Category Archives: Caribbean

Going on a Royal Caribbean cruise with friends is a great way to travel with your besties without feeling you have to be attached at the hip the entire time. Because there is so much to do on a ship, it allows different personalities to do what they enjoy, while still being together.

Taking friends on a cruise comes with its own challenges to ensure you all have a great time onboard. The good news with a little bit of planning, you can ensure your friends enjoy the cruise without any hiccups.

Before you book a sailing or get onboard with your matching shirts, be sure to heed this advice for a great start.

Whether you have two or ten cabins, book everyone under the same travel agent for simplicity.

Not only could you potentially get group benefits from Royal Caribbean if you book enough cabins, but being booked under the same travel agent really makes coordinating onboard plans a lot simpler.

Travel agents make it so much easier to remind your pals it's time to make final payment, or answer any sort of billing questions with the cruise line. You love your friends, but dealing with friends and their financial situation is no fun.

In addition, a travel agent can easily link everyone's reservations together so that dining together is simple.

If there was a need to cancel or change sail dates, having the same agent makes the process much easier.

Unlike family, sometimes expressing what you really want to do with friends can be tough since you don't want to offend anyone or come off as appearing to be needy. However, you should have a good idea of what everyone wants from the sailing before you book.

There is a fine line between planning ahead and becoming burdensome with a schedule. Everyone comes in with different ideas about how much they want to to do together, or not.

Before the cruise, have a conversation about what they are looking forward to doing, especially together. It is a good idea to figure out is this a trip where you will all hang out all day, or just meet up for drinks.

Onboard a cruise ship, there is no cellular phone service, so you should have a plan on how everyone will chat.

Group chats in apps like Facebook or WhatsApp are very common, but you will all need to get an internet package.

You could use walkie talkies or rely on voicemails in your cabins, but these tend to be more cumbersome.

The key is to ensure you all agree on something before you get onboard so no one is left in the dark.

One of the best pieces of advice for friends on a cruise is at the very least have dinner together every night.

Everyone finds their own activities to do onboard, but it is a good idea to plan to meet up for dinner each night to have a common time to meet.

Whether the main dining room, Windjammer, or specialty restaurants, have a plan for everyone to enjoy dinner together each evening for a time to reconnect and make plans for the following day.

A recent trend among groups is to get matching shirts for everyone in the group.

This not only makes for great group photos, but you can easily identify everyone. This is helpful with large groups.

There are many places online you can customized shirts, or just pick a design and buy one for everyone.

It can be tempting to try to plan every minute of the cruise, but too much of a good thing applies to a cruise too.

If you try to plan too much, things can get quickly overwhelming for some friends in your group, as well as create rifts among friends.

Leave time for everyone to do their own thing, keeping in mind you could still do things together on the fly.

Sharing a cabin with a friend? Set up different billing methods for each person.

You can assign credit cards to specific people in the room at Guest Services, which makes settling the bill later significantly easier.

In addition, it is a good idea to make clear lines of who is picking up what tab. Shore excursions, dinners, and drink orders are all common ways you could pay for someone else, but be certain before the end of the cruise the bills all look good.

If you need to re-arrange any extra costs, a trip to Guest Services could fix that. Alternatively, you could simply send money electronically to friends after the sailing.

The bigger the group, the more likely everyone will arrive at different times to the cruise terminal on embarkation day, so pick a time to meet.

It is a good idea to pick a time in late afternoon for the meet. Sailaway is a good time that everyone will be onboard and ready for some fun.

Here are some good ideas of things to pack to bring on a cruise with friends:

The bigger your group, the more important pre-booking is for certain events and offerings.

Specialty restaurants, shore excursions, the escape room, and pretty much anything with limited capacity is a good idea to pre-book whenever possible.

It is not always possible to pre-book everything, but look for the options in the Cruise Planner.

