Daily Archives: May 6, 2022

Heartstopper tells a tender, rabbit-hearted story of secondary school classmates Charlie Spring (Joe Locke) and Nick Nelson (Kit Connor) falling for each other. Based on Alice Osemans YA graphic novels, the eight-episode Netflix series is a coming-of-age queer romance that retains its optimism, even when tackling serious subject matter.

Theres Charlie, the anxious, gangly, curly-haired drummer with an iPhone background that fittingly reads gay panic. He is the only openly gay student at their all-boys secondary school. Nick is the classic golden retriever love interest; hes the star of the rugby team whose kindness makes him an outlier in his group of friends, and who always assumed he was straight.

Its just that hanging out with Charlie, his new best friend, makes him begin to wonder if that assumption is wrong.

A number of yearning gazes, a smattering of delightful tropes Charlie joins the rugby team for reasons that are entirely predictable an Am I gay? internet quiz (he gets exactly 62%), and a smooch or two later, Nick has an epiphany during a fateful viewing of Pirates of the Caribbean. Its told succinctly in four shots: a close of up Keira Knightley, then Orlando Bloom, a vaguely aggrieved reaction shot, and then a shot of Nick smoothly Googling bisexual.

Its a particular rite of passage, for those who grew up watching television and movies feeling vaguely sexually confused. Sometimes these viewings spurred that leap of faith from I want to be them to Oh, I want to be with them. This particular moment from Heartstopper has gone viral in the form of a tweet. (Pirates of the Caribbean is a very good choice, in this writers humble opinion.)

But this scene and the shows wholesome relationship, more largely has inspired numerous fans to share their own favorite queer ships from other shows and movies, with the caption Actually, this was my Heartstopper. Its a fun way to remember on-screen relationships that moved viewers and it also doubles as a neat dive into queer movie and television history.

Many of these celebrate queer films, television shows, and anime like 2014 Brazilian independent film The Way He Looks.

Theres the South Korean thriller The Handmaiden (an adaptation of the excellent novel Fingersmith by Sarah Waters).

And the early aughts Channel 4 TV drama Sugar Rush.

And Yuri on Ice!

Theres also a handful of music video references, like Hayley Kiyokos Girls Like Girls.

And Loonas Heart Attack

Heartstopper is another entry in this coming-of-age LGBTQ canon with not only Charlie and Nick, but also Tara and Darcy (a lesbian couple and part of the shows core friend group) to swoon over. More specifically, its an entry in the bisexual panic canon, and I, for one, cant wait to see more. In the meantime, Ill settle for memes, fan cams, and edits putting the shows frames side by side with the comic.

And if youve fallen for Netflixs Heartstopper, Alice Osemans webcomic, which the series is based on, is a must read.

Heartstopper season 1 is now streaming on Netflix.

Excerpt from:

Netflixs Heartstopper gets the bi panic of watching Pirates of Caribbean - Polygon

Another Royal Caribbean International cruise ship is resuming service as the Ovation of the Seas welcomes guests back today in Seattle.

The Quantum-class vessel is starting a summer program that will feature a series of week-long cruises to Alaska and Canada.

As part of its regular itineraries, the 158,000-ton ship will visit Ketchikan, Sitka, Skagway, Juneau and Victoria, in addition to the Tracy Arm Fjord where it is offering panoramic cruising during most of the sailings.

In late September, following two repositional cruises via Hawaii and the South Pacific, the Ovation is set to return to Sydney, Australia.

The vessel then kicks off its local 2022-2023 season in October, with planned itineraries to New Zealand, Vunuatu, New Caledonia and more.

One of the first cruise ships to resume service in Alaska in 2021, the ship entered yet another operational pause last October. After having its Australian program entirely cancelled, it spent the winter out of service.

As the third in a series of five ships known as the Quantum-class, the Ovation of the Seas originally entered service in 2016.

According to Royal Caribbean, the 4,100-guest ship features unique innovations, such as the North Star aerial observatory, a glass capsule that transports passengers 300 feet above the ocean for panoramic views; the RipCord by iFLY skydiving and FlowRider surfing simulators; and SeaPlex, a multi-purpose sports complex enabling a variety of activities, including the first-ever-at-sea bumper car experience.

