We’re all dreaming of those perfect beach days, with the colors of waves and umbrellas and rum punches, of beach shacks and music and loud smiles.  

The latest Caribbean Moment takes you right to one of those days — to another time in the gorgeous Mullet Bay in St Maarten. 

Set just around the corner from St Maarten’s popular Maho neighborhood, Mullet is a lovely stretch of soft sand and one of the island’s most beautiful beaches. 

It’s a lovely little crescent with the kind of sparkling turquoise and white sand that St Maarten is famous for. 

So take a little journey to St Maarten in the latest Caribbean Moment video below. 

The post Caribbean Moment: Mullet Bay, St Maarten appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Princess Cruises is canceling its summer Caribbean cruise season amid the pandemic. 

The move is part of a wider extension of its pause of global cruise operations, which will apply through the remaining 2020 summer season. 

“As the world is still preparing to resume travel, it is with much disappointment that we announce an extension of our pause of global ship operations and the cancellation of cruise vacations for our loyal guests,” said Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises. “Among other disruptions, airlines have limited their flight availability and many popular cruise ports are closed. It saddens us to think about the impact on the livelihood of our teammates, business partners and the communities we visit.”

Those who have already paid for canceled sailings will have “the option to receive a future cruise credit equivalent to 100 percent of the cruise fare paid plus an additional bonus FCC equal to 25 percent of the cruise fare,” the company said. 

Guests can, however, also receive a full refund. 

For more, visit Princess Cruises. 

— CJ

The post Princess Cruises Cancels Summer Caribbean Season appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Southwest Airlines is making a number of major changes to its flight operations amid the new realities of travel. 

The changes range from face covering policies to a spectrum of social-distancing policies, all of which reflect the way we will all have to travel — at least in the short term.

First, Southwest has become the most recent air carrier to announce a policy requiring masks or face coverings for travelers. (Major carriers including American Airlines and JetBlue have put in similar requirements).

The new policy will go into effect May 11, according to a statement from Southwest. 

On May 3, the airline began requiring customer-facing employees to wear face masks or coverings. 

Southwest Airlines said that customers who forgot their masks would receive one on the flight. 

It’s part of a broader new hygiene policy for the low-cost carrier, from multiple cleanings of Southwest spaces in airports to available sanitizing wipes in-flight and nightly, wide-ranging cleanings of aircraft. 

The carrier said it would also “continue” using HEPA air filters to circulate air in the cabin. 

Earlier this week, Southwest said it would be “temporarily” limiting the number of passengers seated in the cabin in order to “allow customers to spread out in comfortable distances.”

“Customers may still pick their own seat, and Southwest will not be blocking seats or directing seating,” the airline said. “In our open seating environment, families or those traveling together may sit together.”

Southwest has also suspended inflight beverage and snack service, although customers can bring their own food and drink on board. 

Earlier this week, the airline began boarding in groups of 10 people at a time. 

Starting this month, the airline is also adding plexiglass shields at ticket counters and gate podiums, along with adding floor markers for social distancing — although the company encouraged customers to download mobile boarding passes. 

While much of the Caribbean remains on lockdown, these changes will likely still be in effect when tourism eventually returns to the region. 

— CJ

The post How Southwest Airlines Is Changing Its Flights appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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