Even on Palm Beach, a morning can’t begin without a proper cup of coffee. It’s simply part of the routine, even when you’re on holiday.

And making great coffee is precisely the plan at the new Ritual Coffee Culture, a sleek new cafe at the Ritz-Carlton, Aruba.

The coffee house, with a Brooklyn-meets-the-Caribbean wood and stone decor, has a range of classic coffee drinks from espresso to macchiato along with favorites like cold brew, nitro coffee, cold drip and even a selection of frozen coffees.

That’s joined by options like pastries, fruit and sandwiches for the traveler on the go.

Even better? Ritual Coffee Culture also has its own gelateria, with a perfectly manicured selection of classic gelato flavors, from pistachio to stracciatella.

Whether you’re staying at the Ritz-Carlton or simply passing through, there’s no better place to start the day.

– CJ

The post Ritual Coffee Culture, Aruba’s Newest Cafe appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

Norwegian Cruise Line’s new Norwegian Bliss ship will have a Margaritaville at Sea.

The company announced the offering as part of a host of new amenities on the ship, which will include everything from a two-level race track to a hibachi steakhouse.

But that will include the floating Margaritaville, a concept that first debuted on Norwegian Escape before opening aboard Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Breakaway in 2016.

And yes, the open-air eatery will serve the famous Cheeseburger in Paradise.

– CJ Staff

The post Norwegian’s New Ship Will Have a Margaritaville at Sea appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

By Alexander Britell

From Jamaica’s Half Moon to a grotto in the Exumas, globetrotting spy James Bond always seems to find himself in the Caribbean, the perfect jet-set location for the globetrotting 007.

But it’s also because the Caribbean is where the idea for Bond was born.

Ian Fleming, the legendary author behind the Bond series, built his dream home, Goldeneye, in Oracabessa, not far from Ocho Rios, in Jamaica.

Ian Fleming at his corner desk at Goldeneye, Jamaica

Indeed, it was at this bucolic estate that he first had the idea for Bond and wrote all 14 of his novels at the same desk at Goldeneye.

In 1976, another British legend, Island Records founder Chris Blackwell, purchased the property from the Fleming estate, turning it from Fleming’s original villa into the luxury resort it is today.

But in recent years, the 52-acre Goldeneye has become something more: a place you can actually buy a home.

It began with 21 villas on offer, scattered across the lush grounds, a number that has unsurprisingly dwindled to three.

The surge in demand is not a surprise to Coldwell Banker Jamaica Realty’s Sandy Tatham, who is marketing the new Goldeneye properties.

The original Fleming Villa.

“I think it’s the interest in this end of the island — we’re within 7 minutes of an international airport, and I think it’s the variety of terrain Goldeneye offers — it’s got cliffs, it’s got white sand beach, it’s got lagoon, it’s got tropical rainforest,” she tells Caribbean Journal. “And then there’s the whole historical side of Ian Fleming, and all driven by a visionary like Chris Blackwell, who has brought his own unique flavor to bear on it.”

But now a new wave of development is happening at Goldeneye, with a total of 10 new “lagoon cottages,” set to build out in 2018, with a starting price of $2.5 million.

More importantly, that will be joined by the “East of Fleming” villas, which will be a collection of four large villas built on the original Fleming property, where Fleming built his original villa — villas that will be built in the style of the original Fleming house.

“They’re a little more exclusive, a little more private,” Tatham says.

The East of Fleming villas will be priced in the $5 million range.

It’s a chance to live on the original Fleming property, to live as Fleming did in one of the most beautiful places in Jamaica.

And who knows? You may dream up the next great spy novel. Or at least enjoy some martinis on the lagoon (shaken, of course).

The post How to Move to Goldeneye appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Riu Hotels and Resorts is planning to reopen the Riu Palace Paradise Island on Oct. 28, led by a significant change: the resort will become an adults-only property.

The 350-room all-inclusive in the Bahamas has been “completely renovated,” with a wide array of changes both to the rooms and common areas and the addition of a slate of new culinary options, too.

That includes in-room changes like new walk-in showers and new flooring, along with free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. Riu has also announced the planned addition of a new “jerk” grill station, a new 24-hour lounge; a patisserie and ice cream parlor called “Capuchino” and an Indian restaurant called “Chutney.”

A new patio area.

The company has also added a new gym, a new theater and a new pool with a swim-up bar called “Soca.”

The “Japones” restaurant.

The revamped lobby has also added a “360-degree” front desk, with guests receiving a glass of champagne upon arrival.

That’s all in addition to the existing offerings at the hotel, which include two other swimming pools, a Renova Spa and a private stretch of beach on the island’s famous Cabbage Beach, one of our favorite stretches of sand in the Caribbean.

– CJ Staff

The post Riu Palace Paradise Island Is Going Adults-Only appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico

By the Caribbean Journal staff

After a mostly sluggish first half, the Caribbean’s hotel sector is starting to show signs of strengthening, according to the latest data from hotel analytics firm STR.

Caribbean hotels reported a 71.8 percent occupancy rate in July, a 1.4 percent increase over July 2016 that was the region’s third straight month of year-over-year occupancy increases.

Average daily rates rose by 2.2 percent to $189.48 last month, while revenue per available room rose by 3.6 percent to $136 in the same period.

For the year, Caribbean hotel occupancy is now up by 0.4 percent to 70.9 percent, while average daily rates are up 0.6 percent to $216.92 and RevPar is up by 3.6 percent to $136.

STR’s hotel data surveyed 1,942 hotels comprising 245,548 rooms in the wider Caribbean market.

The post Caribbean Hotel Occupancy Beginning to Climb appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

Powered by WPeMatico