Where’s the coolest bar in the Caribbean?

By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon
CJ Travel Editor

This is definitely the coolest bar in the Caribbean.

In fact, a more accurate description would be frigid. How better to characterize the “weather” inside Norwegian Getaway’s Svedka Vodka and Inniskillin Ice Wine Ice Bar, where the temperature is a bone-chilling 15 degrees Fahrenheit?

It strikes me as ironic that each evening so many of Getaway’s passengers, who’ve boarded in search of sunny Caribbean climes, flock to this wintery watering hole, donning hooded ponchos and gloves and paying a $19.95-per-person premium to experience a temperature worse than the one they’ve fled from at home.

But they do.

It’s gotta be the drinks, I think. The cover charge includes two beverages from the Ice Bar’s list of specialty cocktails (all made with liquor from the namesake sponsors) and served in tumblers containing smoking chunks of dry ice. I’ve been told that they’re concocted with higher amounts of alcohol and stronger flavor profiles than typical cocktails because when it’s this cold, our taste buds just don’t function the way they usually do.

Still, as many as 25 cruisers at a time pack the tiny bar that’s smaller than the cold room at your local Costco, savoring (or, in my case, braving) this unique Miami-themed experience, where ice wall murals depict South Beach street scenes and salsa music blares from the sound system.

Some patrons belly up to the bar (also made of ice) and chat while the bartender, clad in a fur hat, makes their Sitting On The Dock of the Biscayne Bay (Svedka citron vodka, Inniskillin ice wine, lemon-line soda). Others amuse themselves snapping selfies while seated on an ice “throne.” And some, like me, try to stop their teeth from chattering and body from shivering long enough to finish their first cocktail.

Noticing my discomfort, the bartender chuckles and tells me that the record for the longest visit to the bar is 45 minutes. “They were Canadians,” he says. “They even took off their shirts. It was like summer in here to them.”

I look down at my watch and see that I’ve lasted a mere six minutes. Can I make it to 10? I think not. I knock back my drink and make a beeline for the heavy metal door that separates me from the balmy breezes that await on deck.

Because although this is the coolest bar in the Caribbean, some of us like it hot.

The post Ice Bar: The Coolest Bar in the Caribbean Is on a Cruise Ship appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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It’s one of the most fascinating places in the Caribbean, and now Martinique is even easier to explore, from the rum to the rainforest.

Caribbean Open Tour has launched a new open-top bus sightseeing tour on the stunning northern coast of Martinique.

The tour includes free Wi-Fi, multilingual audio commentary and a different itinerary every day, from exploring the Emerald Estate in Morne Rouge to a tour for rum lovers exploring the Depaz and Neisson distilleries near St Pierre.

For more information, visit caribbeanopentour.com.

— CJ

The post There’s a New Way to Tour Martinique appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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After surging for much of the last year (and into this one), JetBlue traffic slowed in February, according to the company’s latest data report.

The carrier reported 3.456 billion revenue passenger miles in February, up just 0.1 percent from February 2016.

Available seat miles rose by 0.7 percent to 4.182 billion, while load factor decreased by 0.5 percentage points to 82.6 percent last month.

JetBlue has been on a rapid expansion push in the Caribbean, adding new routes across the region from Aruba to Grenada.

– Caribbean Journal Staff

The post JetBlue Traffic Growth Slows appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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The Carenage waterfront boulevard in St George’s, Grenada is one of the Caribbean’s most beautiful urban settings.

And now it’s even better.

The Grenada Tourism Authority has spearheaded a local art project on the Carenage featuring a major new wall mosaic mural at the entrance to the boulevard.

The work of art is by a young, local Grenadian artist, Akym Pierre, who captured the life of the Carenage in four distinct scenes: Scene One depicts the Georgian brick facade of the buildings; Scene Two, an image of a lady vending with a fruit basket on her head; Scene Three, a classic scene of the Carenage from the fort to the hills with the boats in the bay; and Scene Four is the artist’s impression of the future– showing the growth of the Carenage with the branches and leaves in the colors of Grenada.

The project was facilitated by the Product Development Committee of the GTA, chaired by Director Candice Lalsingh and implemented by Kirl Grant-Hoschtialek, Product Development Manager.

Several private partners also contributed to the project, including: Jonas Browne & Hubbards, Acers Sanitary Ware, Green Spaces, LL Ramdhanny & Erlon’s Wrought Iron Workshop.

“We are delighted to showcase the talent of this young man as well as uplift the Carenage with this work of art,” said Grenada Tourism Authority CEO Patricia Maher. “We have received a lot of positive feedback from the general public since it was installed last week.”

“It is certainly a gem and we hope to cherish and preserve it with the community’s help,” Lalsingh said.

— Dana Niland, CJ Contributor

The post Grenada’s New Urban Art Project appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Lounging by the pool at any Caribbean resort is a good thing, but at San Juan, Puerto Rico’s Condado Plaza Hilton, the essential experience is getting even better.

That’s because the Avenida Ashford hotel has just launched a pair of packages designed to elevate poolside relaxation from “pretty good” to “almost perfect.”

The new VIP half-day pool package includes use of lounge chairs, a side table and umbrella; a hammock for afternoon snoozes; and chilled water delivered to your chaise by a personal attendant.

Guests can also take advantage of a 10-percent discount on hour-long massages in the pool cabana, and on one-hour watersports rentals at Iguana Water Sports.

Choose the full-day VIP experience and you’ll reap all the benefits of the half-day package, as well as a fruit platter, bottle of red or white wine, and a 20 percent discount on a one-hour poolside cabana massage.

The pool packages cost $100 for a half-day and $200 for a full day.

To book a stay at the Condado Plaza Hilton click here.

The post How to Have a Pool Day in Condado appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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