Boy, was I excited or what? Imagine picking up the phone expecting to hear the familiar voice of a friend and instead being informed, by a perky female, that youd won a free Caribbean cruise! I was so tired of the guy with an Indian accent claiming to be Bob from Ohio and offering to fix the Windows computer that Ive never had. But a cruise, warm breezes, margaritas, island girls. Well, it turned out to be not entirely free, but at least the pitch was delivered by a living person.

I said how glad I was that shed called because I lived in an isolated lighthouse and was lonely: did she have time to talk? She paused, then hung up. I guess there were lots of other winners to move down the list to.

To be truthful, Im surprised it took so long to make my phone into an advertising medium. I was used to ads on the TV, the car radio, billboards, magazines, the local newspaper, coasters, shopping bags, and in my mailbox. Plus door-to-door guys hawking religion. Why not the phone, too? And what about the internet?

On the computer screen it was such a relief to find ads increasingly decorating what would otherwise have been plain unaccompanied articles and videos. Sending content out alone is like pushing a kid out the door to make his or her way to school past all the terrorists and sex perverts. It would be un-American to pass a law against calling a number at which you didnt actually know someone or otherwise restricting uninvited solicitations, wouldnt it?

The Morning Email

Wake up to the day's most important news.

View post:

Free Caribbean Cruise - HuffPost

There is the potential for two tropical systems, one in the Atlantic and one in the Caribbean, to slowly develop and drift westward over the next week.

The next two names on the list of tropical storms in the Atlantic for 2017 are Franklin and Gert.

Residents and those planning vacations around the Caribbean should closely monitor the weather and forecasts.

Up to this point in the season, there have been extensive areas of dry air and Saharan dust as well as a large zone of strong westerly winds aloft. These three factors act as a strong deterrent toward tropical storm formation and can bring an early demise to well-developed tropical storms and hurricanes.

Conditions are gradually becoming more favorable for development in the tropical Atlantic with dry air, dust and strong winds aloft on the retreat. Waters are sufficiently warm over the region.

One system, dubbed 90L, was located close to South America over the south-central Caribbean and is the more immediate concern of the two.

"In the short-term, the close proximity to South America will be a significant inhibiting factor for development," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Mike Doll.

"However, once this system moves away from South America, it will have a better chance for development sometime this weekend," Doll said.

Depending on the track and speed of strengthening of 90L, some of the islands and mainland areas may be affected by adverse conditions and perhaps localized flooding.

An immediate concern for torrential downpours, gusty thunderstorms and building seas will be in northwestern Venezuela, northern Colombia, Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao through Saturday.

As 90L grows in size, the risk of flooding downpours, gusty winds and rough seas may affect Jamaica late Saturday night and Sunday.

Westerly steering winds may bring 90L close over Nicaragua and Honduras later this weekend.

While this track would mark an end for strengthening, the two nations could be affected by damaging and dangerous conditions from flooding and gusty winds.

Should 90L take a more northwesterly track, toward the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, it would have more time for development and may then wander into the southwestern Gulf of Mexico next week.

The system farthest away from North America, dubbed 99L, has the potential to gradually develop into next week and beyond, according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Mike Doll.

"Nintey-nine L could become a tropical depression by the end of the weekend," Doll said.

Provided the system avoids strong winds aloft and dry air to the north, significant additional strengthening could occur.

If 99L develops and/or survives, then it is likely approach the Windward and Leeward islands during the middle to latter part of next week. Parts of these islands are likely to experience an uptick in showers and thunderstorms at very least during that time.

The exact track of 99L in relation to the proximity to the islands will depend on how quickly the system strengthens. A weak and poorly organized system is more likely to track to the west. A developed system is more likely to track north of west.

m

More:

Caribbean, East Atlantic may spawn tropical threats in coming days - Fox News

JONESBORO The Caribbean Association of Georgia Inc. is hosting its 8th Annual South Atlanta Caribbean Cultural Festival on Aug. 19.

The festival, presented by Clayton County Board of Commission Chairman Jeff Turner, will be held at the Clayton County International Park, 2300 Ga. Highway 138, from 1 to 8 p.m. The event will celebrate Caribbean American heritage.

The CAG festival will feature a lineup of entertainers including dancers, singers, musicians, stilt performers and spoken word artists. Visitors will have the chance to taste authentic Caribbean food and children can play in the CAG Kids Zone. Free medical screenings will also be available.

The Atlanta Caribbean Cultural Festival provides a family friendly atmosphere that highlights the rich contributions of the Caribbean American community. Each year, the Caribbean Association of Georgia shares the spirit and economic power of Atlantas Caribbean American community. This years celebration in Clayton County will help support CAGs ongoing international humanitarian efforts and local social impact programs.

Vendor and sponsorship opportunities are available, but space is limited. For more information about the South Atlanta Caribbean Cultural Festival and the work of CAG visit http://www.caribbeangeorgia.org.

See the original post here:

South Atlanta Caribbean Cultural Festival planned for Aug. 19 - News-Daily.com

Why settle for a beachfront cabana when you can rent the whole island? For $595 per night, Bird Island off the coast of Belize in the Caribbean could be yours. The listing comes courtesy of Airbnb, which plies such unique retreats as a treehouse in a 150-year-old oak, a replica of Vincent Van Goghs Bedroom in Arles, and a floating house on Australias Great Barrier Reef.

Stay on your own in a truly private island on a beautiful atoll, with excellent swimming, snorkeling, kayaking and exploringwith all the comforts, Airbnb promises. It is a perfect setting for either a romantic get-away for a couple, a family gathering/reunion or for a small group of friends.

The spot, which is 20 minutes by boat from Placencia Village on the mainland, includes a private three-bedroom home that can accommodate up to six guests, a brand-new propane refrigerator and freezer, and a rainwater filtration system.

Although Bird Island is off the gridpower is generated through solar and windyou dont have to be cut off from the world if you dont want to. The locale boasts a phone for local numbers, plus good and reliable WiFi.

Related: Washington Hobbit Hole is the first of three in an off-grid Shire

Self-sufficiency is key, however. Youll have to supplyor fish foryour own food. Snorkling or angling equipment is also strictly BYO.

The central theme of Bird Island is a self-catering, Robinson Crusoe type of adventure, yet with all the comforts, where one could get to do their own thing in total privacy, Airbnb says. We offer Bird Island at an exceptional price for an experience best-suited for the adventurous who are totally self-sufficient.

+ Airbnb

Photos via Airbnb

Via Thrillist

Read the original here:

Airbnb will let you rent your own off-the-grid Caribbean island - Inhabitat

4:20 AM ET

Peter Della PennaCricket

What is the CPL?

