The world’s newest superyacht concept is something rather special.

Oceanco has released the designs for its new “Amara” 394-foot private yacht, and it’s basically a floating resort.

The design was released at the Dubai International Boat Show.

“In designing the exterior lines of Amara, I wanted to portray a very strong and muscular form that was progressive in design but with a timeless appeal,” says designer Sam Sorgiovanni. “Its long bow accentuates the vessel’s generous proportions.”

The yacht has living and entertainment facilities for up to 20 guests, with an interior with natural timber, stone and textural carpets and fabrics.

The yacht’s lower level deck opens to reveal an “expansive” beach club resort, offering access to the sea; port starboard and aft.

The yacht even has a “wellness” area with its own banya, hammam, beauty treatment lounge and even a 16-person cinema.

The upper deck boasts a waterfall that cascades down into the main deck’s swimming pool; it’s also home to an owner’s apartment with a private plunge pool and open-air aft deck dining for more than 20 people.

The post The New Oceanco Amara Superyacht Is a Floating Resort appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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“This is the way Caribbean hotels used to be,” I think to myself.

And when you’ve been to as many Caribbean hotels as I have, it’s not something you often think.

There are just 12 units here, seven stone-walled cottages and five villas, all of them just a step off the beach, all of them with outdoor “garden” showers and ocean views.

There are three meals every day, all included with the stay, served buffet style, with the evening soundtrack a local crooner and a Cat Island breeze.

There are no bartenders; just an honor bar, stocked with spirits (and rum punches) and open 24-7.

The aforementioned features make it, for all intents and purposes, an all-inclusive resort. But not like any you’ve ever been to.

It all means that, despite being in a place as exotic as you’ll find in the region, you’ll never feel wanting.

The cottage called Shane’s Shack.

It all means that this is one of the Caribbean’s great places to escape.

This is the classic little beach resort — toes in the sand, rum punch, the joy of seclusion — all the Caribbean cliches, except here they’re actually true.

As I take a drink from the honor bar, walk the three steps to the sand and look out at the water, I think back to another time.

This is the way Caribbean hotels used to be. And the way one still is.

— Alexander Britell

To book a stay at Fernandez Bay Village, click here.

The post VIDEO: Fernandez Bay Village: The Classic Boutique Beach Resort appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Mexico’s Caribbean coast has a very cool new eco-resort.

It’s called the KanXuk Blue Maya Resort, and it’s set inside of the UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Riviera Maya.

The boutique hotel is set in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere just south of Tulum, and has four main oceanfront villa rooms, one jungle view rooms, three oceanfront bungalows and one “premium” bungalow tih a private garden.

That’s along with an on-site spa, cigar bar and custom premium dining program.

The eco-friendly hotel’s primary sources of energy are wind and solar, while much of the furnishings are produced with sustainable tropical wood.

To book a stay at KanXuk Blue Maya Resort click here.

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Guadeloupe-based airline Air Caraibes is adding a major new Airbus A350 XWB aircraft to its fleet.

The airline is based in Guadeloupe and operates both around the Caribbean and between the Caribbean and France.

It is the first French airline to take delivery of the A350.

The new plane is the latest aircraft from Airbus, with features like 40 percent larger windows than the Airbus A330 and a lighter construction composition that will make the transatlantic trip in about 20 minutes less than average, the company said.

The plane will be making its first trip on Thursday.

— Caribbean Journal Staff

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A major new resort project has broken ground in Antigua and Barbuda: Callaloo Cay.

The luxury development is the brainchild of Al Caribi Antigua Development Limited — a joint venture between Sheik Tariq Bin Faisal Al Qassimi of Dubai and the government of Antigua and Barbuda.

Tariq is behind a number of high-profile properties in Dubai, highlighted by the Palazzo Versace Dubai five-star hotel. He is the chairman of Emirates Investment Group.

Callaloo Cay will be a five-star property with between 95 and 100 rooms along with 40 villas, a spa, a beach club and waterside dining concepts on a 32-acre site.

The project will include the development of a five-acre national park for local residents and guests.

Calalloo Cay will be set on the southwestern portion of Antigua dubbed Antigua’s “green corridor,” an initiative aimed at improving local sustainability.

The development team includes architectural firm OBMI and financial advisory company KPMG.

Al Qassimi is behind the high-profile Palazzo Versace in Dubai.

The $200 million project is targeting a late 2020 completion date, with “hundreds” of jobs created upon completion.

“Callaloo Cay will lead to increasing the room availability, and broadening our twin-island nations portfolio of distinguished properties,” said Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Minister Asot Michael. “Increasing the room availability – in a sustainable manner and representing a quality that matches the standard of Antigua and Barbuda – is of utmost distinction and importance.”

It will not be a large-scale project, with max building heights “no higher than a palm tree,” according to Michael.

The project is part of Antigua and Barbuda’s Citizenship by Investment program.

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