Daily Archives: August 15, 2022

This is it - the penultimate answer to every traveler's desires, calling those whose long-held dream is to dedicate several months to traveling the planet, experiencing the top sights and sounds across this good gracious earth. As one of the best cruise lines dominating the travel industry, Royal Caribbean's Ultimate World Cruise is the first of its kind; it takes globetrotters across the world on their Serenade of the Seas ship - a luxury vessel with a capacity of 2,466, comprising every modern comfort and amenity adventurers could ever crave on a once-in-a-lifetime trip across each continent.

Here, readers get an exciting insight into what might just be the most incredible experience to ever be offered to mere mortals - specifically, those with a pretty penny to burn. As the first time ever something so spectacular like this has ever been revealed, it's safe to say this: everyone's excited.

The lucky travelers who'll get to relish this unparalleled luxury exploration of planet earth will spend a grand total of 274 nights with like-minded globetrotters, savoring iconic global highlights and mesmerizing discoveries across all seven continents. Never before offered, the Royal Caribbean Ultimate World Cruise sets sail on December 10, 2023, from Miami, Florida, returning once again from whence it departed nine months later on September 10, 2024. On four individual segments compiled into one mind-boggling trip, guests will visit 65 countries, seven continents, over 11 World Wonders, and 150 ports of call on this unrivaled venture around the world - one that truly is the be-all and end-all to beat all cruises.

Incredibly, what makes this jaunt around earth even more remarkable is its flexibility. Should devoting a whole nine months traversing the continents be a bit too much to do on one trip, guests can pick and choose which sections of the world tour they prefer the most, allowing them to completely customize this overly bucket-list-worthy escapade to see the very best parts of the planet they wish to visit the most. Travelers can select any of the four immersive, carefully curated Ultimate World Cruise segments of 60 plus nights instead of the entire month-to-month adventure on board, each connecting them with distinct world cultures, the most legendary landscapes, and a handful of World Wonders, all showcasing the unlimited creations and capacities of both Mother Nature and humankind alike.

Related: Cruise Trip: Should You Work With A Travel Agent Or Book Directly?

The Royal Caribbean Ultimate World Cruise doesn't do anything by halves. With no less than 11 Wonders of the World on the itinerary, guests get the amazing opportunity to experience firsthand:

The massive nine-month trek across the world's oceans is split into four segments, which each feature the most outstanding attractions and destinations of every continent. A breakdown of the cruise's sections is as follows:

The first segment of the world cruise starts in Miami, taking travelers to witness standout scenes of the Americas. From pristine Caribbean shores - such as the ABC Islands - to wildlife-watching the likes of penguins, sea lions, and whales in the glacier-filled Antarctica area of Cape Horn, the diversity involved in this section is truly show-stopping. Guests will also encounter World Wonders in South America, including extraordinary natural phenomena and magnificent man-made marvels, like Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, the world's largest waterfall system of Iguaz Falls near Buenos Aires, the biggest Art Deco sculpture in the world, and the mighty Machu Picchu - the most symbolic remnant of Perus ancient Inca heritage. After these sensational sights, guests will then sail up to the Yucatn Peninsula to bear witness to secluded coves and rugged rock formations along Lands End in Cabo San Lucas, after which they'll go on to discover enchanting Ensenada.

This legacy at sea sends voyagers on the mesmeric paths of Australia and Asia, exploring Hawaii all the way to the crystalline warm waters of Moorea and Tahiti in paradisiacal French Polynesia. Guests will also venture off to discover the kaleidoscopic marine realm bustling on Australias Great Barrier Reef, savor unspoiled natural scenery in Bali, and experience in person one of the most iconic human-made World Wonders - the Great Wall of China. What's more, they'll get to visit the futuristic city of Tokyo and its culture-rich, brightly lit urban sprawls, as well as take in what could easily be described as one of the most breathtaking buildings on the planet: India's stunning and highly elaborate Taj Mahal.

Related: 10 Most Affordable Cruises For 2022, Ranked By Cost

Be it basking in the glitz and glamour of Dubai or soaking up the World Wonders crafted by ancient civilizations headed by historic pharaohs and emperors - such as The Pyramids of Giza in Egypt - this segment is for those who've dreamed of experiencing the most recognizable and indeed the most beautiful landmarks in the Middle East. Not least, this section also grants travelers many of the most revered attractions and pre-historic ruins across both the Mediterranean and Aegean seas, including the Acropolis in Athens, the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, and even the impressive Colosseum in Rome.

Furthermore, the ship will sail to lesser-visited Greek ports a little more off the traditional tourist trail, like Olympia, the exact place where the first Olympic Games took place, and also the sanctuary site to honor the ancient Greek God - Zeus. If none of these destinations and world marvels quite do it for travelers, perhaps checking out many more wonderful European sites steeped in history and stories of the past might make this section of the cruise all the more appealing, with the city of Split in Croatia, Beautiful Barcelona in Spain, and the dazzling French duos of Provence and Cannes all on the roster.

Related: 10 Epic Day Trips You Can Take From Split, Croatia

The last leg of the Ultimate World Cruise entails an experience-laden cultural exploration setting sail in the Med, from where the ship heads north. From beautiful Barcelona and its gorgeous architecture, including Gaudis Sagrada Famlia, to the culinary delights and sublime sights in Morocco, this section is an indulgent treat to both the eyes and tongue. Beautifully blending the warmer European destinations with those in its chillier parts, the trip also incorporates the majestic fjords in Norway and biking through the captivating capital of Denmark - Copenhagen.