Read the rest here:

10 must have Royal Caribbean tips & tricks for cruising with friends - Royal Caribbean Blog

A simple approach to champagne and caviar

Ariel Arce, dubbed the champagne empress of Manhattan debuted her complex yet approachable ways into champagne and caviar at this weekends seminars where six wines and three caviars were paired.

Here are some fun facts and not-so-fun facts about both delicacies:

On the fish egg front, a lot of people dont realize that all different types of sturgeon are producing all different types of caviar and they all have different flavor profiles.

Kalauga Imperial caviar, which was one of three tasted in Arces seminar, is farmed from China. The country is the leading producer of this one product, which you will see on every single three-star Michelin caviar.

Arce told the crowd that while Fridays tasting procedure was to put a little caviar on a potato chip and wash it down with champagne, a more fun (perhaps Aspen) way is to scoop it out of the jar and put it on your hand and suck it off like a little bump, which drew a collective laugh.

On the bubbly side, the region of champagne was decimated in the 1980s, according to Arce.

There was some really dumb thought out there that if you put trash in the vineyards it would actually reflect the sun when it got very hot out and the region of champagne is littered with garbage, she said, noting that winemakers are trying to undo what was done and be more sustainable on the land.

Arce started a direct-to-consumer caviar company in the past year after her restaurants suffered during the pandemic.

I was having to be creative and pivot for survival, she said. It was not fun.

But she realized that people wanted to buy caviar during COVID-19 and its been a hit ever since. Arce is the author of Better with Bubbles and her caviar website is http://www.cavi-air.com.

Carolyn Sackariason, The Aspen Times

Kwame Onwuachi started off cooking in his mothers kitchen at about five years old before being sent to Nigeria on a what was pitched as a two week vacation to visit his grandfather when he was around 10 years old It was a two year punishment to teach me what I have here in America and what to appreciate, the small things like running water, electricity, things that we take for granted every single day.

That experience directly translated to the career path that I eventually took, he said.

Now, at 31 years young, Onwuachi is leading his own Food & Wine Classic seminar in Aspen, and its an homage to his heritage, Tasting Home: Afro-Caribbean Cuisine.

The Friday afternoon seminar was quick-paced and informative and showcased not only the chefs creativity and talent but also his playfulness and genuine desire to get to know the audience and give them a chance to get to know him.

The audience was treated to Onwuachi cooking up a Creole dish, touffe, to honor his mom along with a Caribbean dish.

But attendees left with a lot more information then just cooking techniques and new recipes. We also learned that one of Onwuachis favorite movies is Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, he doesnt like coleslaw, he is coming out with a nail polish line in the future the color he was wearing during the seminar he said was called chefs kiss the chefs preferred cocktail is a gin and tonic with a little bit of elderflower and his favorite condiment is ketchup. (In fact, he loves ketchup so much, the Heinz company is creating a ketchup cologne just for him.)

So now, if youre ever in a Kwame Onwuachi-themed trivia round, youll have a head start to some of the answers.

Rose Laudicina, The Aspen Times

I finally have been requisitioned to cover a food seminar. Granted, it was Brooke Williamsons Not Your Mamas Grilled Cheese, so not even an idiot like me could mess that up, hypothetically.

Wendsleydale? Gruyere? Halliburton? No, just two dozen slices of good ol American singles on white bread drenched in mayonnaise and a lukewarm griddle, thats the secret. It was like watching AllRecipes.com take acid at 9:30 a.m. and try to sit on its own whoopee cushion.

Williamson presented some culinary tricks definitely out of my purview, such as using fish sauce in your homemade caramel coating instead of, I dont know, Smuckers? If you havent realized already, my kitchen vocabulary is limited. Like, you lost me at bring to a boil. I dont know why the sores on my back need to examine the progress, but whatever.

Everyone here has had breakfast, right? Williamson asked. Noooo, the crowd droned. But please, continue.

I dont exactly know what I was expecting, but probably something like Great British Baking Show with every participant having a mini table and spatula and Easy Bake Oven to make their own lil grilled cheese squares.

