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Windstar Launches “Stretching” Process on First Ship

Windstar Cruises in in the midst of a unique fleet upgrade project — it’s “stretching” three cruise ships. The $250 million “Star Plus” Initiative will literally cut three of its ships in half and add new 84-foot midsections, effectively “stretching” them […]

A Big Tourism Comeback in the USVI

The US Virgin Islands is in the midst of a tourism renaissance, according to recently-released data. The USVI is reporting close to a 50 percent increase in stay-over arrivals this year. It’s what the USVI Department of Tourism is calling […]

The Puerto Rico Hotel Association Has a New President

By Dana Niland CJ Contributor Puerto Rico’s hotels have a new top executive. The Puerto Rico Hotel and Tourism Association has elected Pablo Torres, general manager of San Juan’s Caribe Hilton Hotel, as its new Chairman of the Board of […]

A Must-Visit Beach Bar in The Bahamas

By Tim Cotroneo CJ Contributor Musically, the owner of Exuma Point Beach Bar and Grill has a legendary first name to live up to. When asked if he is the singer in the family, Elvis Rolle shakes his head and […]

Margaritaville Vacation Club by Wyndham Reopens in St Thomas

By the Caribbean Journal staff Margaritaville is back. The Margaritaville Vacation Club by Wyndham resort on the island of St Thomas has officially reopened its doors in the wake of Hurricane Irma. The resort opened to Margaritaville Vacation Club owners […]

Nigel Spence: The Perfect Caribbean Summer Cocktail

By Nigel Spence CJ Contributor It’s funny how suddenly we New Yorkers have to be paying attention to the fact that the hurricane season began June 1st. It’s as if we became tropical overnight and no-one bothered to update us. […]

Few Caribbean destinations boast the sheer diversity of Saint Lucia’s hotel product. The range is vast, from tiny eco-friendly retreats to sprawling beach resorts to all-inclusives and full-fledged bucket-list experiences. That means there’s something for every kind of traveler here, whether you want to bring your family to the sand, take your significant other on an adults-only escape or spend a few nights in the rainforest.   Here are 15 great Saint Lucia resorts worth checking into right now.   Marigot Bay Resort It’s hard to find a more complete resort in Saint Lucia, with a broad portfolio of amenities, including a spectacular island beach, outstanding, diverse food, a serene spa and the added benefit of the energy of a megayacht marina. And that’s without mentioning the spacious, beautifully appointed rooms (just make sure you get one with a private hot tub.)  Ladera The resort that pioneered the three-walled concepts remains one of the Caribbean’s most romantic hotels — and one of the region’s most authentic places to stay, too. The wood construction, warm service and breathtaking scenery will take you to another place entirely — while never letting you forget you’re in Saint Lucia.   Jade Mountain Home to perhaps the world’s most iconic infinity pools, this resort is equal parts luxury hotel and spaceship, a transformative experience that has long set the standard for adults-only retreats. The only problem here is the withdrawal when you come back to earth.   Cap Maison This is Saint Lucia’s hotel for gourmands, for those who love good, old-fashioned luxury, the kind you find in world-class restaurants, in gastronomically-inclined beach bars and in voluptuously designed hotel rooms. This is the essence of boutique hospitality.   The Landings You can travel across the island and not find better service than you get at The Landings, perched on a gorgeous stretch of beach in view of Saint Lucia’s Pigeon Island. This is one of the island’s best beach hotels, and it’s got some of its most comfortable rooms, with the full kitchens giving travelers the chance to experience a different level of living in Saint Lucia. Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort The blinding white sand and position at the base of Gros Piton provide for an intoxicating ambience, one that’s only enhanced by the amenities from on-the-sand bungalows to the ethereal Rainforest Spa. That’s without mentioning one of our favorite bars on the island, the rum-focused Cane Bar.   Ti Kaye This has long been one of Saint Lucia’s best-kept secrets. There are just 33 cottages and rooms at this adults-only resort, with breezy oceanfront accommodations and a locally-focused spa. But the real standout is the food and beverage offering, which includes the largest underground wine cellar on the whole island. Fond Doux Whether you stay here for one night or a week, a stop at Fond Doux is a must for those in search of the essence of Saint Lucia. Set on a 250-year-old plantation, travelers here become immersed in the natural splendor of the island, from freshly-grown cacao to a host of nature trails. When you stay here, you’re right in the heart of the rainforest — and it’s not an experience you’ll soon forget.   Bay Gardens Beach Resort You won’t find a better value anywhere in Saint Lucia than this Reduit Beach standout, long one of the most beloved Saint Lucia resorts. And if you want to hop around, it’s part of a burgeoning collection of hotels, from the Bay Gardens Marina Haven to a new villa collection called Water’s Edge. Stonefield Villa Resort This is a place that just oozes romance and authenticity, with a collection of 17 one, two, three and five-bedroom villas in view of the Pitons. And, yes, they’re full-fledged villas, each of which boasts its own private pool and outdoor shower. This is a place for serenity and seclusion, where you’ll enjoy a very different kind of life in Saint Lucia.   St James’s Club Morgan Bay It’s a classic Caribbean all-inclusive, but it’s also got the laid-back ambience Saint Lucia is famous for. That’s a rather delightful combination. Here, you get six restaurants, six bars, four pools (including a spectacular rooftop adults-only pool near the spa) and a wonderful location that puts everything from golf to nightlife within very easy reach. Sandals Regency La Toc We couldn’t do a list of must-visit resorts in Saint Lucia and not mention Sandals, which boasts three Saint Lucia resorts, including the Grande St Lucian, the Halcyon Beach and the La Toc, with La Toc our favorite for some time. The property, set on a 220-acre estate and a lovely stretch of beach, has nine eateries, eight bars and offerings like unlimited scuba diving and free greens fees. Serenity at Coconut Bay The newest addition to the popular Coconut Bay resort on the south of the island is a stunner, with 36 beautifully-appointed suites, all of which have their own private plunge pools. This adults-only oasis is a new level of luxury all-inclusive in Saint Lucia, and instantly one of the island’s most sought-after stays. The Harbor Club, Curio Collection by Hilton This new hotel in the Gros Islet area is a wonderful addition to Saint Lucia. The maritime-inspired design is hip and fresh, the dining options are varied and the pool complex, home to four multi-level pools, is worth the trip on its own. Add that to a marinafront location and you have an energetic hotel perfect for active travelers. Hotel Chocolat It’s hard to think of a cooler place to stay in Saint Lucia than this tiny boutique in Soufriere set on a working cacao plantation. It rather deftly marries the cool and the authentic, with rustic-chic “lodges,” a show-stopping infinity pool and one of the best restaurants on the island. But what you really won’t forget is the joy of making your own very own chocolate bar.

