st maarten

the new carnival celebration arriving in grand turk.

Carnival Celebration Kicks Off First Caribbean Cruise Season

carnival magic, one of six ships coming to st maarten this week.

A Cruise Renaissance in St Maarten

It’s been the number one cruise destination in the northern Caribbean for years. But after the pandemic, it’s been a struggle for St Maarten to match its once-strong numbers. That’s starting to change, however. This week, nearly 15,000 cruise passengers …

the caribbean island of saba from above.

JetBlue Just Made Caribbean Island Hopping Much Easier

The serene, mountainous charm of tiny Saba. The spectacular hiking and endless hospitality of Statia. The boating fantasies of Tortola. They’re some of the most sought after little destinations in the Caribbean, but they’re not exactly the easiest to get …

The Winners of the CJ Caribbean Travelers’ Choice Awards 2022

They are the world’s foremost experts on Caribbean travel: Caribbean Journal readers. They travel to the Caribbean multiple times each year, scouring the region for the newest and the greatest, searching out hotels, beaches, restaurants and experiences. And each year, …

The Caribbean’s First International Heliport

One of the British Virgin Islands’ most exclusive resort communities has added a major new amenity: a new heliport. Virgin Gorda’s Oil Nut Bay has added a new heliport certified for international arrivals, the first of its kind in the …

Caribbean Photo of the Week: Little Bay, St Maarten

The latest Caribbean Photo comes from Caribbean Journal reader Clifford Singer, who sent in this lovely shot of Little Bay in St Maarten. Have you taken a great photo in the Caribbean? Send it to news@caribjournal.com with CPOTW in the …

The Caribbean’s Makana Ferry Is Expanding to St Kitts

One of the Caribbean’s best island-hopping options is adding another new destination. The popular Makana Ferry is expanding to the island of St Kitts, Caribbean Journal has learned. The ferry is already sailing across Statia, St Maarten and Saba, is …

The Newest Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Just Set an All-Time Record

It has not yet even hit the water yet, but Royal Caribbean’s new Icon of the Seas cruise ship already has a place in history. The new ship, which just revealed its first look earlier this week, reported the single-largest …

st maarten travel testing vaccination pool near the beach

St Maarten Is Removing All Testing, Vaccination Rules for Travelers

There’s been a significant shift in the Caribbean’s testing policies, with just about every destination in the region having lifted its entry rules. And now you can include St Maarten. Effective Nov. 1, the Friendly Island will no longer require …

St Maarten Forecasting 1 Million Cruise Passengers

Port St. Maarten Group is forecasting one million cruise passengers to visit the island from November 2022 through April 2023, Caribbean Journal has learned. The high season forecast arrivals are tied to the occupancy levels of cruise ships stabilizing overthe …

Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection to Homeport in St Maarten

The inaugural season of the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection in the Caribbean will feature heavily in St Maarten. Ritz-Carlton’s new ultra-luxe cruise line will include significant home-porting for its Evrima ship out of Port St Maarten for the 2022-2023 cruise season. …

Caribbean Set for Surge in Travel From Canada

Canada’s government just lifted all of its border and travel health measures, a move that will likely lead to a surge in tourism to the Caribbean this winter. And Sunwing, the country’s largest travel company, says it’s seeing a “strong …

St Maarten Removing Covid Insurance Requirement for Visitors

St Maarten is set to remove its requirement that visitors possess Covid-19 insurance. Beginning Oct. 15, the insurance will no longer be mandatory for travelers into St Maarten. “We would like for this to be optional for travelers,” said St …

Hilton Vacation Club Debuts Two Resorts in St Maarten

Hilton Grand Vacations has officially expanded to St Maarten. The company has rebranded a pair of resorts in St Maarten following the company’s acquisition of Diamond Resorts. The company is holding ribbon-cutting ceremonies this week for its new resorts: Flamingo …

New Dominican Republic-St Maarten Flights

Dominican Republic-based startup airline Arajet continues to add new routes around the Caribbean region. The newest? Nonstop service between Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and St Maarten. The new flights between Las Americas International Airport and Princess Juliana International Airport are …

Sonesta Eyes Caribbean Expansion

Sonesta is looking to expand its footprint in the Caribbean and Mexico region. Sonesta International Hotels Corporation is making moves for more expansion, including the renewal of its master franchise relationship with GHL Hotels. This story is part of …

New Dominican Republic Airline Set to Begin Operations

A new Dominican Republic-based airline is set to begin operations this month. Arajet, an ultra-low-cost carrier headquartered in Santo Domingo, will begin flights on Sept. 15. The carrier will start off with routes to Mexico, El Salvador, Costa Rica, …