By Alexander Britell

What is almost certainly the most anticipated reopening of 2019 will be happening earlier than expected.

The long-awaited return of The Ritz-Carlton, St Thomas is set for Nov. 22, Caribbean Journal has learned.

The reinvigorated resort’s debut is actually earlier than had been announced; the leading USVI resort had been slated to debut Dec. 1, 2019.

That means the property will be open for Thanksgiving, which will come with a full-fledged celebration of the national holiday, from Thanksgiving Sorrel welcome cocktails to Thanksgiving-inspired dinner cruises.

The new-look pool.

The resort, which shuttered in the wake of Hurricane Irma in 2017, had long been the leading luxury hotel in St Thomas and among the most renowned resorts in the United States Virgin Islands.

The property has undergone what parent company Marriott is calling an “extensive renovation” to the entire property — to the tune of $100 million.

What a room will look like at the new-look Ritz-Carlton St Thomas.

The changes reveal “a refined, island-inspired experience” with a “new era of refinement,” according to a company description.

The reimagined resort includes four eateries, including a new Sicilian restaurant called Alllro; a remodeled infinity pool along with a new family-friendly pool with a water slide; a new luxury catamaran for daily cruises and tours; and a transformed club lounge.

Inside a new bathroom at the resort.

Other amenities include daily rum tastings, daily use of non-motorized watersports, tennis courts and even “resort garden” tours.

Ritz-Carlton has now released the newest images of the resort’s upgraded rooms, featuring a bright, cool, modern-tropical aesthetic.

The resort’s return will be part of a busy month for the USVI’s hotel sector; in the first quarter of 2020, the venerable Renaissance St Croix resort will be opening its doors, too.

For more, visit the Ritz-Carlton, St Thomas.

— CJ