Daily Archives: February 1, 2022

February may be the shortest month of the year, but there are lots of cruises to sail on in these mere 28 days.

This article is an effort to share what you need to knowabout going on a Royal Caribbean cruise in the month of February, with important news, tips, and helpful information along the way.

With the exception of President's Day holidays in the middle of the month, February is generally a slower month in terms of demand for cruises since school is in session.

Deal hunters will find good prices in the first two weeks, and the last week.

President's Week can see more families hopping on a cruise since there is either a long weekend or the entire week off for many schools.

Jewel of the Seas should return to service on February 20 from Miami, Florida. Jewel was one of four ships to have cancelled cruises due to the Omicron variant.

Vision of the Seas was originally scheduled to restart operations as well, but she won't sail again until at least early March.

Spectrum of the Seas is also out of action until she can restart in Singapore in April.

Royal Caribbean's stricter Omicron variant health protocols remain in place until at least mid-February.

This means in addition to the usual array of Covid-19 protocols onboard its ships, Royal Caribbean requires masks to be worn indoors at all times, unless actively eating or drinking while seated. This includes vaccinated areas and venues.

In addition, smoking is not permitted in the casino for all cruises departing on or before February 14, 2022.

These stricter protocols could very well be extended again. In fact, I would expect it to be extended again just to set proper expectations.

Beyond the face mask protocols,Royal Caribbean requires all passengers 12 years old and older to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination at check-in.

Guests under 12 canstill cruise as long as they continue to provide a negative test result at boarding and follow certain health and safety protocols.

Vaccinated guests must show a negative COVID-19 test result for a PCR or antigen test taken no more than 2 days before boarding day.

Unvaccinated kids age 2 to 11 must show a negative test result for a PCR test (not antigen) taken no more than 3 days before boarding day. This test cannot be taken on boarding day for unvaccinated kids.

Guests under 2 years of age do not need to complete a pre-cruise test.

Keep in mind there are different health protocols for Grandeur of the Seas sailings from Barbados, so you should review those if sailing from there.

February should be a little bit warmer than January, but it's still typically more comfortable outdoors than other months of the year,

High temperatures in the Caribbean in February are in the 70s, although it can drop as low as the 60s in The Bahamas. The Southern Caribbean is going to be the warmest, with high temperatures in the low 80s.

There is a good argument for February having some of the best weather of the year in the Caribbean because of the lower humidity levels, low rainfall, and generally comfortable weather outdoors. It's great for doing outdoor shore excursions without feeling excessively sweaty after.

While the weather may be lovely in the tropics, winter storms are still very prevalent back at home, which is why you want to be sure toarrive at least one day before your cruiseso that if your travel plans are interrupted, you don't miss your cruise.

Read more:Packing for a Royal Caribbean cruise in the Winter

Is it warm enough to swim? Yes, albeit it won't be the most ideal pool or beach swimming conditions.

Average water temperatures throughout the Caribbean hover around 80 degrees (27 C), which is on the cooler side for the year, but not drastically cooler than the summer months.

Yes, you can watch the Super Bowl on a cruise ship. In fact, it becomes a kind of big party around the ship to watch the big game.

Since a lot of passengers will want to watch the game, Royal Caribbean typically shows the game all around the ship at many venues.Depending on your ship, the game can be shown in bars, the pool deck movie screen and even in the Royal Theater. Exact locations will be posted in theCruise Compassfor that day.

In addition to showing the game in various spots, there will be typical football watching snacks as part of a "tailgate party" offering. These have included hot dogs, nachos, chips and more.

Read more:Guide to watching the Super Bowl on a Royal Caribbean cruise

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Royal Caribbean cruises in February 2022: What to expect - Royal Caribbean Blog

Imagine a fish species ranked among over fishing, bottom trawling, pollution, and climate change as one of the greatest threats to underwater ecosystems.

The expansion of the lionfish in Caribbean waters is one of the greatest threats of this century to warm temperate and tropical Atlantic reefs and associated habitats, says National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) scientist James A. Morris, Jr. But in the region, fishermen, divers, and chefs have teamed up to rid the reefs of the invasive predator, one delicious bite at a time.

It all began on the three-island archipelago of the Cayman Islands.

Master diver, dive shop owner, underwater photographer, ocean enthusiast and avid conservationist, Jason Washington clearly remembers the day in 2008 when the first lion fish was spotted in Cayman waters.

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Jason Washington photographs Cayman Islands freediver, Coral Tomascik removing an invasive Indo ... [+] Pacific Red Lionfish

We had been looking out for them since 2007, when NOAA scientists informed the Cayman Islands Department of the Environment that the invasive fish were headed towards the islands in a current from the Northeast, he recalls.

Jason immediately got to work, researching ways to control the venomous underwater carnivore with no known predators and time was of the essence.

Lionfish, originally from the Indian and Pacific oceans, pose a major threat to the Caribbeans underwater ecosystems, voraciously devouring more than 60 species of fish, small fish, eggs, crustaceans, and mollusks up to half their body size that are unfortunate enough to be in their path.