Next up, the final natural marvel on the menu is akin to an alien planet - the geothermal seawater at Iceland's The Blue Lagoon, which is followed by a much-loved city destination - New York. Last but not least, the journey is perfected by a visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay - Royal Caribbean's private island exclusive to its guests - before heading back to Miami to end what will have been the most life-changing adventure any human might ever take that's not in space.

Related: Tour The World On A Luxury Air Cruise For As Much As $160,000

Naturally, with what may be the most intensive exploration of the planet, the total for tickets to Royal Caribbeans Ultimate World Cruise isn't for the faint of heart. Five unique room styles are up for grabs, each with varying price tags, which, for the whole nine-month jaunt around the globe, are as follows:

In addition to these cabin prices, guests will have taxes, port expenses, and fees on top to pay, which are around $4,667 per person.

Those who prefer to book one or more of each segment of the world cruise can do so for a lesser sum, with each room price for every journey section being as follows:

Related: Cruise Cabins: A Helpful Hack Guide For This Small Space

Not for the light-hearted traveler, the Royal Caribbean Ultimate World Cruise is a feat like no other ever brought to the travel sector before. Be it the whole nine-month-long getaway traversing the planet's entirety while witnessing and experiencing every spectacular sight, sound, and scene on both the natural and human-made stage, or one or more of the fantastic, thoughtfully planned cruise segments covering the best highlights of each corner of the globe, this is one heck of a trip discerning explorers simply do not want to miss - but it isn't cheap, so now's the time to start saving.

Originally posted here:

Everything You Need To Know About Royal Caribbean's Ultimate World Cruise - TheTravel

London, Aug. 15, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The CBI Index which is a yearly report that compares citizenship by investment programmes by ranking their performances and desirability is due for release later this week. The index ranks programmes through nine pillars of excellence that measures their overall performance and appeal.

Released yearly by the Financial Times PWM Magazine, the CBI Index rating system uses a wide range of indicators to measure how well global citizenship by investment (CBI) programmes work and how appealing they are. Its goal is to provide a rigorous and systematic way to evaluate programmes and make it easier for people to take informed choices about economic citizenship.

The 2021 CBI Index featured fourteen countries from around the world, with five from the Caribbean region: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia and St Kitts and Nevis. The index also featured nine countries from Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, including Austria, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Egypt, Jordan, Malta, Montenegro, Turkey and Vanuatu. The Caribbean region are pioneers of the CBI industry, with St Kitts and Nevis launching the world's first citizenship by investment programme in 1984.

Since the launch of the CBI Index in 2017, the Commonwealth of Dominica has been topping the charts and is regarded as one of the world's leading citizenship by investment programmes. The Dominica CBI has continued to post exceptional scores for each of the nine pillars. Launched in 1993, it is the second oldest CBI programme in the world, with the government utilising the inflow of revenue to mitigate the impact of climate change and natural disasters.

In the 2021 CBI Index, Dominica scored a maximum score of ten in five out of the nine pillars, while scoring a solid nine in the citizenship timeline pillar. The minimum investment outlay, mandatory travel, ease of the process, due diligence, family, and certainty of product pillars showed the performance of the Dominica CBI, which scored a final score of 80. There are speculations that Dominica might emerge as the best CBI programme this year.

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St Kitts and Nevis made its debut in the top rankings in the 2021 CBI Index and claimed the top position as the most popular and number one citizenship by investment programme. Over the years, the programme has increased the scope of its definition of a dependant by including siblings of the main applicant or spouse (provided they are 30 years or younger, unmarried, childless and financially dependent on the main applicant). The programme also scored a total of 80 points in the final results and was the leader in the pillars of mandatory travel, citizenship timeline, due diligence, and family and scored a nine in the certainty of product.

The Citizenship Investment Programme (CIP) of Saint Lucia, launched in 2016 and the newest in the Caribbean region ranked fourth in the 2021 CBI Index, is also striving to make its mark in the 2022 Index report. Last year, Saint Lucias total score was 74. The Saint Lucia CIP scored high in the pillar of minimum investment outlay, mandatory travel, citizenship timeline and ease of the process while scoring seven points in the pillar of due diligence and freedom of movement and six in the certainty of product and standard of living. It also became the first country to score one point higher in the standard of living pillar in the 2021 report.

With Saint Lucias change of leadership, it is expected that the programme will enter the top three in the 2022 CBI Index Report as the new administration has been working hard to re-brand the programme in an attempt to position itself amongst the world's leading programmes.

The CBI Index utilises official sources and publications from several institutions with the highest international standings, as well as specialised information from CBI industry experts to conduct its research. The points are awarded after thorough evaluation of evidence, data and the letter of the law. All programmes are ranked based on the nine pillars below:

James McKay who heads up the research for the report believes that the CBI Index has established itself as the industry's resource for a high-level, data-driven, impartial appraisal of available CBI programmes that help investors and their families to stay informed about investment decisions in a rapidly changing world.

Citizenship experts around the world eagerly await the results of the 2022 CBI Index which is expected to be released later this week. The Dominica and St Kitts and Nevis CBI programmes are expected to retain their top rankings with the Saint Lucia CIP making a steady upward climb through the rankings.

In a world where the notion of traditional citizenship is blurring, people are looking for more options to expand their boundaries. In such situations, citizenship by investment programmes help with portfolio diversification and successful applicants receive citizenship for life that are not based on where the person chooses to live.