The Caribbean Premier League is a six-team franchise T20 competition that's perhaps better than England's T20 Blast but not quite as big as the IPL. From a quality and entertainment perspective, it's about on par with Australia's Big Bash League.

More than anything, what makes the CPL unique from other T20 competitions is Caribbean flair. It's not just Dwayne Bravo who is dancing after each wicket. The league is filled with crowd-pleasing entertainers, and that infectious energy spreads into the stands where the support is reinforced by soca, reggae, calypso and other island beats.

Each of the six teams plays each other twice, five games each home and away (with the exception of the four neutral-venue games in Florida). The top four teams qualify for the playoffs in Trinidad & Tobago.

CPL Draft v IPL Auction

Unlike the IPL auction, where players go to the highest-bidding franchise, the CPL uses a player-draft system modelled on American sports franchises. Each draft slot has a fixed salary; players taken in the first round get US $160,000, fifth-round picks make $70,000, all the way down to $4000 for the final selections in the 15th round.

Squads have the choice to retain players from previous seasons or release them back into the draft pool. They also must pick an ICC Americas player from either USA or Canada, who are not considered overseas players, as well as an Under-19 West Indies player to round out their 17-man squads.

As teams are only allowed a maximum of four overseas players in the XI, most franchises carry no more than five overseas players in their squad. So, unlike in the IPL, where overseas stars can be picked at will to boost the bench, CPL franchises are much more judicious in their overseas draft picks. If you get a dud, it's far more difficult to swap them because there may only be one overseas player waiting on the bench and one who is not necessarily a like-for-like skillset swap.

Where do the teams stand?

Jamaica Tallawahs

The defending champions are relying more on brain than brawn, after a major revamp in the offseason. Chris Gayle and Chadwick Walton, their openers and two leading scorers, are gone, while Andre Russell, the player of the previous season, is still serving his one-year ban for a doping-code violation.

Lendl Simmons was tipped to fill part of the opening void after coming over from St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, while Kumar Sangakkara was retained to provide stability in the top order and behind the stumps. Coach Paul Nixon places high value on players with a winning mentality, and few fit that description more heading into this season than Imad Wasim, who was part of the victorious Pakistan side in the Champions Trophy earlier in the year.

Imad forms a three-man left-arm spin attack, along with Shakib Al Hasan and Garey Mathurin, as they focus on building pressure by choking the scoring rate. Kesrick Williams was taken in the 13th round in the 2016 draft for just $5,000, but after topping his team's bowling charts with 17 wickets, has earned a pay rise to $30,000. Another good season should attract the attention of other overseas leagues.

Guyana Amazon Warriors

Three times a bridesmaid, but never the bride. Guyana topped the table at the end of the league stage last year, but with Martin Guptill leaving for New Zealand duty, they were walloped in the final by Jamaica to fall short of the title for the third time in four years.

Guyana were dealt a major blow on the eve of the tournament when their leading scorer of 2016, Chris Lynn, was ruled out of the season due to upcoming shoulder surgery. He has been replaced by the up-and-coming Pakistan batsman Babar Azam, while the batting order has been injected with fresh blood in the form of Chadwick Walton and USA captain Steven Taylor, who is expected to take on a bigger role after limited opportunities in his two years with Barbados Tridents.

The Australian Adam Zampa, last season's leading spinner, is no longer with the side. In most cases, any replacement would be considered a downgrade, but the arrival of Afghanistan legspinner Rashid Khan may be what this side needs to clear the final hurdle and claim their first title.

St Lucia Stars

Formerly called the Zouks, the Stars received a double-blow ahead of their first match when their top two picks, David Miller and Lasith Malinga, withdrew. In their places is a pair of New Zealanders, Mitchell McClenaghan and Jesse Ryder.

In the past, Ryder was as capable of imploding as he was of exploding on the opposition. If he can rediscover his peak form, it will go a long way toward ensuring the Stars return to the playoffs for the second year in a row. Johnson Charles and Andre Fletcher formed the most consistently destructive opening combination of CPL 2016, but with the exception of Shane Watson, struggled to find support down the order. That will need to change for sustained success.

Trinbago Knight Riders

The 2015 champions are the most settled of the six squads, with the tournament's leading wicket-taker, Dwayne Bravo, supported by fellow returnees Kevon Cooper and Sunil Narine. Outside of Rashid, Knight Riders may have plucked the best acquisition of the offseason by drafting Pakistan legspinner Shadab Khan in the eighth round for $30,000.

On the batting front, Knight Riders will have to endure the early-season absence of Hashim Amla, their leading scorer from 2016, while South Africa's Test series continues in England. Brendon McCullum will have to pick up the slack in Amla's absence and will be keen to bounce back after a subpar 2016 season.

Barbados Tridents

After winning the title in 2014 and losing in the final in 2015, Tridents missed the playoffs for the first time in 2016. AB de Villiers finished as their second-highest scorer despite playing just six games, and they have addressed the top-order deficiency by revamping the batting.

Dwayne Smith was brought over from Amazon Warriors, while the CPL's most high-profile batting newcomer, Kane Williamson, was snapped up in the second round for $130,000. Twin legspinners Imran Khan and Damion Jacobs provide captain Kieron Pollard with attacking options in the field.

St Kitts & Nevis Patriots

This side has undergone the biggest facelift during the offseason in a bid to change their fortunes, having finished with at least a share of the last place in every season. Gayle was the most high-profile acquisition, and despite a poor IPL, he still possesses the intimidation factor that Patriots lacked in the past. If he clicks, Gayle and Evin Lewis may give Patriots a lethal opening combination.

The bigger changes, though, were made in the bowling, which was the weakest of any side last year despite having one of the top T20 bowlers in the world in Samuel Badree. Hasan Ali, the Man of the Tournament in the Champions Trophy, and Afghanistan allrounder Mohammad Nabi are new additions, while the $130,000 big ticket item Chris Morris will enhance the bowling further when he arrives after the end of South Africa's tour of England.

Continue reading here:

The time for Caribbean flair is now - ESPN

Caribbean Salmon

MIKE GARTEN

August 04, 2017 - 7:30 AM

Caribbean Salmon

Serves 4.

Note: From "Skillet Suppers," by the editors of Good Housekeeping.

