By the Caribbean Journal staff

The latest Caribbean Photo comes from Caribbean Journal subscriber Mark Douglas, who sent in this very pretty shot of sunset at the Royal Suites Turquesa in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

Have you taken a great photo in the Caribbean?

Send it to news@caribjournal.com with CPOTW in the subject line, including your first and last name and the location of the photo.

It could be the next one!

— CJ

The post Caribbean Photo of the Week: Sunset in Punta Cana appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

The island of Bermuda is seeing a boom in tourism spending so far in 2017, according to the latest data from the Bermuda Tourism Authority.

Bermuda, buoyed by its hosting of the America’s Cup sailing race earlier this year, is reporting $222.3 million in spending by stayover tourist arrivals through the first nine months of the year, a 22 percent increase over the same period in 2016.

That represents an additional $40.7 million for the local economy compared to last year.

Indeed, it’s already more than leisure tourists spent in Bermuda all of last year.

Room rates have also seen a 10 percent jump, while revenue per available room is up 19.5 percent. Occupancy has also seen a nine percent increase.

“In the first nine months of the year, leisure air visitor spending has already surpassed the entire year of 2016,” said Bermuda Tourism Authority Chief Executive Kevin Dallas. “Undoubtedly the America’s Cup helped drive spending figures higher this year, and now we see from the latest data: visitor spending has remained strong post-America’s Cup.”

And that’s borne out in the numbers.

Stayover arrivals increased by 8.9 percent and 10.5 percent in July and August, respectively, long after America’s Cup concluded.

The island did struggle in September, largely the result of the storms in the Caribbean that colored the perception of many travelers and did cause the cancellation of a number of flights to Bermuda, too.

The post Bermuda Seeing Boom in Tourism Spending appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Carnival Cruise Line is looking to expand its cruise offerings from its Gulf Coast cruising hub in Galveston, Texas, according to the company.

Carnival will be launching new four and five-day cruises to Mexico year-round from Galveston beginning in May 2019.

Carnival Dream will become the newest and largest Carnival ship to operate a short cruise program.

The shorter cruises, part of an industry-wide trend, will depart Thursdays and visit Cozumel on four-day trips and depart Mondays and Saturdays visiting Cozumel and either Progreso or Costa Maya on five-day cruises.

“Galveston is one of our fastest-growing and most popular homeports and we’re delighted to expand capacity on our short cruise program with Carnival Dream,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “Not only is Carnival Dream our largest ship to operate short cruises it also offers guests some truly spectacular onboard features and facilities following her extensive multi-million-dollar makeover.”

The 3,646-passenger Carnival Dream will launch its year-round schedule from Galveston beginning May 23,2019.

That will represent a 22 percent increase in capacity on that program.

Carnival Dream recently underwent what the company called an “extensive” makeover that added a host of new food and beverage options, including a new eatery from Guy Fieri.

Carnival Dream, along with Carnival Freedom and Carnival Vista, will carry 650,000 passengers each year from Galveston, the most of any cruise line.

The post Carnival Expanding Cruise Options from Galveston appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

One of the British Virgin Islands’ most beloved boutique hotels is reopening its doors in the wake of Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

The Sugar Mill Hotel has announced it will be reopening on Dec. 1 with a limited number of rooms available.

The property is also reopening its famous restaurant on Nov. 21 for dinner.

On Nov. 23, the Sugar Mill will be hosting a Grand Thanksgiving Dinner at the restaurant, with some of the proceeds going towards helping rebuild Tortola’s Carrot Bay community.

“We hope to see you all very soon in the sun at The Sugar Mill Hotel,” the property said in a statement.

The post Tortola’s Sugar Mill Hotel Reopening Dec. 1. appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

The United Kingdom’s Prince Charles is visiting the Caribbean this weekend.

Prince Charles is making his first official visits to Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands and Dominica, in the wake of last month’s storms.

Charles began his visit in Antigua on Friday, followed by a visit Saturday to the British Virgin Islands and a trip to Dominica on Sunday.

Part of Prince Charles’ visit includes meetings with survivors, along with organizations and charities which have helped in the relief efforts, including the British Red Cross, according to a statement from Clarence House.

Prince Charles was set to visit Antigua to “hear more about the community helped to support those evacuated from Barbuda in many ways, including donating clothes and food,” Clarence House said.

Prince Charles’ visit this weekend comes after one of his sons, Prince Harry, visited the Caribbean last year in a trip that included a stop in Antigua and a number of other islands.

Prince Charles is being joined by International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt, who was appointed to that role last week.

Charles’ mother, Queen Elizabeth II, remains the head of state for both Antigua and Barbuda and the British Virgin Islands.

While Dominica is a member of the Commonwealth, its president is its head of state, a decision made at the country’s independence in 1978.

The post Prince Charles’ Caribbean Visit appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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