The ship also offers 18 culinary venues including a Jamies Italian restaurant from the celebrity chef Jamie Oliver and Wonderland, a whimsical restaurant with an elaborate feast for the senses.

The Ovation of the Seas is one of the four ships that will sail in Alaska for Royal Caribbean International in 2022.

The companys program in the destination also includes the Quantum of the Seas, in addition to the Radiance of the Seas and the Serenade of the Seas.

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Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Seas Resumes Service Ahead of Summer in Alaska - Cruise Industry News

The tiny Dutch Caribbean island of Saba has removed all of its testing rules for travelers, Caribbean Journal has learned.

Effective May 1, the island will no longer require travelers to have a pre-travel test or complete an online health registration form.

Post-arrival testing for incoming travelers has also been removed, while masks will no longer be mandatory for day trippers.

The Saba Tourist Bureau looks forward to welcoming visitors to explore its stunning natural beauty, the islands tourism board said in a statement. The entire island is exceptionally unspoiled and beautifully maintained, reflective of the locals deep sense of pride in their home, villages, and history. Its relative remoteness in the open sea also creates a unique ecosystem and a monument to natures best.

Often dubbed the Caribbeans Unspoiled Queen, the island is a short flight and ferry ride from nearby St Maarten.

Saba, with a population of just over 1,800, rises 5,000 feet from the sea floor, from which 3,000 feet are visible.

Its long been a haven for adventurers, with a focus on diving and hiking, in an idyllic, charming setting across four distinct villages.

It should be noted that if youre flying through St Maarten, you still have to follow all of St Maartens travel health protocols. (You can find more here).

For more, visit Saba Tourism.

Excerpt from:

The Caribbean Island of Saba Just Removed Testing Rules for Travelers - Caribbean Journal

Each year, we index the best, brightest openings, but for the 26th edition of Conde Nast Travelers Hot List, weve upped the ante: This time, editors at all seven worldwide editions had a hand in scouting and selecting the entries. At its heart, this is still a hotel lista whopping 96 made the cut this year, which is a true testament to the industrys resilience. But because (almost) no hotel is an island, weve widened the lens to include the restaurants, culture, transportation, and cruises you need to know, and the destinations that are reinventing themselves. We mean it when we say this may be the hottest Hot List yet. Here, the eight best new hotels in the Caribbean, Mexico, and North Atlantic.

Click here to see the entire Hot List for 2022.

All listings featured on Cond Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

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The Best New Hotels in the Caribbean, Mexico, and the North Atlantic: 2022 Hot List - Cond Nast Traveler

DC fans are pushing to have Amber Heard replaced as Mera in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, and so far, the Change.org petition has 3.5 million signatures, as the televised legal battle between her and ex-husband Johnny Depp continues. Both are suing each other for domestic violence and defamation.

The description of the petition details Depps defamation lawsuit and accusations against Heard. The Change.org petition reads, Amber Heard has been exposed as a domestic abuser by Johnny Depp. In his $50 million lawsuit, Johnny Depp describes many incidents of domestic abuse that he suffered at the hands of his (then) wife Amber Heard, including one incident where she punched him twice in the face and another where she shattered his finger with a vodka bottle, and his finger had to be surgically reattached. He will bear the scar from that for the rest of his life.

While the proceedings continue and its up to the court to decide whether Heards claims are false, public opinion has largely sided with Depp, whose career has seemingly taken a hit due to the accusations his ex-wife made against him. Others are calling out the double standards of siding with Depp over Heard. Other critics believe they both abused each other and are toxic celebrities, as the legal battle is televised to the world.

Nevertheless, many fans of the DC Extended Universe push for Heard to be replaced with Emilia Clarke.

Though last year Peter Safran, the producer of Aquaman 2, explained why Heard wont be recast, as Movie Web recounted. I dont think were ever going to react to, honestly, pure fan pressure. You gotta do whats best for the movie. We felt that if its James Wan, and Jason Momoa, it should be Amber Heard. Thats really what it was... One is not unaware of what is going on in the Twitter-verse, but that doesnt mean you have to react to it or take it as gospel or accede to their wishes. You have to do whats right for the film, and thats really where we landed on it.

