Category Archives: Caribbean

From the rum punch, to the white sand beaches and the turquoise blue waters ideal for snorkeling, its no secret the Caribbean is the consummate vacation host. But, as an alternative to the tourist-heavy, well-established Caribbean hot spots comes a newcomer to the vacation scene: Michs, which is located along the northeastern coast of the Dominican Republic.

About 90 minutes from the airport in Punta Cana, this chilled-out destination is just now emerging on the radars of tourists, thanks in large part to a newly opened highway that shaved an hour off the drive time from the airport, making Michs a more feasible vacation spot.

Club Med Michs Playa Esmeralda opened in late 2019, offering four boutique villages within the ... [+] resort.

In late-2019, Club Med Michs Playa Esmeralda became the first resort to open in the area, debuting its eco-chic, all-inclusive 93-acre beachfront property thats surrounded by a verdant palm grove. Next up, Four Seasons is planning Tropicalia, a 169-room oceanfront resort with luxury residences.

Unlike the big hotels youd find in Punta Cana, though, Club Med gave its resort which is the brands first full Exclusive Collection resort to open in the Americas a boutique hotel vibe by divvying the property up into four distinct villages. The family-friendly Explorers Cove is close to the kids club; punchy colors and tropical gardens define Caribbean Paradise and Emerald Jungle is a zen, adults-only space. The most exclusive space is Archipelago, an ultra-luxe, adults-only village where 750-square foot suites come with private pools and ocean views.

Bursts of bright color fill the lobby at Club Med Michs Playa Esmeralda.

In a sense, Club Meds newest Dominican Republic resort feels much like a hideaway. With that in mind, here are a few of its best-kept secrets.

Kids (and anyone else with a sweet tooth!) will feel like theyve stepped into a real-life Candyland once they figure out the passcode to enter this chocolate-themed speakeasy. Inside the decadent Secret Chocolate Room is a chocolate fountain, plus cakes, candies, and ice cream. The resort has a partnership with Xocolat, a Dominican chocolate company that creates its treats with the islands cocoa beans.

The Secret Chocolate Room is like a real life Candyland.

Club Med Michs Playa Esmeralda has plenty of excursion options, ranging from a trip to the scenic El Limn waterfall, a cascading 170-foot fall that you can swim underneath to a whale watching getaway from January to March when humpbacks migrate from Canada to the warmer waters of Saman Bay. But, an especially unique trip is one that winds you up to the top of nearby Montaa Redonda, which translates to rounded mountain. Once there, youll be spoiled with 360-degree views of the regions lush landscape. Several squeal-inducing swings are atop the mountain and are just the prop you need for a jaw-dropping Instagram photo. Those who are afraid of heights can relax in a hammock.

Take a swing on Montaa Redonda, which provides panoramic views (and a great photo for your ... [+] Instagram grid).

Sure, most resorts have volleyball nets and tennis courts. But a unique Club Med amenity? The circus equipment. Trained staff will help you get the swing (no avoiding that pun) of the flying trapeze. Or, let loose on the trampoline.

Take a break from the beach and try your hand a the circus arts.

Other entertaining ways to break up those lazy beach days include archery, trying out a yoga class in the Treetop Wellness Canopy, playing bocce ball or kayaking. But something unique to the resort is jet surfing, and the amateur-approved surfing option is a breezy way to explore the coastline.

A new water sport to try: Jet surfing.

More here:

Is This The Next Big Vacation Spot In The Caribbean? - Forbes

Many, including Viking River Cruises, Norwegian, MSC Cruises, Silversea Cruises and Seabourn are letting people delay their sailings, cancel within days of a trip or substitute another passenger for the one originally booked (usually a no-no). Policies vary by company and even by scheduled sailing, so travelers should contact their travel agent or cruise company.

Those who do not meet the current health criteria for boarding can cancel with no penalty, but a doctors note or other proof may be required.

Ms. Fudge, the travel agent, said shes never seen this kind of relaxation of the rules in the cruise industry. I keep getting different notifications, extending final payment, allowing people to change dates, its all unprecedented, she said. Normally if you dont go you lose your money.