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With the potential of just one fish to reduce young reef populations by up to 90% in just over a month, and with a maximum density of over 200 adults per acre, lionfish can consume more than 460,000 prey fish per acre per year. This is bad news for reefs, as lionfish prey eat algae that keep corals clean. Its also bad news from a financial perspective according to journal, Nature, lionfish have cost the global economy nearly $3 trillion over the past 50-years.

Lionfish (Pterois) near coral, Cayo Largo, Cuba

Through his own research, Jason would learn that the invasive lionfish, while venomous, was not poisonous, and had been a part of Pacific diets for many years. It would simply take skilled removal of the spines that contain the venomous toxin. As a skilled diver, this was not a major concern.

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Most fish have some kind of toxin in their fins, he explains.

The next step would be to establish a team of cullers, and to find an adventurous chef who would be willing to turn a venomous predator into a mouth-watering delicacy.

Check. Check and Check.

Jason would soon learn that locally based Chef Thomas Tennant, who was the Executive Chef at Michaels Genuine Food & Drink in Grand Cayman at the time, was known to use invasive species such as the Cayman green iguana as a source of fuel for his pizza oven. He was sure he had found his chef, and Chef Thomas enthusiastically agreed to the challenge.

No one on this side of the world ate lionfish before we started serving it in Cayman, says Jason. It was the beginning of a culinary adventure for good.

In 2010, Jason would spearhead a program that would reward cullers for getting lionfish off the reefs, and in September of that year, he would launch what he initially referred to as a Lionfish Rodeo at the La Mesa Dive Site in Grand Cayman.

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The tournament would result in the cull of more than 500 lionfish, but what was even more impressive was the fact that at the end of the day, Chef Thomas was able to cook all of the fish for famished divers and it received rave reviews.

The event generated a great deal of press and would lead to the launch of C.U.L.L., the Cayman United Lionfish League, that would hold culling-ary events four times a year.

That was it a market had been created for the tiger-striped delicacy.

West Indian Chowder with Lionfish, lionfish sandwich, lionfish tea, lionfish escabeche (or escovitch), lionfish ceviche, lionfish tacos, roasted, grilled, fried Chef Thomas went wild the possibilities were endless.

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On a 2012 trip to the Cayman Islands, to host Caymans signature culinary event, Cayman Cookout with Anthony Bourdain and Eric Ripert, Michelin-starred chef, Jos Andrs would connect with Washington and Tennant who would tell him about the lionfish problem and show him how to catch and cook the venomous delicacy.

Not only was Andrs impressed, but he would quickly become an activist and began to serve the dish at his restaurants.

In an article that he penned in National Geographic in 2014, in which he depicted his Cayman lionfish experience, Andrs referred to the efforts of the C.U.L.L. team as A whole effort to eat em to beat em.

These guys are serious, he said. They are doing more than just trapping lionfish, they are turning them into lunch.

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This was all the PR that the lionfish renegades needed a Caribbean movement had effectively begun.

Fast forward eight years, and C.U.L.L. continues to hold four annual events and has removed tens of thousands of lionfish from Caymans waters. Washingtons dive shop, Ambassador Divers, offers a PADI certification for culling lionfish and in 2017, the Master Diver was inducted into the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame in recognition of his work in controlling the lionfish population in Cayman.

Regionally, lionfish derbies or tournaments are helping to reduce populations. Events, such as Barbados Divefest offer culls that culminate with a lionfish hunt and cookout.

Lionfish culling has become a major tourist attraction.

In Jamaica, PADI Scuba Dive Center and Charter Sport Fishing outfit, Lady GDiver offers culling trips that conclude with a hearty lionfish feast and in 2021, Lady GDiver hosted Jamaicas first Lionfish Grand Prix.

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In Dominica, government has given divers permission to hunt lionfish in the Soufriere Scotts Head Marine Reserve, where hunting other marine life is forbidden. Dive operator, Salt Dive offers a Lionfish Hunt which features pole spearing instruction, a lesson on gutting and cleaning after which divers participate in prepping fish to be cooked on the beach over an open flame and served with local sides.

Restaurants and eateries throughout the region have also joined the eat em to beat em trend, otherwise known as invasivorism.

In the kitchen, skilled chefs have become adept at removing spines, and neutralizing any remaining venom with the heat from cooking. The species has higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids than other commonly consumed Caribbean fishes and its succulent white flesh has been commonly compared in flavor to snapper or grouper.

Jason Washington and Chef Thomas Tennant talk to Anthony Bourdain about how to prepare and cook ... [+] lionfish at the Cayman Cookout in Grand Cayman in 2016

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Barbadian Chef, Damian Leach describes the fish as a super clean fish taste My favorite way to use it is in raw applications; its beautiful as a lionfish poke or ceviche.

In Trinidad, Chef and owner of Sails Restaurant & Bar, Attala Maharaj describes the delicacy as a spectacular tasting fish, as beautiful and as regal looking as it is on the outside, the flesh is the same.Its sort of a cross between snapper and grouper, with a firm texture and a buttery taste.

Lionfish ceviche

In the Cayman Islands, Agua restaurant and lounge has featured Coconut Poached Lionfish with local pumpkin, callaloo, okra and plantain chips, and Chef Thomas Tennant, who opened Tomfoodery Kitchen in 2020, and continues to be a member of the Cayman United Lionfish League, uses the predator as the key ingredient in his Lionfish fritters.