As more programmes emerge, due diligence remains the utmost priority for these countries. Dominica and St Kitts and Nevis are recognised for having vigorous due diligence procedures utilising reputable due diligence agencies based in the UK and USA. All applicants and their dependants over the age of 16 undergo multi-layered background checks conducted by the world's leading government and private agencies. The CBI Index report understands the gravity of due diligence and also evaluates programmes based on global safety and security. In recent years, family inclusiveness has become a critical factor which CBI nations can utilise to enhance the integrity of their offerings allowing them to move closer to harmonised due diligence standards.

The rest is here:

CBI Index 2022: CS Global Partners reports that Caribbean nations eyeing top positions - Yahoo Finance

SAUGERTIES, N.Y. As Bob Marley and the Wailers once sang in one of the reggae acts most iconic songs, the message of Saturdays Seasoned Gives Caribbean Carnival at Cantine Field was One Love.

Visitors enjoyed Caribbean food from Jamaica, Puerto Rico and St. Kitts and plenty of reggae music. Some danced and still others dressed up for carnival with colorful outfits featuring feathers in the spirit of a true Caribbean carnival.

The festivities kicked off with a small parade of about a half-dozen units that marched down Washington Avenue and Main and Market streets.The longest lines were for food vendors serving Caribbean favorites like jerk chicken and fried plantains.

Martin Dunkley, who co-founded Season Gives with his wife, Tamika Dunkley, said the festival, returning for its third year, represents a great way to celebrate cultures traditionally underrepresented while also allowing everyone to just come together and have a great time and enjoy one anothers heritage.

There are people of all colors here enjoying the event today, Dunkley said.

Tamika Dunkley said the festival fits right in with the Lake Katrina-based Seasoned Gives as it fulfills its mission of helping people, particularly people of color and women starting their own businesses. She said many of the vendors were mentees they worked with.

Martin Dunkley said the music bill featured several local bands that may not have otherwise had an opportunity to play in front of a crowd that was expected to grow into the thousands by the time day was out.

As for why a Caribbean Festival, Tamika Dunkley said Martin Dunkley is Jamaican. And as to why have it in Saugerties, he said they live there.

The return of the festival coincides with Jamaica celebrating the 60th anniversary of its independence in 1962.

Vanessa Hutchins and Witcliffe Cunningham and their 10-month-old daughter, Zoe Cunningham, displayed their Jamaican Pride with entire outfits featuring the Jamaican flag. They happened upon the event by chance while passing through the shopping district in the town of Ulster.

We saw a sign near the Wendys, Hutchins said. I love the activities for the kids.

Among the vendors was Hannah Ferguson, of Kingston, who was showing off her unique bottle dolls, made by placing African Fabrics over bottles destined to end up in a recycling bin or even a landfill. Each featured a unique design with a space and colorful outfits that she said are inspired by the Caribbean and Africa.

She looks like an islander, she said as she pointed out one of the dolls.

As for her inspiration for the dolls, which take her anywhere from half a day to a week and a half to make, she said simply, It comes from God.

I love what I do, Ferguson added. This is not work.

In the next booth, Priscilla Deconti, also of Kingston, had her jewelry, zentangle art and greeting cards on display.She said the colors in the artworks were made with ink, watercolors and glitter pens.

Photos: Third Seasoned Gives Caribbean Carnival in Saugerties, N.Y.

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A spirit of One Love rules the day at Caribbean Carnival in Saugerties - The Daily Freeman

The Caribbean and Mexico are prime locales for villa rentals, offering stunning sea views, beach and pool access and the services of a staff. Many are large enough to accommodate a multigen family reunion, a small wedding party, a corporate retreat or a group of friends simply looking for a little R 'n' R in their own space.

Ani Private Resorts is among the many companies offering villa rentals in the region, but it believes it offers something truly unique, billing itself as "the world's first private resort collection." Ani currently is offering just four exclusive retreats, or resorts -- in Anguilla, the Dominican Republic, Sri Lanka and Thailand -- with a fifth villa resort (a second location in Anguilla) scheduled to join the collection in 2024. At Ani, guests are assured that their group will be the only one booked at the resort during the duration of their stay.

Ani Private Resorts and its nonprofit Ani Art Academies were founded in 2010 by philanthropist and arts patron Tim Reynolds. The company name is derived from the Swahili word andjani, which means the path or journey ahead, according to Henny Frazer, Ani's chief marketing officer.

"Each resort is designed to host a single group of guests at a time with a minimum of six rooms booked for five nights," Frazer said. "No resort is larger than 15 suites. The ratio of staff to guests is more than one to one. All staff are locals who know the area well and who speak with the guests before arrival to help tailor every detail of their stay."

Ani's Anguilla property overlooks Little Bay on the island's northwest coast. Photo Credit: Ani Private Resorts

"Each villa is located away from tourist areas and offers the services of a five-star resort, including a general manager, operations manager, executive chef and culinary team, hosts and housekeepers," she added.

The four private resorts are newbuilds, beginning with the Anguilla property, which opened in 2010 on the north coast of the island overlooking Little Bay.

All Ani resorts except Anguilla are all-inclusive; Ani Anguilla features half board (two meals a day) "because that island has such fine restaurants, we want our guests to be able to venture out and sample them," said Frazer, adding, "Guests have the option of full board for an additional $75 per day."

Related: A sunny and bright forecast for Anguilla

Two villas housing oceanview suites and guestrooms sit atop a bluff in Anguilla and can accommodate up to a group of 20.