Member companies of the industry association CLIA are generally abiding by its evolving rules regarding who can and cant board one of their ships. Passengers and crew are to be kept on shore if they have visited or gone through airports in Iran, South Korea, mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau or parts of Italy within 14 days before embarkation; if they have cared for someone who has or might have Covid-19 disease; or if they have exhibited symptoms of the virus. Travelers turned away for these reasons will receive a full refund.

Royal Caribbean is one company going beyond the CLIA guidelines and denying boarding to any passenger who has come within six feet of anyone who has been in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Iran, South Korea or Italy within the last 15 days. The company will be relying on passengers to be truthful about any close encounters.

To comply with these regulations, passengers are filling out health and travel questionnaires before they board. Cruise companies always screened passengers for health, but the questions are more specific now to the virus, said Ms. Shelton.

Preboarding temperature checks are also becoming more common.

Companies have been canceling some sailings, adjusting the itineraries of others, and in some cases moving to their next scheduled part of the globe a bit early. Seabourn, for example, canceled one cruise departing from Singapore, and replaced another ships Asian ports of call with Australian ones. Alaska cruises are expected to start up a bit earlier than usual for Viking and some other lines.

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Cruises and the Coronavirus: What Passengers Need to Know - The New York Times

What happened

Shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL) fell 31.3% in February, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence, the company's second consecutive month with a double-digit decline. The culprit is the rapid spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, which is threatening to sink travel and cruise demand in 2020.

The travel industry has been hit hard by the growing outbreak, and the cruise business, which has a long history of dealing with headlines involving viruses spreading rapidly around a ship, has had it particularly rough.

Royal Caribbean and other cruise operators have been forced to cancel some sailings into areas impacted by the virus, and ships have been denied entry to local ports due to virus concerns.

Image source: Getty Images.

Investors have known for some time that the coronavirus would weigh on first-quarter results. The stock fell in February as it became increasingly clear that the impact of the outbreak would go well beyond the current quarter, calling into question the company's outlook for the U.S. summer vacation season and all of 2020.

The issue didn't go away with the calendar turning to March. On March 2 it was reported that 82 individuals tested positive for influenza on a Royal Caribbean ship heading toward Baltimore. And the cruise industry was dealt a fresh coronavirus blow on March 5 when thousands of people on the Grand Princess, which is owned by Carnival, were exposed to coronavirus, leading to the ship being barred from docking in San Francisco as scheduled.

Royal Caribbean shares are down another 19% in the early days of March and have now lost half of their value so far in 2020. Presumably once the virus is eventually contained, memories will fade and traffic will return. But if there are too many nightmarish stories like the one passengers on the Grand Princess are currently enduring, that recovery could take time to materialize.

With so much uncertainty lingering over the sector, investors can't be blamed for abandoning ship.

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Why Shares of Royal Caribbean Were Down in February - Motley Fool

When is Wild Cuba: A Caribbean Journey on TV?

The first part will air on Friday 6 March 8:30pm on BBC Two, followed by the second part which will air a week later on Friday 13 March 8:30pm on BBC Two.

Colin Stafford-Johnson will be presenting Wild Cuba. A wildlife cameraman for the last 30 years Colin has been on many adventures around the world but has always had a love for Cuba.

He is a well known Irish TV presenter and has always had a passion for wildlife since the age of four where he could be found bird watching and catching butterflies.

Colin Stafford-Jones and an iguana. Crossing the Line Productions

Cubas isolation has meant that many of its natural riches have been preserved, the island is home to a range of wildlife and landscapes that have not been seen by many outsiders.

Journey though Cuba to discover the amazing animals along with Colins personal insights into the extraordinary lives and landscape surrounding them.

Shark swimming over reef. Crossing the Line Productions

You will be introduced to a vast range of wildlife from the bee hummingbirds, beach iguanas to mass migrating crabs all in the first episode.

The second episode delves deeper into bats, frogs and the Cuban crocodiles.

1 Cuban pygmy owl, Glaucidium siju

Cuban pygmy owl. Crossing the Line Productions

Cuban pygmy owls breed in tree holes formerly used by woodpeckers, as seen above. Commonly the Cuban pygmy owls are grey-brown in colour but some can occur in a red morph. The species covers a large range and is frequently observed across Cuba.