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At Jos Andrs Atlantis, Paradise Island Bahamas restaurant, The Cove, a portion of all proceeds from lionfish dishes go toward The Atlantis Blue Project Foundation, an organization committed to marine conservation.

In 2019, Allen Susser, James Beard Award Winner and Consulting Chef at Jade Mountain Resort in St. Lucia, published Green Fig and Lionfish: Sustainable Caribbean Cooking, which features recipes such as Spicy Lionfish Tacos and Grilled Lionfish with Papaya, Pineapple and Kale. Susser refers to lionfish as a responsible, sustainable option and, of course, a great dinner table conversation starter.

Crafts people have also joined the crusade to rid the oceans of the carnivorous fish. In the Cayman Islands, artist Kelly Reineking of Mermaids Touch makes jewelry and accessories from the predatory species, using fins, tails, or dorsal spines in her unique locally made creations.

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Kelly Reineking of Mermaids Touch makes earrings from lionfish fins, tails, or dorsal spines

As the lionfish trend begins to take hold in the United States and other overseas markets, Caribbean divers and conservationists have begun to explore the potential for additional commercial opportunities.

Blue Ventures in Belize believes that there is a largely untapped commercial opportunity for the countrys 3000 small fishers, and they could be right. After all, Whole Foods stores in Florida sell lionfish for $11.99 per pound, which rounds up to $25 for a whole fish on average.

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But, despite their explosion in Caribbean waters just over a decade ago, lionfish populations appear to be on the decline.

Some chefs have noticed an inconsistency in supply, causing many to take the marine predator off their menus.

Unfortunately, I could not consistently source lionfish and had to take off the menu, says Chef, Damian Leach. It makes me wonder; is our lionfish problem not as bad in Barbados as it is in the rest of the Caribbean? Do fisherman think its not worth the time involved in cleaning and removing the spines?

A study reported in journal, Endangered Species Research found that local removal efforts using volunteers are successful at significantly reducing the local density and biomass of invasive lionfish on small Caribbean islands, while findings of a study in Trinidad and Tobago, as reported in journal Marine Pollution Bulletin, revealed that monthly culling efforts resulted in a 30% decline in lionfish biomass and a 27% decline in abundance of the fish.

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Jason Washington has also observed that Cayman waters are not as populated with the invasive fish as they once were.

Whether the population decline is due to regional culling efforts, or other factors such as a flesh disease that was identified in lionfish in the Gulf of Mexico some years ago, there is no guarantee of whether these effects will be long-term or temporary. But given its reproductive capacity, complete elimination of the lionfish species is highly unlikely.

In the meantime, divers, consumers, and chefs continue to put their money where their mouth is, helping to save the reefs one bite at a time.

The lionfish invasion poses a real threat to our already struggling reefs and the more attention we can shine on eating them as a solution the better, says Jason. I couldnt be more proud of how my team successfully launched this destructive predator onto plates all over the world.

(L-R): Jason Washington, Chef Thomas Tennant and Chef Jose Andres go diving for lionfish

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The Caribbean Is Taking A Bite Out Of Its Invasive Lionfish Problem - Forbes

A Coast Guard investigation is underway after the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Harmony of the Seas was responsible for Sunday evening's scrub of a SpaceX launch fromCape Canaveral Space Force Station.

The ship veered into the exclusion zone along a Falcon 9 rocket's flightpath just before the 6:11 p.m. EST launch, forcing SpaceX to stand down from the mission and prepare for a 24-hour turnaround.Harmony of the Seas is the world's third-largest cruise ship at 226,963 gross tons. It has 2,747 staterooms, a passenger capacity of 6,687 and a crew of 2,200.

In a statement issued Monday, U.S. Coast Guard spokespersonDavid Micallef said: "We can confirm the cruise ship was Harmony of the Seas.The Coast Guard is actively investigating Sundays cruise ship incursion and postponement of the SpaceX launch."

"Our primary concern is the safety of mariners at sea, and we will continue to work with our federal, state and local port partners to ensure safe and navigable waterways," Micallef added.

A Royal Caribbean spokesperson did not respond as of Monday afternoon to a request from FLORIDA TODAY for comment.

Port Canaveral Chief Executive Officer John Murray said: "Port Canaveral fully supports the space industry in our region. This, unfortunately, was an isolated incident that happened outside of our control. The Coast Guard is conducting a full investigation, and we look forward to continuing to work with them and our space partners to ensure the continued success of this important enterprise.

Launch engineers waited as long as possible for the Coast Guard to resolve the situation, but ultimately ran out of time to meet the instantaneous window's deadline. It marked the fourth delay for the mission that was previously scrubbed due to inclement weather around Launch Complex 40.

Second mission scrub: SpaceX scrubs Cape Canaveral launch and landing a second time, citing weather

Fourth mission scrub: Cruise ship enters launch hazard area, forcing SpaceX to scrub mission a fourth time

Teams then targeted 6:11 p.m.Monday for the fifth attempt at launching an Italian Space Agency Earth observation satellite, and it launched at that time Monday.