1 14-oz. can coconut milk, shaken

2 garlic cloves, crushed with press

1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1 lb. salmon fillet, skin removed and cut into 1/4-inch cubes

1/2 tsp. salt

3 c. cooked basmati or jasmine rice

1 medium mango, peeled and finely chopped

3 c. baby arugula

1/4 c. loosely packed fresh dill, chopped

Directions

In a 10-inch skillet, combine coconut milk, garlic and pepper and bring to a simmer over medium heat.

Sprinkle salmon with salt. Add salmon to skillet. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until just salmon is just opaque throughout. Remove from salmon from heat.

Using a slotted spoon, remove salmon from coconut milk and transfer to a large bowl. Add rice, mango, arugula and dill. Carefully toss, and serve.

See the original post here:

Sunday Supper: Caribbean Salmon - Minneapolis Star Tribune

(RTTNews) - Latin America and the Caribbean economies will jointly grow by 1.1% in 2017, after two consecutive years of contraction, according to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). The forecast is identical to a previous estimate released in April.

The growth should occur in spite of geopolitical risks, as the global economic background seems supportive, and because of an improvement in raw materials prices.

The report foresees that, in contrast to last year, all the countries in the region will experience positive growth rates in 2017, except for Venezuela, which should see its economy drop by 7.2%, and two countries in the Caribbean (Saint Lucia and Suriname).

ECLAC kept unchanged the growth forecast for South America's 2017 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at 0.6% and raised the growth forecast for Central America and Mexico from 2.3% to 2.5%.

In fiscal terms, the average deficit in Latin America will remain stable in 2017, at around -3.1% of GDP. Meanwhile, average inflation in the region's economies has declined since the second half of 2016, despite the fact that three countries maintain rates above 20% per year.

On Argentina, ECLAC indicated that by 2017 it expects GDP growth of 2.0%, as a result of the sustained public investment momentum and the moderate expansion in private investment and exports.

Regarding Brazil, ECLAC said that the results of the Brazilian economy indicate that there are still hurdles before the return to a growth path. The economic challenges are still centered at the investment rebound and household consumption said the report.

On Chile, ECLAC expects that the deceleration scenario will remain in 2017, although at a slower pace than in 2016, and that GDP growth rate will be around 1.4%.

Meanwhile, economic activity in Colombia has shown strength and resilience in a context of adjustment in the face of slowing external demand, declining revenues due to the falling oil prices, and temporary shocks to domestic supply, the report said. The ECLAC forecast for Colombia's GDP is 2.1% growth in 2017.

Regarding Mexico, ECLAC estimates that the country's economy will grow 2.2%, but under pressure of higher interest rates and uncertainty in foreign investment and international trade due to possible protectionist measures by the United States.

On Peru, ECLAC projects that GDP will increase 2.5% in 2017, driven by the increase in mining production in a context of deceleration of both private and public domestic demand.

Original post:

ECLAC: Latin America And The Caribbean To Grow By 1.1% In 2017 - Markets Insider

Over 500 Caribbean tech entrepreneurs, influencers, and speakers attended The Haiti Tech Summit where they discussed how to accelerate various Caribbean industries via technology. Summit attendees Darren Butcher (founder of Hack by Design) and Kerry-Ann Reid-Brown (editor/founder of Carry On Friends) reflect on the summit and share their hopes for future Caribbean Entrepreneurs.

What was your biggest takeaway from Haiti Tech Summit?

Darren: My biggest takeaway from attending Haiti Tech Summit was the opportunity I had for networking with many accomplished and resourceful individuals. I was able to gain insightful feedback that would further impact my entrepreneurial journey.

Kerry-Ann: Caribbean entrepreneurs need to move from being necessity entrepreneurs to opportunity entrepreneurs. In order to do this, there needs to be tools: opportunities, mentorship, and a shifting of mindsets. According to Dr. Claire Nelson (founder of the Institute of Caribbean Studies), one mindset shift needed to move towards opportunity entrepreneurship is accepting failure and the desire to break things. Dr. Nelson points out that most people in the Caribbean arent taught to fail or to break things, and these are two key things needed in tech for value creation.

What do you think is the Caribbean's biggest tech need?

Kerry-Ann: [We need] access to Capital. The Caribbean doesnt have enough investors or not enough alternative methods to raise capital such as crowdfunding -- particularly in early-stage seed startup funding. said.

Darren: Currently I believe the biggest tech need for the Caribbean is access to modernized infrastructure. This would better support local entrepreneurs efforts to build technological solutions within the region. Additional needs such as investment would see more growth as a result of this change.

What do you hope the Caribbean population gains from HTS and similar events?

Darren: I hope the Caribbean population would gain more global exposure, not only for our vibrant arts and culture but also for business opportunities.

Kerry-Ann: My hope is two-fold. On one hand, I hope that these events foster innovation using what the Caribbean/each island already has at its disposal. Secondly, that these innovations can be supported via investment opportunities from the diaspora and other investors.

The Haiti Tech Summit is a 13-year initiative of the Global Startup Ecosystem which conducts the largest online digital accelerator in emerging markets. The Summit aims to revitalize Haitis entrepreneurial economy and repositionit as a global study of catalyzedinnovation within an emerging market country.

Kerry-Ann Reid-Brown (@carryonfriends) is a Jamaican born, New York City based, Caribbean influencer and founder of Carry On Friends. The was one of the first to solely feature Caribbean American entrepreneurs and business professionals. The podcast has been featured as an editor's choice in iTunes under the categories "Black Voices in Business" and the "Black Experience" collection.

Darren Butcher (@darrenbutcher) is a full-stack developer and entrepreneur, currently between St. Maarten and Toronto. He is the founder of Hack by Design, a digital product design and product development studio.

The Morning Email

Wake up to the day's most important news.

The rest is here:

Ready for Innovation: Caribbean Entrepreneurs on Hati Tech Summit - HuffPost

COCO CAY, BAHAMASIn the latest clash between rivals that have long vied for control of highly prized cruise routes, a barrage of cannon fire from Royal Caribbeans M.S. Allure of the Seas sank a Carnival Cruise Line ship that crossed into disputed waters off the coast of the Bahamas, sources said Thursday.

The Allure, an Oasis-class recreational vessel with a standing crew of around 2,300, opened fire on Carnivals M.S. Magic after it allegedly ignored repeated warnings not to approach Coco Cay, a private island owned by Royal Caribbean. After sustaining several direct hits, the enemy ships hull reportedly ruptured, immediately flooding its bingo hall and spa with seawater, collapsing several theme restaurants, and ultimately killing all 3,675 guests on board.

