Celebrity Cruises Launches Construction on New Ship

 

By Dana Niland
CJ Contributor

Celebrity Cruises has launched construction on its newest ship, Celebrity Apex, a the Chatiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France.

The second ship in Celebrity’s Edge series, Celebrity Apex comes in the wake of the line’s first ship, Celebrity Edge.

“Welcoming Celebrity Apex into our family with the leadership team was a very special moment, especially when we all signed the ship silhouette cut from the first piece of steel,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO of Celebrity Cruises.

“We are so grateful for our partnership with Chantiers de l’Atlantique and are thrilled to work on another very special ship together,” Lutoff-Perlo said. “The success and momentum for Celebrity Edge has been incredible, and with Celebrity Apex we will yet again show how we are taking our brand to the next level. We are offering our guests the best way to experience the world in modern luxury style.”

Celebrity Apex is expected to make her debut in spring 2020, with the third and fourth Edge series ships arriving in Fall 2021 and Fall 2022, respectively.

“We are proud to celebrate the launch of another incredible Edge Class ship with Celebrity Cruises,” said Laurent Castaing, General Manager of Chatiers de l’Antlantique. “The brand is known for many industry firsts so it’s fitting that Celebrity Apex is the first to participate in a steel cutting ceremony under our new name Chantiers de l’Atlantique, another milestone of the great partnership we have built together.”

 

The post Celebrity Cruises Launches Construction on New Ship appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Puerto Rico Beats Dominican Republic 4-1 at Central American Games

Puerto Rico Beats Dominican Republic 4-1 at Central American Games
BARRANQUILLA, Colombia – Puerto Rico … in the Games.
On Sunday, Puerto Rico had beaten Cuba 8-1, breaking …

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From St Martin to Aruba, the Caribbean’s Hippest Beaches

 

They’re party beaches. They’re cool beaches. They’re sexy beaches. 

Some beaches just have that certain extra level of hip, whether it’s the nightlife, the food, the lounging or the crowd. It all adds up to make a stretch of sand an “in” destination.

The Caribbean’s hippest beaches have the energy, the people and the positioning, and they’re scattered across the region, from the Bahamas to the southern Caribbean, from St Martin to Aruba.

Here are our picks for the hippest beaches right now in the Caribbean.

Le Carbet

Le Carbet, Martinique Home to the island’s destination beach bar, this village near Saint Pierre has become the hippest place on the island, with a growing portfolio of beach shacks and gourmet beach bars, and an anything-goes, toes in the sand vibe that makes it oh so hard to leave. It’s the new destination beach in the Caribbean.

Nikki Beach in St Jean.

St Jean, St Barth It doesn’t get any hipper than St Barth, and St Jean remains the crown jewel of the island’s beaches, the place to see and be seen, the place for rose afternoons and never-ending lunches, whether you’re at Pearl Beach or Nikki Beach. 

The Papagayo hotel in Curacao on Jan Thiel Beach.

Jan Thiel Beach, Curaçao This beautiful stretch on the southern shore of Curacao is an energetic hive of activity, with a host of tucked-away corners, all offering different kinds of beach experiences, from the pool-like atmosphere at Papagayo to a thriving beach bar scene. 

Harbour Island is best known for its spectacular Pink Sand Beach.

Pink Sand Beach, Harbour Island The Bahamas’ capital of cool, this tiny, chic hotspot off the coast of North Eleuthera has a party piece: the spectacular Pink Sand Beach, dotted with ultra-luxe hotels and a crowd that’s so chic it’s practically the Hamptons of the Caribbean. 

Pinel Island.

Pinel Island, St Martin It’s Ibiza meets the French Caribbean at this relaunched beach destination off the coast of Cul-de-Sac on the French side of St Martin. There are two beach bars on this tiny cay, Yellow Beach and the wonderful Karibuni, all offering fresh seafood, perfect cocktails and all-day beach lounging. 

Cabarete, Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic’s capital of cool is a bustling, active destination, made cool by the waves of kitesurfers who have long come here for the perfect conditions. There are beach bars, great nightlife and a truly cosmopolitan crowd. 

Surfing in Bathsheba.

Bathsheba, Barbados whether you want to surf or just eat spectacular flying fish with a Banks, Bathsheba is the island’s capital of authentic, laid back cool, with a warm, friendly community of people who appreciate the mystical beauty of this place. 

Mambo Beach, Curaçao It’s a real feat, this beach, with everything from its own pool to a Starbucks. What it all means is this beach is a full-service destination, an always-hopping, always-energetic place that’s the perfect way to spend a day in Curacao. 

Boca Grandi, Aruba Far off the island’s beaten path, this wide, exclusive, magnificently beautiful beach is popular with the surfing crowd, with one terrific beach bar, Tortuga, and the kind of undiscovered vibe that makes a place effortlessly cool.

Isla Verde Beach, Puerto Rico Puerto Rico’s tourism sector has made an admirable comeback – and when it comes to great beaches in San Juan, Isla Verde remains the king. It’s a Rio-meets-the-Caribbean ambience, with a vibrant community of beach goers and a resort feel no matter where you’re sitting. 

The post From St Martin to Aruba, the Caribbean’s Hippest Beaches appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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This Turks and Caicos Hotel Is Offering a Hurricane Guarantee

 

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The Caribbean is a terrific summer destination — but if a storm does hit the region, travelers like to be prepared.

That’s why one Turks and Caicos hotel is offering an extra level of protection, with a 100 percent “hurricane guarantee.”

Turks and Caicos’ The Sands at Grace Bay has launched what is called a “no-hassle, 100 percent refund policy.”

If the threat of a hurricane prevents you from traveling to Providenciales or otherwise interferes with your vacation, The Sands will give you a 100 percent refund of any unused portion of the stay, “no questions asked,” according to a spokesperson for the property.

That includes if Turks and Caicos is under a hurricane watch or warning, and inside the 72-hour zone of uncertainty, guests can cancel their upcoming stay and get a full refund.

It covers only hurricanes, however, not tropical storms, according to the property.

Despite the risk of hurricanes during the summer season, only a few properties have actually begun offering a true hurricane guarantee.

Earlier this year, the Cayman Islands announced such a guarantee destination-wide.

– CJ

The post This Turks and Caicos Hotel Is Offering a Hurricane Guarantee appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Assured Guaranty Files Lawsuit Challenging Constitutionality of Board Appointments to Puerto Rico’s Financial Oversight and Management Board

… Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico (Oversight
Board). The lawsuit contends … to the health of the Puerto Rico economy.
Puerto Rico’s long-term economic sustainability … of Puerto Rico.
Assured Guaranty remains committed to work constructively with the
Puerto Rico

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