Daily Archives: February 7, 2022

Most of the Royal Caribbean International fleet is now back in revenue service.

While some vessels recently had programs suspended due to COVID-19 related circumstances, 16 cruise ships are sailing for the brand again.

Heres the complete list:

Adventure of the SeasCapacity at 100%: 3,100Date: In service since November 8, 2021Region: CaribbeanHomeport: Galveston (United States)Length: 4 and 5 nightsItinerary: Mexico Cozumel, Costa Maya and Progreso

Allure of the SeasCapacity at 100%: 5,400Date: In service since August 8, 2021Region: CaribbeanHomeport: Fort Lauderdale (United States) Length: 6 and 8 nightsItinerary: Bahamas, Western and Eastern Caribbean

Anthem of the SeasCapacity at 100%: 4,100Date: In service since July 7, 2021Region: CaribbeanHomeport: Cape Liberty (United States) Length: 7 to 9 nightsItinerary: Eastern Caribbean and Bahamas

Explorer of the SeasCapacity at 100%: 3,100Date: In service since November 7, 2021Region: CaribbeanHomeport: San Juan (Puerto Rico)Length: 7 nightsItinerary: Eastern and Southern Caribbean

Freedom of the SeasCapacity at 100%: 3,600Date: In service since July 2, 2021 Region: CaribbeanHomeport: Miami (United States)Length: 2 to 4 nightsItinerary: Bahamas Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay

Grandeur of the SeasCapacity at 100%: 1,950Date: In service since December 5, 2021Region: CaribbeanHomeport: Bridgetown (Barbados)Length: 7 and 14 nightsItinerary: Southern and Eastern Caribbean

Harmony of the SeasCapacity at 100%: 5,400Date: In service since August 15, 2021Region: Caribbean Homeport: Port Canaveral (United States) Length: 7 nightsItinerary: Western and Eastern Caribbean

Independence of the SeasCapacity at 100%: 3,600Date: In service since January 29, 2022Region: CaribbeanHomeport: Port Canaveral (United States)Length: 3 and 4 nightsItinerary: Bahamas Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau

Liberty of the SeasCapacity at 100%: 3,600Date: In service since October 3, 2021Region: CaribbeanHomeport: Galveston (United States) Length: 7 nightsItinerary: Western Caribbean Mexico, Belize and Honduras

Mariner of the SeasCapacity at 100%: 3,100Date: In service since August 23, 2021Region: CaribbeanHomeport: Port Canaveral (United States) Length: 4 to 7 nightsItinerary: Bahamas, Western and Eastern Caribbean

Navigator of the SeasCapacity at 100%: 3,100Date: In service since November 19, 2021Region: West CoastHomeport: Los Angeles (United States)Length: 3 to 7 nightsItinerary: Mexico and California Cabo San Lucas, Mazatln, Puerto Vallarta, Catalina Island and more

Oasis of the SeasCapacity at 100%: 5,400Date: In service since September 5, 2021Region: CaribbeanHomeport: Miami (United States) Length: 7 nightsItinerary: Bahamas, Western and Eastern Caribbean

Odyssey of the SeasCapacity at 100%: 4,100Date: In service since July 31, 2021Region: CaribbeanHomeport: Fort Lauderdale (United States)Length: 6 to 8 nightsItinerary: Bahamas, Western and Southern Caribbean

Symphony of the SeasCapacity at 100%: 5,400Date: In service since January 29, 2022Region: CaribbeanHomeport: Miami (United States)Length: 7 nightsItinerary: Bahamas, Western and Eastern Caribbean

Brilliance of the SeasCapacity at 100%: 2,100Date: In service since December 16, 2021Region: CaribbeanHomeport: Tampa (United States)Length: 4 and 5 nightsItinerary: Mexico and Bahamas

Enchantment of the SeasCapacity at 100%: 2,250 Date: In service since December 23, 2021Region: CaribbeanHomeport: Baltimore (United States)Length: 8 to 12 nightsItinerary: Eastern Caribbean an Bahamas

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Here Are the Royal Caribbean Ships Currently in Service - Cruise Industry News

"Alternative citizenship gives you all the freedom of traveling visa-free to a lot more places. Apart from this, investing in real estate and setting up a business without much hassle acts as the extra icing, if Caribbeancitizenship by investment is their choice," says CEO CTrustGlobal.

