April 2022 - Caribbean Journal

The Best Hotels in Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Caribbean Cruise

Cruise Season Begins in St. Maarten With Five-Ship Day

The Caribbean cruise season is officially underway in St. Maarten. On Thursday, five cruise ships — Azamara Quest, Star Pride, Valiant Lady, Star of the Seas, and Independence of the Seas — docked at Port St. Maarten, bringing thousands of passengers and signaling the start of the 2025–2026 high season. “The port has done its […]

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Caribbean Photo of the Week: St Barth, From St Maarten

The latest Caribbean Photo comes from Caribbean Journal reader Ricky Boirard, who sent in this lovely shot of St Barth taken from Pointe Blanche in St Maarten. Have you taken a great photo in the Caribbean? Send it to news@caribjournal.ocm with CPOTW in the subject line, including your first and last name and the location […]

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The Caribbean Island of Saba Just Removed Testing Rules for Travelers

The tiny Dutch Caribbean island of Saba has removed all of its testing rules for travelers, Caribbean Journal has learned. Effective May 1, the island will no longer require travelers to have a pre-travel test or complete an online health registration form. Post-arrival testing for incoming travelers has also been removed, while masks will no […]

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Antigua Sailing Week Returns

One of the Caribbean’s premier sailing events has officially returned. Antigua Sailing Week 2022 kicks off this weekend, the 53rd edition of the now-legendary festival. Racing begins April 30 with the standalone Peters & May Round Antigua Race, followed by five days of racing with teams alternative between two courses. The on-the-water action culminates with […]

The Caribbean Island of Saba Just Removed Testing Rules for Travelers

St Maarten’s leading all-inclusive resort has added a new restaurant, Caribbean Journal has learned. The adults-only Sonesta Ocean Point Resort in St Maarten has unveiled its newest eatery: Portofino, a “modern interpretation of classic Northern Italian specialties.” It’s one of three open-air eateries at the resort, joining Azul Restaurant and Bluefin Restaurant + Bar. The […]

Hyatt’s Dreams Brand Is Opening a New All-Inclusive in Cozumel

A new Dreams resort is coming to Cozumel this summer, Caribbean Journal has learned. It’s called the Dreams Cozumel Cape Resort and Spa, and it’s part of the Apple Leisure Group portfolio, which was acquired last year by Hyatt. The 154-suite hotel is slated to make its debut in July 2022, according to Apple Leisure […]

A New 700-Room Caribbean Hotel Project Breaks Ground

Riu Hotels and Resorts is building another new Caribbean resort, Caribbean Journal Invest has leaned. It’s called the Riu Aquarelle, and the all-inclusive property will be set in the Coopers Pen area of Falmouth, Jamaica. The 700-room resort broke ground this week. “Tourism and hospitality are very important to us here in Jamaica, which, thanks […]

Royal Caribbean Is Tripling Its Cruise Calls to St Croix

In a boost for St Croix’s cruise industry, Royal Caribbean has announced plans to nearly triple its calls on the island’s cruise port in Frederiksted, according to the Virgin Islands Port Authority. The announcement was made in a press conference at this week’s Seatrade conference in Miami Beach, Fla. Royal Caribbean is currently the only […]

How Green Homes Are Driving Turks and Caicos Real Estate

By Joe Pike, Special Contributor to CJI The National Association of Realtors released on Tuesday the findings of study that revealed more Americans are beginning to factor in a home’s green features when deciding whether to buy. Half of the agents and brokers surveyed in the 2022 Realtors and Sustainability Report said they helped a […]

Visiting the Dutch Caribbean Island of Statia Just Got Easier

The Dutch Caribbean island of St Eustatius, better known as Statia, has updated its entry rules for travelers. The biggest change is that the island no longer requires tests for travelers who are fully vaccinated with boosters. For most other vaccinated travelers, a PCR test within 48 hours or an antigen test within 24 hours […]

Pullman Is Opening Its First French Caribbean Hotel

By Alexander Britell Accor’s Pullman brand is opening its first-ever hotel in the French Caribbean, Caribbean Journal Invest has learned. The 102-room Pullman Royal Key Wellness Resort will be set on a peninsula on Moule Bay on the island of Grand-Terre. The wellness-focused hotel will have 11 spa rooms, a gamma, a pool, a sensory […]

J Balvin Is Coming Back to Punta Cana

Reggaeton superstar J Balvin is returning to Punta Cana. Balvin is bringing back his NEON Punta Cana music festival to the Dominican Republic, following a sold-out 2001 edition. The event will run from Dec 7-11, 2022 in the Dominican Republic’s tourism hub. This year’s lineup will include Brazilian singer and songwriter Anitta, Panamanian singer Sech, […]