By approaching within three nautical miles of Coco Cay, the M.S. Magic was in direct violation of the terms of the 2011 Caribbean Nights cease-fire agreement, said Captain David Beeman of the Allure, stating that the attack was necessary to safeguard the recreational interests of the customers he is sworn to serve. Per standard procedure, our limbo emcee first alerted the Magic that it had entered our territorial waters by issuing a verbal warning and blasting conga music over our PA system. When the ship refused to change course, we proceeded to launch a broadside from our starboard cannons, delivering a direct hit to their most crucial facilities, including the engine room, water slide, and Red Frog rum bar.

We suffered just one casualty ourselves, losing a tango instructor to friendly fire, he added.

Pulling up alongside the smaller enemy vessel, the 1,187-foot Allure reportedly extended its powerful battery of guns from the portholes of a lower-deck theater currently staging Mamma Mia! Witnesses said Magic patrons standing in line for the 24-hour seafood buffet had little time to take cover before the Allure opened fire, scattering body parts and shrimp scampi all over the ships pool deck and mini-golf course.

When the first shells hit, you could see blasted sections of the hull, bloody scraps of cargo shorts, and flaming flip-flops raining down into the ocean all around, said Allure passenger Nicole Rice, adding that a few Magic guests tried to run for safety behind overturned massage tables, but were set upon by a Royal Caribbean boarding party that had crossed over with the assistance of their ships zip-line and ropes-course operators. Once the second round of fire took out the piano bar and Guy Fieris Burger Joint, it was pretty much all over. The Magic had just dropped anchor for the Dune Buggy Heritage Adventure Tour, so it really had no chance of escape.

Maritime historians are calling the attack upon the Magic the deadliest encounter between rival ocean liners since the so-called Cruise Wars of the 1990s, when the wrecks of sunken pleasure vessels littered the waters from Fort Lauderdale to St. Kitts. During that era, the upstart Disney Cruise Line came to rule the waves, and marauders dressed as Pinocchio, Goofy, Tinker Bell, and other company-owned mascots were known to slit the throats of their competitors guests and plunder everything from bar supplies to blackjack tables to karaoke equipment.

Despite official explanations, Thursdays attack is actually believed to be in retaliation for a 2013 incident in which a Royal Caribbean vessel on a nine-day Best of the Bahamas cruise was captured off the coast of Paradise Island. According to deck logs, its entire passenger list was impressed into service as caterers aboard Carnivals Breeze flagship.

Ill never forget the sight of the Magics crew and guests desperately trying to bail out the Club O2 teen zone as the ship started to tilt, causing all the deck furniture, the ice cream sundae station, and those seniors on their church group trip to go sliding off into the sea, Allure passenger Jason Heidt said. Then I guess they lost power, because suddenly all the party lights shut off and everyone in the Punchliner comedy club went silent as the ship capsized.

Everyone except Joe Rogan, Heidt continued. He kept on telling jokes until he was completely underwater.

Go here to read the rest:

Shelling From Royal Caribbean's MS 'Allure' Sinks Carnival Cruise Vessel That Crossed Into Disputed Waters - The Onion (satire)

Sandals Resorts International is looking to Wall Street to help finance as many as a dozen new Caribbean hotels as the luxury resort manager ditches its conservative strategy ofbuilding just one project per year and keeping debt right down.

CEO Adam Stewart, who runs Sandals with his father, Gordon Butch Stewart, said the closely-held company is not for sale and has no immediate plans to go public, contrary to rumors. Instead, its looking beyond the regional Caribbean banks it has traditionally used, to fund the biggest expansion in its history.

Were open to taking on more debt to build more than on hotel at a time. We want to build three or four hotels a year, Stewart said in a telephone interview. We are trying to look for bigger capital to grow. We know exactly what to do and how to do it. But up until now weve been restricted by the balance sheet of regional banks.

The company, which owns and operates 23 resorts across seven Caribbean islands, is in talks with Deutsche Bank and others to raise money as it weighs the new projects, including four hotels it plans to build next year, Stewart said. While he declined to say how much he is seeking to borrow, the company next year is spending about $375 million to build a 580-room Barbados hotel and around $500 million to construct a resort on the island of Tobago in the southern Caribbean.

Were not looking at $200 million any more, he said.

With its expansion, Sandals is aiming to capitalize on a Caribbean tourism boom. A record 29.3 million tourists visited the islands last year, according to the Caribbean Tourism Organization. And 41,000 new rooms are under construction or being planned in the region, said STR, which tracks the industry, up more than 40 percent from a year earlier.

The increase was led by several major projects, such as a 2,000-room casino hotel in Montego Bay, Jamaica, and a 934-room beach resort in Varadero, Cuba, STR said.

Tourism is the biggest source of foreign currency earnings for many countries in the region. Stewart said growth in the Caribbean tourism has attracted interest from private equity and some of the hotel industrys biggest names.

While the company does not disclose revenues, Stewart said the company is very sound, with a ratio of debt to earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization of less than one.

The Marriotts, the Hiltons, the Hyatts, institutional capital and private equity, theyre all looking to get a piece of the action in the Caribbean, he said. Its at an inflection point. I expect to see a massive boom in the 2-star or 3-star level of hotels.

Sandals, the biggest private employer in Jamaica, targets the luxury vacation market. The average daily rate across its portfolio of 6,000 rooms is around $550, according to Stewart. Its opening over-the-water suites in Jamaica and St. Lucia, which come with a dedicated butler and around-the-clock service, for as much as $3,000 a night.

Were easily among the most expensive and were proud of it, Stewart said.

With assistance from Oscar Medina

2017 Bloomberg L.P. This article was written by Ezra Fieser from Bloomberg and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to [emailprotected].

See full article

Photo Credit: The Pink Gin Beach at Sandals LaSource Grenada, St. George's, Grenada. Sandals Resorts is hoping to expand throughout the Caribbean. Sandals Resorts International

Go here to see the original:

Sandals Is Looking to Wall Street to Expand in the Caribbean - Skift

Cheryl Burke and Matthew Lawrence are the cutest!

The twolovebirdsare on a tropical Caribbean island vacation inSt George's,Grenada and have been sharing adorable photos from their trip on social media.

Matthew, 37, posted a sweet selfie of him and Cheryl, 33, standing on the beach near their resort,Sandals LaSource Grenada.

Cheryl posted a photo of the two standingon a pier, with her wearing apink satin gown. Shealso shared a photo of her relaxing in a private pool on the balcony of their hotel room.

Matthew also made a new friend; He shared a video of himfeeding a wild green iguana a hibiscus flower.

Instagram

"Life's a beach @cherylburke @sandalsresorts #SandalsResorts #SandalsLaSourceGrenada," Matthewwrote.

