By the Caribbean Journal staff

Major cruise line TUI is coming back to Antigua.

After an absence of three years, TUI Cruises has confirmed that it has added St John’s, Antigua back to its 14-day Caribbean itineraries.

With 13 transit calls in the winter season of 2019-2020, around 38,000 TUI passengers will be visiting Antigua on board the company’s Mein Schiff fleet.

That will mean an estimated $1 million in revenue for Antigua, according to the company, in addition to the revenue generated in onshore spending.

TUI had been a frequent caller to Antigua in the winter seasons from 2009-2015.

With a fleet of six ships, TUI will remain an important caller for the fast-growing destiantion.

The post TUI Cruises Returning to Antigua appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By Alexander Britell

For the first time ever, you can now fly nonstop from New York to St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Caribbean Airlines launched the first-ever New York-St Vincent flights this week, a major new service that finally connects the United States and St Vincent and the Grenadines without the need for a second flight.

The historic flight arrived at St Vincent’s new Argyle International Airport on Tuesday, a new weekly service that will operate on Wednesdays.

Palm Island in the Grenadines.

It’s a significant boost for both St Vincent and the Grenadines, with the latter home to some of the most beautiful resorts in the Caribbean, from the private-island Palm Island resort to some of the charming boutique hotels on the nearby island of Bequia.

Bequia has long been one of the Caribbean’s best-kept secrets.

Up until the launch of the service, St Vincent was only accessible via regional flights from nearby islands like Saint Lucia and Barbados.

The boutique Grenadine House on the island of St Vincent.

Now, travelers can reach St Vincent, a lush, naturally beautiful destination that’s long been off the global travel radar, and take short flights to nearby islands from Bequia to Union Island to ultra-luxe Mustique.

Mustique.

It’s the second significant launch for St Vincent, which welcomed the first-ever Air Canada flights from Toronto to St Vincent at the end of 2017.

The post Caribbean Airlines Launches Nonstop New York-St Vincent Flights appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

It was a special touchdown for a JetBlue plane on Tuesday as a flight filled with New York Jets football players, executives, sponsors and fans arrived at Antigua’s VC Bird International Airport.

The Jets-styled plane was on the island as part of Antigua’s first-ever professional sports organization partnership with the team.

Antigua.

“The New York Jets are an important partner for Antigua raising awareness of all our destination has to offer visitors reaching fans in the important northeast corridor and in fact across the United States,” said Colin C. James, CEO of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority. “It is a highlight of this multi-year partnership having the group visit and see our many attractions including the beautiful beaches for themselves in sunny Antigua.”

The partnership, called Jets in Paradise, is part of a multi-year initiative with Antigua and Barbuda Tourism.

The group was welcomed by James along with US Director of Tourism Kim Jack Riley, Operations Manager (ag) at the Authority Donyelle Bird-Browne, Chief Operations Officer at the Antigua and Barbuda Airport Authority Edward Gilkes and other tourism and airport representatives.

The post Why the New York Jets Visited Antigua appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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The totally transformed Hotel Manapany has officially reopened in St Barth.

The B Signature Hotels property held its reopening on Tuesday morning, a boost for St Barth’s quickly recovering tourism sector and a return for one of the island’s venerable hotels.

The Manapany has made its return to the island as a luxe eco-boutique, with sleek, colorful, crisply designed 43 rooms and suites facing the ocean and two pools (one exclusively for adults).

Manapany staff celebrate the relaunch.

Set on the bay in St Barth’s calm Anses des Cayes, the Manapany also includes a spa and a restaurant helmed by Chef Edouard Fabius.

For more information, visit the Manapany Hotel.

The post The Manapany Reopens in St Barth appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Necker Island, Sir Richard Branson’s ultra-luxe private island paradise in the heart of the British Virgin Islands, is making its own comeback in the wake of Hurricane Irma.

Branson announced this week that the private island, which is available for whole-island rentals, will reopen in October 2018.

“We’re delighted to share the news that Necker Island will be welcoming guests back for both Exclusive Use bookings and Celebration Weeks from October 2018,” Branson’s Virgin Limited Edition brand announced in a statement.

Exclusive Use bookings mean taking over the whole island; celebration weeks are scattered weeks across the year during which guests can rent individual rooms on Necker for seven days.

Work is already underway to rebuild the island, according to Virgin.

The relaunched Necker will include 11 bedrooms in the Great House, including the famous Master Suite, along with a bunkroom that can accommodate up to six children.

The two Celebration weeks will take place in October.

Virgin also said Necker would be adding more rooms throughout 2019.

“We very much look forward to seeing you on island soon,” the company said.

Necker’s return is a big boost for the British Virgin Islands, which has been making a rapid comeback from last year’s storms.

Branson, has been an outspoken advocate in the BVI’s recovery.

For more information, visit Necker Island.

The post Richard Branson’s Necker Island to Reopen in October appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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