"If you are someone who is not dependent on a Job and is Independently Wealthy with an interest in Travel and Business investments, "Investment migration" is Your best way out," says CTrustGlobal CEO.

Most countries have citizenship by investment Program - all that differs is the time and price to secure it. One must go through all the research and base their decision according to the requirements and budget.

Where are the wealthy moving these days?

"Without a doubt, it's the Caribbean islands -Caribbean passports that offer visa-free travel to nearly 140 to 160 countries," says the CEO, CTrustGlobal.

Let's look at the secrets that make this region so attractive.

A Strong Economic Bounce-Back

The Caribbean is a tourist-dependent region. It remains one of the most prominent destinations in the world. And yet, it's situated in the eye of the storm.

Hurricanes have passed through with high frequency and intensity. Some of them are utterly destructive for tourist operators. But many have adapted to the bitterness of rising again from the ashes.

COVID-19 impact may have been even greater to these regions. It struggled with border closures, flight cancellations, and a near-fall of the cruise-ship market. The human impact of the virus affected tens of thousands.

A report by the Caribbean Tourism Organization showsa drop in tourism arrivals in 2020 in comparison to 2019. The decline was estimated to be at 65%, the biggest in the region.

Despite these challenges, more and more HNWIs are eyeing the region. It makes one wonder what secret lies here. One of the reasons is the region's quick adjustment to situations.

Experts indicate that Caribbean countries were quicker to implement measures for the pandemic. Tourists returned faster compared to other destinations. It outperformed many other parts of the world, which experienced even steeper drops.

Such a strong economy would attract different investors. It's one of the reasons why HNWIs come here.

The Caribbean enjoys some of the highest levels of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) globally. Many of its economies have FDI to GDP ratios above 10%.

Although the 2008 financial crisis greatly reduced its FDI flow, the region has witnessed a considerable recovery recently. It's still one of the significant economic destinations around.

The Best CBI Programs

Citizen-by-Investment is the process of obtaining a second citizenship and passport through investment. One can buy a property in a host country to acquire citizenship. It's a much faster way of becoming a citizen than the traditional immigration method.

The investor does not need to visit or reside in the host country. CBI is the best way for HNWIs to invest in other opportunities globally.

An applicant can have approval roughly within three months. They will receive permanent citizenship, a valid passport, and visa-free travel, among other benefits.

This is what investors from third-world and developing countries look for. It's no longer just a luxury, but rather a necessity.

Let's look at the two countries that have the highest number of investments in the Caribbean:

India

A press release the Business Standard mentions a rise in the number of Indian HNWIs investing in the Caribbean. They are looking for a better way of diversifying their wealth.

This country faces uncertainties around the healthcare industry, primarily influenced by the pandemic. Also, essential tax rules are affecting their investments. Affluent Indians are therefore looking for a better life for their families and more stable financial assets.

CTrustGlobal reports a sharp increase in the Indian upper class investing in other countries. India has close to 7,000 ultra-high-net-worth individuals and over 100 billionaires.

The Global Wealth Migration Review report indicates that close to 5000 millionaires migrated abroad in 2020 alone. A larger percentage of them ended up in the Caribbean.

The Indian government has created flexible policies that allow HNWIs to invest abroad in the past few years. This has allowed them to get citizenship in these countries.

Caribbean countries offer the best CBI programs for Indians. It's no wonder the Indian community is growing steadily. More and more affluent Indians are coming here for business and wealth diversification and a better life for their families.

Nigeria

Despite having vast resources, the Nigerian HNWIs community faces too many global travel restrictions by the Nigerian passport. It grants visa-free access to only 54 destinations, which already includes other African nations.

This is a very small number compared to her neighbors like Ghana, Cameroon, and Cote d'Ivoire. Passports from these countries grant access to other high-end destinations like Europe and the USA.

Investing in Dominica citizenship is the best move. Pairing the Nigerian passport with a Caribbean passport opens doors to more than 150 more destinations globally. This includes the UK, the USA, Russia, and China, which are considered to be economic superpowers.

