If you subscribe to Caribbean Journal, you love traveling to the Caribbean. And so do your friends and family. So what do you get for your fellow Caribbean travel aficionados? We have you covered with the 2018 edition of the Caribbean Journal holiday gift guide, from must-have travel gadgets to the height of Caribbean style. Find the perfect gift for the holidays right here.

An Affordable, Foldable Drone

Drones aren’t always convenient for travel, but if you’re looking to get some great aerial footage and photos of your trip, now there’s an affordable option with a party piece: it’s foldable. It’s called the Force 1 Foldable Drone, and at $99, it’s the perfect gift. How to Buy It.

Tucket Footwear

We’ve long considered these waterproof boat shoes the best on the market, thanks to ultra quick-drying material and the kind of style that lets you wear them to an upscale island dinner, too. How to Buy It.

Tribord EasyBreath Full Face Snorkeling Mask

This relatively new mask has revolutionized snorkeling, making it easier and more enjoyable for everyone from the uninitiated to advanced snorkelers. The trick? Its unique design means you can breath normally, without having to breath through a tube. Long a CJ reader favorite. How to Buy It.

The Perfect Pocket Travel Camera

If you travel often to the Caribbean, you probably like taking photos — but lugging around a big SLR camera isn’t always practical. Enter this Sony gem, an utterly minuscule camera with world-class quality, from a 20.2 megapixel sensor to a Carl Zeiss lens. It’s something we use on all of our editorial trips. How to Buy It. 

A Great Travel Cigar Humidor

You may like to indulge on puros in some of the Caribbean’s great Cuban cigar shops, but if you want to bring some with you there’s a great solution: the Cigar Caddy 3240 10-cigar Waterproof Travel Humidor, an ultra-durable, floating box that will keep your cigars exactly how you like them. How to Buy It.

A Great Dry Bag

Whether you’re on the beach or on a sailboat, you need a place to put important stuff where it won’t get wet. We like the Såk Gear Premium Waterproof Dry Bag, which comes in a range of colors at a great price. How to Buy It.

100 Percent Caribbean Clothing

This 100 percent Caribbean clothing company based in the British Virgin Islands has a terrific mix of men’s and women’s wear, from Suntek shirts to  shirts whose proceeds go toward Hurricane relief. How to Buy It.

Prada Linea Rossa Sunglasses

We swear by them — they’re exceedingly durable, they’re lightweight and they’re, well, very good looking. If you need some new eyewear for the Caribbean, this is it. How to Buy It

A Caribbean Cup of Joe

Jamaica’s Blue Mountain Coffee is among the best in the world. But you don’t have to travel to Jamaica to get it (although you should!) While there are a host of options, we like Magnum brand (above). How to Buy It.

Nanette Lepore Swimsuits

These beautiful swimsuits will make you the belle of the beach, like this Super Fly Paisley Goddess one-piece swimsuit, above. How to Buy It.

Headphones With Bob Approval

House of Marley Headphones The Marley brand’s global expansion is showing no signs of slowing down, and the family’s House of Marley audio brand makes some very good products. If you’re looking for stylish, high-quality headphones without the Beats-level splurge, try these at just $49. How to Buy It.

Tommy Bahama Women’s Wear

While it may be famous for its linen shirts for men, Tommy Bahama has a beautiful collection of women’s wear, from bathing suits to classic cover ups. How to Buy It. 

The Original St Croix Hook

Hook bracelets are perhaps the Caribbean’s most famous jewelry, and they’re the brainchild of St Croix’s Sonya Ltd in the heart of historic Christansted. How to Buy It. 

Make a Donation to the Caribbean Tourism Recovery Fund

As the Caribbean recovers, it needs your help. It needs you to keep traveling to the Caribbean, but there are other ways to help — like giving in someone’s name to the Caribbean Tourism Recovery Fund, a partnership with TourismCares, helping to bring back the Caribbean’s most important economic driver and help put people back to work, too. Donate here.

The post The Caribbean Travel Holiday Gift Guide 2017 appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

The island of Montserrat is projecting an increase in cruise arrivals this season, officials said this week.

