By the Caribbean Journal staff

Puerto Rico’s airlift boom is continuing with Delta Air Lines’ planned launch of a new route from Detroit to San Juan.

The nonstop route will operate weekly on Saturdays between Detroit Metropolitan Airport and San Juan’s Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, with service set to begin Dec. 21.

The new route is part of a wider push out of Detroit this coming winter season, with Delta planning to operate routes to a total of 20 international destinations out of the city.

The new OLV Fifty Five in San Juan’s hip Condado district.

The new Puerto Rico route will be operated on a Boeing 737-800 aircraft with capacity for 160 passengers, including 16 seats in first class, 36 in Comfort+ and 108 in the main cabin.

“Delta is committed to contributing to the economy of Puerto Rico by better connecting both leisure and business travelers with San Juan throughout the year,” said Agustin Durand, Delta’s general manager for Central America and the Caribbean.

The new service will complement Delta’s two main gateways to Puerto Rico, from Atlanta and New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport.

The Paseo La Princesa in Old San Juan.

“By offering the Detroit-San Juan service, Delta will continue to strengthen our network in the Caribbean and support the vibrant culture and hospitality of Puerto Rico,” Durand said. “Through our industry-leading service, we are continually investing to provide the best experience to our customers in San Juan, Detroit, the Americas and the world.”

The new Candelero Beach Resort.

After the destination quickly recaptured most of its airlift in the wake of Hurricane Maria, the last year has seen a wave of newly-launched routes to Puerto Rico, from new international service on carriers like Iberia to new routes on low-cost carriers like Allegiant and Spirit.

It’s also part of a growing route network to the Caribbean out of the Midwest, where more and more carriers are launching new Caribbean flights, most notably Sun Country Airlines.

— CJ

The post Delta Is Launching a New Route to Puerto Rico appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By Dana Niland
CJ Contributor

Barbados is getting a boost from New York City-based airline JetBlue.

JetBlue is expanding its weekly nonstop Saturday service from Newark Liberty to Barbados to year-round service, Caribbean Journal has learned.

The extension of service will go into effect on May 4, 2019.

“The extension of our popular seasonal, weekly Barbados service to year-round weekly service is thanks to the continued growth of travel to Barbados,” said Andrea Lusso, director of route planning for JetBlue. “Our partners at Barbados Tourism have done an outstanding job of promoting this beautiful destination, while JetBlue has consistently worked to match capacity in the market to the growing demand. We’re proud to serve Barbados and to continue offering award-winning service for tourists and Barbadians alike.”

Barbados has continued to see an increase in US arrival numbers for the fourth consecutive year, with 2018 producing a record of 204,830 visitors from the U.S, an increase of 8.4 percent from 2017. 

The extended service comes as Barbados has already seen an increase in airlift and new gateways in other cities such as Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Boston.

“Newark was previously a level 3 slot-controlled airport which meant that opportunities for new flight entry were very restricted. However, the change in FAA designation in October 2016 to a level 2 slot facilitated airport, finally afforded Barbados the opportunity to offer flight service,” said Petra Roach, U.S Director of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. “Increased airlift continues to be core to Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.’s strategic direction of achieving improved accessibility for U.S. visitors to Barbados and the geographical location of Newark proves convenient not only for the local New Jersey traffic but also for the states of Delaware, Pennsylvania and parts of Connecticut.”

“Competitive intensity continues and with the state’s demographic leaning more towards families and young couples, two very important pillars of growth for Barbados, we couldn’t be more pleased with this announcement,” she said.

— CJ

The post Barbados’s New Year-Round JetBlue Flights appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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But the familial ties to the land, coupled with the pride in their work, are enough for the majority of farmers to vow that somehow, they will figure it out.
“If I quit now, I could still have a pretty comfortable life,” said Michael Stenzel, 45, a fourth- …

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By Guy Britton

Even before you get off the plane you can feel it.  

This is not like any other place you’ve visited in the Caribbean.

It’s just 10 square miles here, a beach-filled corner of sand 80 miles northeast of Grand Cayman, a place so small the island’s main road actually cross the runway at Edward Bodden Airfield.

Less than 200 people live here and it’s clear the minute you arrive that mother nature is in charge.

The smaller the island, the more this is true. 

What’s also true is that it’s hard to find an island anywhere in this hemisphere more pristine or untouched than Little Cayman.

Nature and the environment are cherished and vehemently protected by the locals.  

What that means is you have a beachy paradise above the water, and a submarine heaven beneath it.

Indeed, the quality of scuba diving on Little Cayman is unsurpassed around the world.

There are hundreds of dive and snorkel spots, led by Bloody Bay on the island’s north side, world-famous for its wall diving and a must-do for any serious diver. 

Owen Island.

But you don’t need to be a diver to enjoy this piece of paradise, where relaxation and adventure are in equally large supply.

At the Southern Cross Club, one of the island’s beautiful boutique hotels, there is a sliver of soft sand so sublime you could linger all day.

But adventure here is not optional.

You are called, beckoned, enlisted and employed by adventures here.

There is in-shore fishing, offshore fishing and flats fishing,

There is kayaking, biking, hiking, sailing, paddling and bird watching. 

For the latter, there’s Booby Pond, where you can visit the Caribbean’s largest population of red-footed boobies. 

Owen island sits just off shore from the hammock at the Southern Cross Club and you can hear it calling.

The beach at Point of Sand is one of the prettiest you’ll find anywhere on earth and just off shore there are beautiful snorkeling reefs. 

The Southern Cross Club.

Quite often you can have Point of Sand all to yourself, just you the breeze and the birds, a place where you can spend a single day and never see another soul.

It’s an island where you’ll often feel as if you have the whole place to yourself.

Because it’s true.

See more in the latest CJ Video.

— CJ

Note: Little Cayman is also home to the  Central Caribbean Marine Institute. where they work on research, conservation and education.  At CCMI they are very progressive in reef restoration and propagation. CCMI hosts year-round programs for visiting students, researchers and groups. (Prince Charles visited CCMI when he was on Little Cayman last month during a wider visit to the Cayman Islands). CCMI encourages and coordinates volunteers, locals and guests who get involved with conservation and protecting the marine environment. 

The post VIDEO: Little Cayman, an Untouched Gem of the Caribbean appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By Dana Niland
CJ Contributor

We all talk about disconnecting on our vacations, about taking a break from work, from social media, from the hustle and bustle.

And while more hotels are starting to offer “digital detox” programs, one Aruba resort is actually rewarding travelers who do so.

The 414-room Aruba Marriott just launched a new option for guests to earn rewards by disconnecting from their phones during their vacations.

Guests can leave their phones at the oceanfront property’s front desk, where they will be held securely in a safety box.

In exchange, they will receive a disposable camera to use to capture memories from their trip.

And that’s when the challenge begins.

If guests are able to make it through the majority of their stay without retrieving their phone, they’re rewarded with 5,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to use for a future Marriott stay. 

Do you think you could do it?

For more, visit the Aruba Marriott.

— CJ

The post How to Take a Digital Detox on Your Aruba Vacation appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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