Hutia. Crossing the Line Productions

Desmarests hutia are the largest living endemic mammal in Cuba. The rodent which looks like a giant guinea pig, can be found in many protected areas and faces very little threats.

3 Bee hummingbird, Mellisuga helenae

Bee hummingbird. Crossing the Line Productions

Bee hummingbirds are the smallest bird in the world and are native to Cuba. Found in dense forest and on the edge of woodlands, the small population is in decline due to forest degradation.

4 American crocodile, Crocodylus acutus

American crocodile. Crossing the Line Productions

The American crocodile is widely distrubuted across the Atlantic from the southern tip of Florida, Mexico, Venezuela and Caribbean island such as Cuba and Jamaica. Found mainly in coastal habitats they can also inhabit freshwater and reservoirs that are landlocked.

Research has found that American crocodiles have been breeding with the critically endangered Cuban crocodiles creating hybrids. Studies have yet to see if interbreeding has created any behavioural differences.

5 Cuban tody, Todus multicolor

Cuban tody. Crossing the Line Productions

Another native species to Cuba, the tody is a colourful bird that vocalises frequently. Todys normally stand out due to their large head compared to their body size. The population is in decline but not at an alarming rate and remains of Least Concern on the IUCN red list.

6 Land crabs, Gecarcinus ruricola

Land crab. Crossing the Line Productions

Every spring millions of black, red and yellow land crabs migrate from the forests around Cubas Bay of Pigs to breed. Once the females have mated their eggs will hatch and spend 2 -3 weeks at sea going through crucial stages before returning to land and back into the forests.

Main image: Turtle hatchling. Crossing the Line Productions

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When is Wild Cuba: A Caribbean Journey on TV? - BBC Discover Wildlife

There is no greater joy than a bellyful of Caribbean food. Readers around the world can share that feeling starting April 2020, when the first collaborative cookbook by Hugh Chef Irie Sinclair, Cynthia Chef Thia Verna, and Island Origins publisher Calibe Thompson hits stands. The hardcover 240-page Caribbean cookbook titled Taste the Islands: Culinary Adventures in a Caribbean Kitchen will be available on Amazon and wherever books are sold. Its filled with traditional and gourmet Caribbean recipes, interesting behind the scenes anecdotes from the making of the Taste the Islands TV show (which inspired the book), and colorful photos mostly by acclaimed photo artist David I. Muir. With our direct access, we were able to get the details on the book-writing process in the teams own words.

As executive producer of the TV series, said Thompson, I have a birds eye view to every angle of how its put together. Seeing the chefs grow as culinary professionals and as presenters throughout this process, facilitating the collaboration with the University Press of Florida, and being able to help tell the stories that tie the chapters together, makes me feel like Im doing something really worthwhile for the legacy of our Caribbean contingent in the diaspora.

It was an interesting process, Sinclair said about the journey composing this unique Caribbean cookbook. From not knowing if it was going to happen, to getting word that we had found a publisher to work with us. Going through the motions of requirements like testing recipes and trying to adhere to deadlines was interesting because I had never done anything like that before. But it definitely was well worth the time.

It was really overwhelming, said Verna about the project. Like Sinclair, It was my first time being published, and it was no joke. It was a year-and-a-half long process so the wait was heavy, but now that I can see a real book that I can hold in my hands, its a miracle and a blessing.

I was able to bring a little bit of Africa, the Caribbean and the French to the project, so you could say you get to taste some of my personal Haitian history with the food that we made and the spices we used, she shared.

In similar fashion, Sinclair mused, The process allowed me to showcase some of the things that relate to my rootsfrom where I was born in Jamaica, to some of the things Ive learned in the industry. Bringing my Caribbean heritage to the table I thought was both cool and important as part of the process.

As for what theyd like people to take away from this particular Caribbean cookbook, Sinclair says, I hope people see that Caribbean food is very multidimensional. It can be complex, it can be simple, but its always full of flavor. I hope that as they read and try the recipes, theyll see how much love goes into cooking Caribbean food.

Chef Thia appreciates how much of a milestone this is, another major accomplishment for a girl from Haiti with big dreams. I would never in my life have imagined that I would be published, and by the University Press of Florida?! Thats huge! People need to know that if I can do it, we all can do it.