At least we probably won the tent crowd scream-off against the denizens of Guy Fee-Eddys how to drink in the mornings lecture. As if we didnt already know.

Ben Welch, The Aspen Times

More here:

Reporters' notebook Day 2: Champagne and caviar, Creole and Caribbean, and even a little cheese at the Food & Wine Classic - Aspen Times

By NAN Staff Writer

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Sept. 10, 2021: Its been 20 years already since the September 11th attacks; twenty years since some 3,000 perished, including dozens from the Caribbean.

Today, we again put a face to the name of every known Caribbean immigrant victim of 9/11 based on the names and images listed on the September 11th Memorial in New York City.

#NeverForget.

Some of the lost from the Caribbean were:

Guyana

Patrick Adams was a security officer at Fuji Bank at the World Trade Center on the 80th Floor, Tower 2. He was born in Georgetown and lived in Brooklyn.

Rudy Bacchus born May 20, 1953 at Springlands, Corentyne, Berbice, Stockbroker with Nasdaq and former Vice President at Merrill Lynch.

Kris Romeo Bishundat, was 23 at time of his death during the attack at the Pentagon and a Navy Information Systems Technician who was born in Guyana and lived in Waldorf, Maryland.

Pamela Boyce Asst. Vice President, Carr Futures; 92nd Floor, World Trade Center

Annette Dataram, aka Priya born January 20, 1976 in Guyana and lived in Queens, NY. She worked as accountant 107th Floor, World Trade Center at the time of her death.

Babita Guman lived in the Bronx and worked as a computer specialist at Fiduciary Trust Company International 97th Floor, southern tower, World Trade Center.

Nizam Hafiz Former Guyana Under 19 and current USA National Cricket Team Player was born in Guyana, lived in Queens, NY and worked for Marsh & McLennan, World Trade Center.

Ricknauth Jaggernauth worked for NTX Interiors 104th Floor, World Trade Center and lived in Brooklyn, NY.

Charles Gregory John, Security Officer, Fuji Bank

Bhowanie Devi Khemraj worked at the World Trade Center

Sarah Khan worked for Forte Foods/Cantor Fitzgerald 101st Floor, World Trade Center, Tower 1 and lived in Queens, NY.

Amarnauth Latchman from Port Mourant, Guyana and lived in Valley Stream NY. Worked at Cantor Fitzgerald as a contractor from PM Contracting Company and would have turned 59 this year.

Shevonne Mentis worked for Marsh & McLennan, 93rd Floor, World Trade Center, Tower 1 and lived in Brooklyn, NY.

Hardai Parbhu worked for Aon Corporation and lived in the Bronx.

Ameenia Rasool born March 4, 1968 at Mada, near Bush Lot, Corentyne, Berbice and worked for Marsh and McLennan Inc. 98th Floor, World Trade Center (Tower 1). She lived in the Bronx.

Sita Sewnarine worked for Fiduciary Trust Company International97th Floor, southern tower, World Trade Center and lived in Brooklyn, NY.

Kamini Singh worked for Windows on the World 107th Floor, World Trade Center (Tower 1)Ronald Singh worked for Windows on the World 107th Floor, World Trade Center (Tower 1)

Astrid Sohan born September 25, 1968 in Georgetown, Guyana, was an assistant vice pres., Marsh and McLennan,95th Floor, World Trade Center (Tower 1).

Charles Gregory John lived in Brooklyn, NY and worked at Fuji Bank as a security.

Eustace R. Bacchus, lived in Metuchen, New Jersey and was a visitor at Windows on the World at the time of his death.

Vanavah Thompson worked for ABM, assigned to Marsh USA. Was on duty on 73rd Floor, World Trade Center, Tower 2 and lived in the Bronx.

Jamaica

John Sylvester White was from St. Ann, Jamaica and lived in Brooklyn. He worked at ABM Industries, North Tower and would have turned 65 this year.

Keith Bromfield was from Spanish Town, Jamaica and lived in Brooklyn. He worked at Advent Industrial.