Ani Dominican Republic opened in 2017 on a private peninsula on the island's north coast between Samana and Cabarete and features Villa Larimar and Villa Amber, accommodating up to 28 guests with a team of more than 30 staff to fine-tune every aspect of the stay.

Outside the Caribbean, Ani Sri Lanka is located on that island's south coast overlooking the Indian Ocean. It has two infinity pools and two salas -- large modern areas with upstairs and downstairs living and dining spaces -- and room for up to 30 guests.

Ani Thailand boasts lush gardens and views of Phang Nga Bay. It welcomes groups up to 20.

Postcard From Asia: Greetings from Thailand!

Amenities at all include pools, beach access, a small gym and spa, an event and entertainment pavilion, several dining venues, watersports, kids' and wellness activities and curated excursions, high-speed WiFi, complimentary babysitting, daily laundry service and roundtrip airport transfers for the group. All offer accommodations with wheelchair accessibilty.

Depending upon the resort, guest privileges include a beach barbecue, biking, movies by moonlight and a sunset cruise. Anguilla also offers cooking classes and a DJ for one evening; there's rum tasting, folklore dancing and cigar-rolling in the D.R. In Thailand, there's a Thai dance show, batik painting and fire jugglers and in Sri Lanka, tuk tuk tours of local villages.

The Ani Art Academy in Anguilla is geared to locals with tuition paid for by the resort collection. An Art Academy can be found at each of the company's four resorts. Photo Credit: Ani Private Resorts

All guests at the four resorts can visit the nearby Ani Art Academies, which offer aspiring artists instruction to hone their skills through a four-year art education program. Revenues from the Ani properties cover all tuition costs for the students; all proceeds from the sale of their artwork goes directly back to them.

"Our inclusions are extraordinary," Frazer said. "Our founder believes that the power of togetherness has no price list. Our standards and goals are to always do everything and more to make our guests happy."

Summer rates start at $13,000 per villa, per group for five nights: winter rates from $27,000 in Anguilla, $32,000 in the Dominican Republic and Sri Lanka and $17,000 in Thailand. The festive (holiday) season already is booked for this year.

The rates do not include a 10% service charge and local taxes. Tipping is at the discretion of the guests.

Commission is 10%; bookings through travel advisors account for 60% to 70% of business, with the Caribbean properties "very strong," according to Frazer.

"We have a global sales agency, we participate in webinars and trade shows all over, and our relationships with the industry are very solid," she said.

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Ani offers luxury villas in the Caribbean, Thailand and Sri Lanka - Travel Weekly

Im having the time of my life, Mike Whalen beams, when I meet him at his restaurant inAmbergris Caye, Belize. Im still learning as I go, but what better place to do it than a tropical island? I live and work on Coconut Drive! How could I possibly have a single, solitary regret?

In July 2020, at the age of 51, Mike had reached a dire crossroads. Hed worked at AT&T in Oklahoma City for years, but after cutbacks during the COVID economy, he found himself suddenly unemployed. Divorced just three years earlier, stressed to the hilt, and taking a regimen of blood pressure meds, Mike decided to take control and chase down happiness, rather than planning for it to happen one day down the road.

Hed visitedBelizea few times, and enjoyed its wild, tropical charms and dreamed of one day maybe retiring there. Although still years away from receiving his government pension, Mike was determined to make his overseas dream a reality. He headed toCaye Caulker, an island on Belizes Caribbean coast, to scout out opportunities.

I couldve kept searching for a desk job, where Id slave away another 15 or 20 years for some faceless conglomerate, but I decided instead to take a leap of faith and move to paradise, Mike explains.

Destiny presented itself, as it often does, in February 2021. Mike was perusing some online listings onBusinessforsale.com. He stumbled across a turnkey operation on the larger nearby island of Ambergris Caye. White sand, swaying palm trees, colorful beach houses, and a naturally relaxed rhythm, the island is every inch the tropical dream location.

Whats more, there was an opportunity there that was just what Mike was looking for. An established restaurant and caf, right in the heart of the islands main town,San Pedro. Mikes only previous experience in the food service industry was a brief stint working in a restaurant after college, but he felt ready for the challenge.

He paid $45,000 for the business name and assets, with a three-year, $2,000 a month lease for the kitchen facilities, courtyard-style property, and a 900-square-foot, two-bedroom, fully furnished, air-conditioned private residence above the restaurant.

He moved to San Pedro a week later and immediately began prepping for the grand reopening of Patz Delicatessen.

I visited Mike as he approached the first anniversary of his businesss launch. He bounced between tables, offering smiles and familiar greetings while refilling empty coffee cups and jotting down new breakfast orders.

Wooden tables, shaded by the outstretched palapa roof, were painted in blues, greens, and yellows. A bottle of Marie Sharps Hot Habanero Pepper Saucea Belize staplestood proudly on each tabletop. Nearby, a row of brightly colored golf carts, their seats shaded by a canopy of palms, was the only evidence of traffic. (Its how everyone gets around on Ambergris.)

After buying the restaurant, filling out some paperwork, and submitting a fee of $1,500, Mikes work permit was approved. Hell soon be able to apply for permanent residency, after having lived in Belize for a full year (fees vary according to the applicants nationality).

He hired two employees through word of mouth. One came recommended by the previous owner and helped him paint and clean the building. She later practiced day and night to prepare everything on the menu, and quickly mastered it.

It didnt take long for Mike to establish a dedicated customer base of local expats, many of whom stop by daily. Recently, hes had a surge in local and tourist clientele as well. Business is booming.