Instagram

"Island getaway," Cherylwrote.

Instagram

"Paradise," she wrote.

Instagram

Matthew makes a new friend.

Twitter

Not a bad view at all...

Twitter

"Why yes that is a private pool on our balcony. What the what??!!" Cheryl tweeted.

E! News had learned in February that theDancing With the Stars pro andthe actor, who may or may not have been your '90s crush, aredatingagain following a 2008 split.

"Cheryl is really happy,"a source said at the time.

The couple met in 2006 through Matthew's brotherJoey Lawrence, who competed that year onDancing With the Stars, and datedfor about a year.

See the original post here:

Cheryl Burke and Matthew Lawrence Are Adorable on Romantic ... - E! Online

Some familiar spaces are coming into focus on board what will become the worlds largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas.

New construction photos show progress on the 230,000-ton, 1,188-foot-long ship being built at the STX France shipyard in St. Nazaire, France.

Those photos show the signature Boardwalk area at the aft of the ship as well the Royal Promenade on Deck 5 in the ships interior.

Particularly recognizable is the development of the AquaTheater, which is home to the lines productions that combine music, high diving and acrobatics.

Also shown are the two 40-foot-tall rock climbing walls as well as the stateroom balconies that rise up from Deck 6 of where the open-air Boardwalk neighborhood will be.

Whats not show yet is the ships version of the Ultimate Abyss dry slide, the 10-deck twin twisting slide that debuted on sister ship Harmony of the Seas. While the line has promised it will be on this ship as well, it also has promised it will have a new twist, but details on what that twist will be have yet to be revealed. Also not in place are any of the signature features that make up the Boardwalk, such as the carousel.

On the ships interior, the shells that will become restaurants, bars and shops of the Royal Promenade are continuing to get attention.

On Harmony of the Seas, the Royal Promenade is where you find the ships signature centerpiece sculpture, the twisting giant metallic human head. Its also where the line parks the vintage cars that can be found on Voyager, Freedom and Oasis-class ships.

As far as venues go, Harmonys Royal Promenade is home to the Bionic Bar, which is promised for Symphony as well. Its also a stop for the Rising Tide bar, which moves up and down multiple decks. Also on Harmony in the Royal Promenade are Sorrento's, Bolero's, the English pub Boot and Bonnet, On Air karaoke club, guest services, shore excursions and more.

Symphony of the Seas' gross registered tons will be more than Harmony of the Seas, which comes in at 226,963 tons, but they will be the same length. Harmony of the Seas currently holds the title for world's largest cruise ship, slightly larger than the original ships, 2009's Oasis of the Seas and 2010's Allure of the Seas.

Symphony will feature 28 more staterooms than Harmony of the Seas with a Royal Suite class, neighborhood balconies overlooking Central Park, virtual balconies on inside staterooms, and the highest number of ocean-view cabins at sea.

Other notable previously announced features include the Perfect Storm water park, FlowRider surf simulator, ice skating rink, Vitality at Sea spa, celebrity chef Jamie Oliver's Italian dining venue, Mexican offering Sabor, Japanese cuisine at Izumi, the Chops Grill steakhouse, Vintages wine bar and Solarium bistro. More than 20 dining options are promised, but details on any new venues have not been released yet. Also not revealed yet is one other adventure offering with no details other than "A new scale of daring. Adventure hits a high note with a whole new challenge.

The ship is set to debut April 21, 2018 with an inaugural sailing from Barcelona as it spends its first season of cruising in the Mediterranean. It then repositions to PortMiami on a 12-night transatlantic voyage that departs Oct. 28 and begins Caribbean sailings on Nov. 9.

More details can be found on http://www.royalcaribbean.com/symphony-of-the-seas or by calling 1-800-769-2522.

rtribou@orlandosentinel.com, 407-420-5134

More here:

Familiar spaces take shape on Royal Caribbean Symphony of the ... - Orlando Sentinel

Norma G's food truck is the only in the city rolling out Caribbean cuisine and Trinidadian comfort foods, and for that, it has quickly established itself as a favorite.

But owner Lester Gouvia says there's a lot more he can do with his native cuisine when he opens a casual fine dining restaurant in the Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood.

"A lot of the dishes I want to offer are hard to do in the food truck, or do in a takeout container," he says. "This is really about being able to provide food in more of a comfortable setting. A lot of dishes I do that don't translate well on the food truck, we'll do here."

Construction is underway and Gouvia says he's targeting a fall opening at 14700 E. Jefferson Ave., but he stresses that there's no firm date in place.

When Norma G's does open, expect traditional Caribbean and Trinidadian dishes - Gouvia was born in Trinidad - like coo coo with stew fish, callaloo, or codfishballs. The latter is made with dried codfish that's sauted with herbs, vegetables, other seasoning, and mashed potatoes. It's blended together into a ball, fried, and served with a garlic or chipotle mayo.

Gouvia says Norma's menu will be vegan friendly, and notes that the flavors of Trinidad are influenced by a range of cuisines from the island's colonizers like the French, Spanish, Dutch, and English. Even Chinese populations made their way through the Caribbean and left their prints on some of the recipes.

Though Gouvia says most Detroiters aren't familiar with plates like coo coo or codfish, he suspects that they'll warm up to the flavors.

"There are

all these flavors and influences from all over the world ... Codfish is a Spanish thing. It's not a dish that's strange to the world, but it's a dish that's strange to people here. But

my son eats it, so if he does, believe me other people will like it," Gouvia jokes.

"I'm not knocking that, but when I think about Caribbean - it's about the food, atmosphere meeting other people, and I want to make the restaurant comfortable. Colorful and casual, but not tacky," he says. "There will be nice

furnishing going in and colors will be key. Hopefully I can deliver an atmosphere where people want to hang out."

A job in the financial industry led Gouvia to metro Detroit. He only intended to stay a few years, but never left. Jefferson-Chalmers appealed to him more than downtown, Midtown, or other neighborhoods because he feels that Norma's will have a greater impact there.

"I didn't see myself having a big impact Midtown or downtown, and financially it doesn't make sense because the price points are too high," he says.

"I'm in business, I've got to generate revenue, and pay people well, but I ... want to help generate traffic and be a part of the change, and I think this is still one of neighborhoods that has potential for that."

Gouvia worked with SWOT City to pull together funding for the roughly $450,000 project from a variety of sources, including a $60,000 Motor City Match Grant. He's leasing the building from the Jefferson Inc. Stay tuned for more details.