Link:

Cook Like the Chefs on Taste the Islands with New Caribbean Cookbook - Island Origins

Summary

Flycana acquired the aircraft operator's certificate of Dominican Wings two years ago and after a CEO change early in 2019, the airline has emerged with a network strategy and seems close to securing the necessary funding for launch.

Speaking to attendees at the recent Routes Americas 2020 conference in Indianapolis, Flycana CEO Fred Jacobsen explained that the company was in the process of securing USD80 million in funding from both local and international investors by Apr-2020. He remarked that Flycana would aim to launch as a low cost operator within six to eight months, once its funding is finalised.

The airline plans to inaugurate operations with seven aircraft, either current Airbus A320 models or Boeing 737 next generation jets, with the fleet growing to up to 32 aircraft by its fifth year of operations.

Flycana will be based in Santo Domingo and operate to 23 destinations with its initial fleet of seven aircraft, increasing its destinations served to 45 by the companys fifth anniversary.

Mr Jacobsen told conference attendees that North American routes will make up approximately 45% of Flycanas network, with the remainder operated to Central and South America, and elsewhere in the Caribbean.

The airlines network footprint will be wide and shallow, Mr Jacobsen explained, saying that Flycana would operate to many destinations on a low frequency basis. Its targeted average stage length is three hours.

Flycanas targeted passenger segment is visiting friends and relatives (VFR), and Mr Jacobsen said that there is an opportunity to stimulate passengers in that segment. The airline had calculated that there are 2.5 million Dominicans living in the US but only 900,000 are travelling by air.

North America is the Dominican Republics largest international region measured by departing seats, followed by Western Europe and Upper South America.

JetBlue is the countrys largest airline measured by arriving frequencies.

Although JetBlue does target some VFR traffic between the US and the Dominican Republic, it largely focuses on leisure traffic between the two countries.

Mr Jacobsen also said that the Dominican Republic welcomes approximately eight million visitors per year, and with affordable travel options, those travellers could visit other places in the Caribbean.

There is increasing service between Upper South America and the Dominican Republic.

Avianca recently unveiled plans to increase its frequencies between Bogot and Santo Domingo, and Sky Peru is planning to introduce service from Lima to Punta Cana. From North America, Frontier Airlines is launching flight from Miami to Punta Cana in Apr-2020.

Flycana has obviously assessed the market potential for a new airline based in the Caribbean, including the inherent challenges in the region. The Caribbean is notorious for levying heavy taxation on aviation, and has rarely softened its stance in that regard. Those taxes have made it tough for other low cost airlines to survive in the region over the long term.

Mr Jacobsen explained that Flycana is in discussions with the Dominican Republics government about the benefits that lower fares could bring to the country, including an increase in tourism.

Flycanas management has some experience in working with government while attempting to establish a low cost airline. In 2012 Mr Jacobsen was the company CEO at the time of launch of Viva Air Colombia, which was the first low cost airline to begin operating in the country.

Although Mr Jacobsen left Viva Air Colombia a few years ago, he left a foundation in place for the low cost model to gain traction in the country. The airline was Colombias third largest domestic airline through the 10M ending Oct-2019, measured by passengers carried, with a 19% share.

Viva Air Colombia continues to build a solid passenger base, despite challenges it faces from taxation in the country. Colombias total passenger levels reached approximately 38 million for the first ten months of 2019, and previously the countrys government has stated that annual passenger levels could reach 100 million by 2030.

Flycanas management needs to convince the Dominican government that there is an opportunity for passenger stimulation in the Caribbean and that the country can benefit from an expansion of air travel in the region, but Flycana has a level of optimism that it can usher in the low cost model from a headquarters based in the Caribbean.

However, the company is not blind to the fact that it could take some time and patience for long-needed reforms in the region to materialise.

The Caribbean is long overdue for the kind of low cost service spreading across South and Central America, which is stimulating passenger traffic and, in some cases, converting a still sizeable bus traveller base over to air travel.

Flycana has the management experience to establish true low cost service in the Caribbean, and no shortage of ambition. But the company also has the measure of patience necessary for continuing dialogue with Caribbean governments about the benefits that low cost service can create.

