St Croix’s only all-inclsuive is making a comeback as a new kind of resort, Caribbean Journal has learned. 

The Divi Carina Bay all-inclusive resort is slated to reopen in October 2021, according to Divi Resorts. 

And when it does, it will be as an adults-only all-inclusive property, the only one of its kind in St Croix and the wider US Virgin Islands. 

The 196-room property has been “completely redesigned” after suffering damage during Hurricane Maria back in 2017. 

The property will unveil a host of new food and beverage concepts, including everything from a brick-oven pizza eatery to a pan-Asian fusion spot. 

The property will retain its on-site casino, which will have its own restaurant and bar options. 

Divi Carina Bay is set on the far eastern end of the island of St Croix. 

It’s been in a “soft opening” phase of late as construction and renovations continue toward the fall relaunch. 

It’s relaunch another boost for tourism in the US Virgin Islands, which has been performing very strongly amid the pandemic, leading to surging occupancy numbers and a number of new flights from major carriers. 

That’s been buoyed by the destination’s best-in-class travel screening portal. You can find more about how to visit the US Virgin Islands here.

For more, visit Divi Carina Bay. 

— CJ

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Marriott has opened its second Aloft hotel in the Caribbean – the new Aloft Ponce in Puerto Rico’s second city. 

The new Aloft Ponce has a total of 152 guest rooms, with amenities like 55-inch flatscreen tVs, Bliss Spa toiletries and walk-in rain showers. 

That’s along with the largest Hard Rock Cafe in the Caribbean; a signature eatery called Nook and a Mexican restaurant called Orale Orale; a bar called W XYZ, a fitness center; a Re:mix lounge and a grab-and-go option called Re:fuel by Aloft. 

That’s along with a rooftop gym, a rooftop bar and a rooftop pool (one of two pools on the property).

“After much anticipation, we are thrilled to welcome visitors to Aloft Ponce,” said Victor Vega, the hotel’s General Manager. “It is the ideal choice for travelers who are in search of a lifestyle hotel with bold design at an approachable price point.”

There’s also just over 5,000 square feet of function space. 

“The opening of the Aloft Ponce represents the resurgence of the Señorial City as a pillar in the tourist development of the region and the country. Its imposing scale and wide programmatic diversity endows the city with a new hotel that will be a symbol of the tenacity and optimistic outlook of the new southern entrepreneurs towards the future,” said Joel Rodríguez, President of JRC Consolidated.

The opening follows last year’s debut of the company’s first Caribbean Aloft, the Aloft San Juan, also in Puerto Rico. 

“The opening of the Aloft Ponce marks the beginning of a new era of growth and prosperity for the city of Ponce,”  said Abel Misla Villalba, President of Misla Hospitality Group, Operating Group. “The arrival of a new Marriott International property to Ponce repositions the city as an emerging tourist destination in the Caribbean for the next generation of travelers.”

Puerto Rico is currently open for tourism (you can find the destination’s entry guidelines here).

For more, visit Aloft Ponce. 

— CJ

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Barbados is launching a new set of travel protocols in May, Caribbean Journal has learned. 

That includes a series of changes applying to fully vaccinated travelers, set to take effect May 8. 

The country has approved the AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines for entry into Barbados.

All vaccinated travelers must take and receive a negative PCR test three days prior to traveling to Barbados. 

They also need to provide a vaccination certificate and then have a standard or rapid test done at the airport or their approved accommodation. 

While they await their test result, they must stay at their hotel, and will be required to quarantine for one to two days. 

Children under 18 who are traveling with vaccinated travelers will be allowed to adhere to the vaccinated traveler guidelines. 

As for unvaccinated travelers, Barbado requires a negative test within three days prior to travel. When they arrive, they’ll need to stain in their rooms before they receive a second test, which is taken five days after arrival. 

All unvaccinated travelers will have to quarantine for approximately five to seven days. 

Few destinations in the Caribbean have launched specific guidelines for vaccinated travelers. 

Only one destination, Belize, announced that it would waive pre-testing requirements for vaccinated travelers. 

For more, visit Barbados. 

— CJ

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Frontier Airlines is expanding again in the Caribbean, with the low-cost carrier set to launch new flights to Montego Bay, Jamaica, Caribbean Journal has learned.

In May, Frontier will launch new service from Miami to Montego Bay, Jamaica. 

“We’re excited to grow again in Miami with new nonstop flights to Montego Bay,” said Daniel Shurz, senior vice president of commercial, Frontier Airlines. “’Mobay’ is an incredibly unique destination with countless activities, extraordinary scenery and plenty of warm sunshine. This new service offers travelers unprecedented affordability and convenience to visit this top vacation spot.”

The thrice-weekly service will operate on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays, with flights set to launch on May 28. 

It’s the latest Caribbean expansion for Frontier out of Miami International Airport, where the carrier first kicked off its Caribbean flights in 2019. 

Frontier set up a 130-employee crew base in Miami at the beginning of 2020; it’s likely that the carrier will continue ramping up its Caribbean network out of the Magic City. 

“We’re excited to see Frontier adding yet another international route to their extensive network of flights at Miami International Airport,” said Lester Sola, Director and CEO of Miami International Airport. “Jamaica continues to be one of our busiest international markets, and Frontier’s new Montego Bay service will provide those travelers with even more travel options between our two popular tourism destinations.”

Jamaica is currently open for tourism; you can find more on the destination’s entry protocols for travelers here. 

For more, visit Frontier Airlines. 

— CJ

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Grenada’s travel rules require visitors to remain at their resort for five days after arrival, and while you can travel freely around the island after that if you get a negative test result, honestly we’d be OK with spending even longer getting pampered at one of these resorts in Grenada, an island that’s become one of the hottest luxury destinations in the wider Caribbean.

Located on Grande Anse Beach and other sweet strands, here are the luxury hotels in Grenada you can check into right now.

Silversands: It’s windows, windows everywhere in the rooms at this Grande Anse Beach, with a Reda Amalou & Stéphanie Ledoux design intended to let maximum Caribbean sunlight and water views into every interior space. Beach and hillside villas share a private pool, and a commitment to sustainable sourcing suffuses the Asian, Mediterranean, and other dining options at the resort. The 100-meter main swimming pool, lined by cabanas and spilling down toward the sea, is the longest in the Caribbean.

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