The CBI process is quick and straightforward. The process will take about three months to complete. Once done, the individual enjoys a wide range of benefits, including expanded visa-free travel to over 200 countries.

Also, investing in the Caribbean passport opens access to tax exemptions from different incomes, gifts, inheritance and wealth, and the best educational institutions. It's a great opportunity for any African investor looking for easy access to the global economy.

Other Reasons

There are several other reasons why the Caribbean has become a favorite destination for HNWIs. Consider the following:

A safe environment

The stable economic development of this region makes it an excellent place for investment. The entire region has been enjoying steady economic growth of about 5% per year, majorly from tourism.

Flexible tax policy

Caribbean countries like Grenada don't impose a foreign income tax, property tax, gift tax, wealth, or inheritance tax on investors. They offer corporate tax incentives to attract more investors, exempting all import taxes too. Also, there is no limit to the flow of capital and profits back home. These are attractive offers for HNWIs investors.

Excellent quality of life

The Caribbean CBI program allows investors to own dual nationality. With this comes the lowest-paid family costs in places like Grenada and Dominica. One can also migrate to the USA using the E2 visa, which allows them to establish, advance, and operate businesses. Besides, their spouse will have the rights to work, and the children can attend the school of their choice.

Final Thought

Investing in the Caribbean CBI is an excellent move for HNWIs who needs access to better business opportunities. The use of FDI promotion policies is more extensive and prevalent here than any other place. It's evidence of stable economic growth. With such a welcoming environment, there is no questions why it is so attractive to investors.

SOURCE ctrustglobal.com

Read the rest here:

The Caribbean: The Haven for The Wealthiest People In The World - PRNewswire

The dating stage in any relationship is critical as the experience usually determines the viability of the initial attraction between two people. Dating is a chance to engage each other in a social setting with the goal of learning as much as possible to decide whether you want to continue socializing and eventually possibly decide to start an exclusive relationship.

During that time mannerisms, behaviors, attitudes, likes, dislikes, standards, dreams and aspirations, to name a few, are all assessed. The dating period is ideally open to allow both parties the freedom to engage as many persons as they would like until a perfect match is found to move on to the next stage in the relationship.

But is this what dating means in Dominica or in the Caribbean for that matter? We took the streets of Dominica to ask persons about the dating experiences of both young and old and from the looks of things dating, quite often referred to as going out really means going steady. It seems to be what persons in an exclusive relationship do for fun. Fair enough!

Loop Caribbean reached out to a few people in the Nature Isle, to find out what to them, constitutes an ideal date.

Nothing Fancy

Responder 1: Something simple, you appreciate me, happy birthday KG; present a gift, make me feel special, something I like, something I want, nothing out of the ordinary very simple.

Dining

Responder 2: Well I am a very simple person - so food! Once we have food and we can chill, thats all.

Sunsets and Champagne

Responder 3: Well my ideal date is a nice young woman somewhere on the beach, sunset beach kind of vibes. Sunset, sun going down kind of business. Yeah so I like it. Wine, champagne, dem kind of vibes.

The movies, drinks and

Responder 4: If I could go on a date, Id say on a Friday me and the woman go out, we go movies. After that we hit a couple of bars and then you know, just go home afterwards and do what we have to do.

Moonlight Walks

Responder 5: In my time, we used to go and take walks during the moonlight. In the night time when the moon start to shine bright, that is the full moon. My boyfriend and myself would go and take a walk and then by our area had a big stone, so we would go and we would sit down there and chat, watching the sea by the seaside and talk and after that he would bring me to my mothers home, then he would go to his home.

Chilling at Home

Well, my ideal date is staying at home with my boyfriend chilling out on the porch and drinking a glass of wine, thats my ideal date.

Adventure

I would say that my ideal date would be anything adventurous because I personally love to go into the outdoors. I love the water; I love swimming, so anything that would get me and my date moving and curious and immersed in adventure would be fun for me.

LOOP CARIBBEAN: Tell us a bit about your best dating experience.