Many of Mikes friends and family have visited in the past year, with some considering amove to Belizethemselves. Theyve all fallen in love with it, he says. His 19-year-old daughter has already visited him four times, captivated by the islands tropical charm. But Ive told her she has to finish college before Ill let her move here, he says.

Nowadays, Mike enjoys living life on his own terms. His workday ends by 3 p.m., and his new laidback lifestyle has enabled him to kick his blood pressure medications. He feels like a new man. Im so glad I dropped everything and took the plunge, he says. Ive found happiness in paradise, 15 years before Id ever imagined.

This story originally ran in International Living.

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How this man went from unemployment to early retirement in the Caribbean - MarketWatch

Royal Caribbean suites provide a range of benefits that can greatly enhance your cruise experience, from an exclusive suites-only lounge to private dining experiences and priority embarkation.

Royal Caribbean suites are impressive, with some even spanning two levels with a private jacuzzi, multiple bedrooms, and a personalized Royal Genie service.

Many guests opt to book a suite for a more comfortable living space, but they might not be aware of all the perks suite guests receive onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise. Knowing which benefits come with a suite can help you maximize the value of your vacation and get the most out of your time onboard.

Heres everything you need to know about the perks you can receive with a Royal Caribbean suite.

The stepping stone into the world of Royal Caribbean suites is with a Junior Suite.

Despite the name, however, Junior Suites are more similar to a balcony stateroom than a suite. They dont come with many of the benefits youll find in Grand Suites and above. Nonetheless, there are a few perks of staying in a Junior Suite.

First and foremost, a Junior Suite will provide more room in both the cabin and balcony, leading to more comfort for guests. Youll also have a full sized bathtub and walk-in closet in a Junior Suite.

In addition to extra square footage, Junior Suite guests receive the following benefits:

Related: Royal Caribbeans Junior Suites: What you need to know

Note: The benefits listed below are for guests staying in Grand Suites and above. Junior Suite guests do not have access to most suite benefits on Royal Caribbean such as the Suite Lounge, Concierge Service, etc.

A major perk of staying in a suite on a Royal Caribbean cruise is having access to the Suite Lounge (also known as the Concierge Club on select ships). Suite Lounge access is available to guests staying in a Grand Suite and above.

The Suite Lounge is a relaxing, exclusive getaway on an otherwise busy cruise ship. At the Suite Lounge, guests can enjoy complimentary snacks and hors doeuvres throughout the day and complimentary alcoholic beverages in the evening.

The Suite Lounge is open 24/7 and can offer a nice way to mingle with other suite guests onboard or simply enjoy the peace and quiet with a beautiful ocean view.

Related: Is a suite on Royal Caribbean worth it?

A convenient service available for suite guests on Royal Caribbean is the Suite Concierge, a crew member who acts as a suite guest's own (enhanced) Guest Services during the cruise.

The Suite Concierge can help with booking shore excursions, dining reservations, show reservations, answering any questions, and settling billing discrepancies.

The Suite Concierge can help you check-in to your flight and print documents if you do not have an internet package. They are also available to escort you off the ship on disembarkation day.

Related: 10 Surprising things you didnt know the Royal Caribbean concierge can do for you

Voyager, Freedom, Quantum, and Oasis Class ships have a designated area of the pool deck reserved just for suite guests. Usually the Suite Sun Deck is located on the deck above the main pool area. Suite Sun Decks can be a really nice benefit for suite guests, as they have comfortable, reserved seating away from the crowds on the pool deck below.

Wonder of the Seas even has its own Suite Neighborhood with a large private Sun Deck with a plunge pool, private bar, and comfy loungers.

Suite Guests wont have to worry about finding a seat for shows onboard, as they will find a reserved seating area in the main theater, Studio B, AquaTheater, and Two70 for main entertainment lineups.

If youre splurging on a suite, youll want to take advantage of as many benefits as you can to maximize your value. A relatively small benefit that can be a nice extra perk is complimentary pressing on your itinerarys first formal night.

Sending evening gowns or a suit to be pressed can run between $7.50-$15 per item, so this is a nice extra perk for suite guests.

Another perk of staying in a suite are the complimentary backstage tours and events offered to suite guests. Backstage tours can vary by ship and sailing, but you can expect to see tours of the ships bridge, galley, or theater.

Youll receive an invitation to a tour in your suite. If you do not see one, ask the concierge if any tours will be available on your sailing.

Another nice benefit for suite guests is that they can have priority bookings on spa appointments and specialty dining reservations. If you did not book dining reservations or a spa treatment ahead of time, speak to the Suite Concierge before your cruise (they will send you an email a few days before the sail date) about making reservations.

One of the best suite perks on Royal Caribbean is that you will receive double Crown & Anchor Society points on your cruise. The Crown & Anchor Society is Royal Caribbeans Loyalty Program which can lead to fantastic benefits once you accrue enough points.

When you stay in a normal category room (interior, ocean view, balcony), youll receive 1 point per night of your cruise. In a suite, however, you receive 2 points per night.

Related: Crown and Anchor Society loyalty program info, tips & secrets

Suite guests have priority boarding on embarkation day, meaning they will be the first guests able to board the ship. They also have a dedicated check-in line at the cruise terminal on embarkation day.

On disembarkation day, suite guests have priority departure, so they wont have to wait for their luggage tag number to be called and can disembark whenever they choose.

Guests in Royal Suites and Villa Suites will not only receive priority embarkation, but an officer will meet them at the terminal to escort them on the ship.