Montserrat’s port focuses on small and medium-sized vessels “seeking unique lcocations not typically accessible to large cruise ships,” according to the Montserrat Tourism Division.

Cruise lines like Crystal and Windstar will be calling on Montserrat this season, along with Sea Cloud’s MV Sea Cloud II, among others.

Passengers are typically sold excursions like the Cultural Centre (built from funds raised by former Beatles producer and Montserrat advocate Sir George Martin), the Montserrat Volcano Observatory and the island’s main attraction, the modern-day Pompeii, Plymouth.

“The Montserrat Tourism Division is delighted to welcome the vessels to the island for shore excursions and the opportunity to reaffirm to the cruise industry that Montserrat is still open for business,” the division said in a statement.

The post Montserrat Eyes Cruise Increase appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

It’s something too many travelers take for granted.

But for many disabled travelers in the Caribbean, getting to the beach is seldom easy.

But now one of the Caribbean’s greatest beaches is now accessible, thanks to the efforts of one pioneering hotel.

The Valentines Resort and Marina on Harbour Island in the Bahamas has installed a new wooden ramp to get to Pink Sand Beach, a world-class beach that’s typically accessible only via uneven dirt paths.

“Guests with disabilities and mobility difficulty have been thankful that we have recently made this accommodation giving them the beach access so they can experience one of the top beaches in the world,” the hotel said in a statement.

Valentine’s also has a private beach club for guests on the beach, but the ramp means the beach is now open for any traveler looking for an easier way to get to this spectacular stretch of sand.

The design of the ramp system also ensured the most eco friendly design and construction possible, according to a statement.

“While some prefer the old natural approach to the beach, many now have easier access to the beach that limited or preventing them from enjoying it,” Valentine’s said.

Here’s hoping it’s a trend that continues.

The post How One Hotel Made One of the Caribbean’s Greatest Beaches Accessible appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Anguilla’s Frangipani Beach Resort is reopening next month in the wake of Hurricane Irma.

The resort will welcome back guests with existing reservations beginning Dec. 21, and will start taking new reservations beginning in January.

“With the upcoming Festive Season, we wanted to provide our loyal guests with the opportunity to return to Anguilla to celebrate and create special memories with their families,” said Shannon Kircher, Director of Marketing & Communications at the resort.  “For many it’s part of an annual tradition and it’s important for us to keep that alive. We also believe that it’s vital for our staff and for the community to keep visitors coming back to our paradise.”

It’s a boost for an island hit hard by Hurricane Irma and whose hotel stock was significantly damaged in the storm.

Most properties on the island will not be opening until next year.

Frangipani is itself undergoing property improvements including all new roofing to the hotel, new windows and doors designed to increase ocean views, new furniture in rooms where damage was sustained, select new electronics, new awnings at the resort and Straw Hat Restaurant, fresh exterior and interior painting, and refinishing of pools, according to a statement from the property.

The post Anguilla’s Frangipani to Reopen in December appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Carnival is making a push to expand its shopping experience, with a host of new retail outlets across its cruise ship fleet.

The push is the result of “months of intensive research and data gathering” to match the preferences of Carnival guests, according to William Butler, Carnival’s vice president of retail.

“We’re committed to enhancing every aspect of our operations – which includes, of course, onboard shopping – and our expanded and enhanced retail offerings provide guests with an opportunity to enjoy some ‘retail therapy’ and take home a unique and memorable keepsake from their Carnival vacation,” he said.

New offerings include Effy, on 12 ships; Swarovski on 25 ships; TAG on 24 ships; Invicta on 25 ships; Victoria’s Secret on 22 ships and Los Cincos Soles on four ships.

The Cherry on Top sweets shop is also now on 20 ships.

Over the past year, Carnival has completely renovated the shopping outlets on Carnival Sensation, Carnival Elation, Carnival Conquest and Carnival Valor with Carnival Victory, Carnival Fascination, Carnival Legend and Carnival Paradise scheduled for retail refurbishments in the coming year.

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