Another Reason to Visit Saint Lucia Right Now

By the Caribbean Journal staff It’s no secret we’re big fans of Saint Lucia’s Ladera, a property we’ve called the Ultimate Caribbean Luxury Resort. And now there are even more ways to enjoy the resort, with two major new packages […]

Norwegian Cruise Line Breaks Ground on New Terminal in Miami

By the Caribbean Journal staff Norwegian Cruise Line has officially broken ground on a new dedicated cruise terminal at PortMiami. The 166,500-square-foot terminal will accommodate ships of up to 5,000 passengers, with technology aimed at speeding up faster embarkation and […]

How to Take a Dive Vacation in Dominica

By Dana Niland CJ Contributor The island of Dominica has long been one of the best-kept secrets in Dominica. And now the island’s largest hotel is offering a way for divers to take advantage. The hotel, which has served as […]

Bahamas Vows to Build a “New” Ragged Island

By the Caribbean Journal staff While the vast majority of the Bahamas escaped the wrath of Hurricane Irma, the southern island of Ragged Island bore the brunt of the damage, with most homes destroyed or damaged, powerlines down and public […]

Holland America Adding More Panama Canal Cruises

Looking to cruise to the Panama Canal? Holland America Line is adding more cruises to the Panama Canal, the cruise line announced this week. Holland America will be sending eight ships and 19 cruises to the Canal between fall 2017 […]

Peter Island’s Sunset Loop Experience

By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon CJ Travel Editor It’s called the Sunset Loop experience. And there’s only one place you can have it. And that’s at Peter Island, the private-island resort in the British Virgin Islands. There, on the 18,000-acre oasis, guests […]

VIDEO: A Moment on the Beach in San Salvador

By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon CJ Travel Editor They call it Bahama blue. But really, is should be Bahama blues, because the sapphire seas that wash this corner of the Caribbean can’t be described in a single word – simply because they […]