Once you enter your suite, youll find a welcome gift, which can change depending on suite tier. Guests in Grand Suites, Panoramic Suites, and Owners Suites will receive complimentary Evian water and a fruit amenity whereas those in Royal Suites and Villa Suites receive Mot & Chandon champagne.

On select itineraries, Royal Caribbean offers a luggage valet service. This service enables guests to bypass the airport check-in process, as guests will receive boarding passes, luggage tags, and baggage claim checks while onboard the ship. Luggage will be delivered directly from your suite to the airport and onto your flight.

This service is currently only available in Seattle, Washington.

While most common cruise ports have a dock, there are some ports which require tendering on a smaller boat to get to and from port from the ship.

For non-suite guests, its necessary to get up early and grab a tender ticket as soon as possible in order to maximize your time in port. Suite guests, however, have priority tendering access, so you can bypass the line and get to port without a wait.

If youre staying in a suite on a cruise itinerary visiting Royal Caribbeans private destination of Labadee, youll have access to Barefoot Beach, the ports suites-only beach.

Barefoot Beach offers a relaxing getaway with calm, clear waters and plenty of lounge chairs perfect for sunbathing. The beach also has cabanas available to rent at an extra cost as well as a complimentary lunch which offers more upgraded options than buffets elsewhere on Labadee.

One of the primary reasons many guests book a suite on a Royal Caribbean cruise is for the extra space. Cruise ship cabins are known for being small, and suites can offer a more comfortable living space with extra perks.

Depending on the suite, you can find an extra large couch, dining table, walk-in closet, larger balcony, etc. Some suites may even have 2 or 3 bedrooms, allowing for more privacy for guests.

Another in-suite perk is a larger bathroom. Suite bathrooms all have a bathtub and upgraded toiletries. Some suites even have a separate shower, double sinks, and bidet!

Additionally, certain suite categories may have two bathrooms in the suite which can be nice for larger families.

In addition to more living space and an upgraded bathroom, suite guests will also enjoy an upgraded mattress. Beds in Grand Suites and above have a Luxury Pillow Top Mattress instead of the normal mattress youll find in interior, ocean view, and balcony cabins.

Suite guests on Royal Caribbean receive complimentary room service and the ability to enjoy in-suite dining from the Main Dining Room menu. This offers a nice way for suite guests to have a private meal in their suite at any time the Main Dining Room is open (or 24/7 for room service).

Suite guests on Quantum and Oasis Class cruise ships have access to Coastal Kitchen, Royal Caribbeans suites-only restaurant. Coastal Kitchen is complimentary for suite guests and offers a more intimate dining experience than venues like the Main Dining Room or Windjammer.

Coastal Kitchen is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and offers a rotating menu with a focus on Mediterranean-inspired cuisine with fresh, seasonal ingredients.

Guests in Grand Suites and above can eat at Coastal Kitchen at any time during the week, but the restaurant is only available for dinner for Junior Suite guests.

Select ships without Coastal Kitchen offer private breakfast and lunch seating for suite guests. These meals take place in a specialty restaurant onboard, although the menus are more similar to the MDR or Coastal Kitchen than the specialty restaurant menu offerings.

If you thought Royal Caribbeans suite benefits couldnt get any better, theres more: the Royal Suite Class, available only on Quantum and Oasis Class ships.

The Royal Suite Class has three tiers: Sea Class, Sky Class, and Star Class.

Sea Class is the Junior Suite Class in the Royal Suite Class and comes with the same benefits as staying in a Junior Suite on other Royal Caribbean ships, with the addition of dinner at Coastal Kitchen.

Sea Class benefits:

Sky Class benefits are for guests staying in a One Bedroom AquaTheater suite, Crown Loft Suite, Owners Suite, Royal Family Suite, Superior Grand Suite, and Grand Suite.

In addition to the Sea Class benefits, Sky Class guests receive:

Related: 10 things to know about Sky Class suites on Royal Caribbean

Star Class is the most luxurious experience you can have on Royal Caribbean and is available to passengers staying in Royal Caribbeans biggest suites: the Royal Loft Suite, Owners Loft Suite, Four Bedroom Family Suite, Grand Loft Suite, Sky Loft Suite, Ultimate Family Suite, and Two Bedroom AquaTheater Suite.

The biggest benefit of staying in a Star Class suite is having a Royal Genie, a crew member who is your own personalized concierge and magic maker throughout the week. Royal Genies can cater their services to your cruise preferences, whether that means delivering Starbucks to your room every morning, reserving you seats at a specialty restaurant, hosting an in-suite dinner in your room, etc.

Related: My advice for someone using a Royal Genie on a Royal Caribbean cruise

In addition to the Royal Genie as well as the Sea Class and Sky Class benefits above, Star Class guests receive:

More Star Class tips & tricks:

Read the original:

What are the Royal Caribbean suite perks? - Royal Caribbean Blog

Arrr! Several new open edition Pirates of the Caribbean pins have sailed into Disneyland Resort.

We first found all of these in Kingswell Shop at Disney California Adventure.

This pin features a skull wearing a pirate hat, bandanna, and earpatch. Two swords are next to it and a banner reads, Living that pirate life.

This pin features a skeletal pirate looking through a telescope in a crows nest. The flag sailing from the mast is black and tattered, reading, Disney Pirates of the Caribbean.

On this pin, two skeleton pirates are locked in a stalemate during a game of chess in this scene from the Pirates of the Caribbean queue.

This pin has a skeleton parrot with a pegleg, pirate hat, and eyepatch. A handful of green feathers remain on his bones and hes set against a ships wheel.