Go here to see the original:

Norma G's Caribbean restaurant starts construction in Jefferson Chalmers - Detroit Metro Times

Travel Agent recently caught up with David Hu, president of Classic Vacations, to find out the hottest trends and news in the Caribbean.

Here's what we learned.

While all the focus on new, hot Caribbean Islands has mostly been given to Cuba, Hu tells us that interest hasnt necessarily equated into dollars.

For many new emerging islands, we see a disconnect between interest and actual demand, Hu tells Travel Agent. Take Cuba for example, we see a lot of people researching the destination, but actual volume has not materialized.That can be said for many of the other possible islands."

In fact, Hu says Cuba may be getting most of the attention, but it's the core Caribbean Islands that are getting the business for Classic.

Were actually seeing more inquiries about the core islands that we sell in the Caribbean, such as Anguilla, Aruba, etc, says Hu. As the Zika scare tapers, we hopefully will start seeing some of that volume materialize.

Hu says the Zika scare that kept many romance-focused clients from visiting couples resorts in the Caribbean has since subsided, and the lack of media coverage has a little something to do with it.

The Zika impact tended to be greater for properties catering to the honeymoon and romance market, more-so than being destination specific, says Hu. A few islands with a larger share of the high-end romance market paced behind the Caribbean overall.

But after the Rio Olympics concluded, Hu says the media coverage dropped off. And now with all of the political headlines floating around, Zika is barely even mentioned.

However, since the end of the Rio Olympics, Zika has been fairly quiet on the media front, and the continuing onslaught of political headlines has helped Zika fade into the background, says Hu. We see this reflected in our 2017 booking trends, with solid year-over-yeargrowth in our primary honeymoon markets like St.Lucia, and Anguilla.

As far as the islands that performed the best for Classic in 2016, Hu says the company saw some impressive growth Jamaica, St. Barths, Bermuda and Barbados.

And so far this year?

This year we are seeing Anguilla, Aruba, Barbados, the Cayman Islands, Puerto Rico and St.Lucia really take off, says Hu.

Classic Vacations, like most operator who specialize in the Caribbean, has been exploring the idea of selling the once forbidden destination. But since President Trumps announcement on May 30 declaring he would reverse many of former President Barack Obamas policies toward Cuba, many operators are now taking an even longer wait-and-see approach.

Cuba has been the hot destination for some time now, and we are sure [the recent]announcement will come as a huge disappointment to the many Americans that were excited to finally experience the beautiful island-nation, says Hu. We have been monitoring Cuba closely for a while, taking a careful and conservative approach to ensure that we can guarantee the same excellence in service levels in Cuba that we provide to all destinations in our global portfolio. While Trumps reversal on Cuba will undoubtedly dampen our Caribbean expansions plans, we will continue to focus our efforts to support our partners in existing Caribbean destinations until we hear anything different on the political front.

When it comes to luxury getaways, Hu says Turks and Caicos tops the list and recommends COMO Parrot Cay and Amanyara for couples while the Grace Bay Club and the newly-opened TheShore Club Turks and Caicos are both excellent options for families looking to be pampered.

Turks and Caicos, with its combination of world-class beaches and excellent five star properties, is one of our strongest destinations, says Hu. With direct flights from a wide range of U.S. gateways, and luxury properties that cater to practically any type of traveler, its truly a wonderfully multi-faceted island.

The Caribbean has no shortage of hot niche markets from girls and guys getaways to romance to action and adventure, but the one that is all the rage currently is wellness, says Hue.

Wellness has been a trending theme in the luxury segment, and properties built around wellness, such as The BodyHoliday have thrived this year, he says. We have seen more and more properties move in that direction, like Blue Waters Antigua, with their Living Retreats program designed to refresh the mind and body, incorporating specialized testing, along with meals, and activities to realign and rebalance guests physically and mentally.

Visit http://www.classicvacations.comand keep visitingwww.travelagentcentral.comfor all your latest travel news. Be sure to followTravel AgentsJoe PikeonTwitter@TravelPikeandInstagram@pike5260.

Caribbean Hotel Deals for Every Traveler

Celebrate Chocolate Month in St. Lucia With Sweet August Discounts

Avanti Adds Bonus Commission for Off-Season Bookings

CIE Tours Offering Bonus Commission For Agents

Excerpt from:

The Hottest Caribbean Trends, According to Classic Vacations' President - Travel Agent

Cheryl Burke and Matthew Lawrence are living it up in Grenada!

The Dancing With the Stars pro and the Melissa & Joey star jetted off on a romantic Caribbean getaway to St. George's and have been documenting every juicy detail from their stay at a Sandals resort.

Burke, 33, enjoyed a dip in their balcony pool overlooking the beach (yes, there's a pool on their private balcony), captioning the snap on Instagram, "Paradise."

EXCLUSIVE: Cheryl Burke Explains Her Bloody Head Injury, Reveals the Only Way She'll Return to 'DWTS'

The dancer was just as surprised as us over the private pool. "Why yes that is a private pool on our balcony," she tweeted, alongside video proof. "What the what??!!"

While the Dance Moms star was enjoying a little R&R, Lawrence, 37, was making friends (and checking off "bucket list" items) with a wild green iguana.

The cute couple, who rekindled their romance in February, also posted a series of snaps together. Lawrence captioned one selfie, "Life's a beach," while Burke captured a snap of the two during an evening out.

EXCLUSIVE: Cheryl Burke Opens Up About Taking Over 'Dance Moms,' Filling in for Abby Lee Miller

Burke, who recently announced that her Love on the Floor tour would be postponed until 2018, recently took over for Abby Lee Miller on Dance Moms and will make her debut when the series resumes its seventh season Aug. 1 on Lifetime.

SHARE ON FACEBOOK SHARE

Follow this link:

'Life's a Beach' for Cheryl Burke and Matthew Lawrence During Romantic Caribbean Vacation -- See the Pics! - Entertainment Tonight

At Disneyland, pirates can still drink, pillage and fight.

But the swashbuckling tradition of abducting and exploiting women is being sent to Davy Jones Locker.

Call it a sign of the times.

The park plans to revamp a section of the popular Pirates of the Caribbean attraction that depicts a parade of women being put on the auction block under a decidedly un-PC banner that reads Auction, Take a wench for a bride.

The auction will be replaced next year by a less offensive scene of pirates forcing the local townsfolk to give up their valuables. After all, who can be offended by a little pirate pilfering?

In the 62 years since Walt Disney welcomed his first visitors to Anaheim, Disneyland has sometimes struggled to adapt the founders version of fantasy with public sensibilities that differ from those of park visitors of the 50s and 60s.

