind in the marketplace so as to drive visitor arrivals to our destination,” said Saint Lucia Tourism Minister Dominic Fedee. 

All of the island’s other source markets saw similar double-digit increases (with the exception of the United Kingdom), with France and Canada leading at 52 percent and 43 percent, respectively. 

It’s a boon for an island that has been successfully drawing more visitors, more airlift and new hotel development in recent years, adding to a destination that has long been one of the Caribbean’s most romantic places to visit. 

The most recent was the announcement this summer of the new Cabot Saint Lucia golf resort development, a project that could change the face of Caribbean golf and create a new luxury pole at the far north of Saint Lucia.

For more, visit Saint Lucia or check out the top resorts in Saint Lucia.

— CJ

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… -30, 2020 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. During this amazing sleepover retreat …

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It was long the best resort in Guadeloupe, but now the chic La Toubana resort has taken things to another level. 

La Toubana, set in the hip beach town of Sainte Anne, has officially become the first five-star resort in Guadeloupe, following its official certification this month by France’s national hospitality rating body. 

The upgrade comes after the property completed a two-year, nearly $14 million transformation that also expanded the luxury resort. 

La Toubana now includes 32 bungalows, 12 suites and three villas, the latter of which are the true party piece. 

They’re a mix of one and two-bedroom units, all with stunning views of Marie Galante and designed by noted architect Guy Benoit. 

There are three villas: Villa Ura, Villa Idikia and Villa Ayiti, each with private pools, full kitchens and concierges. 

The villas are worth the splurge, with all of the hotel’s amenities and the space and freedom to enjoy the livability, culture and food that make Guadeloupe so unique. 

In a diverse destination filled largely with smaller hotels, La Toubana is a major addition, well timed for this winter’s highly-anticipated arrival of JetBlue Airways to the destination. 

There’s also a signature Spa, with three single treatment rooms, one double treatment room and one room for Thalassa-style treatments, along with a fitness center and an available personal trainer. 

The property is set in Sainte-Anne, a bustling beach town that just so happens to be the food-truck capital of Guadeloupe, best known for its trucks specializing in Guadeloupe’s most popular local dish, the “bokit” sandwich. 

The relaunched hotel is the best gateway for travelers those looking to explore a destination that is one of the most fascinating in the region, but one which still remains largely unknown to U.S. tourists. 

It’s also a great jumping off point to discover some of Guadeloupe’s other wonderful islands, from its rum capital of Marie Galante to the charming islet of Terre de Haut. 

For more, visit La Toubana. 

— CJ

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There’s a major new culinary destination in one of the Caribbean’s most beloved beach towns. 

New York couple John and Sarah Joyce are launching The Danforth this week, a new eatery in the beach town of Coral Bay in St John. 

The Brooklyn couple recently quit their jobs to “follow their dream of moving to the Caribbean to open a restaurant,” they told Caribbean Journal. 

“Millions of people dream about quitting their job and moving to a tropical island but very few people actually do it. The last 8 months have been quite the adventure,” said Sarah Joyce.

The new eatery, set on the waterfront in Coral Bay, specializes in seafood and local cuisine. 

It will officially open Nov. 1. 

“Food is a huge part of Caribbean culture and we have always felt that local cuisine was underrepresented in the St. John dining scene,” she said. “Our goal at The Danforth is to create a unique culinary experience where you can indulge your senses in Caribbean flavors, sights, and sounds.”

The restaurant will be open every day for happy hour from 3PM to 6PM, with a menu featuring dishes like lobster tostones and sushi rolls. 

The cocktail menu includes a drink called the Peter Bay, blending local hero Kenny Chesney’s Blue Chair Bay rum with mango and fresh lime juice. 

“Our menu was created by drawing inspiration from the vibrant flavors found in traditional Caribbean dishes and elevating them using the freshest local ingredients. The result is an unparalleled dining experience; it is unlike any other on St John,” said Gil Turturici, the restaurant’s executive chef. 

Dinner service runs from 5 to 9PM, with dishes like live Caribbean lobster, mahi mahi, braised oxtail and mofongo, among others. 

There’s local music every night, too. 

It’s a welcome addition to one of the coolest corners of the USVI. 

For more, visit The Danforth. 

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