Delrose E. Forbes Cheatham lived in Effort, PA and worked at Cantor Fitzgerald at the time of her death.

Joyce Smith was born in Kingston on December 16, 1945 and lived in Queens, NY. She worked at Cantor Fitzgerald, Forte Food Service.

Neal O. Hinds was born in Kingston on September 13, 1972 and worked at Bank of New York. He lived in Queens, NY.

Vaswald George Hall lived in St. Albans, NY and was a visitor at the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey at the WTC when he died.

Derrick Auther Green was born in Kingston, Jamaica and lived in the Bronx, NY. He worked at Fiduciary Trust Company International and would have turned 61 this year.

Courtney Walcott was born in Kingston on March 23, 1964 and lived in Hackensack, NJ. He worked at IQ Financial Systems.s

Lloyd Stanford Brown was born in Portland, Jamaica and lived in Mount Vernon, NY. He worked at Cantor Fitzgerald and would have turned 45 this year.

Michael Howell was born in Kingston on November 2, 1940 and lived in Queens. He worked at Fred Alger Management.

Kerene Gordon lived in Queens, NY and worked at Cantor Fitzgerald, Forte Food Service at the time on her death.

Denise Marie Gregory lived in Queens, NY and worked at Carr Futures.

Michael Parkes lived in NYC and worked at Marsh & McLennan.

Artist Michael Richards, Jamaica, NY, would have turned 55 this year.

Nichola Angela Thorpe was born in St. Catherine, Jamaica and worked at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods while living in NYC.

Titus Davidson was living in Brooklyn and working as a contractor at Morgan Stanley when he died.

Damion Mowatt lived in Brooklyn and worked at Cantor Fitzgerald, Forte Food Service.

Carol Millicent Rabalais worked at Aon Corporation and lived in Brooklyn.

Venesha Orintia Richards lived in New Brunswick, NJ and worked at Marsh & McLennan.

Antigua & Barbuda

Albert Gunnis Joseph, Manhattan, NY worked at Morgan Stanley and would have turned 96 this year if he had lived that long.

Catherina Henry-Robinson, Bronx, NY would have turned 62 this year.

Emelda H. Perry, lived in Elmont, Long Island, New York and worked at Washington Group International and would have turned 69 this year.

Barbados

Colin Arthur Bonnett, Crown Heights, NY would have turned 56 this year and worked at Marsh & McLennan.

Pauline Francis, Brooklyn, NY would have turned 74 this year and worked at Cantor Fitzgerald, Forte Food Service.

Melissa Rene Vincent lived in Hoboken, New Jersey and worked for Alliance Consulting Group. She would have turned 46 this year.

Bermuda

Rhondelle Cherie Tankard worked at Aon Corporation and would have turned 48 this year.

Kevin Patrick York worked at Euro Brokers and would have turned 58 this year.

Boyd Alan Gatton worked at Fiduciary Trust Company International and would have been 56 this year.

British Virgin Island

Calvin Dawson, worked at Euro Brokers, would have turned 63 this year.

Dominica

Virgin Lucy Francis, Brooklyn, NY would have turned 57 this year and worked at Windows on the World.

Fitzroy St. Rose, Bronx, NY and worked at General Telecom. Would have turned 57 this year.

Dominican Republic

Pedro Checo, New York, NY would have been 52 this year.

Faustino Apostol, Staten Island, NY.

Alvarez Victoria Brito, Elmhurst, NY.

David Agnes, New York, NY.

Frank Thomas Aquilino, Staten Island, NY.

Lilian Caceres, Staten Island, NY.

Jaime Concepcion, Manhattan, NY

Nestor Chevalier, New York, NY

Haiti

Karl Henry Joseph was a firefighter with Engine 207 who was born in Haiti and lived in Brooklyn, NY. He was among the first responders who died that day.

Mark Y. Gilles was born on January 15, 1968 in Port-Au-Prince and lived in Brooklyn, NY. He was a consultant at Cantor Fitzgerald.