The anticipated sequel also has wrapped filming and is expected to hit theaters on Friday, March 17, 2023.

While Heards popularity wanes amid the legal battle, she fired her PR team and hired a new one as she took the stand this week.

On other hand, #JusticeForJohnnyDepp has trended on social media, and another Change.org petition is pushing for Depps return to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. The petition has over 700,000 million signatures with a goal of 1 million.

According to Depp, he was in talks to star again as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates 6, but negotiations stopped once Heard described herself as a domestic violence survivor in an op-ed in 2018. According to Entertainment Weekly, Depp his manager claims he lost out on $22.5 million once Heards op-ed came out.

While Depp is suing Heard for $50 million for defamation, shes suing him for $100 million, claiming her ex-husband and his legal team defamed her by calling her accusations a sexual violence hoax.

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DC fans petition for Amber Heard to be recast in Aquaman 2, while Johnny Depps supporters push for his ret - PennLive

Traveling with a family can be especially challenging these days. So, for our winter break trip this year, I decided to skip much of the vacation planning and instead book a 6-night cruise aboard Royal Caribbeans Odyssey of the Seas. While I did have to do some planning in advance, once we got on board, we were able to relax and enjoy our trip with no stress.

We found that Odyssey of the Seas had wonderful activities for kids, and my teens were able to find many exciting things to do. With six days on the ship (including two full days at sea), there were so many activities that my kids were never bored, and we even left without them trying everything to do on the ship.

Before our sailing, we had received a RoyalUp email offering us the opportunity to bid for a stateroom upgrade. We took the opportunity to bid on a Grand Suite (one bedroom) and were thrilled to have our bid accepted. Our suite concierge was extremely helpful in organizing activities for us, making our trip even more seamless.

Here are some of the fun activities offered on Royal Caribbeans Odyssey of the Seas.

Before we even set sail, my kids found the giant foot pool game located outside the SeaPlex area. Foot pool is a hybrid of billiards and soccer and is played by kicking the cue ball following the rules of pool. Its very fun, and we played a few times during our sailing.

There are also giant life-sized chess boards, including one on the exclusive teen deck. These are a great way to enjoy playing chess in a whole new way, while also enjoying the beautiful outdoor weather. My kids played several times.

One of the most innovative features of the Quantum Class Royal Caribbean ships is the North Star. An observation pod that travels above and to the sides of the ship, the North Star gives cruisers the opportunity to the sites beyond the ship from a unique vantage point. Its a relatively short ride but offers a view that cant be beaten.

Luckily, our suite concierge pre-booked our North Star experience for the afternoon of our day at Perfect Day at CocoCay. Its complimentary, but reservations were required. We still had plenty of time at the island, but then returned in time to experience beautiful views of both the Caribbean Sea and Perfect Day at CocoCay while we were still docked.

The SeaPlex is an exciting and action-packed area of the ship. At times, it hosts bumper cars at sea. This is a free activity and is very popular. Find the times in the Cruise Compass and line up for your turn.

At other times the SeaPlex offers pick-up basketball and ping pong courts. Its surrounded by arcade games, and Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade overlook it. We spent quite a bit of time in the SeaPlex - its an especially fun area for teens.

The Sky Pad, located outdoors by the iFly and FlowRider, is a bungee trampoline with an optional virtual reality twist. After a brief video, youll be harnessed and fitted with a VR headset. As you bounce, youll be transformed into a new location.

The Sky Pad is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. We found that the lines were generally pretty short, and you could definitely do it more than once during your sailing if you wanted to.

Of course, after a long winter in New England, we were excited to spend some time in the pools and on the sun loungers. Odyssey of the Seas offers a resort-style pool deck, with lots of chairs, two pools, and several outdoor whirlpools. As suite guests, we also had access to the suite-only sundeck which was almost completely empty during our visit.

For younger kids, the pool deck is also home to Splashaway Bay. This water play area offers small slides and splash zones.

Royal Caribbean ships offer compelling entertainment, and the Odyssey of the Sea is no exception. During our 6-night cruise, there were two musical productions scheduled. The Book, an innovative show located in the technologically advanced theater space in Two70, was scheduled for the first five nights of our trip. Reservations were required and were easy to obtain in the Royal Caribbean app.

