By the Caribbean Journal staff

Trinidad-based Caribbean Airlines has launched its first-ever flights to Cuba.

The airline’s brand new service to Cuba launched on Saturday with the inaugural nonstop flight from Port of Spain.

The flight was received with the traditional water salute at Havana’s Jose Marti International Airport.

“We’re proud to have operated our very first flight to Cuba and look forward to welcoming more of you on board soon,” the company said in a statement posted on Facebook.

The flights operate on Saturdays and Tuesdays, departing Port of Spain at 8:30 AM and arriving in Havana around 12:25 PM with return flights arriving in Port of Spain around 5:20 PM.

The post Caribbean Airlines Launches Cuba Flights appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

The first-ever Caribbean Rum Awards was held in Saint Lucia this weekend, and the winners have been selected.

The awards, curated by Caribbean Journal and a team of nine judges, covered six categories, including white rum, white rhum agricole, best rum, best rhum agricole, spiced rum and gold rum, all judged in a blind tasting held at The Landings resort.

So who won?

Guyana’s El Dorado 12 took home the crown as the Best Rum, while Martinique’s Rhum JM VO took home the top honors for Best Rhum Agricole.

Barbados’ Doorly’s Macaw won best white rum, while Florida’s Siesta Key won for best spiced rum and St. Lucia’s own Bounty Premium Gold won the award for best gold rum.

“It was an incredibly competitive field of 32 rums for this first annual Caribbean Rum Awards,” said Alexander Britell, editor and publisher of Caribbean Journal. “The rums were a remarkably diverse portfolio, and just about every category was neck and neck. We can’t wait for next year’s field.”

The Caribbean Rum Awards were produced in partnership with the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority as part of the Saint Lucia Food and Rum Festival headlined by world-renowned chef Marcus Samuelsson.

Special thanks to the international judges, who included St Barth’s Christopher Davis, the Bahamas’ Toby Tyler, the United States’ Steven Shaw and Martinique’s Guy Ferdinand.

See the full lists of winners and medalists below:

White Rum

Best White Rum: Doorly’s Macaw (Barbados)

Double Gold: Bounty Premium White Rum (Saint Lucia)

Gold: Brugal Special Extra Dry (Dominican Republic)

Best Rum 

Best Rum: El Dorado 12 (Guyana)

Double Gold: 1931 by St Lucia Distillers (Saint Lucia)

Gold: Chairman’s Reserve The Forgotten Casks (Saint Lucia)

Best White Rhum Agricole

Best: Rhum Neisson Bio 52.5 (Martinique)

Double Gold: Rhum Dillon Ti’ Fle’ Ble’ (Martinique)

Gold: Rhum Clement Canne Bleue (Martinique)

Best Rhum Agricole

Best: Rhum JM VO

Double Gold: Rhum Depaz XO

Gold: Rhum Clement 10 Ans

Best Spiced Rum

Best: Siesta Key Spiced Rum (Florida)

Double Gold: Chairman’s Reserve Spiced Rum (Saint Lucia)

Gold: Clifton Estate Rum (Nevis)

Best Gold Rum

Best: Bounty Premium Gold (Saint Lucia)

Double Gold: Island Company Rum (Trinidad)

Gold: Siesta Key Gold (Florida)

The post The First-Ever Caribbean Rum Awards appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Heading to the Dominican Republic’s tourism paradise of Punta Cana?

There’s a new way to add a cultural adventure to your beach getaway.

Dominican Republic transportation firm Metro ST has added a new coach bus route between Cap Cana and Santo Domingo, giving travelers the option of expanding their trip to one of the Caribbean’s emerging urban destinations.

The Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo.

Metro ST, or Metro Servicios Turisticos, also offers connections to Santiago, Puerto Plata, Sosua and Casa de Campo, meaning a wide network of potential additions.

For more information, visit Metro ST.

The post A New Way to Get to Santo Domingo appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Move over, happy hour.

Aruba’s Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort has launched the Caribbean’s first-ever Healthy Hour.

The hour lets guests “toast to their health” each day from 3 to 4 PM with half-priced nutrient-rich smoothies and handcrafted “mocktails.”

Guests also received a “wholesome” snack at the open-air SandBar and a schedule of complimentary healthy activities and classes.

Daily offerings rotate with yoga and meditation, Tai Chi on the beach, sunrise beach walks, nutritional counseling, group personal training sessions and chef-led cooking demonstrations of healthy dishes.

“We want to support and inspire our guests, give them knowledge and practical experience so they can live their lives to the fullest while here and long after returning home,” said Ewald Biemans, owner and CEO of Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort. “We are on a mission of continually expanding our healthy lifestyle offerings to provide our guests with the most fulfilling vacation experience possible.”

The post The Caribbean’s First Healthy Hour appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By Dana Niland
CJ Contributor

Four months after Hurricane Irma, St. Maarten is “steadily recovering” and showing visible signs of progress, officials said.

This past month marked the reopening of St. Maarten’s cruise ports, as Viking Cruises’ Viking Sea ship and Marella Cruises’ Marella Discovery sailed into port on December 4 and 5, 2017 respectively.

American Airlines and Delta Air Lines operate daily flights to St. Maarten through Miami and Atlanta, respectively, while JetBlue is operating twice-weekly flights from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

St. Maarten’s boutique hotels and guest houses are also open for business, officials told Caribbean Journal.

Options currently accepting guests include Baker’s Suites, Horizon Beach Hotel, Carl’s Unique Inn, The Paradise Inn, Travel Inn Hotel, Princess Heights, Holland House Beach Hotel, Sea Palace Resort, Atrium Resort & Spa and several others.

Oyster Bay plans to reopen in April and Sonesta Ocean Point in the fourth quarter.

Many food, beverage and entertainment options are open in Simpson Bay, including Topper’s, Pizza & Co., Little Jerusalem, Bombay Bites, Lee’s Roadside Grill, Avantika, Marty’s, Rhythm & Booze, Pizza del Sol, Jungle Steakhouse, Sale & Pepe.

For fine dining, Rockland Estate is welcoming guests for island-inspired fare by acclaimed St. Maarten Chef, Dino Jagtiani.

Just one month after Irma, 80 percent of land-based activities and 64 percent of sea-based activities were back in action, and that number has steadily increased.

Ninety-percent of the shops on Front Street in Philipsburg are open, as well as Rainforest Adventures and Aqua Mania Adventures.

The post St Maarten Tourism Is “Steadily Recovering” appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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