Andre Bonheur, Jr., was born on April 5, 1961 in Port-Au-Prince and lived in Brooklyn, NY. He was visiting Cantor Fitzgerald on the tragic day.

Francois Jean-Pierre was born in Cap Haitien, Haiti on February 6, 1943 and lived in Elmont, Long Island. He worked at Windows on the World.

Farah Jeudy lived in Spring Valley, NY and worked for Aon Corporation.

Wilbert Miraille lived in Manhattan and worked for Cantor Fitzgerald.

Nolbert Salomon lived in Brooklyn and worked as a contractor at Morgan Stanley.

Trinidad and Tobago

Rena Sam Dinnoo was born in Port-Of-Spain on January 7, 1973 and lived in Brooklyn, NY. She worked at Marsh & McLennan.

Glenroy I. Neblett was born on September 15, 1958 in LaBrea, Trinidad and lived in Queens, NY. He worked at Reinsurance Solutions.

Clara Victorine Hinds was born on November 26, 1948 in Belmont, Belmont, Trinidad and lived in Far Rockaway, NY. She worked at Windows on the World.

Anthony Portillo was born on May 11, 1953 in Fyzabad, Trinidad and Tobago and lived in Brooklyn, NY. He was working Washington Group International when he was killed.

Goumatie Thackurdeen was born in Port-Of-Spain on May 23, 1966 and lived in South Ozone Park, NY. She worked at Fiduciary Trust Company International.

Joyce Rose Cummings was born on June 17, 1936 in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. She lived in Brooklyn.

Conrod Kofi Cottoy, Sr. lived in Brooklyn and worked at Carr Futures.

Winston Arthur Grant lived in West Hempstead, LI and worked at Empire BlueCross BlueShield.

Stephen Joseph lived in Franklin Park, NJ and worked at Fiduciary Trust Company International.

Boyie Mohammed lived in Brooklyn and worked at Carr Futures.

Paula E. Morales lived in NYC and worked at Aon Corporation.

Jerome O. Nedd lived in Brooklyn and worked at Windows on the World.

Oscar Francis Nesbitt lived in Manhattan and worked at the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.

Vishnoo Ramsaroop lived in Queens, NY and worked at ABM Industries, North Tower.

Puerto Rico

Angel M. Pabon, Jr., born on May 26, 1948 in Manat, Puerto Rico and lived in Brooklyn. Worked at Cantor Fitzgerald.

Anna A. Laverty, born in Bayamn, Puerto Rico on March 1, 1949 and lived in Middletown, New Jersey. Worked at Fiduciary Trust Company International.

Edna Cintron, New York, NY

See the rest here:

Caribbean News - 20 Years Later Remembering The Caribbean Immigrant Victims Of 9/11 - Caribbean and Latin America Daily News - News Americas

Martinique is mostly known for its magnificent beaches, its hikes and its impressive waterfalls; the impetuous volcano Mount Pele; the rum, the colors, the music; lart de vivre.

But we often forget to talk about what is happening under the sea Martiniques underwater island ecosystem, so sensitive and yet so rich.

But travelers can visit this part of Martinique without a scuba tank.

Thats because this French Caribbean island is quietly one of the regions greatest snorkeling destinations.

Equipped only with a mask and snorkel, you can, just a few meters from the shore, discover a wide variety of species.

There are fish, starfish, eels, lobsters, corals and sponges in a thousand colors and turtles, too.

Youll see the French or royal angelfish, surgeonfish, parrotfish, the flying gurnard, the lionfish (the Caribbeans unwelcome visitor).

And then there is the the sergeant-major fish which will surely come say hi out of curiosity.

Its a true natural aquarium.

But the islands biggest snorkeling stars are easily the turtles.

There are five species of turtle present in the waters of Martinique; but you will especially have the chance to meet two of them during your snorkeling excursions.

First, the green turtle: its very easy to meet one near the beaches, especially those of Anses dArlets.

It is mainly found in the middle of the herbaria on which it feeds.