On Tom Sawyer Island, the mock frontier rifles were removed along with the victim of an Indian arrow, who lay sprawled for years in front of a burning settlers cabin.

For several years, the skippers in the Jungle Cruise were not allowed to blast a fake revolver at the animatronic hippos in the river until visitor complaints forced Disney to re-arm the cruise ship captains and give them the green light to fire at will.

But the Pirates attraction, the last ride that Walt Disney himself helped design before he died in 1966, may have been reined in the most to conform to a more politically correct world a tricky task given the rides original rowdy spirit.

Remember those scene of pirates chasing women throughout a pillaged town? In 1997, Disney put trays of food in the womens hands so that it looked like the pirates are lusting after the food instead of the fleeing women in their flowing gowns.

Another scene that got pitched overboard showed a pirate holding up womens lingerie while a frightened woman, apparently naked, hides in a nearby barrel.

At Disney, their specialty is scrubbing everything to be squeaky clean and palatable, said Rick Rothschild, a ride designer for Disney from 1978 until 2009. Thats the Disney way.

Walt Disney Co.

An artist's rendering of the scene that will replace the bride auction in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.

An artist's rendering of the scene that will replace the bride auction in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. (Walt Disney Co.)

But Disney is not the only company that has had to change an attraction to avoid offending todays guests.

At Six Flags Over Georgia, a ride that was originally based on the Uncle Remus stories of the old South was renamed Monster Mansion in 2008. The previous name, Monster Plantation, it seems, recalled for visitors scenes from slave life on a Southern plantation.

Gary Goddard, an attraction designer who worked for Disney in the 1970s and early 80s, said that changes to rides are expected but if the modifications dont make the attraction more thrilling and fun the ride suffers.

Im not against change, he said. Im against change if it makes it bland. If it keeps the spirit of the ride and makes it more fun, Im for it.

Indeed, the Pirates ride has also been injected with some Hollywood pizzazz.

Characters from the multi-billion-dollar movie franchise starring Johnny Depp were added to the ride in 2006. An animatronic Depp, in full pirate regalia, later replaced the frightened woman in the barrel.

Its normal for theme parks to modify and upgrade attractions, primarily to increase return visits.

But Disneys Anaheim park one of the nations oldest theme parks faces a unique problem when rides that have been around for decades are overhauled. Hard-core fans who grew up with the attractions feel like a part of their childhood is being erased when attractions are altered.

Todd Regan, a Disneyland fan for more than 30 years and author of the Disney website MiceChat, said he received dozens of angry, even, hate-filled responses when he wrote on his website last week that he supported the removal of the bride-auction scene.

Its very interesting how some people are justifying a scene of human trafficking in an attraction, he said.

One of Regans readers responded to news of the changes by promising to boycott all Disney parks forever. No joke. With the other changes in the parks I didn't like, I accepted them and got over it, and but not this time, the fan wrote.

Scot Squires, 43, a marketing professor and Disney fan who has visited every Disney theme park in the world, described himself as a traditionalist who is still fuming that Disney revamped the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror ride at California Adventure Park to incorporate Marvel superheroes.

But Squires said he has no problem with the change proposed to the Pirates ride, saying, Times have changed and I think Disney is just trying to keep up with the changes.

The ride is among the parks biggest attractions a popularity no doubt boosted by being the basis of the long-running Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise now in its the fifth installment. The Jerry Bruckheimer-produced films have grossed $3.7 billion worldwide.

Disney Enterprises Inc.

Johnny Depp as Capt. Jack Sparrow in the film "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales," the latest in the five-film franchise.

Johnny Depp as Capt. Jack Sparrow in the film "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales," the latest in the five-film franchise. (Disney Enterprises Inc.)

And while some previous modifications have sparked fan outrage, they have not hurt Disneylands attendance numbers or damaged the popularity of the ride, which has welcomed more than 400 million riders since it opened, according to the park.

Martin Lewison, a theme park expert, does not expect that the latest change will hurt the Burbank companys bottom line either.

Some people will be intrigued and some disappointed and the net effect will be zero, said Lewison, a business management professor at Farmingdale State College in New York.

For its part, Disney defends its actions. Asked to comment, the company cited Marty Sklar, who helped design several of the original rides at the Anaheim park.

I cant think of a single attraction that has not been enhanced and improved, some over and over again, Sklar, 83, said in a statement. Change is a tradition at Disneyland.

Still, previous changes have not been welcomed by everyone, even within the Disney company.

Francis Xavier Atencio, a longtime Disney ride designer who retired in 1984, clearly was not happy with the changes made in 1997 when the trays of food were added to the attraction.

Nobody asked me but my reaction was this is Pirates of the Caribbean not Boy Scouts of the Caribbean, he said in an interview with D23, Disneys officials fan club. Atencio also wrote the lyrics to the rides theme song, Yo, ho (A Pirates Life for Me.)

Read more here:

Disneyland plans a PC makeover for its Pirates of the Caribbean attraction - Los Angeles Times

Old time something come back again! The older folks will say the old becomes new again or the more things seem to change is the more they remain the same. Stilt walking, junkanoo dancing and the moko jumbie phenomenon can be traced back many, many years as far back as the 1700s. In an online article dated 2011 the Virgin Islands Traveler focused on The Evolution of the Moko Jumbie. After reading it, I got a much clearer understanding of what stilt walkers, junkanoos and moko jumbie is all about. This part of our Caribbean culture originated in Africa where traditional dress was donned as stilt walkers were fulfilling various spiritual roles by communicating with the ancestors. They also played a key role in coming-of-age ceremonies.

B. E. Laine, a Delaware County resident recalls her memories of junkanoo dancing. I must have been about 4 years old when I became aware of junkanoo dancers. Back in those olden days they were a grass-roots group accompanied by their makeshift band. There was drumming, along with other homemade instruments mainly fashioned from kitchen utensils. Graters, spoons and pot covers made a great rhythm that kept the dancers in sync. This was not the greatest entertainment for most children, Laine said.

I can still recall how terrified I was when I saw a stilt walker for the first time in my life! A person that towered over everyone with a painted face and a scary costume. I clung to my mother for dear life! I almost lost my mind when the junkanoo dancers grabbed at other children in the crowd, Laine said. After that experience, whenever there was a parade and I heard the moko jumbie music, I would make a beeline to my bedroom and hide under my bed until I was sure that they had already gone by our house.

Since then, the art form has taken on a whole new look. The costumes that are worn have evolved into brightly colored costumes and the music that they dance to is more modern calypso, soca and reggae. When the children hear the lively beats, they jump up and start dancing to the music or tapping their feet and clapping their hands.