Sunday's launch was slated to fly toward the southeast, a corridor that went unused from 1960 to 2020. New technologies have enabled SpaceX to resume north-to-south polar launches from Florida, which fly almost parallel to the coast, but also mean pilots and mariners need to be on the lookout for different exclusion zones.

Hazard areas, designed to mitigate risks to people in the event of a rocket failure, are issued before every mission.

Earlier in January,Space Launch Delta 45issued a statement and warned pilots and mariners that there would be upwards of five polar launches in January alone. Sunday's scheduled launch marked the fourth.

"The 2022 launch pace is going to be exceptionally busy, with up to five polar, and seven total launches, projected for the month of January alone," Space Force Maj.Jonathan Szul said in a statement. "Due to the unique southerly trajectories, there will be a larger potential impact to air and sea traffic along the southeast coast of Florida."

"We ask that all pilots and mariners double-check their Notices to Airmen (NOTAM) and Notices to Mariners (NOTMAR) to ensure they are fully aware of all pending launch activities in this historic month on the Space Coast," Szul said.

Sunday's scrub also pushed a SpaceX mission originally slated for Monday: Yet another Falcon 9 rocket at Kennedy Space Center's pad 39A will have to wait a little longer for its task of launching the company's 37th batch of Starlink internet satellites.

The Harmony of the Seas sailed out ofPort Canaveral on Sunday for a seven-night cruise, with stops at St. Maarten, St. Thomas andPerfect Day at CocoCay, which is Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas.

Contact Emre Kelly at aekelly@floridatoday.com or 321-242-3715. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @EmreKelly.

Dave Berman is business editor at FLORIDA TODAY.Contact Berman at dberman@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @bydaveberman.

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Coast Guard starts investigation of Royal Caribbean ship that caused SpaceX scrub - Florida Today

The Jerk Shacks original San Antonio location on the West Side closed up shop in September2021 to the dismay of customers who had fallen in love with the eateries delicious Caribbean dishes. However, the franchise brings lively news as it announces a re-openingbut on an entirely new spot.

Announcing the resumption of the business is chef and owner, Nicola Blaque, stated the The Jerk Shacks newest location within San Antonio is near SeaWorld and opened January 14 in the Far West side with much needed improvements.

Having a humble beginning as a food stall that serves delicious Caribbean and Jamaican grubs on a first-come, first-serve basis, The Jerk Shack easily rose to prominence among the food-loving locals. Alongside Nicola Blaque, her husband Cornelius Massey also helped her run the business since its very establishment back in 2018.

Although beloved by locals, owners and fans alike agreed that there were some much needed improvements such as air conditioning, a larger space for indoor seating, and capacity to add a drive-through. The new location is open Tuesday Saturday 11AM 4:30PM and closed Sunday Monday!

We had lines like true Jerk Shack fashion, with people wrapping the building. They love the food, and theyre here for us. Blaque to Austin Eater

Good news for The Jerk Shack fans! Blaque also announced a second location is in the works in downtown SA that is aimed to open winter 2023 at the Schultze House.

Have you tried The Jerk Shack yet? Let us know your thoughts and favorite food item below!

Featued image credit: The Jerk Shack

Excerpt from:

Popular Caribbean Eatery Reopened in a New Location in San Antonio's West Side - Texas is Life

Sometimes you just want to splash out and have a lovely weekend and, while you wont find many fancy resorts in Guadeloupe, there is a beautiful hotel called La Toubana. I have a habit of taking in stray dogs and I rescued a puppy I called Suzy she was basically living in a bin, all skin and bones, and 10 days later, there she was sunbathing in a five-star resort.

Guadeloupe really isnt about those places, though. The cast and crew, which includes a lot of Guadeloupeans, drink at Buddys Beach Bar, a local legend who knows everything and everyone and helps us with locations for Death in Paradise. You have to pace yourself when it comes to the rum there, and everywhere else. The local drink is ti punch, named after the creole word for small because it isnt mixed with anything. Youre given lime juice, sugar and a big bottle of rum and you make it yourself. Its supposed to be a sipper, but you get in trouble with it and learn your lesson very quickly.

Death in Paradise fans really do make a beeline for the locations on the show and I always wonder what they make of it. Its unspoilt, authentic Caribbean, not five-star luxury, and you have to understand that before you go there. Commit to the culture and, if you do that, travelling in Guadeloupe is the most rewarding experience.

As told to Lara Kilner

Death in Paradise series 11 is currently airing on BBC One, Fridays at 9pm

Arrivals in Guadeloupe over the age of 11 must undertake a Covid test 72 hours or less before departure and declare themselves symptom-free. For details, see gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

Air France (airfrance.com) flies from London to Guadeloupe via Paris from 438 return. Langley Resort Fort Royal (00 590 5906 87670; langleyhotels.eu) offers doubles from 161 per night.

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The secret Caribbean island you may have seen on screen without realising - Telegraph.co.uk

By NAN STAFF WRITER

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Mon. Jan. 31, 2022: New York City Mayor Eric Adams has added another Caribbean American to his team.

Just weeks after Adams named the citys first Caribbean First Caribbean Born Corporation Counsel, he has named a Caribbean American commissioner of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD).