This turtle is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Second, the hawksbill turtle: This turtle is the only species of reptile known to have a spongivorous diet, that is to say that it feeds mainly on sea sponges.

It is easily recognizable by its beak which allows it to tear off those sponges.

You can find her during her lunch in the middle of a coral garden but also on the beaches during the egg-laying season between March and October.

Unfortunately this turtle is classified as critically endangered.

Because while sea turtles have lived in the oceans for over 150 million years, theyre are now endangered and its more important than ever to protect them and their habitat.

All these creatures add up to what is perhaps the great undiscovered gem of Caribbean snorkeling.

Martinique will offer exceptional water hikes that you will never tire of.

With each dive you will meet new species and if you take the time to take a closer look between the corals, an incredible miniature world will open up to you.

Stacy Hate is one of the top underwater photographers in Martinique. For more of her photos and videos you can follow stay_sea_rhums_lovers on Instagram.

Its getting easier to travel to Martinique this winter, with American Airlines relaunch of flights from Miami to Martinique in the first week of November. You can find more about how to visit the island here.

CJ

The rest is here:

Why Martinique Is the Best-Kept Secret in Caribbean Snorkeling - Caribbean Journal

After a 17-month pause, the Oasis of the Seas is back in cruise service for Royal Caribbean International.

Sailing on its first post-pandemic commercial cruise later today, the first Oasis-Class vessel is launching service from Bayonne, in the New York region.

Based in New York the first time, the vessel is now offering a series of seven-night voyages to the Bahamas.

Through the end of October, Oasis is making weekly visits to Nassau, Port Canaveral and Perfect Day at CocoCay Royal Caribbeans private island in the Bahamas.

Home to North Americas tallest waterslides, the popular port of call features unique attractions and sawa $250 million transformation in 2019.

After the New York program, the Oasis is repositioning to Miami for the winter season. Through December, the vessel is sailing alternate itineraries to the Eastern and Western Caribbean, including stops in Mexico, Honduras, St. Maarten and Puerto Rico.

One of the worlds largest cruise ships, the 2009-built Oasis of the Seas has capacity for over 5,400 guests.

Built in Finland, the vessel introduced a groundbreaking design that is highlighted by features such as the Central Park, a park with real plants, surrounded by shops and restaurants.

The vessel also has its public areas divided in seven different zones, known as neighborhoods. Each one of them has a different appeal, with unique attractions. The BoardWalk, for instance, reproduces a seaside pier, with a carousel, carnival games, retail outlets and eateries.

The Oasis of the Seas was also the first ship to feature a dancing-waters theater, a zip-line and a moving bar.

In 2019, the vessel underwent a $165 million refurbishment in Spainas part of the Royal Amplification program.

After a two months period in drydock, the ship emerged with new additions, such as the tallest slide at sea Ultimate Abyss; The Perfect Storm trio of waterslides; a reimagined Caribbean pool deck; and new kids and teens spaces.

The Oasis of the Seas is the 14th Royal Caribbean ship to resume service since the COVID-19 pandemic operational pause.

The ship is also the tenth to return to service for the operator in the United States, after the Freedom of the Seas became the first ship do so in July.

With a 25-ship fleet, Royal Caribbean plans to have 21 vessels in service by the end of the year.

Read more:

Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas Set to Resume Cruise Service - Cruise Industry News

Officials of the World Health Organization on Wednesday called on countries with a surplus of Covid-19 vaccines to speed up donations of doses to Latin American and Caribbean nations where immunization is moving slowly.

While every country in our region has begun administering Covid-19 vaccines, immunizations are following the fault lines of inequality that have long divided our region, Dr. Carissa F. Etienne, the director of the Pan American Health Organization, a division of the W.H.O., said at a news conference.

Only one in four people in Latin America and the Caribbean has been fully immunized against Covid-19, and for many, vaccines remain months away, Dr. Etienne added.

The divisions within the region are stark. Chile and Uruguay have managed to fully vaccinate more than 60 percent of their populations while more than a third of countries in the region have yet to reach 20 percent.

