Category Archives: Caribbean

If you're going on a Royal Caribbean cruise with close friends or family, you might want to link your reservations together.

Linking reservations is an optional feature to make dining arrangements a little bit easier.

Here's a look at the why and how of linking reservations on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

In short, linking reservations together means you can more easily facilitate dining reservations, especially in the main dining room.

Every stateroom has a reservation number, and there is no inherit way for Royal Caribbean to know guests staying in one cabin want to dine with guests in another cabin. This is especially true of families that split up among different cabins.

Royal Caribbean makes cruising fun for families and groups of all sizes, but that usually means there are multiple reservations involved. Since youre traveling together, it makes sense that you would want to eat together in the dining room and plan excursions together.

Or maybe you have someone really generous in your group who is paying for your drink package, or wants to surprise you with a spa day!

In addition, linking reservations allows for an easier time of booking entertainment since you won't have to look up the reservations later.

It's an extra step that makes planning other aspects of the cruise a little bit easier when your travelling party is spread across more than one cabin.

Before you can link a reservation with yours, you will need some basic information about each person's reservation:

The most common issue for anyone that wants to link reservations is finding their reservation number.

There are a few ways to find your reservation number, so it's just a matter of whatever is easier for you.

You can find that by logging into your Royal Caribbean account. I find that it is easiest to do this on an actual computer, rather than the mobile app.

After logging in, the reservation number should be listed with every cruise you have booked.

Other ways to get the reservation number include:

Once you're ready, you can link reservations together in one of three ways:

In the case of a travel agent or going through Royal Caribbean, this requires you to simply contact either one to make it happen.

If you want to do this on your own, you and them can log onto the Royal Caribbean website.

Just below your reservation information, you should see a button that says Have a Reservation? Click the blue Add a Cruise button.

This will take you to the Link A Cruise page. It will ask you for the Surname (Last Name) of the person you want to link, their date of birth, and their reservation number. Click Continue.

From there, it should locate their reservation and give you the option to link their reservation with your cruise!

Now you are all set! Your Main Dining Room table reservations will be set together. Youll also have access to each other so that you can pay for each others excursions and other Cruise Planner items.

For example, my husband and I are traveling with his sister in November, and we are trading off paying for some of the fun things we are planning on board. Linking our reservations has made that super easy! Have fun and get to planning!

Read more here:

How to link Royal Caribbean cruise reservations together - Royal Caribbean Blog

After almost three years in business, Dakaris Soul Food has made a name for itself as a go-to restaurant for delicious Southern and Caribbean inspired cuisine in Harford County. However, the family-owned restaurants success lies not only in happy customers, but in continuing a legacy.

From left: Salima Muhammad, Omar Vanriel, Shalema Brooks, Robert Brooks and Shavon Liggins all stand together for a portrait at Dakaris Soul Food on Friday, April 15. (Ulysses Muoz/The Baltimore Sun)

Dakari forever, said Kyrin Cox, the restaurant owners son, who is also a chef there.

Cox wasnt solely referring to the restaurant, but also his brother, Dakari Milton Moses Brooks, who died in September 2019, just a month before the restaurant opened its doors.

Owners Shalema and Robert Brooks worked on opening a restaurant for years before the death of their son.

My husband and I were planning to open a restaurant over five years before we officially opened. We saved every extra penny. The week before our son passed, my husband came across our first location, said Shalema. On the day of our sons repast, we received word we were approved for the building and changed the legal name to Dakaris Soul Food.

We feel like although our son is gone, his legacy lives on, Shalema continued. We were able to grieve through building something in honor of him.

Shalema and Robert Brooks, co-owners of Dakaris Soul Food, sit together holding a large photo of their late son, Dakari, for whom their restaurant is named. (Ulysses Muoz/The Baltimore Sun)

From the popping playlist that transports patrons from the establishment to a soulful cookout, to the large helping of food prepared by Cox and Jamaican-born Omar Vanriel, the Caribbean specialist, Dakaris Soul Food has flourished from an idea to a reliable restaurant for delicious fare.

Im here to get some good food. Ive actually frequented here twice before. I stumbled upon it, and when I came in, the staff was very welcoming. It had a very good vibe and the food was amazing, said Army Staff Sgt. Jovon Lewis.

