Low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines has launched another new route to Puerto Rico, this time to the island’s “Second City.”

The airline has kicked off nonstop service between Orlando and Ponce, another boost for a city that continues to grow as both a tourism and investment destination. 

The new service is operating daily between Orlando International Airport and Ponce’s Mercedita International Airport. 

Ponce becomes the newest destination in Puerto Rico for Spirit, joining San Juan and Aguadilla. 

“Our new nonstop flights between Ponce and Orlando provide both Puerto Rican and Floridian travelers with convenient and affordable ways to visit friends and relatives,” said Matt Klein, Spirit’s EVP and Chief Commercial Officer. “It also provides convenient access to the theme parks in Orlando as well as the historical and cultural attractions along Puerto Rico’s southern coast.”

Spirit first launched service to Puerto Rico in 2001. 

The carrier now operates eight nonstop routes between Florida and Puerto Rico.

In April, Spirit will add another new route to the island, with planned service between Aguadilla and Philadelphia kicking off on April 20. 

“We pride ourselves on supporting commercial and tourism ties between Ponce and other eastern cities of the United States. We are grateful for Spirit’s contribution on widening the scope of flights available to the people of Puerto Rico, especially for those living in the south of the island, said Joel Pizá Batiz, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Ports Authority.

It’s yet another boost for Puerto Rico, which has been eclipsing its pre-pandemic tourism totals in recent months.

The post Spirit Airlines Just Launched Another New Route to Puerto Rico  appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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For the first time ever, travelers at a Caribbean airport will have access to TSA PreCheck.

TSA PreCheck, the US program that lets eligible low-risk travelers enjoy expedited security screening at airports, has officially debuted at Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau, The Bahamas. 

Nassau isn’t just the first Caribbean airport to get PreCheck, though; it’s the first-ever International airport to do so. 

The PreCheck program joins existing US Customs and Border Protection Preclearance at Nassau’s Airport, where travelers can go through customs before they get on their plane back to the United States. 

“This is a big deal for our country and our friendship and partnership with the USA. This is the first of its kind anywhere outside of the USA. We can now boast of sun, sand, sea, warmth of our people and TSA PreCheck,” said Bahamas Tourism Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper.

It all adds up to an enviable airport experience in Nassau, one that has become an exemplar for Caribbean airports. 

“This has been an excellent partnership throughout the trial period at Lynden Pindling International Airport, and it serves as a model for further extending TSA PreCheck. Permanently opening this TSA PreCheck lane for travelers who join the risk-based program is a credit to the Government of The Bahamas and the commitment of the officers who are maintaining the highest standards of transportation security,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske.

TSA PreCheck is available for eligible passengers when departing Nassau (or other US airports with PreCheck), including when connecting on domestic flights after returning to the US. 

“This considerable milestone speaks positively to the benefits of two countries working together to reinforce and prioritize matters of mutual global aviation security, safety and travelers’ efficiencies,” Cooper said.

Travelers who are US citizens, nationals and green card holders can apply for TSA PreCheck (you can find more here). 

Both members of TSA PreCheck and other DHS Trusted Traveler programs like Global Entry are eligible for PreCheck Screening. 

The post TSA PreCheck Debuts in Nassau, The Bahamas  appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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St Maarten is updating its travel protocols on March 1, Caribbean Journal has learned. 

The centerpiece of the update will see testing waived for all fully vaccinated travelers. 

St Maarten will also waive pre-testing for anyone who has recovered from Covid in the last nine months. 

Unvaccinated travelers must, however, still provide a PCR test taken within 48 hours before arrival or an antigen test taken within 24 hours before arrival. 

All travelers will still have to fill out a health pre-authorization form within 72 hours before arrival (you can find the form here). 

The destination said it was also planning to begin a “phased transition” to move from pandemic protocols to “endemic” strategies. 

“This is not a hastily made move nor one to be confused with complacency about the situation. As we take steps towards normalcy, we will do so in a safe and responsible manner. With case numbers remaining low, our protocols have made St. Maarten one of the safest places to visit today,” said Omar Ottley, Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor. “Declaring COVID-19 an endemic on our island is pivotal, and we will work for months to come to pioneer policies that prioritize everyone’s health and simultaneously allow for easy yet safe travel to and within St. Maarten. We are confident that introducing these new protocols will help us smoothly transition back to normalcy and maintenance while welcoming an increasing number of valued visitors to our Friendly Island.” 

St Maarten said it received nearly 30,000 visitors in January 2022, a nearly 39 percent increase over the same period in 2019, before the onset of the pandemic. 

“We remain as united as ever in our efforts to further reposition St. Maarten as a leading destination and to restore our tourism prestige by adapting our processes to meet consumers’ expectations and provide an easy travel experience to our beloved island,” said Roger Lawrence, St Maarten’s Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunication. “As we transition to normalcy, we will continue to promote safety measures to ensure a safe and fun environment for our residents and visitors alike throughout the transition period.”

For more, visit St Maarten. 

The post St Maarten to Waive Testing for All Vaccinated Travelers  appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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The legendary Bitter End Yacht Club has reopened after a complete rebuild from damage sustained in 2017’s Hurricane Irma, including the debut of the first of a planned string of waterfront villas.

Designed to resemble traditional sailmakers’ lofts, the two-story wooden villas are perched close to the edge of the British Virgin Island’s North Sound, with ladders allowing guests to dip into the water directly from their front deck.

If not exactly “overwater”, the villas fit nicely with the overall nautical vibe at the resort. The open-fronted accommodations have bedrooms upstairs and first-level living rooms flowing onto decks slung with hammocks, permitting guests a front-row seat for watching the sailboats and yachts cruising in and out of the 27-slip marina and a 72-ball mooring field.

Two of a planned 11 Marina Lofts have been completed and began welcoming guests in February 2022, with several others under construction.

Like the resort’s recently-opened Quarterdeck clubhouse and Buoy Room restaurant, the villas are constructed from a variety of sturdy hardwoods with foundations on ground raised several feet above the previous waterline.

Marina Loft guests can enjoy fine dining at the Buoy Room, casual fare at the Cafe Salacia coffee shop, and drinks at the boat-shaped Reef Sampler bar.

The resort village also includes a well-stocked store and a soon-to-come boutique shop. Sailing and other on-water activities are organized by the on-site watersports center and Sunchaser Scuba.

Located on the island of Virgin Gorda since 1969, the Bitter End Yacht Club was completely destroyed in Hurricane Irma.

After four years of reconstruction, the marina and other facilities began reopening in December 2020. Future plans include the addition of up to 40 bungalows on the 65-acre property.

For more, visit the Bitter End Yacht Club.

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The island of Barbados has announced another update to its travel protocols, Caribbean Journal has learned. 

The latest update means travelers have more options — including the acceptance of rapid antigen tests for entry. 

Visitors can use either a negative rapid antigen test result taken no more than one day prior to arrival in Barbados, or a negative PCR test taken and received within three days prior to arrival. 

The update comes a week after Barbados announced that it had discontinued its on-island curfew hours. 

Barbados also announced some changes to the airport experience at Grantley Adams International; that includes allowing travelers once again to use the “more spacious” main arrivals hall, instead of the provisional Gate 14-16 arrivals hall that had been set up to manage port health entry checks and testing amid the pandemic. 

Most notably, particularly for those heading to destinations like the Grenadines, travelers who are merely transiting through Barbados will not be required to test in order to do so. 

The addition of the antigen option is part of a broader trend in the Caribbean, with more and more destinations accepting antigen tests as pandemic protocols begin to loosen across the region. 

For more, visit Barbados Travel Protocols. 

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