Vaccination rates remain in the teens in several Caribbean and South American countries and coverage is still in the single digits in Central American nations like Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, Dr. Etienne said, referring to percentages of people vaccinated. The numbers are especially low in countries with particularly fragile health systems, such as Haiti and Venezuela.

Infections overall are declining in most of South America, while they are rising in much of the Caribbean and in several Central American countries, including Costa Rica and Belize.

Latin America and the Caribbean had received donations of around 43.3 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines by mid-August through bilateral agreements and the United Nations-backed Covax program, according to agency estimates.

The Pan American Health Organization is starting a program to boost regional production of so-called messenger RNA vaccines the same type as the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna shots but that effort will not provide doses in the short term.

An additional 540 million doses are needed to make sure every country in the Americas can fully inoculate 60 percent of the population.

Officials deplored the fact that administering booster shots is being discussed in some countries while in others people are desperate to receive a first dose.

This is not only an ethical and moral problem, it is also a public health problem, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, the pan-American agencys assistant director, said. The best way to control transmission and prevent other variants from emerging is to increase vaccination everywhere, Dr. Barbosa said.

While the highly contagious Delta variant continues to spread rapidly in much of the world, Latin America and the Caribbean have so far largely been spared by the variant and experts arent sure why.

Its not easy to explain, Jairo Mndez Rico, a regional adviser to the agency for viral diseases, said. Perhaps some sort of cross-protection because of the previous circulation of many other variants could be helping to delay the community spread of Delta, he suggested, adding, Its early to say what is happening.

View post:

Health officials plead for vaccine donations to Latin America and the Caribbean. - The New York Times

In 2016, when my husband and I told our family and friends that we were selling our home and cars and moving our family to Mexico, they immediately told us we'd regret it.

They even brought up stats on the dangers of living abroad, ranging from cartel violence to healthcare problems. But we didn't let that stop us from doing something that we knew was necessary for our growth as a family.

We've been living abroad for almost five years now in two very different places: Mazatln, Mexico, a beautiful, colonial city on the Pacific Ocean, and currently Antigua, a colorful Caribbean island.

When my husband and I tell people that we have no regrets about leaving the U.S., they ask about what tips we'd give others, especially families with kids, who want to move abroad.

Here are our top tips:

Before we moved, we introduced our three kids then ages three, four and five to Spanish via television (with Netflix, you can change language) and the Duolingo app.

Even though we were downsizing from a 3,200-square-foot home in Chicago to something much smaller, we told them they could each bring a couple of their favorite toys and a blanket, so they had some comfort items.

Gabriella M. Lindsay and her family in Mexico

Gabriella M. Lindsay

Having some constants can help kids adjust amidst big changes. In Chicago, we enjoyed pizza night every Friday, so we've been keeping that tradition alive.

In Mexico and Antigua, basic healthcare is considerably less expensive than in the U.S., and in some cases, it's cheaper to pay out-of-pocket.

When our son needed a CT scan in Mexico, we booked it directly with the diagnostic center (no referral needed) and paid $65 out-of-pocket.

But it's still a good idea to have international health insurance. Some carriers include emergency air ambulance, which is a must-have. When my mother was in the hospital in Mexico City, we had to get an air ambulance back to the U.S. Without health insurance, it would have cost around $25,000.

Keep in mind that international health insurance is not the same as travel health insurance. International insurance provides a comprehensive level of health care to those relocating from their home country for a sustained period of time, whereas travel insurance offers emergency treatment while you are in another country for a shorter amount of time.

Before moving, we set aside at least three months' worth of living expenses in our emergency savings account, plus airfare home.

It's important to be financially prepared for unexpected events, like needing to book a flight out due a bad storm or hurricane, losing a job, or if an urgent medical issue comes up.

Research the place you plan to move to and figure out the costs of housing, food, education, transportation, utilities and other essential expenses. If you have kids, don't forget to factor in the number of people in your family.