I had a cheesesteak the first time, which was really, really good, said Lewis, who was returning for another taste of the cheesesteak. I did try some of the soul food the second time around and that was really good, too. The cornbread was amazing.

Other customer favorites include the stuffed salmon, macaroni and cheese, oxtail, Mommas Jazzy Wings, and the lump crab cake, a dish that, according to Lewis, brought diners all the way from New Jersey the last time he visited.

Robert Brooks, co-owner and executive chef at Dakaris Soul Food, plates an order of Mommas Jazzy Wings on Friday, April 15. (Ulysses Muoz/The Baltimore Sun)

Black-owned and operated, Dakaris Soul Food offers food rooted in the Black diaspora in a country that is still predominantly white.

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Its good to see professional people that look like you, said Lewis, who is Black.

However, Dakaris diverse patrons show that the rich, soulful food options are for everyone. The priority at Dakaris Soul Food is making all their customers feel at home and happy.

Its a great family atmosphere. It leaves you thinking you just left your grandmas kitchen, Brooks emphasized.

The Brookses are currently planning on offering blue crabs this summer and expanding the restaurant to other states.

Dakaris Soul Food

300 Edgewood Road, Edgewood, 410-702-9828, dakarisoulfood.com

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Dakari's Soul Food dishes out Southern and Caribbean-style food, while keeping son's memory alive in Harford County - Baltimore Sun

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If Americans are looking for the perfect vacation destination the Caribbean is shaping up to be the ideal area for an easy trip.

Various Caribbean nationsincluding some of the most popular destinations for U.S. touristshave removed all entry requirements for travelers.

Therefore, eager tourists dont need:

Lets look at some of the best options:

Four weeks ago, Jamaica removed all entry requirements for touristsincluding testing, passenger locator forms, mandatory quarantine, and proof of vaccination. Jamaica had strict, and often confusing, travel restrictions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic; now, theyve joined the growing list of nations with normal requirements.

However, Jamaica still has a few internal COVID-19 restrictions, like the government still limiting events to a 70% capacity, and anyone whos tested positive for COVID-19 must self-isolate until fully recovered.

Aruba is one of the most popular destinations for Americans. Situated in the Southern region of the Caribbean, Aruba offers excellent beaches, bars, and watersports. Better still, the nation ended all COVID-19 entry requirements two months agobecoming the 16th nation worldwide to do so.

Travelers still have to complete the embarkation/disembarkation card 3 days prior to arrival. Moreover, travelers might still need to wear face masks, although theyve now become at the discretion of invidivual businesses.

Two months ago, Curaao removed all entry requirements for tourists, including testing, passenger locator forms, mandatory quarantine, and proof of vaccination. It was the 13th country worldwide to remove all entry requirements.

However, there are still some internal COVID-19 restrictions in Curaao. These include mandatory face masks in airports, mandatory self-isolation for positive COVID-19 tests, and face masks are mandatory if travelers cant keep a 2-meter difference between people.

Bonairea gorgeous island in the Caribbean seascrapped all entry requirements 4 weeks ago. Bonaire is part of the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaao) and is the least visited of the islands, but defintey worth a look. It became the 32nd nation worldwide to end all COVID-19 entry requirements.

However, there are still some internal COVID-19 protocols. These include mandatory face masks for everyone aged 2 years and over in indoor areas and on public transportation.

After Mexico, its hard to imagine a more popular destination for Americans than the Dominican Republic. The beautiful nation removed all COVID-19 entry requirementsincluding random testing on arrivaljust three weeks ago.

The Dominican Republic has remained relatively restriction-free throughout the pandemic. However, until 3 weeks ago, the nation enforced a random breathalyzer-type test on unvaccinated tourists upon arrival; this is no longer the case.

Most of the Caribbean has removed many COVID-19 entry requirements. However, these are the only 5 nations from the Caribbean, as of May 15, that have removed all entry requirements.

However, if Americans want to visit somewhere else, there are plenty of other restriction-free nations, such as:

Check out the full list of countries without entry restrictions here.

The Caribbean, Central America, and Europe are all incredible destinations for Americans this summer; we will update you when more nations drop all COVID-19 entry requirements.