Adolfo Carrin Jr., who was born to Puerto Rican parents, will serve as HPD commissioner.

Thank you, Mayor Adams, for the opportunity to return to public service and work with you, the great team you have assembled, and the dedicated public servants at HPD, so we can build a city that works for everyone. There is no greater responsibility we share than to build nurturing communities that provide families an affordable and safe place to live and an opportunity to move up the economic ladder, saidincoming HPD Commissioner Carrin Jr.

He noted that his parents came from Puerto Rico in the 1950s and moved into a tenement basement apartment in Williamsburg, then into NYCHAs Jacob Riis Houses and HUD-assisted Haven Plaza on the Lower East Side, and then, with the help of an FHA mortgage, to our first home in the North Bronx.

This was all possible because our city and country invested in us, he said. Now we must do the same for this generation. Were going to work hard to create neighborhoods of opportunity, where families have a chance to get ahead.

Carrin Jr. is the CEO and founder of Metro Futures LLC, a real estate development and consulting firm, whose focus is the development of affordable housing, mixed-use and economic development projects, and strategic planning in the New York City Metro Area.

He has spent his professional career working to build and improve historically marginalized communities in the Bronx, in other areas of New York City, and around the country. Before starting Metro Futures, Carrin served as regional administrator for Region II of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, deputy assistant to President Barack Obama, and director of the White House Office of Urban Affairs. Carrins work resulted in the establishment of a White House Urban Policy Working Group and the first interagency review in 30 years of federal government policy and funding in U.S. urban and metropolitan areas.

Prior to his tenure in the federal government, Carrin served as Bronx Borough President and as a member of the New York City Council. His work as Borough President ushered in a new era of building and growth in the Bronx that increased investment in housing, schools, millions of square feet of commercial space, the new Yankee Stadium, and new businesses. Carrin also served as president of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO), is an Aspen Institute Rodel Fellows alumnus, and has served on numerous boards for non-profit and government entities.

He also served as executive vice president of Stagg Group, a housing development and management firm, and senior advisor for Corporate Development to the CSA Group, the largest Hispanic-owned architecture and engineering firm in the U.S.

Carrin received his Bachelor of Arts from the Kings College and a Masters in Urban Planning from Hunter College.

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Another Caribbean American Added To New York City Mayors Team - Caribbean and Latin America Daily News - News Americas

Jason Holder stands at 6 feet 7 inches, but is far from the archetypal Caribbean fast bowler who thrives on speed. He comes from Barbados, an island that produced two bowlers who scored high on the pace allied to menace quotientMalcolm Marshall and Joel Garner.

But Holder is all about a disciplined line and length, and movement. A bit underrated, he has been effective though. He provided fresh proof of his brand of bowling at his home ground Bridgetown on Sunday evening.

Holder has been trying hard to prove to teammates his value in T20 cricket. Not being picked in the original 2021 T20 World Cup squad hurt him. He was only added as an injury replacement for left-arm pacer Obed McCoy.

The tournament in the UAE proved a disaster as West Indies, the holders, crashed out in the group stage. A 3-0 T20I series rout in Pakistan and a 2-1 ODI series defeat to Ireland added to their woes.

The 3-2 series win over England achieved on Sunday after a 17-run win in the final game thus couldnt have come at a better time. Holder chose his Kensington Oval to deliver a Player-of-the-Match performance, finishing the game with four wickets in four balls for the first hat-trick by a West Indies bowler in T20 cricket. It is only the fourth time in mens T20Is that a bowler has taken four wickets off successive deliveries.

In the five-game series against England, former Windies skipper Holder was extra motivated. In an earlier interview to his IPL side Sunrisers Hyderabads website, he had opened up about the heavy disappointment at not being picked in the original West Indies squad. The England series was an opportunity to make a point.

The all-rounder registered his career-best bowling figures, claiming four wickets for seven runs to finish with 5/27 runs, for a series haul of 15 wickets. He contributed with the bat in the fourth game, scoring a 24-ball 36 batting at No 5. He was named the Player-of-the-Series.

Theres a lot of hard work. An area I need to improve is my death bowling and variations. Im improving in the nets and the captain has the confidence in me. That does a lot for my confidence. People are seeing what I can do and giving me the responsibility. I feel really good about my role; Ill pass on the peripheral noise. Every time I step on the field, it's about what I can deliver for the team. Full confidence and thanks to the management staff for giving me this role, Holder said in his post-match interview.

Cricketers from the Caribbean islands and Guyana that constitute the West Indies side are among the most sought after in T20 cricket. Power-hitting and some spin talent perfectly fit the format. They performed poorly at the last T20 World Cup but it is usually very difficult to break into their national side. Though he was in the squad, Holder didnt get to play a game during their victorious 2016 T20 World Cup campaign in India.

The gentle giants performance against England would have caught the attention of IPL franchises as they strategise for the big auction to be held in a fortnight. Sunrisers Hyderabad for one are sure to go for him. He proved his value to the IPL side in the last two editions after being signed in 2020. He picked 14 wickets in seven games that season, following it up with 16 scalps in eight games in 2021.