Finally, this pin features another pirate skull in color against a silver background, with is etched with mermaids.

Check out this new Pirates of the Caribbean magnet and Loungefly ears, too.

For more Disneyland Resort news and info, follow Disneyland News Today onTwitter,Facebook, andInstagram. For Disney Parks news worldwide, visit WDWNT.

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New Open Edition Pirates of the Caribbean Pins Sail Into Disneyland Resort - WDW News Today

Wyndham Hotels and Resorts is opening a new all-inclusive resort in the Mexican Caribbean, Caribbean Journal has learned.

The companys newest all-inclusive resort is the Wyndham Grand Cancun All-Inclusive Resort and Villas, which is slated to open its doors on Nov. 1, 2022.

The resort is the product of a franchising agreement with Mexico-based Grupo Cancun.

The 364-room property, set in the heart of Cancuns famous Hotel Zone, has seven eateries, along with five bars, four pools, a spa, a beach club, tennis courts, a kids club and retail shops, among other amenities.

Its part of a growing collection of new Cancun all-inclusive resorts, both in the Hotel Zone and in newer areas like Puerto Cancun.

Wyndham Grand resorts offer everyday travelers experiences in some of the worlds most sought-after destinations, which now includes Cancun, said Scott LePage, President, Americas at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. Travelers can expect an upscale experience in the heart of the destination and immerse themselves in the Mexican culture through the resorts wide range of dining experiences and activities.

Wyndham has been steadily growing its all-inclusive footprint after debuting a pair of all-inclusives on the Caribbean coast of Mexico last year under the Alltra brand.

The company says its research shows that 75 percent of travelers believe staying in all-inclusive is the best way to travel right now.

With more than three decades of experience, we see that we are in an increasingly globalized world and recognized an opportunity to strengthen our international position through working with Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, said Abelardo Vara, President of Grupo Cancn. As the worlds largest hotel franchising company, Wyndham has a strong sales and reservation system, which helps guide guests who are dreaming of their next destination to visit. As the resort converts to Wyndham Grand Cancun All-Inclusive Resort & Villas, we look forward to partnering with their highly professional team.

The Wyndham Grand Cancun will be part of the Wyndham Rewards loyalty program, the company said.

For more, visit Wyndham.

Excerpt from:

Wyndham Is Opening a New All-Inclusive in the Mexican Caribbean - Caribbean Journal

By Angelique V. Nixon

Angelique V. Nixon is a Bahamas-born, Trinidad-based writer, scholar and activist. She is a lecturer at the Institute for Gender and Development Studies (IGDS) at The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, and a director of the feminist LGBTQI organisation CAISO: Sex and Gender Justice.

The attacks against progressive politics are intense and none so glaring as the backlash against reproductive justice and sexual rights. The removal of any aspect of human rights protection should concern us wherever it happens. The overturning of Roe v. Wade by the United States Supreme Court on June 24th, 2022 is a devastating setback for gender and social justice. This move reflects the stark reality of rising conservative politics, as well as steady attacks against social justice movements. At the same time, social movements are changing and responding to the backlash with pressure from communities and civil society on governments to protect rights.

The US Supreme Court decision has ushered in severe restrictions in the United States on safe and legal abortions in several U.S. states (with a number banning access all together). The unfolding political and legal responses to this decision will undoubtedly continue for a while even as the consequences are immediate and dire for too many people living in the U.S. The restrictions and bans will disproportionately impact young people, poor and working-class women, women of colour, queer and non-binary people, and migrants (among other marginalised groups). Decades of social science, public health, and medical research (as well as insights from healthcare professionals) emphasise that reproductive rights and justice are essential for the development and wellbeing of any society, for women and girls in particular, and a cornerstone for gender equality. The evidence is clear that governments should not legislate to control bodies or prevent bodily autonomy especially for women and other marginalised or oppressed groups. The contradictions and hypocrisy prevail in the most powerful democracy where cis-gender heterosexual white men in positions of power determine and remove choices for too many people.

But what does this massive step back in reproductive rights in the United States mean especially for us in the Caribbean? What are the lessons here for our own struggles to protect reproductive rights and the movements for gender and sexual justice? Given the conservative and religious contexts within our postcolonial condition, we are at a precipice and must be on guard against the pressures of U.S. influence that we know affect the region daily. I wonder how we can use this moment to propel our movements forward and call upon our governments to protect reproductive rights and bodily autonomy through decriminalisation of abortion and sex work, and to actively advance gender justice and sexual rights. I wonder if we can see the ironies and parallels in demanding my body, my choice when it comes to vaccines and connect this need for bodily autonomy when it comes to reproductive rights.

The Caribbean Observatory on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, and the Caribbean Family Planning Affiliation (CFPA), issued a statement calling on Caribbean governments to respect and protect the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Caribbean People. They affirmed support of women and girls and bodily autonomy, and stated that: It is a Human Right to have access to reproductive care. The removal of this Right negatively impacts the physical, mental, and economic health of a person, and thus the community at large.

The statement also shared a brief overview of the current situation in the Caribbean region regarding abortion access and a reminder that:

The criminalization of abortion is incompatible with international human rights obligations. Without access to safe abortion, poor women and girls often resort to unsafe means of abortions. Evidence strongly points out that despite restrictive laws, abortion is prevalent in the Caribbean with higher incidences of abortions than in countries with more liberal laws.

