By Dana Niland
CJ Contributor

Sitting on just over half an acre in Lyford Cay, a 1,000-acre gated community on the western tip of New Providence, is Casa Ileana, an eight-bedroom, seven-bathroom property that’s the one of the newest listings in The Bahamas.

It’s now on the real estate market at $3.6 million, listed with MCR Bahamas’ Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate.

Inside its modern colonial architecture, the main residence provides an open floor plan with a kitchen, dining and living room, two bedrooms and two bathrooms on the ground floor.

The second floor features an additional five bedrooms and four bathrooms.

The total interior square footage of the main residence is 5,680 square feet, and an additional 1,010 square feet of balcony and patio space.

The lush outdoor area comes with a large pool and lawn, making it fit for entertaining, as well as providing a space for kids to run around.

The property also includes a 435 square foot guest cottage, which has one bedroom, one bathroom and a laundry room.

Other features of this property include solid wood doors, a mixture of hardwood floors, travertine and marble.

There is also space for parking and storage as well as a 40 KW standby generator and a 400 gallon rainwater tank with water softener system.

For more info, visit Casa Ileana.

The post Caribbean Home: A New Listing on Lyford Cay appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By Alexander Britell

The Caribbean’s hippest hotel is expanding.

Puerto Rico’s celebrated O:live Boutique Hotel, set in the heart of San Juan’s chic Condado district, is opening a brand new property next door.

It’s called O:LV Fifty Five, and O:live’s sister hotel is slated to open this summer.

Loisse Herger and Fernando Davila’s ultra-sleek, design-focused hotel will be a city-style alternative to the Mediterranean-inspired, 15-room O:live.

It will be set just steps from its sister hotel with a common address: 55 Calle Aguadillla, set right on the edge of the Condado Lagoon.

The stunning project will have a bit of everything: a rooftop pool — a higher level rooftop deck — a restaurant and cafe and a total of 26 rooms, all with terraces and sweeping views of the lagoon.

It’s a big boost for Puerto Rico’s rebounding tourism sector, but it’s also a sign that Puerto Rico has a full-fledged destination-within-a-destination on its hands: the increasingly hip Condado, an urban, luxury destination that’s unique in the Caribbean.

For more information, visit O:LV 55.

The post A Major New Luxury Hotel Is Coming to Puerto Rico appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

There’s a new way to get to the hottest island in the British Virgin Islands: Anegada.

The Anegada Express ferry is set to launch operations on Feb. 5, a new option to sail around the BVI.

Even better? It will run seven days a week.

The “Morning Express” will depart Trellis Bay, Beef Island for Anegada at 8: AM, with an Anegada-Virgin Gorda and Beef Island ferry departing at 9:15 and a Virgin Gorda-Beef Island ferry leaving at 10 AM.

The Anegada Express will also offer a complimentary shuttle from Trellis Bay to the airport for return trips.

The “Afternoon Express” will depart Trellis Bay, Beef Island for Virgin Gorda and Anegada at 4 PM with Virgin Gorda-Anegada departures at 4:45 PM and the return trip from Anegada to Trellis Bay at 5:45 PM (including a complimentary airport shuttle).

Rates are $50 round trip for adults and $40 round trip for students.

The Anegada Express can carry 35 passengers.

The post A New Way to Get to Anegada appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By Alexander Britell

It’s a raucous, rousing message to the world that Dominica is open for business.

It’s Mas Domnik, Dominica’s fascinating, festive carnival and it’s happening right now.

Mas Domnik, Dominica’s unique brand of carnival, has officially launched under the theme of “Celebrating Our Traditions.”

Carnival organizers acknowledge that this year’s event is more important than ever, in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

“Mas Domnik provides a unique opportunity for our creative community – costume builders, song writers, music producers, seamstresses, tailors and performers of varying kinds to rise to the occasion and present their craft in a unique and distinct manner,” said Robert Tonge, Dominica’s Minister of Tourism.

“Tradition means a lot to us, and we intend on celebrating it honorably and safely,” said Colin Piper, CEO of the Discover Dominica Authority and Director of Tourism.

While this year’s carnival will be scaled down from previous years for obvious reasons, will include six weeks of calypso shows, celebrations, parades and fetes for every age group.

Dominicans call it The Real Mas, considering it the “last remaining fortress of true authentic masquerade in the Caribbean.”

It will run through Carnival Monday and Tuedsay on Feb. 12 and 13, culminating with the “Taway Vaval” in Dominica’s Kalinago territory on Feb. 14.

And yes, Dominica’s tourism sector has been recovering in the wake of Maria, with its largest hotel, the Fort Young, having just reopened this week, while a number of other guest houses and smaller properties have also reopened their doors.

Because right now, the best way to help destinations like Dominica is to visit them.

For more information, visit Dominica Festivals.

The post How to Discover Dominica Right Now: Mas Domnik appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By Dana Niland
CJ Contributor

In another boost for Port St Maarten, MSC Cruises has made an early return to the destination.

The cruise line’s MSC Divina cruise ship made an early return to St. Maarten this week — even though MSC Cruises was not scheduled to return to the destination until March 28.

In a statement, Port St. Maarten said it accepted the vessel request as additional berths were available and the vessel docked alongside safely.

“One of the strengths that the destination has had is the ability to cater to impromptu calls due to issues and or concerns at competing Ports,” Port St. Maarten Management said in a statement. “Our strategic plan is geared towards having more berths available in the future as MSC Cruises in particular will be the fastest growing cruise line.”

In 2014 MSC launched an investment plan to support the second phase of growth and in April 2016, the cruise line ordered additional vessels for a total investment of nine billion Euros for up to 11-new next-generation ships which will come into service starting in 2017 to 2026 making the cruise line the third largest.

“St. Maarten is still a marquee destination and we must continue to showcase the efforts of being able to restore the country product and bring it to another and higher level than we were pre-Irma,” the Port said.

MSC Divina has a gross tonnage of 139,400 and a passenger capacity of 3,500 and a crew of 1,380.

MSC Cruises will be making 29 port calls for 2018 in St Maarten, bringing in approximately 115,000 cruise passengers.

The post MSC Cruises Makes Early Return to St Maarten appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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