The Book is a unique show that is tough to explain, but it is incredibly entertaining. My daughter loved it so much that she wanted to go back a second time.

On the last night, we saw the Effectors, which was performed in the Royal Theater. The Effectors is exclusive to Royal Caribbean and tells the story of a group of superheroes who use creative powers to fight evil. Its an entertaining show utilizing special effects including lights and drones and is a must-see. Again, reservations were required for the show, and we were easily able to make them on the app.

The Odyssey of the Seas also offers a Flowrider surf simulator. Located by the Sky Pad, the Flowrider is also open to guests without the need for reservations. A height limit does apply.

At one point, while my kids were in our stateroom working on homework, I snuck out for a spa treatment at the Vitality Spa onboard. While I decided to do a salon service, they do offer a number of treatments including massages and acupuncture. They can (and should) be booked in advance.

Despite having six days on the Odyssey of the Seas, there were still some additional activities that we didnt have time to participate in. These include the Ripcord by iFly skydiving simulator, Laser Tag: Clash for the Crystal City, and the virtual adventure zone. There are also several kids clubs - offering different activities based on kids' ages.

While we were sad to have missed out on some activities, its always nice to know that we can return to the ship and try some completely new-to-us activities.

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All of the fun activities on Royal Caribbean's Odyssey of the Seas - Cruise Blog

Joe Giddens - PA ImagesGetty Images

Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, just wrapped up a week-long tour of the Caribbean in celebration of Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubliee. They traveled to four Commonwealth realmsnations with Queen Elizabeth as their monarch and head of stateand their trip came in the wake of Prince William and Kate Middleton's controversial tour of the region.

During the Cambridges visit, there were calls for reparations, anti-monarchy protests, and news that Jamaica is moving to forge a new republic and to remove the Queen as head of state. Ahead of the Wessexes' tour, the Palace announced they would be cancelling a tour stop to Grenada, and during the tour, they also faced protests.

"In consultation with the Government of Grenada and on the advice of the Governor General, The Earl and Countess of Wessex's visit to Grenada has been postponed," Buckingham Palace said in a statement. "The Earl and Countess hope to visit at a later date." According to People, "the country didn't feel the short visit was worth their resources and taxpayer money."

The Queen's youngest son and his wife continued on with their planned visit to Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, and Antigua & Barbuda. Scroll on for all the best photos from their royal tour.

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Sophie, Countess of Wessex, and Prince Edward arrive in Saint Lucia to kick off their royal tour.

The Wessexes met with Philip Pierre, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, at the Prime Minister's Residence in Castries, Saint Lucia.

The Wessexes kicked off day two by touching down Argyle International Airport in Argyle, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines. Sophie fully embraced tropical style with her floral maxi dress and summer wedges.

Edward presented trophies to the winners of 100m races and a 70m sprint in honor of the Platinum Jubilee at the Sir Vincent Beach National Stadium.

They toured the Botanical Gardens in Kingstown, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, and Edward sported a hat.

Sophie was also spotted wearing the Maya Torque bangle by British jewelry brand Halcyon days. Kate Middleton has previously worn the same bracelet.

The royal couple planted a tree at the Botanical Gardens to mark Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee.

Sophie held a parrot! As Victoria Murphy wrote in Town & Country in 2020, "Sophies low-key approach to duties pre-dates her willingness to hop on video calls; she is known to surprise her hosts by driving herself to and from engagements, waving goodbye from behind the wheel of her own car."

More: Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Is the Royal Family's Secret Weapon

The Countess of Wessex was all smiles as the bird perched on her hand. Animals always make for great photo opportunities on royal tours.

Edward held the parrot, too. The parrot is Saint Vincent's national bird, the Amazona guildingii, also known as the "Saint Vincent amazon" or the "Saint Vincent parrot."

They were glad to meet a Duke Of Edinburgh Gold award recipient at Government House.

The two began their day with a visit to Morne Fortune. Per the Saint Lucia National Trust, "Morne Fortun means 'Hill of Good luck' which is far from the truth, since this area was on many occasions the bloody battleground between the French and the English. It was later renamed Fort Charlotte 1794 by the father of Queen Victoria of Great Britain after a battle victory."