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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictionscan change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationalitys entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories

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These 5 Caribbean Nations Have Removed All Entry Requirements For American Tourists - Travel Off Path

For those who have never cruised to the Mediterranean or traveled to Europe before, packing for a Mediterranean cruise can seem stressful.

Whether bringing clothing comfortable enough to walk around historic cities, modest enough to wear into churches, and dressy enough to dine at chic restaurants, its easy to get overwhelmed.

In reality, however, there are only a few key differences to note between packing for a beach-centric Caribbean cruise and a Mediterranean cruise. From swapping flip flops for sneakers to packing nicer, fashionable outfits, here are our main tips and tricks to remember when packing for your Mediterranean cruise.

Cruising to the Mediterranean can entail a lot of walking. Its not unheard of for guests to walk several miles a day while exploring their ports of call. Therefore, packing a pair of sneakers or other comfortable shoes is essential to ensure you dont get any painful blisters.

As far as closed-toed shoes, its not necessary to pack bulky tennis shoes that you would wear to the gym. Instead, casual yet comfortable shoes are recommended. Slip-on shoes, such as Toms, are comfortable enough to walk in all day, yet still appear sleek enough to fit in in a variety of destinations on your port day, such as in restaurants, museums, and even the beach.

If youre traveling to Europe in the peak of summer, though, you may prefer sandals. Pick sandals wisely, as its important to get a durable pair of sandals for a trip to Europe. Many streets in the Mediterranean are made from cobblestone, and walking in loose flip flops or thin sandals can easily get uncomfortable over the course of the day. Look for sandals with a durable sole and ankle strap for maximum comfort and reliability.

If youre buying a brand new pair of shoes for your Mediterranean cruise, regardless of whether they are sneakers or sandals, be sure to walk around in them for a day or two before your cruise to ensure they are comfortable.

What shoes to NOT pack: While you may see European women walking around cobblestone streets in heels, these would not be the most comfortable shoes to wear for a full-day exploring port.

The weather at Mediterranean ports, especially in the peak of summer, can get pretty hot. Cotten, linen, and other breathable fabrics are recommended. As a rule of thumb, if an article of clothing is comfortable to wear in the peak of summer back at home, it will probably be good to pack for a Mediterranean cruise.

Sundresses, rompers, and flowy shorts tend to be comfortable yet fashionable clothing for women while exploring the Mediterranean. Men may want to pack shorts or lightweight pants as well as t-shirts and light button up shirts.

Europeans take pride in dressing nicely, with a fashion-sense that is, on average, more formal than what visitors from places like the United States or Canada may be used to, especially those who are used to cruising in the Caribbean.

The standard dress at Caribbean cruise ports tends to be extremely casual. Shorts, flip flops, and a tie-dye t-shirt from home is normal and acceptable. On a Mediterranean cruise, though, its smart to dress a bit more neatly.

During your port day in the Mediterranean, you may find yourself in a variety of settings, all with varying dress codes. From churches to restaurants, museums, and the beach, its smart to be prepared with the right outfit.

Men may want to wear well-fitted, nice t-shirts or short sleeved button ups as opposed to old and baggy shirts. Instead of athletic shorts, opt for a nicer pair.

Women have a little more flexibility in terms of casual yet fashionable clothing. Lightweight sundresses, patterned shorts with a solid shirt, capris, a fitted t-shirt, and summer jumpsuits can all be great outfits on a Mediterranean cruise.

A great way to plan outfit ideas is by thinking of what you would wear to a semi-formal summer party back home. If you wouldnt wear a wrinkled tie-dye t-shirt over stretchy athletic shorts, this probably isnt the best outfit for a European cruise, either.

Churches in the Mediterranean tend to have their own dress codes.

Those visiting Vatican City, for example, should have their shoulders and knees covered at all times during the visit. Offensive tattoos or apparel with slogans should not be visible and hats and caps must be removed prior to entrance. Generally, shorts, dresses, and skirts are allowed as long as they are at least knee-length.

A good rule of thumb is to wear what you would wear to church back home. If a crop top, flip flops, and booty shorts arent permitted at your local church, dont wear this to a church in Europe, either.