Stiltwalkers, moko jumbie and junkanoo have become a traditional act in circuses, parades and shows throughout the United States and other parts of the world. The UniverSoul Circus, for example, has a permanent dance group from Trinidad and Tobago called the Caribbean Dynasty Dancers. My daughter and I look forward to seeing them every time they come to Fairmount Park in Philadelphia because they bring something new and fresh to the big top every year. They are amazing. When they enter onto the stage the crowd livens up and starts to move. As someone from the Caribbean, it makes me very proud (as I am sure it does for all of us) to see other cultures embracing the beauty of the performance. We were recently at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., and a part of the Lion King Circle of Light show features stilt walkers with the same type of lively Caribbean music.

Most of the Caribbean Islands boast several carnivals that feature these performers as a main tourist attraction.

Gone are the days when one has to travel to the Caribbean Islands to experience this form of entertainment. Today many stilt walkers, junkanoo dancers and moko jumbie dancers have organized themselves and are available at a price to those who so desire to make them a part of their next affair. These performers are being hired for entertainment at weddings, banquets and parties.

But, if you want to experience the original, true junkanoo, carnival, moko jumbie, you have to check the list below and visit one of the islands of the Caribbean. You wont regret it.

Anguilla: August (Carnival and Boat-Racing)

Antigua: August (Road March and Steel Drum)

Aruba: Lent (Torch Light Parades and King and Queen Elections)

Bahamas (Junkanoo): December-January (Rush-Out Parade)

Barbados (Crop Over): August (Calypso Music)

Bermuda (Bermuda Day/Junkanoo): May (Celebration of Bermudan Ancestry)

Bonaire: Lent (The Burning of King Momo)

British Virgin Islands (Emancipation Festival): July-August (Food Fairs and Street Jamming)

Cayman Islands (Batabano): April-May (Bar Hop and Soca Performances)

Cuba: Lent (Comparsas street performances)

Curacao: Lent (Tumba music)

Dominica: Lent (Jump-up Street Parade)

Dominican Republic: Lent (Elaborate Masks and Multi-town Celebrations)

Grenada: August (Local Band Performances and Queen Show)

Guadeloupe: Lent (Dance Marathons and Competitions)

Haiti: Lent (Rural Rara Festival and Creole Celebrations)

Jamaica (Bacchanal): April (Mas Camp and Bacchanal Fridays)

Martinique: Lent (Burning of Vaval, the Carnival King)

Montserrat: December (Beauty Pageants and Masqueraders Dancers)

Saba: July-August (Celebration of the Old Caribbean)

St. Barts: Lent (Vide Parade Day and Costume/Dance Competitions)

St. Eustatius: April-May (Carnival Village and International Show)

St. Kitts and Nevis (Sugar Mas): December-January (The Sugar Cup and Cocktail Party)

St. Lucia: July (Boutique Carnival and Parade of the Bands)

St. Martin/Maarten: St. Martin: Lent; St. Maarten: April (Balloon Parade and Light Parade)

St. Vincent and the Grenadines (Vincy Mas): June-July (JOuvert, Miss Carnival, and Junior Pan Fest)

Trinidad and Tobago: Lent (biggest and most well-known Carnival in the Caribbean)

Turks and Caicos (Junkanoo): December-January

U.S. Virgin Islands: St. Croix, December-January; St. Thomas, April (Food Fairs and Fireworks)

More:

Caribbean Currents: Stilt walking, junkanoo dancing and moko jumbie more popular than ever - The Philadelphia Tribune

Share.

Disneyland is changing up a major scene in it Pirates of the Caribbean ride.

According to a disneyparks blog post, the scene that once saw women being auctioned off (next to the Auction, Take a wench for a bride sign ) will be replaced with a scene of villagers lining up to surrender their valuables. The sign will be replaced to read "Auction, surrender yer loot", and the red-headed woman that was once a prize in the original scene will now be among the pirate ranks as an overseer complete with rifle and feathered cap.

In a statement to The Orange County Register spokeswoman for the Disneyland Resort Suzi Brown said we believe the time is right to turn the page to a new story in this scene, consistent with the humorous, adventurous spirit of the attraction.The new scene will roll out at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World in 2018.

This is far from the first alteration to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, which opened at Disneyland Park in Anaheim in 1967. In 1997 a scene depicting pirates chasing women was altered to show them chasing women carrying trays of food, while characters from Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean films were added in 2006.

Lucy O'Brien is Games & Entertainment Editor at IGNs Sydney office. Follow her onTwitter.

Read more here:

Pirates of the Caribbean: Disney Making This Major Alteration to the Theme Park Attraction - IGN

The notorious hate group World Congress of Families (WCF) began its fourth regional Caribbean conference in St. Johns Antigua. The conference will wrap up today.

The misleading theme of the rabidly anti-LGBTQ hate groups regional conference is Building Strong Caribbean Families Upholding Marriage, the Family and the Sanctity of Human Life.

Notorious American exporters of hate such as Sharon Slater, Brian Brown, Don Feder, Sharon Slater and Scott Stirm are listed as featured speakers for this event. The foreign minister of St. Lucia is also scheduled to appear at the conference.

WCFs fourth Caribbean gathering comes a little more than a year after anti-LGBTQ exporters of hate descended on Barbados in April 2016.

WCF is one of the most active American organizations involved in the export of hate. Since 1997, it has organized events around the world that foster homophobia and transphobia under the guise of protecting the "natural family." WCF's activities range from holding conferences in Nigeria on denying rights to LGBTQ people to working to silence Russias LGBTQ community.

HRC stands in solidarity with LGBTQ activities in the Caribbean as this toxic gathering of exporters of hate meets this week. Read more about our work on countering the export of hate here.

Excerpt from:

World Congress of Families Caribbean Meeting Underway - Human Rights Campaign (blog)

Royal Caribbean Blog (blog)

Royal Caribbean trademarks two new cruise ship names Royal Caribbean Blog (blog) Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. Whether you cruise multiple times per year or you're new to cruising, the goal of Royal Caribbean Blog is for it to be a useful resource ... Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE:RCL) Cut to Hold at Zacks Investment ResearchThe Cerbat Gem Price Alert: Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE:RCL) Stock Nears Resistance -- Technicals Hit StrengthCML News 4th of July Cruise Deals Being Offered by Cruise LinesCruise Fever Stock Observer -Sports Perspectives -Markets Daily all 30 news articles »

See the article here:

Royal Caribbean trademarks two new cruise ship names - Royal Caribbean Blog (blog)