By the Caribbean Journal staff

The Riu Palace Punta Cana hotel in the Dominican Republic is making big changes.

Riu has announced that the all-inclusive hotel will reopen in July after a complete renovation.

Set on the Arena Gorda beach, the transformed resort will include an expanded main building with new rooms, a gym, a sauna and spa; a new Spanish restaurant, a patisserie, three new pools (including an expanded children’s pool) and new showers.

The family-friendly property will include free entrance the nearby Splash Water World “aquatic funplex,” Riu said in a statement.

It’s part of a broader transformation push for Riu in the Caribbean, which has included wholesale renovations to properties like the Riu Palace Paradise Island in The Bahamas to an expansion at the Riu Republica in the Dominican Republic.

The post Riu Palace Punta Cana to Relaunch in July appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By Alexander Britell

First it was Park Hyatt. Then it was Ritz-Carlton. Now it’s Six Senses.

St Kitts is quickly becoming the Caribbean’s next luxury hotspot.

Range Developments, the developer of the highly-acclaimed Park Hyatt St Kitts, has announced the new Six Senses St Kitts, slated to debut on the island in 2021.

The resort will be set on a 41-acre site of a former sugar cane plantation on the western side of St Kitts in the La Vallee area.

“We sincerely look forward to welcoming the distinguished Six Senses brand to St. Kitts,” said St Kitts Tourism Minister Lindsey Grant. “Six Senses only develops resorts in the world’s most unique and exquisite destinations, therefore it is a singular testament to the history and natural beauty of the island’s landscape to become one of them. The Six Senses philosophy with regard to sustainability, wellness and premier service makes it an ideal fit for St. Kitts as it complements our own vision and direction for our tourism product as we continue to enhance the variety of accommodations we have to offer to the discerning, experiential traveler.”

Six Senses St Kitts will feature 70 “pool villas” and a “Retreat,” along with, of course, a signature Six Senses Spa.

“We are excited to welcome Six Senses to St. Kitts,” said Mohammed Asaria, founder of Range Developments. “We look forward to working together on this exciting project.”

The news comes a month after Ritz-Carlton announced plans for a 125-room St Kitts resort, set, like the Park Hyatt, on the island’s lush southeastern peninsula.

Those two properties, along with the boutique Belle Mont Farm and the Six Senses, will add up to one of the Caribbean’s leading concentrations of luxury hotel properties.

“We are thrilled to add St. Kitts to the Six Senses portfolio of resorts in incredible settings. And working in partnership with Range Developments, who have exceptional expertise and experience in the Caribbean, Six Senses St. Kitts will be a remarkable resort. The ease of access from the United States is also a very positive factor as this market is increasingly embracing the quintessence of Six Senses.”

This will be Six Senses’ first hotel in the Caribbean.

The project will create approximately 300 jobs during construction, and several hundred more once the property becomes operational.

The post Six Senses Coming to St Kitts, The Caribbean’s New Luxury Hotspot appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By Alexander Britell

FORT LAUDERDALE – Viking Ocean Cruises is planning a major expansion of its cruise fleet, the company announced.

Viking has announced a new agreement with shipbuilder Ficantieri that could mean six additional ships by 2027.

The news was revealed during the Seatrade conference in Fort Lauderdale this week.

The ships will be delivered in 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027.

“When we launched our first ocean ship in 2015, we set out to reinvent ocean cruising. We focus on the destination, and we do not cram our ships with gimmicks and waterslides. Our understated, elegant, award-winning ships are designed to simply enable our guests to better explore their destination,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “In our first two years of operation, we have been named the #1 Ocean Cruise Line, and this new order speaks to the positive response we have received from our guests and the industry. As we continue to expand our brand, we look forward to bringing guests to more destinations around the world and introducing them to the Viking way of exploration.”

Viking’s current fleet includes six ships, with two more ships in the next two years.

The plan is for a total of 16 ships by 2027.

Viking Ocean Cruises sails around the world, including the Caribbean.

The post Viking to Add Six More Cruise Ships appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

It isn’t just the most popular destination in the Caribbean for tourists – it’s the most popular destination for hotel investors, too.

The Dominican Republic continued its hotel boom in 2017, with 12 new resorts having opened in the 2017 calendar year, according to new data from the country’s government.

Overall, the Dominican Republic increased its hotel stock by some 8,360 rooms, bringing the country’s total hotel stock to a total of 82,000.

There are another 13,000 new rooms under construction as well, according to a statement from Dominican Republic President Danilo Medina, while another 3,600 more are under renovation.

It’s the reason why one of the Caribbean’s leading resort companies, Apple Leisure Group, is bullish on the Dominican Republic right now.

— CJ

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

St Barth’s post-Irma tourism comeback has continued with the relaunch of the boutique Villa Marie Saint Barth.

The 23-room property from French hotelier Jocelyne Sibuet officially reopened this week.

The Flamands-area hotel has also added two new villas: the two-bedroom Villa Saline and the two-bedroom Villa Colombier.

Villa Marie is a mix of bungalows and villas, some with private pools, and all with either sea or garden views.

It’s the latest property to reopen in St Barth, following other St Barth hotels including Tom Beach, Les Ilets de la Plage and Hotel Le Village, among others.

The post St Barth’s Villa Marie Is Open Again appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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