The SRH break gave him the platform to prove his abilities to his compatriots. He was playing IPL for the first time since turning out for Kolkata Knight Riders in 2016. Talking about it, he told the SRH website: It was just a sense of relief (to get the phone call from SRH). It was like being given a new life, not being in the fray and then being given the opportunity.

Holder started his cricket at the famous Empire Cricket Club in Barbados, home to the West Indies legend, the late Sir Everton Weekes. Though he doesnt generate pace, he uses his height to good effect. As he extracts bounce from a good length, batsmen struggle to put him away. No wonder his bowling hero is the West Indies legend from Antigua, Curtly Ambrose. Ambrose played in a way, just stingy, mean. He was one of those guys who (even if) would not practice for four weeks, pick up a ball put the ball right on the spot where he wants to land on.

In Sundays game, it boiled down to England needing 20 runs in the last over with four wickets in handleft-arm spinner Akeal Hosein had taken 4/30when captain Kieron Pollard handed the ball to Holder. He began with a no-ball for two runs before removing Chris Jordan with his second ball. He had the set Sam Billings caught at midwicket off the third delivery and completed the hat-trick when Adil Rashid skied to deep square-leg for a first-ball duck. It was four in four when Saqib Mahmood played on to the stumps.

Read more:

Tall and smart, Jason Holder tweaks the Caribbean pace image - Hindustan Times

Grandeur of the Seas has been in service since 1996, making it an older ship among Royal Caribbeans fleet. In fact, up until 2020, the cruise line had every intention of ditching the ship, transferring it to the Royal Caribbean Group-owned Pullmantur Cruises.

However, those plans have since changed and cruisers still have time to enjoy the Royal Caribbean experience aboard the vessel, for at least a little while longer.

So, why should you give this older ship a try? What can you expect to see, do and experience while aboard Grandeur of the Seas?Heres everything you need to know.

When it comes to size and number of guest rooms, Grandeur of the Seas doesnt necessarily impress in any significant way. However, for some cruisers, that could be ideal. After all, mega ships quite often can feel overwhelming and just too big. So, if youre looking for a ship thats on the smaller, more manageable, easily-navigable side, heres what Grandeur can provide you:

Ordered in 1992 and built in Finland between 1995 and 1996, Grandeur of the Seas has been in service since late 1996. This Vision-class cruise ship underwent a five-week, $48 million refurbishment in Spain in 2012, which brought it up to more recent standards.

Changes that were made during the 2012 dry-docking period included the addition of new entertainment options and childrens programming, new restaurants, new WiFi services, new flat-screen televisions in all of the staterooms and a new way-finding system.

The Concierge Lounge and Diamond Lounge were also added in 2012. The refurbishments were part of a larger effort to revamp the entire Vision class.

Now, frequent cruisers will find that Grandeur of the Seas offers all of the classic Royal Caribbean venues and restaurants that the brand has become known for, even if it doesnt have some of the flashier, new venues and offerings that can be found on the brands latest ships.

As mentioned, Grandeur of the Seas is a member of Royal Caribbeans Vision class. The Vision class includes six ships: Grandeur of the Seas, Enchantment of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas, Vision of the Seas, Legend of the Seas and Splendor of the Seas.

Grandeur of the Seas was the third Vision-class ship to enter service, following Legend of the Seas and Splendor of the Seas, and it was the largest Vision-class ship when it launched (though it was quickly surpassed by the much larger Rhapsody, Vision and Enchantment of the Seas ships).

Several of the other Vision-class ships were transferred to other cruise lines, much as was the plan for Grandeur. Both of Grandeurs predecessors, Legend of the Seas and Splendor of the Seas, were sold to Thomson Cruises.

If you enjoy cruising on Grandeur of the Seas, but want something a little bit newer and/or larger, you might want to consider sailing on Enchantment of the Seas, which is the largest ship in the Vision class, and which debuted in 1997.

Grandeur of the Seas offers a range of staterooms and suites, including

Which one is the right stateroom for you? Across all of your options, youll find that the decor is slightly outdated it is a decade old, after all. Think early 2010s nautical hotel decor lots of blue and green fabric, contemporary art-style carpet and light-hued wood. However, for all of the slightly outdated decor, these staterooms are quite spacious, all across the board.

In the interior staterooms, youll find a good amount of space for two travelers, though some staterooms are designed with up to four travelers in mind, thanks to pull-out beds and sofa beds, as well as connecting cabins.

Ocean-view staterooms feature a little more space, including a sitting area, and big, wide, circular windows that look out over the ocean, right next to your bed. Just like with the interior staterooms, the ocean-view staterooms are great for two passengers, but can also work for groups of three or four, if needed.

Balcony staterooms are even larger, with the same style of sitting areas, but theres the additional balcony living space thats furnished with seating for two and even a table. Each balcony features large, floor-to-ceiling glass doors that offer ocean views even when youre not enjoying the fresh air.

Suites on Grandeur of the Seas include junior suites, grand suites, an owners suite and a royal suite. The junior suites offer larger interior and exterior spaces, with larger sitting areas and even a bathtub, a feature that doesnt come standard in all staterooms. The grand suites, meanwhile, are an even larger option, each with a sleeping area, sitting area and foyer.