Dinner and gifts

Responder 1: The best date Ive been on.too numerous to mention. Every year it keeps getting better.The person provided me with a gift. They sent a gift to me at work, then later that day they had a card at my home and they told me to meet them at particular spot and after that was done they prepared food for me and when I entered the house food was on the table and gifts was there. I was taken aback

Picnic on the river

Responder 2: A nice little picnic on the Indian River

Chilling at home

Responder 3: My best date, well my best time because thats when I met my boyfriend and it was like the best time of my life because it was like a relief from everything and the comfort and everything I get that night, it was worth it. So, to me that was like my best time, yeah.

To the club

I went to the club with a special someone and danced the night away, then we went somewhere else special. I cant tell you everything about my date, it was just awesome.

Ice cream and a stroll

Prior planning, my idea of the best date ever is getting ice-cream and taking a walk my partner and that means the world to me.

A drive

My best date, I would say, I take my brother ride, pick up my woman, we head possie (Portsmouth), we spend the daynice and simple thing, nothing fancy.

Dancing

Like going to dance. So, we would go and take a walk and if it had a dance in the village and you know after dance

View original post here:

WATCH: Dominicans on what constitutes the ideal date | Loop Caribbean News - Loop Caribbean News

The Food and Drink team just cant get enough of this mouth-watering crumble, and nor will you after whipping up the recipe for yourself.

Shaun and Craig McAnuff, the brothers behind Original Flava, have taken the humble crumble and given it a Caribbean twist and oh boy, does it taste good.

Crumble has to be one of our favourite desserts, so weve added in one of our favourite plant-based ingredients: plantain, said the siblings.

Plantain honestly makes everything a hundred times better, and its no different in this heavenly crumble. Chunks of it with apples, caramelised in a buttery spiced mixture

The riper the plantain, the sweeter the crumble will taste.

To make your plantains overripe, just pop them in the oven at 180C Fan/200C/400F/Gas 6 for about 15 minutes.

Natural Flava: Quick And Easy Plant-Based Caribbean Recipes by Craig and Shaun McAnuff is published by Bloomsbury, priced 22. Photography by Matt Russell. Available now.

(Serves 4-6)

For the crumble:

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Sweet treats: Give the crowd-pleasing crumble a Caribbean twist - Press and Journal

Three weeks after Royal Caribbean was forced to cancel three sailings on Symphony of the Seas, the ship is back in service.

In early January, Royal Caribbean announced four of its cruise ships would either cancel cruises or remain out of service for a while longer due to a rise in Covid-19 cases, largely due to the Omicron variant.

On Saturday, the first of these ships returned to service without any further delays.

Symphony of the Seas departed PortMiami on a 7-night Western Caribbean itinerary that includes a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

According to reports from onboard Symphony, there are2,937 passengers on this sailing.

When Royal Caribbean cancelled the Symphony sailings, it said it did so, "asa result of the ongoing COVID-related circumstances around the world, and in an abundance of caution."

Royal Caribbean International Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations, Mark Tamis, told The Points Guy last month the cancelled cruises gave the cruise line an opportunity to take care of crew members and give passengers a better experience, "One is [that] crew who test positive and are asymptomatic are able to serve their quarantine period on one of these ships."

"It also allows us to have these additional crew members who then can supplement the crew who are not able to work for those 10 days in order to make sure that were able to deliver a great vacation and a full experience all the while protecting our guests, our crew, the ships and the places that we visit, as we have done since our healthy return to service."

Read more:What it's like to be on a cruise ship quarantining crew members

When Symphony of the Seas ceased operations, she was the largest cruise ship in the world. Today, she has been supplanted by sister vessel Wonder of the Seas.

RoyalCaribbeanBlog reader Robert Jaworski is onboard Symphony of the Seas and shared photos from around the ship.

When Royal Caribbean cancelled cruises on four ships last month, they did so in order to minimize the overall impact to the fleet.

The four ships included:

With Symphony back in service, the other three ships will also return to service in the next month or so.

Serenade of the Seas was already scheduled to go in for a short dry dock, so Royal Caribbean combined her cancelled cruises with the upcoming refurbishment.

Vision of the Seas had not yet returned to service when her debut was pushed back.

More here:

Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas restarts cruises after Omicron cancellations - Royal Caribbean Blog