Now it is time for government to adopt a more liberalised mindset.

Read more from the original source:

Flycana: Dominican start-up LCC working to be viable in the Caribbean - CAPA - Centre for Aviation

From a press release:

Chef Eric Adjepong, a first-generation Ghanaian-American bringing West African cuisine to the mainstream, will open his first solo restaurant, On the Double, this spring. The fast-casual counter in Union Market will offer food of the African diaspora through the lens of a Caribbean-style roti shop, giving guests a more approachable introduction to African cuisine.

Adjepong initially made a name for himself as the citys own entrant into season 16 of Bravos Top Chef, where he finished third and became an instant fan favorite. He will also compete on the upcoming season of Top Chef All-Stars, airing March 19, where the idea for On the Double first took shape.

During one of the challenges, I decided to do my take on a doubles, a popular Caribbean street snack of spicy cumin and turmeric frybread traditionally served with chickpeas. It dawned on me that this simple, but unfamiliar, dish could serve as a great jumping off point to trace how ingredients have migrated from Africa to places in the Caribbean, like Trinidad and Jamaica, Adjepong said. While Id like to pursue a full-service West African restaurant down the road, my goal with On the Double is to showcase this food in a more accessible setting.

Adjepongs menu begins with a choice of baked roti or fried doubles as a base, topped with either rice or curried chana and aloo (chickpeas and potatoes), and finished with one of an assortment of proteins chicken yassa, curry goat, coconut curry shrimp, or stewed beef. The signature dish, or The Double as its dubbed, will be a version of Adjepongs Top Chef contender, served with crispy pancetta, chermoula, and calypso hot sauce. Jollof rice, fried plantains, collard greens, and other sides with African roots, as well as drinks like sobolo (hibiscus sweet tea) and tamarind lemonade round out the meal.

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Caribbean-style roti shop, On the Double, coming this spring to Union Market. - PoPville

Future patio outside 2827 Sherman Ave, NW at Harvard

More info on de Rum Spot coming to Sherman Ave note opening date is planned for June 1st not May 1st. And if you werent excited before oh my goodness From an email:

The new authentic Caribbean street food eatery and Rhum bar will serve many of the menu items from its acclaimed sister restaurant, Cane Rhum Bar in Charleston hailed as one of the best places to dine in South Carolina.

de Rhum Spot will offer three full levels of full-service casual dining, including an outdoor patio that can accommodate up to 70 people indoors and 53 outdoors. Hours of operation will be 11:30AM 2:00AM (Sunday-Thursday) and 11:30AM 3:00AM (Fridays and Saturdays). A soft opening will take place for friends, family & special invited guests, followed by the grand opening event June 1, 2020.

Chef Paul Yellin, also known as The Rhum Chef, opened Cane Rhum Bar in Charleston, SC in 2016, and it has since been featured by local and national media as a must-go restaurant for Charlestonians and visitors. A rum connoisseur, Yellin grew up on the island of Barbados, where he learned the history and process of distilling fine rum. He describes himself as a rum drinker with a cooking problem, who aims to bring Caribbean food, culture and rum to the world stage. Yellins menu boasts sustainable, healthy, well-prepared food, bursting with colors and flavors. Menu favorites include, the jerk chicken, seared tuna and ginger beer-braised pork.

Ed. Note: Im told the owner has a new baby so he cant make it to every community meeting but he welcomes visitors to the space at 2827 Sherman Ave, NW and you can ask him any questions you may have!

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"The new authentic Caribbean street food eatery and Rhum bar will serve many of the menu items from its acclaimed sister restaurant, Cane Rhum...

Here's why Keith Richards was replaced by Paul McCartney for Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. Pirates Of The Caribbean was a popular Disney ride but it took years for it to become a movie. The main issue for the project getting a greenlight is that movies about pirates were once considered box-office poison, as seen by high-profile flops like 1996's Cutthroat Island. The project was once so low on the Disney totem pole that a straight to video version starring Christopher Walken as Jack Sparrow was seriously considered. A big-budget version was eventually greenlit, though the studio was still concerned by star Johnny Depp's odd performance, which was famously inspired by Rolling Stone rocker Keith Richards.