You can always pack a change of clothes in your daypack if you're worried it might be too hot to walk around in the same clothing you wear into churches.

Port days in the Mediterranean tend to be long, so its helpful to have a nice daypack or purse to carry your belongings in throughout the day. Choosing the perfect bag, though, requires a few more considerations than simply picking the first backpack you see.

While Europe is a safe destination for travelers, pickpocketing is not unheard of in major tourist areas, much like any other destination in the world. Be cautious of putting your phone or wallet in your back pocket, and choose a day bag wisely.

For ladies, consider a crossbody purse that you can wear from one shoulder to the opposite hip. This is a secure purse as it cannot easily fall off your body, and you can even place your hand over the crossbody bag while in busy environments like markets or the subway for added security.

If you prefer a larger backpack, consider a daypack with a secret back pocket. This is a backpack that has a zippered pocket at the back of the bag. As this pocket is against your back when walking, your valuables (passport, wallet, etc.) remain secure.

Aside from packing the perfect outfits to wear in port, its important to remember to pack for your time onboard as well. Onboard attire on a Mediterranean cruise will be similar to any other cruise, with casual attire during the day and nicer outfits for the evening.

Mediterranean weather should remain quite comfortable throughout the summer, although its a good idea to pack a lightweight jacket or cardigan in case of chilly weather in the morning and evenings while onboard. Likewise, those traveling to the Mediterranean in shoulder season will want to pack more warm-weather clothing like pants, long sleeve shirts, and jackets.

Read more about what the weather looks like on a Mediterranean cruise month by month here.

Now that you have an idea of what to wear while on a Mediterranean cruise, what clothing items should you avoid?

Truthfully, there is no clothing item you necessarily have to avoid wearing on a European cruise that you would wear at home. There may be certain items that are unusual to wear among Europeans and clothing that will make you stick out as being from a certain location, but whether or not this matters to you is a personal choice.

You will stick out as a tourist when wearing items not usually worn by Europeans, including apparel with American sports team logos, American flags, camouflage patterned clothing, baseball caps, and workout apparel such as leggings.

This doesnt mean you cannot wear these items, and youll see many tourists dressed like this, but it will make you stick out much more compared to wearing more neutral, neat clothing.

You may hear that Europeans dont wear shorts or sneakers, but this is generally false information. Youll see plenty of Europeans wearing shorts, particularly in cities near the coast. Sneakers are common as well, with brands like Adidas, Reebok, and Nike popular with Europeans throughout the Mediterranean.

More on the Mediterranean

See the article here:

What to wear on a Mediterranean cruise - Royal Caribbean Blog

Country

United States of AmericaUS Virgin IslandsUnited States Minor Outlying IslandsCanadaMexico, United Mexican StatesBahamas, Commonwealth of theCuba, Republic ofDominican RepublicHaiti, Republic ofJamaicaAfghanistanAlbania, People's Socialist Republic ofAlgeria, People's Democratic Republic ofAmerican SamoaAndorra, Principality ofAngola, Republic ofAnguillaAntarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S)Antigua and BarbudaArgentina, Argentine RepublicArmeniaArubaAustralia, Commonwealth ofAustria, Republic ofAzerbaijan, Republic ofBahrain, Kingdom ofBangladesh, People's Republic ofBarbadosBelarusBelgium, Kingdom ofBelizeBenin, People's Republic ofBermudaBhutan, Kingdom ofBolivia, Republic ofBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswana, Republic ofBouvet Island (Bouvetoya)Brazil, Federative Republic ofBritish Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago)British Virgin IslandsBrunei DarussalamBulgaria, People's Republic ofBurkina FasoBurundi, Republic ofCambodia, Kingdom ofCameroon, United Republic ofCape Verde, Republic ofCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChad, Republic ofChile, Republic ofChina, People's Republic ofChristmas IslandCocos (Keeling) IslandsColombia, Republic ofComoros, Union of theCongo, Democratic Republic ofCongo, People's Republic ofCook IslandsCosta Rica, Republic ofCote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of theCyprus, Republic ofCzech RepublicDenmark, Kingdom ofDjibouti, Republic ofDominica, Commonwealth ofEcuador, Republic ofEgypt, Arab Republic ofEl Salvador, Republic ofEquatorial Guinea, Republic ofEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFaeroe IslandsFalkland Islands (Malvinas)Fiji, Republic of the Fiji IslandsFinland, Republic ofFrance, French RepublicFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabon, Gabonese RepublicGambia, Republic of theGeorgiaGermanyGhana, Republic ofGibraltarGreece, Hellenic RepublicGreenlandGrenadaGuadaloupeGuamGuatemala, Republic ofGuinea, RevolutionaryPeople's Rep'c ofGuinea-Bissau, Republic ofGuyana, Republic ofHeard and McDonald IslandsHoly See (Vatican City State)Honduras, Republic ofHong Kong, Special Administrative Region of ChinaHrvatska (Croatia)Hungary, Hungarian People's RepublicIceland, Republic ofIndia, Republic ofIndonesia, Republic ofIran, Islamic Republic ofIraq, Republic ofIrelandIsrael, State ofItaly, Italian RepublicJapanJordan, Hashemite Kingdom ofKazakhstan, Republic ofKenya, Republic ofKiribati, Republic ofKorea, Democratic People's Republic ofKorea, Republic ofKuwait, State ofKyrgyz RepublicLao People's Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanon, Lebanese RepublicLesotho, Kingdom ofLiberia, Republic ofLibyan Arab JamahiriyaLiechtenstein, Principality ofLithuaniaLuxembourg, Grand Duchy ofMacao, Special Administrative Region of ChinaMacedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic ofMadagascar, Republic ofMalawi, Republic ofMalaysiaMaldives, Republic ofMali, Republic ofMalta, Republic ofMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritania, Islamic Republic ofMauritiusMayotteMicronesia, Federated States ofMoldova, Republic ofMonaco, Principality ofMongolia, Mongolian People's RepublicMontserratMorocco, Kingdom ofMozambique, People's Republic ofMyanmarNamibiaNauru, Republic ofNepal, Kingdom ofNetherlands AntillesNetherlands, Kingdom of theNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaragua, Republic ofNiger, Republic of theNigeria, Federal Republic ofNiue, Republic ofNorfolk IslandNorthern Mariana IslandsNorway, Kingdom ofOman, Sultanate ofPakistan, Islamic Republic ofPalauPalestinian Territory, OccupiedPanama, Republic ofPapua New GuineaParaguay, Republic ofPeru, Republic ofPhilippines, Republic of thePitcairn IslandPoland, Polish People's RepublicPortugal, Portuguese RepublicPuerto RicoQatar, State ofReunionRomania, Socialist Republic ofRussian FederationRwanda, Rwandese RepublicSamoa, Independent State ofSan Marino, Republic ofSao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic ofSaudi Arabia, Kingdom ofSenegal, Republic ofSerbia and MontenegroSeychelles, Republic ofSierra Leone, Republic ofSingapore, Republic ofSlovakia (Slovak Republic)SloveniaSolomon IslandsSomalia, Somali RepublicSouth Africa, Republic ofSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSpain, Spanish StateSri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic ofSt. HelenaSt. Kitts and NevisSt. LuciaSt. Pierre and MiquelonSt. Vincent and the GrenadinesSudan, Democratic Republic of theSuriname, Republic ofSvalbard & Jan Mayen IslandsSwaziland, Kingdom ofSweden, Kingdom ofSwitzerland, Swiss ConfederationSyrian Arab RepublicTaiwan, Province of ChinaTajikistanTanzania, United Republic ofThailand, Kingdom ofTimor-Leste, Democratic Republic ofTogo, Togolese RepublicTokelau (Tokelau Islands)Tonga, Kingdom ofTrinidad and Tobago, Republic ofTunisia, Republic ofTurkey, Republic ofTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluUganda, Republic ofUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited Kingdom of Great Britain & N. IrelandUruguay, Eastern Republic ofUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuela, Bolivarian Republic ofViet Nam, Socialist Republic ofWallis and Futuna IslandsWestern SaharaYemenZambia, Republic ofZimbabwe

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Johnny Depp not coming back to 'Pirates of the Caribbean' franchise 'at this point,' says producer Jerry Bruckheimer - The Janesville Gazette

Welcome to a new week of Royal Caribbean news, which has a few tidbits and updates you should know about.