Sophie wore a polka dot dress, and repeated her jewelry from day two of the royal tour.

Their last appearance of day three was a Sunday service at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Saint Lucia's capital city.

Prince Edward and Sophie touched down in St John's, Antigua & Barbuda, on the fourth day of their royal tour.

The couple met with Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua & Barbuda, at his office.

There, Browne told the Wessexes his country plans to "one day become a republic." He also urged the couple to use their diplomatic influence to advocate for reparations for Antigua & Barbuda.

More: The Backlash to Prince Edward and Sophie's Caribbean Royal Tour Grows

Sophie played the drums, in a meeting with local craftspeople, creatives and community groups in the garden at Government House.

In a visit to the National Sailing Academy in St. John's, Antigua & Barbuda, Prince Edward's hat returned.

Sophie seemed genuinely delighted to be meeting local children that participate in The Sail-Ability program. The Sail-Ability program offers children with disabilities the opportunity to get involved with activities on the water.

On their fifth day, the Wessexes attended a Duke of Edinburgh Awards ceremony at the Prime Minister's residence in Saint Lucia. The Awards were founded by Prince Philip in 1956 to recognize adolescents and young adults for completing a series of self-improvement exercises.

Another shot of the royal couple. Sophie stuck to her tour wardrobe of florals and wedge sandals.

Prince Edward and Sophie depart by boat from Ganters Bay Jetty in Castries, Saint Lucia.

Upon arrival in Soufriere, Saint Lucia, they posed with Saint Lucian politician Emma Hippolyte (center, behind Sophie) and her family, along with a ginormous floral bouquet.

Sophie looked at ease with the crowd of well-wishers.

Andrew, too, smiled at the crowd. (Sans his hat!)

The royals seemed to be in deep discussion over mixing cocoa during a visit to Fond Doux Cocoa Plantation.

Prince Edward carried a cocoa.

The royal couple then visited the Sulphur Springs in Soufriere, Saint Lucia, to hear about the history and evolution of the volcano and the establishment of the surrounding caldera.

Sophie was extremely hands-on.

The Wessexes took in the view.

The Earl of Wessex left Soufriere on a boat.

A romantic shot as the two travel by boat on day six of their Platinum Jubilee Royal Tour.

The royals continued on the Soufriere Mini Stadium in Saint Lucia, where they attended a performance celebrating St Lucia's young people. Sophie stayed in her trusty white wedges.

In the evening, they attended an event at Government House in Morne Fortune in Saint Lucia. Here, the Countess of Wessex spoke with Anysia Charles, the wife of Governor General of Saint Lucia.

On their last day in the Caribbean, Sophie and Edward met staff and students from a number of Saint Lucian schools.

They listened to students.

Sophie looked regal in a long white dress and gold wedges.

Sophie left a message on a sign of material dedicated to biodiversity at the Pigeon Island National Landmark, writing, "love worms and save our insects!"

The Countess also planted a tree.

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Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex's 2022 Caribbean Royal Tour in Photos - Town & Country

Caribbean carrier Winair is expanding its flights to a pair of tiny Dutch Caribbean islands: Saba and Statia.

Beginning June 1, the St Maarten-based carrier will run twice-daily flights to both Saba and Statia.

The expanded service will run through at least Aug. 31, according to Claudio Buncamper, director of marketing at Winair.

In September and October, the flight schedule will shift to five days with two flights on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Its the only way to get to both islands, neither of which receive international flights (both Saba and Statia are part of The Netherlands).

Should demand need additional flights, we can have these loaded, he said.

Next season, the twice-daily service will begin again.

Depending on demand, Winair could even ramp up to three daily flights to the two islands, according to Buncamper.

Its a big boost for the charming Dutch Caribbean islands; both of which take between 15 and 25 minutes from St Maarten.

The news comes as a major new ferry service also just launched from St Maarten to Saba and Statia.

Anguilla-based Blues and Blues is now operating a 72-foot catamaran fast ferry called Makana on the St Maarten-Saba-Statia triangle route.

Saba recently lifted all testing rules to the destination. Statias rules were also recently eased, although testing is still required for unvaccinated travelers and most unboosted travelers.

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St Maarten-Based Winair Is Adding More Flights to Saba and Statia - Caribbean Journal