In several Caribbean countries, legal and cultural restrictions on termination of pregnancies and the debates on rights are common and rife with contentious political divides. In the Anglophone Caribbean, only Barbados and Guyana have decriminalised abortion while three countries (Belize, St Lucia, and St Vincent) have expanded access only in medically-needed situations. In the rest of the Anglophone Caribbean, access to safe abortions is severely restricted and only available to those who have the means to travel elsewhere or with access to private healthcare. Even though Guyana has long established abortion rights, access to these services are limited and complicated in the public healthcare system (for several reasons including lack of implementation and resources). Again, this means that only people with means are able to access safe legal abortions, even in a country where it is legal and should be accessible. Meanwhile in Cuba, abortions have been accessible, safe, legal, and free for decades.

Caribbean governments must not follow the United States and their regressive and harmful treatment of reproductive health and rights. In fact, we should be following Cubas lead and looking towards Latin America where in recent years the right to abortion has been enshrined in law and protected in response to womens movements (most recently in Argentina, Mexico, and Colombia) in spite of conservative pressures.

We must continue to raise the alarm as the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has led into a dangerous slope of curtailing reproductive choices and criminalising bodies for pregnant people with complications. Also, it appears a precedent has been set for not only controlling family planning and reproduction but also limiting sexual rights and LGBTQI+ rights. We are living in dangerous times for women and girls, for queer people, for working class people, for migrants, for those on any margins where our bodies, our lives, our rights are increasingly under control and surveillance.

On the issue of birth control, it is necessary to draw upon our regional knowledge and anti-colonial struggles that affirmed our rights to be in these spaces with freedom and integrity, and to make choices when it comes to bodies and reproduction. In an essay, Reproductive Rights and Race Struggle in the Decolonizing Caribbean, Nicole Bourbonnais cites a Trinidadian Family Planning Report published by the Peoples National Movement in 1965 that reveals state support of reproductive choices:

If people are to be free to make a choice they must have a choice to make. There is no choice available to people who have never heard of contraception, or if they have heard do not know where to go to learn about it. There is no choice available to the poor in areas where no subsidised or free services are provided It is certainly not the business of the State to force any of its citizens to use birth control, but while it does not offer it, it forces many of them not to use it.

In earlier womens movements in the Caribbean, women shared the need for abortion access and birth control. As shared by Nicole Bournonnais, Mayme Aiken, a prominent organiser in Jamaica in the 1930s, related stories of sick mothers struggling for survival or resorting to illegal abortion to limit their families. Aiken argued that through birth control clinics:

Women will acquire a general knowledge of the care of their bodies which would be a great contribution to family welfare. Why not give a fair chance to every child that is born; and the right to every woman of voluntary parenthood?

These questions of rights, choices, and care remain as relevant today as it was in the past for not only women and children, but for all communities and people

Further, forced sterilisations and birth control medical testing on Black and Brown women in the Caribbean (and Americas) have to be carefully understood in calls for reproductive and sexual rights. We must confront mistrust of medical systems, family planning, and population control because of past injustices. We carry these memories and stories haunted by colonial legacies and control over bodies.

This is why we must demand sexual justice defined as affirming ones bodily and sexual autonomy, agency, rights, and freedom. Sexual justice includes reproductive rights and justice (safe and legal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare) and an understanding that Sexual Rights are fundamental to our Human Rights. As practitioners and activists argue, the control over women and girls bodies and sexuality increases gender-based violence and places severe limitations on mobility, education, employment, and participation in public life. Similarly, lesbians, gay men, bisexual, queer, transgender, intersex, gender non-conforming people and sex workers (and others who disrupt sexual and gender norms) face greater risk of violence, stigma, and discrimination because of sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

Movements for gender and sexual justice are obviously aligned but are too often divided because of homophobia, transphobia, and respectability politics. Black feminist lesbian poet and thinker Audre Lorde insisted that we must be inclusive in all social justice movements no matter how hard it might be. She says: there is no thing as a single issue struggle, because we do not live single issue lives. I call upon us to stand up for each other and alongside each other as our movements are closely aligned in the demands for justice, rights, and freedom. We must affirm a sexual culture of justice for all.

Reproductive health professionals, sexual rights activists, and feminists have long agreed that sexual rights underpin the enjoyment of all other human rights and are necessary for equity and justice for all. This is why we must continue to be on guard and in the struggle for our rights to bodily integrity and sexual justice there we might find our liberation.

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Fighting for Our Lives, Our Rights, Our Bodies: Reproductive and Sexual Rights and Justice in the Caribbean - Stabroek News

Someone with a lot of money to spend has taken a bullish stance on Royal Caribbean Gr RCL.

And retail traders should know.

We noticed this today when the big position showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.

Whether this is an institution or just a wealthy individual, we don't know. But when something this big happens with RCL, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.

So how do we know what this whale just did?

Today, Benzinga's options scanner spotted 12 uncommon options trades for Royal Caribbean Gr.

This isn't normal.

The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 75% bullish and 25%, bearish.

Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 6 are puts, for a total amount of $432,238, and 6 are calls, for a total amount of $290,415.

Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $30.0 to $65.0 for Royal Caribbean Gr over the last 3 months.

Looking at the volume and open interest is a powerful move while trading options. This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Royal Caribbean Gr's options for a given strike price. Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Royal Caribbean Gr's whale trades within a strike price range from $30.0 to $65.0 in the last 30 days.

Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.

If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Royal Caribbean Gr, Benzinga Pro gives you real-time options trades alerts.

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What Are Whales Doing With Royal Caribbean - Benzinga