There's a lot happening in the world of cruising, and this week's update aims at catching you up on a few changes that we've seen over the past few days.

If you notice something different, be sure to email any news tips over to [emailprotected]

Royal Caribbean has changed the Covid-19 testing policy for guests that have booked a cruisetour add-on to their Alaska cruise.

RoyalCaribbeanBlog reader melmar02 shared an update that testing is no longer required prior to the land tour, although testing remains for the cruise portion.

"Cruisetours: Testing is no longer required prior to the land tour, but cruisetour guests must still meet the pre-cruise testing requirements."

"It's recommended guests bring an eMed Test Kit to take at the end of the land tour. Guests who don't bring their own test kit will have a test made available through a local medical service provider at their own expense. "

The cruise tours are optional tours that take guests into the interior of Alaska before or after their cruise.

Remember that Royal Caribbean trademarked the term "secret cove" that sounds like it could be a new area for Perfect Day at CocoCay?

A few days later they made another registration for "The Cove", which is also described as "intended to cover the categories ofrecreational services, namely island resort services."

There's been no word from Royal Caribbean what any of these trademarks may be utilized for, but it's something to keep an eye on.

Good news for anyone cruising down under: you'll be able to visit New Zealand again.

Our friends at Cruise.Blog shared an update that New Zealand will reopen its maritime borders on July 31, 2022.

While Australia had re-opened its borders to cruise ships, New Zealand was still holding out.

CLIA Australasia issued a statement in support of the change,"Todays announcement is a huge breakthrough for the many New Zealanders who depend on cruise tourism, including travel agents, tour operators, food and produce providers, port workers and many other industry suppliers."

"The suspension of international cruising over the past two years has had a huge impact on the New Zealand travel industry and we now have an opportunity to work on a revival."

The arrival of Ovation of the Seas to Sitka on May 7 not only signaled the start of the Alaska cruise season, but also the opening ofnewly constructed Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal.

The new terminal is a 40,000-square-foot timber-framed facility featuring local retail shops and restaurants, an outdoor covered terrace and a departure point for land- and water-based shore excursions.

The 1,300-foot dock is designed to accommodate two 1,000-foot neo-Panamax-class cruise ships, with a total capacity of 8,000 guests.

The terminal has six retail stores and two restaurants, all locally owned.A shuttle for cruise guests between the terminal and downtownSitkais designed to load up to four 60-passenger motor coaches at a time.

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Royal Caribbean updates: Land tour testing change, The Cove & more - Royal Caribbean Blog

The Palm Heights hotel united artists across the Caribbean diaspora, redefining luxury in the process

Its Carnival weekend in the Cayman Islands, and the Palm Heights hotel has a float in the paradetwo floats to be exact, which makes it into quite the presence. The first is bigger, with stacked speakers and a DJ booth, a green plastic awning. Its decorated with palm fronds, tropical flowers, and rotating fans that keep at bay the heat of the Caribbean sun.

The second float follows behind, equipped with a full bar and a few umbrellas. Friends of the Heights hop from one structure to the next, or walk between them, dancing and drinking and generally celebrating as the procession makes its way down West Bay Road, parallel to the islands coveted Seven Mile Beach. I was meant to watch BatabanoCaymanians national rendition of Caribbean Carnivalfrom the sidelines. But by chance or miscommunication, I ended up in the thick of things, chatting with the floats performers and self-described vibe curators as the afternoon wore on.

The Palm Heights opened in 2019. Gabriella Khalil, founder and creative director, is an authority in the field of contemporary art; walking onto the hotels grounds, its clear to see. The hotel has it all, to the degree of almost-comical, uncanny perfection. Each suite has a view of the pool-blue ocean, and also the two sprawling pools. Canary yellow umbrellas dot the white-sand beach. The roomsas well as the lounge, the restaurants, the lobby, and the shopsare decorated with the design fanatic in mind: vintage Marcel Breuer and Pierre Chapo, an Ettore Sotsass rug, charming pieces by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Gijs Bakker, and Gae Aulenti, and stacks and stacks of art books.