Worth Reading: Royal Caribbean Crown and Anchor Society What You Need to Know

Owners suites are even larger, but its the royal suite that really takes top prize, with more than double the space than youll find in an owners suite. The royal suite includes a huge living room, a king-size bed in a separate bedroom, a piano and even a jacuzzi.

Those who stay in one of the suites enjoy additional suite guest-only perks, such as priority check-in, complimentary concierge service, priority seating both at theatrical performances and at the pool, expanded in-room dining options, complimentary luggage valet and more.

Dining aboard Grandeur of the Seas is very much the classic cruise experience. You can expect to find upscale sit-down dining in the main dining room, which is the primary choice for most cruisers, and American classics are typical fare.

Dining venues include

While this doesnt give you quite the range that youd expect on a newer Royal Caribbean ship, its still plenty of options for most cruisers. You have a handful of complimentary dining venues, which are included in the cost of your base cruise fare, but then a few upgrades, if you want them. And, the menus are varied enough at your complimentary dining venues that you dont necessarily need to worry about eating the same meal twice.

Your complimentary dining options include the Great Gatsby Dining Room, Windjammer Cafe, Park Cafe and select room service.

The Great Gatsby Dining Room offers standard sit-down cruise dining, with more formal menu options such as omelets and eggs benedict for breakfast, and pasta or prime rib at dinner. Each dinner includes several courses. Dining is on a set schedule, though, so dont expect to just pop into the main dining room any time during your cruise.

Windjammer Cafe is the more relaxed buffet area, but it also works on a strict schedule. The Park Cafe can be found in the adults-only Solarium, and it offers light eats, such as yogurt or oatmeal, or small sandwiches.

If youre willing to spend a bit more, you can enjoy upgraded options at the for-a-fee restaurants. These include Giovannis Table, Chops Grille, Izumi, The Chefs Table and Cafe Latte-Tudes.

The Chefs Table is an intimate, adults-only dining experience that allows you to dine with a select group of your fellow cruisers, as the chef directly interacts with you. The five-course meal includes wine pairings.

Chops Grille, meanwhile, is your classic American steakhouse, with surf and turf and all the traditional sides. Giovannis Table offers family-style Italian eats, while Izumi is the place to go for Asian cuisine. Cafe Latte-tudes serves Starbucks coffee and Ben & Jerrys ice cream.

You can nearly find as many bars and lounges on Grandeur of the Seas as you can restaurants. Your watering hole options include

R Bar is a lively atmosphere, where you can find regularly scheduled events in addition to a menu of classic cocktails. The casino bar, pool bar and solarium bar, meanwhile, are all simply bars situated within the venues by the same names, so you can enjoy an adult beverage while you gamble or swim.

The Schooner Bar is a Royal Caribbean classic, with its nautical theme and great views of the promenade. South Pacific Lounge sits behind the Schooner Bar and is the place to go for lots of activity and performances, in addition to drinks. Lastly, the Viking Crown Lounge is a quiet spot during the day, but then turns into a nightclub after hours.

Of course, you cant just dine and drink for your entire cruise. When youre ready for something fun to do, Grandeur of the Seas has a lot to offer.

There are two pools on the ship. The main pool is for all ages and is surrounded by lounge chairs and four hot tubs. The cruise staff also do a nice job of keeping a running program of activities and events happening poolside. The second pool is in the adults-only Solarium, and is flanked by two hot tubs. The quiet atmosphere is for those ages 16 and up.

Other outdoor activities include the rock climbing wall, shuffleboard and ping-pong tables, on the sun decks.

If your idea of a good time is more geared toward relaxation than activities, youll appreciate the ships Vitality at Sea Spa, which offers a full menu of traditional spa services.

Of course, theres also the Palladium Theater and Casino Royale, where you can either sit back and take in a show, or try your hand at the slots or gambling table.

In addition to all the fun you can have on a Grandeur of the Seas cruise, there are also plenty of amenities, to ensure that all your needs are taken care of.Amenities aboard Grandeur of the Seas include

Grandeur of the Seas may be a little on the older side, but this ship still has a lot to offer, especially for those long-time cruisers wanting to sail on a smaller ship, or those first-time cruisers who dont want to overwhelm themselves with too many options on their first voyage.

Grandeur of the Seas was ordered in 1992 and built in Finland between 1995 and 1996. The ship has been in service since late 1996. It underwent a five-week, $48 million refurbishment in Spain in 2012, which brought it up to more recent standards.

Grandeur of the Seas is a member of Royal Caribbeans Vision class. The Vision class includes six ships: Grandeur of the Seas, Enchantment of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas, Vision of the Seas, Legend of the Seas and Splendor of the Seas. Grandeur of the Seas was the third Vision-class ship to enter service, following Legend of the Seas and Splendor of the Seas, and it was the largest Vision-class ship when it launched (though it was quickly surpassed by the much larger Rhapsody, Vision and Enchantment of the Seas ships).

In 2019, Royal Caribbean announced plans to transfer Grandeur of the Seas to sister cruise line, Pullmantur. However, that transition was canceled in 2020 and the ship remains a part of Royal Caribbeans fleet for the foreseeable future.