Of course, Pirates Of The Caribbean became an enormous success, with Depp's performance being praised. The cast and crew were quickly reassembled for sequels Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and At World's End, which were shot back to back. They received mixed reviews for their muddled storylines and bloated length, though they once again raked in money. Rob Marshall helmed fourth entry Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides in 2011, which was another case of weak reviews doing little to dissuade audiences from returning for Captain Jack's latest misadventure.

Related: Pirates Of The Caribbean Movie Timeline Explained

The most recent entry was 2017'sPirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. This involved Jack on the run from Javier Bardem's ghostly, vengeance-seeking pirate. Fans of the series will remember the very meta casting of Keith Richards in the third movie as pirate Captain Teague, Jack's father. Richards returned once again for the fourth movie, and while a de-aged version of Teague briefly returns for Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tells No Tales, Richards himself didn't actually return.

While Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales directors Joaquim Rnning and Espen Sandberg had written a scene for Teague, Keith Richards was busy with touring commitments with The Rolling Stones. The directors decided they needed another famous musician to play a new member of Jack's family, and settled upon The Beatles' Paul McCartney as their top choice; apparently, giving his commitment was as simple as having Johnny Depp text him personally.

While the marketing emphasized Paul McCartney's part in Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, his role is disappointingly brief. He plays Sparrow's Uncle Jack and the pair run into each other during a prison scene. Jack sings and plays cards, tells a gag involving a skeleton and then Jack Sparrow is quickly dragged away by guards. For what its worth, McCartney is fun in the scene, but it probably would have worked better if his cameo hadn't been spoiled in the marketing.

Next: Pirates Of The Caribbean 5's Carina Barbossa Twist Makes Zero Sense

Black Panther 2: Every Character Returning For The MCU Sequel

Its pronounced Paw-rick, not Pad-raig. Now thats out of the way, a brief introduction. Padraig has been writing about film online since 2012, when a friend asked if hed like to contribute the occasional review or feature to their site.A part-time hobby soon blossomed into a career when he discovered he really loved writing about movies, TV and video games he even (arguably) had a little bit of talent for it. He has written words for Den of Geek, Collider, The Irish Times and Screen Rant over the years, and can discuss anything from the MCU - where Hawkeye is clearly the best character - to the most obscure cult b-movie gem, and his hot takes often require heat resistant gloves to handle.He's super modern too, so his favorite movies include Jaws, Die Hard, The Thing, Ghostbusters and Batman. He can be found as i_Padds on Twitter making bad puns.

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Pirates Of The Caribbean 5: Why Keith Richards Was Replaced By Paul McCartney - Screen Rant

One of the biggest contributing factors to the lawsuit between actor Johnny Depp and his ex-wife actress Amber Heard has been the suggestion that Johnny Depp lost his role as Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Its been stated he lost the role due to allegations made against him by Heard. As many of you already know, she stated that he had domestically abused her throughout the duration of their marriage. As it turns out, however, Johnny Depp might not have actually lost the role to begin with.

According to a source close to the situation, no one at Disney actually confirmed that the allegations cost Johnny Depp his role as Jack Sparrow in any future Pirates of the Caribbean films. Heres what our source had to say:

Johnny Depp was actually never officially dropped from Disneys next Pirates of the Caribbean film. In fact, there was never a statement from any source at Disney that the allegations against Depp involving Amber Heard would get him removed from the film. Disney was just looking to go in a different direction for a potential reboot and there never was any confirmation that the allegations cost him the role.

And there you have it. A lot of the fuel to the fire that has been the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard lawsuit stemmed from the possibility that Heard cost Depp his famous role as Jack Sparrow. But in an interesting turn, it appears that he never actually lost his chance at playing Jack Sparrow again after all. Fans would like to see Depp play the character again, as theres a petition for the actor to return that has over 175,000 signatures at the time of this writing.

Of course, there are still many other issues at hand regarding the lawsuit. The allegations that both Depp and Heard have made at one another are becoming increasingly massive, and at some point there will have to be some kind of conclusion.

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Johnny Depp Never Actually Lost His Pirates Of The Caribbean Role - ScreenGeek