Left: Bambi Grimotes. Right: Lafawndah.

At Batabano, I learned that most of the individuals on the float were part of a residency program thats central to the Palm Heightss mission: accommodating and nurturing artists, writers, and athletes with direct or indirect links or interests in the Caribbean. There were painters like Gabriella Sanchez and Adee Roberson. Dancers of various genres, including Tarik Boom, Patricia Zhou, and C. Nichols. And plenty of designers and stylists, responsible for devising the vibrant costumes that gave the event its character: Tara Hakin, Raul Lopez, and Jonathan Johnson. The night before the festival, Trinidadian filmmaker Maya Cozier hosted a screening of her latest film She Paradise, and in its height, DJs Crystallmess and Pressure Point set the mood.

It was refreshing to see a luxury resort populated with young creatives, international cool kids, especially in a way that never read as gimmicky or contrived. The artists-in-residence were the heart of the placenever an afterthought amongst the other guests. I asked Gerardo Gonzalezhead of food and cultural programming at the Heightsand LA-based curator Erin Christovale about the intentions behind the program, which theyve both been instrumental in developing. They stressed the idea of luxury without pretense. The Palm Heights, compared to other hotels, feels like a homea place to relax fully and completely, without the need to establish your belonging through fancy dress or other status signifiers. And for artists, Christovale stresses, its the ultimate place to reset. For a lot of people, who perhaps feel stuck or are in the same space and need something newon a very basic level, [the Heights] provides a new way to think, kind of whatevers needed in someones practice, she says.

In the context of Batabano specifically, they worked with an expanded definition of what Carnivaland the Caribbean diaspora more broadlycan actually encompass. You think about, like, Mardi Gras in Louisiana, or different points of cultural celebrations across the US, says Christovale. We wanted it to be a reflection of that global diversity, thinking about the Caribbean as this sort of origin story of the Americas. The culture can expand out to so many different people who can connect with it.

Theres care in the notion that, if youre going to create a world-renowned tourist destination, particularly within a community as small as the Grand Caymans, its necessary to make space for the people who have claim and connection to the land it stands on. Even further, to engage with the tradition of that land in a way thats valuable and meaningful, taking its art forms and its celebrations as the basis and moving forward from there.

Read this article:

In the Cayman Islands, the Batabano Festival brings creative communities together - Document Journal

What happened

It's Thursday, and cruise tourism stocks are sinking.

As of 10 a.m. ET, shares of cruise industry leader Carnival Corporation (CCL 5.54%) are off 5%, followed by Royal Caribbean (RCL 4.12%) with a 5.4% loss and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH 5.47%) -- down 5.8%. Fair or not, the blame for all this selling probably lies at the foot of Norwegian's gangway.

Image source: Getty Images.

As you've probably heard by now, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings reported its Q1 2022 earnings on Tuesday. Investors were happy to hear it -- bidding up Norwegian stock nearly 10% at one point -- but the news still wasn't great. Norwegian missed on revenues, reporting only $522 million where Wall Street wanted $655 million. Its quarterly loss of $1.82 per share (pro forma) was worse than expected, too. And to top it all off, Norwegian told investors it will lose money in Q2 as well.

This bad news sparked a series of price target cuts on Norwegian stock yesterday, with Wells Fargo for instance cutting the shares to as low as $21 in implied valuation. But here's the thing: $21 would actually be good news for Norwegian Cruise stock, which currently trades closer to $15 -- and analysts at Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse think the stock could be worth as much as $23 or even $33, respectively.

(And if Norwegian stock does go to $33, that would be a clean double for the stock -- not a great reason to sell.)

And there's even more good news for cruise line investors. Giving commentary on its earnings Tuesday, Norwegian confided that it's seeing "strong" consumer spending on board its ships, "snapping back and even exceeding where we left off in 2019." Q2 2022 may be a bit rough for Norwegian, granted, but already CEO Frank Del Rio is predicting record financial performance in 2023, as CruiseIndustryNews.com reported today. And demand for cruise services is in fact looking so strong that the company plans to increase its guest capacity by 50% through 2027.