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Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas: Overview and Things to Do - Cruise Hive

London-based global citizenship and residence advisory firmHenley & Partnershas released its first 2022 report on the worlds most powerful and least powerful passports. The firm measures the ease with which holders of passports are able to freely move from one country to another.

The ranking by Henley Passport Index is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which maintains the worlds largest and most accurate database of travel information.

The index includes 199 different passports and 227 different travel destinations. Updated quarterly, the Henley Passport Index is the most robust and reliable index of its kind. It ranks the worlds passports according to the countries their holders can visit without a prior visa. If no visa is required, then a score with a value = 1 is created for that passport. The same applies if one can obtain a visa on arrival, a visitors permit, or an electronic travel authority (ETA) when entering the destination.

European countries dominated the top list, with France, Netherlands and Sweden climbing one spot to join Austria and Denmark in fourth place. At the top of the ranking is Japan and Singapore, and holders of these two countries can travel visa-free to 192 destinations.

A number of Caribbean countries also featured prominently, with Barbados leading the region in having the most powerful passport in the Caribbean for 2022.

Below are the Caribbean countries with the most powerful passports:

Barbados

The beautiful island of Barbados in the Caribbean gained its independence from Britain in 1966 after several years of slavery and colonization. The island is mostly made up of generations of enslaved Africans kidnapped from the continent and forced to start new lives on the island.

Aside from its history of slavery and rebellion such as theBussas Rebellion, Barbados is also known for its 5-star luxury travel sites that are number one on the list of tourist attractions. Globally, Barbados ranked 23 with visa-free access to 161 destinations.

St Kitts and Nevis

The Island of St Kitts and Nevis was founded by Christopher Columbus in 1493 although it was already inhabited. He subsequently gave the names San Martn to the island, now known as Nevis and San Cristbal to Saint Kitts. In recent years, it has become a favorite destination of African elites. The island nation was ranked number 25 globally with visa-free access to 157 destinations.

The Bahamas

The Bahamas was recently named the most developed country in the Caribbean. In 2018, it ranked favorably in theHDIs indices which include life expectancy (75.8 years), education (11.1 average years spent in school against 12.8 expected years) and standard of living ($26,681 gross national income per capita).

Nassau, which was once the countrys commercial port, carries a lot of history. On the Henley & Partners rankings, The Bahamas ranked 26 with visa-free access to 155 destinations.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

In 1979, island nation St. Vincent and the Grenadines became an independent nation. It gained its freedom from the United Kingdom after being under colonization since 1627.

Although it was able to earnself-governance in 1969, it would take it a whole ten years to gain complete independence thanks to a referendum under its first Prime Minister, Milton Cato. St. Vincent and the Grenadines is known for its idyllic geographical location, with sky-blue waters lapping away at thesandy beaches. It is a favorite of many because it is uncluttered throughout the year giving an illusion of exclusivity.

It ranked globally at 29 with visa-free access to 151 destinations.

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Here are the most powerful passports in the Caribbean for 2022 - Face2Face Africa

Economic integration continues to be at the forefront of the OECSs regional integration initiatives for the Economic Union. To this end, a specially funded cohort of trade and legal practitioners from the OECS region benefited from the introduction of a short course on the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

On Monday, January 10, 2022, the OECS Commission in collaboration with the Shridath Ramphal Centre (UWI-SRC) officially launched the short course on Caribbean Community Law and the Caribbean Court of Justice. The course was funded under the OECS ACP TradeCom II Programme and ran from January 10-14, 2022. Twelve (12) practitioners across the six (6) OECS Protocol Member States completed the course.

The virtual training aimed to sensitize and enhance the knowledge of legal practitioners on substantive and procedural Caribbean Community Law, the rules, and procedures of the CCJ in its original jurisdiction, and the case law developed by the Court thereunder. As a result of this training, the increased knowledge in the region of Caribbean Community Law should lead to an increase in the caseload of the CCJ, leading to a quicker pace of development of the legal framework for economic integration in the region.

The course familiarized the participants with the institutional and governance components of CARICOM, which plays an integral role in the operation of the legal framework governing economic integration. Participants were also provided in-depth knowledge of the original jurisdiction of the CCJ; examined select aspects of procedural Community Law and examined crosscutting/thematic issues arising from the CCJs adjudication of disputes thus far in its original jurisdiction.

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The course featured the CCJ President, the Honourable Justice Adrian Saunders, as well as various CCJ practitioners and experts such as Dr. David Berry, Kurt Da Silva, Dr. Corlita Babb, Simone Mayhew, Gladys Young, Dr. Kathy Ann Brown, Dr. Chantal Ononaiwu, Sir Dennis Byron, Hon. Mme. Justice Maureen Rajnauth-Lee, Hans Lim A Po, Professor Mikael Madsen, Hon. Mr. Justice Jacob Witt, Professor James Gathii and Claude Chase.

This is one of seven (7) short courses that the OECS Commission in collaboration with the UWI-SRC will be offering over the coming months. In December 2021, trade and legal practitioners in the OECS benefited from a short course on Competition Law.

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Eastern Caribbean Trade and Legal Practitioners benefit from OECS - UWI course on the Caribbean Court of Justice - St. Lucia News From The Voice - The...