Why to Visit Bonaire This Fall

Bonaire is launching its third annual Bonaire Fall Festival: Dive-Dine-Discover program. From mid-August through early November, the Bonaire Fall Festival features a lineup of accommodation packages, unique excursions, underwater and topside adventures and culinary specials. “Maintaining a continuous flow of […]

How to Make Kingfish, Jamaican Style

By Nigel Spence CJ Contributor Recently, I had the immense pleasure and honor of attending a very special event in my hometown Kingston, Jamaica. It was my Dad’s 90th birthday celebration. I say “honor” because it really is an achievement […]

In Martinique, In the Footsteps of Amerindians

A journey into the history of Martinique By Sébastien Perrot-Minnot, PhD CJ Contributor It does not take a visitor long to realize that Martinique, “the Island of Flowers” as it is popularly known, is a land gorged with history. He discovers, […]

The Year in Caribbean Sunrises

A month-by-month journey of sunrises in the Caribbean. By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon CJ Travel Editor Arguably the only thing better than a Caribbean sunset is a Caribbean sunrise, with its promise of a day filled with leisure and pleasure. Throughout 2016 […]

Hiking Canouan’s Mount Royal

A hike on Mount Royal in the Grenadines By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon CJ Travel Editor I’m on top of the world. Or at least it feels like it, here, high above the Caribbean, on the Grenadine island of Canouan. A 3.5 […]

Ritz-Carlton Looks to Offer the “Real Cayman”

The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman has introduced several “Real Cayman” offerings to its locally-inspired resort experience. The first of these, now being offered at the Ritz-Carlton Culinary Studio, offers insights into true Caymanian cuisine in a special workshop called The Cayman […]

New Beachfront Villas to Break Ground in Bequia

A new beachfront villa development is breaking ground on the Grenadine island of Bequia. The Firefly Villas will break ground Sept. 29, with construction slated to begin in early October. The project is a 15-home collection that is part of […]

Jamaica Hopes for Tourism Bounce From Olympics

Jamaica is hoping for a tourism bounce from the country’s Olympics performance, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said. Jamaica has received a tremendous amount of exposure for its performance in Rio de Janeiro, led of course by global superstar Usain Bolt. […]

Your Next Caribbean Breakfast Recipe

By Nigel Spence CJ Contributor You know how dem seh the phrase: “…starting out with a bang”? Well little did I know I would end up being the main star in that double feature. Recently, I visited the Sunshine State […]

Carnival’s Fathom Cruise Brand Delivers on its Promise

By Simons Chase CJ Contributor I have to confess my skepticism when I decided to cruise aboard Carnival’s new cruise line, Fathom, on a “voluntourism” or “social impact” journey to the Dominican Republic. After all, in an industry that seems […]

Exploring The Cliff in Jamaica

By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon CJ Travel Editor Sometimes you just know. Within moments of entering a hotel lobby, you know whether your stay is going to be just so-so or really spectacular. And the second I stepped into the open-air lobby […]

The Best Sunset Cruise in St Croix

By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon CJ Travel Editor So you’ve been to St. Croix and watched the sun rise at Point Udall, the easternmost spot on the island and in the entire United States. Nothing can top that, right? Wrong. On a […]

This Caribbean Hotel Guarantees a Sea Turtle Encounter

It’s a one-of-a-kind experience: seeing a sea turtle nesting or hatching. And one hotel in Dominica actually guarantees you’ll see it happen. The Rosalie Bay Resort is offering what it’s billing as the World’s Only Guaranteed Sea Turtle Experience, guaranteeing […]

The Best Place to Watch Sunrise in St Croix

By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon CJ Travel Editor Watching the sun rise over the Caribbean is a special experience. But it’s perhaps nowhere more special than at St. Croix’s Point Udall, the easternmost point of the United States. About 10 miles from […]

Thinking Beyond Caribbean Climate

By Ryan Peterson CJ Contributor No, we are not talking about climate change and the disruptive effects of increased temperatures, sea level rise, coastal erosion, ocean pollution and acidification, nor the loss of biodiversity, water scarcity, and the increased frequency […]

A New Beach Resort Is Coming to This Tiny Island in The Bahamas