Nor is Norwegian an outlier. Carnival subsidiary Princess Cruises agrees that consumer demand looks robust, saying more than half its customers are voluntarily paying an extra $50 or even $75 for a "Princess Plus" or "Princess Premier" package that deliveries additional services on board. That translates into multiple hundreds of dollars per passenger over a multiday excursion and confirms what Norwegian was saying about consumer demand being strong.

All that said, I do get why investors are starting to turn pessimistic about cruise stocks again. As recently as January, Wall Street analysts were telling us that both Norwegian and Royal Caribbean stocks would be profitable again as early as Q2 of this year -- but that's clearly not going to happen. The latest forecasts from S&P Global Market Intelligence show all three major cruise lines losing money until at least Q3 2022 and Q4 being rather hit or miss.

That being said, things should start to settle down in 2023 and thereafter. And with Norwegian, for example, selling for less than nine times 2023 estimated earnings, Carnival costing 9x 2023 earnings on the nose, and Royal Caribbean valued just a bit over 10x, there's still hope that these stocks will reward investors. You just may need to wait another year to see it.

See the article here:

Why Carnival, Norwegian Cruise, and Royal Caribbean Stocks Got Torpedoed on Thursday - The Motley Fool

Belize has made the cover of the 2022 issue of the internationally renowned,Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Magazine. The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) says the cover photo was taken in Placencia Village and featuresMaye Musksupermodel, bestselling international author, and mother of billionaire Elon Musk.

Belize is featured as part of a four-cover issue along with other destinations including Barbados, Dominican Republic, and Montenegro.The 59th issue of the magazine, celebrates 28 powerful women in an inclusive range of backgrounds and body types.

The models, Jasmine Sanders, Hunter McGrady, Kate Bock, Natalie Mariduena, Leyna Bloom, and Maye Musk, were all photographed at various locations across Belize by the world-famous photographer Yu Tsai.

Remarks from Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Magazine, Belizeans are proudly committed to preserving the countrys unique charms and pristine natural landscape. Beyond the natural wonders, archaeological marvels and adrenaline-inducing adventures, it is truly the warmth of the Belizean people that makes Belize so special. The blending of cultures in Belize has resulted in one of the happiest and most peaceful countries in the region, and has garnered a widespread reputation as one of the worlds friendliest destinations.

The BTB applauds the stakeholders who partnered with Sports Illustrated for the 2022 Issue of the Swimsuit Magazine, Naia Resort & Spa and the Belize Collection (Sleeping Giant Resort).We especially thank Tropic Air, Darahs Travel, Splash Dive Center, Wendys Restaurant, Palmetto Grove, Bocawina Rainforest Resort, Belize Institute of Archaeology, Football Federation of Belize, Belize Under U20 Female Football team, Ministry of Health and Wellness, the Kiinich Ajaw Poktapok Team, Travellers Liquors, and all others who supported the BTB and SI teams during the shoot.

Belizes feature in the magazine and on the cover represents an extraordinary success for the country, commented Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism & Diaspora Relations.Furthermore, the feature is a part of the growing worldwide recognition of Belizes value as a unique and premier tourist destination.

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Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2022 cover features Maye Musk and Belize | Loop Caribbean News - Loop News Caribbean

CJ Invest, Listings, News, Real Estate News

May 16, 2022

Its been the hottest residential resort in Cayman amid the pandemic and now a unit at the Residences at Seafire has hit the market.

Residence N504, a one-bedroom, one-bathroom, 1,380-square-foot unit at Seafire has been listed fro $2.5 million with Provenance Properties, the xclusive affiliate of Christies International Real Estate in the Cayman Islands.

The property is set in the residential resort component of the popular Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa on Seven Mile Beach.

The unit has wraparound views of both the North Sound and Seven Mile Beach, with Miele and Sub-Zero appliances, floor-to-ceilng windows and white marble countertops joined by Kohler finishes.

Amenities include dedicated concierge services, property management, 24-hour security and access to all amenities at the Residences at Seafire and the Kimpton Seafire.

The Residences at Seafire includes a private owners rooftop terrace called The Nest, along with the Oasis Pool.

For more, visit Provenance Properties.

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Listing of the Week: A One-Bedroom at Grand Cayman's Seafire - Caribbean Journal