Four months before moving to Mexico, we spent two weeks in Mazatln. We drove around the areas we wanted to live in looking for "For Rent" signs, then called the numbers and made appointments (in the best Spanish we could muster).

After looking at five different places, we finally found one we loved and signed a lease. It was a two-story, four-bedroom, three-bathroom home with a small casita or a maid's quarters just 10 minutes from the beach in a safe and friendly neighborhood.

Our monthly rent was $475. By searching ourselves and contacting the owner directly (their information is typically listed in the "For Rent" signs), we avoided paying the inflated fees that often come with using a rental agent, which can sometimes cost two or three times more.

Connecting online with expats who live in the area is another great way to discover available rental options.

Most of the non-retired expats we know are either employed in the country they live, work remotely for a U.S.-based company, or are entrepreneurs.

Currently, my husband teaches at the American University of Antigua, and I run my own copywriting business. We follow a monthly budget plan based on our income and projected expenses.

We also researched banks in advance and set up an account ASAP. You might not be able to open an account before arriving, but you can still make sure you have all the required documents ready when you get there.

Lastly, if you're a U.S. citizen living abroad, your worldwide income is still subject to U.S. income tax. But you may qualify for certain foreign-earned income exclusions or foreign income tax credits. (Check out the IRS' Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad for more information.)

In Mexico and Antigua, we chose reputable local private schools for our kids. Tuition per child was about $100 per month in Mexico, where they spent six to seven hours a day learning in Spanish. Here in Antigua, we pay $200 per month for each child.

In Mazatln, Mexico: The kids' very first week of school in 2016.

Gabriella Lindsay

Enrollment is often limited for international private schools, so make your plans early by researching online, filling out any applications and making deposits.

The quality of education has been great small classes, traditional subjects like math, science, reading and lots of history. Our kids love it, too, and they've made many wonderful friends.

If your partner is not yet on board, give them time and space to explore. Suggest taking a trip to the area you're interested in and spend a few weeks there.

Discuss plans that you'll both be comfortable with. Speak and listen to each other with kindness, love, respect, understanding and patience.

It may take a lot of compromises, perhaps even so much as splitting your time between a family home in the U.S. and a rental home abroad.

The same advice goes for those who considering moving abroad solo. Visit the place and live like a local stay in an Airbnb, go grocery shopping, use public transportation and attend events like an outdoor concert or festival. Make new friends and talk to other expats in the area.

You don't have to live abroad for years on end to experience a new culture. You can take an extended vacation or get a digital nomad visa and work remotely for a few months.

These past few years have been such a life-enriching experience for our family. Our kids are so much more cultured, open-minded and well-rounded. Whether you live abroad for a month or a lifetime, it's worth the adventure.

Gabriella M. Lindsay, a Chicago native, is a copywriter, author, and educator. She lives on the island of Antigua in the Caribbean West Indies with her husband and three young children."Living F.I.T.: A 40-Day Guide to Living Faithfully, Intentionally, and Tenaciouslyis her first book. Follow Gabriella onInstagram.

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This family left the U.S. and now lives on a Caribbean island: 'We have no regrets' about moving abroad - CNBC

I recently had a conversation with someone that I met for the first time, and because of his accent, I asked him which island he is from. He responded by stating that he is from Dominica but, he said, I am a proud West Indian. Many of us can identify with this statement because when asked where we are from many of us will say one of three things: We will say the specific name of the island we are from, or we will say we are from the Caribbean, or we will say that we are from the West Indies (if we want to sound more exotic).

What does it mean when people from the Caribbean region say that they are from the West Indies, or they are West Indian? Lets now pinpoint the geographical location. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, there are three major divisions that makes up the West Indies: the Greater Antilles, which includes the islands of Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic) and Puerto Rico; the Lesser Antilles, which includes the Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Montserrat, Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados and Grenada; and the island groups of the North American continental shelf and the South American shelf the North American shelf including the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the South American shelf including Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba, Curaao and Bonaire. (Bermuda, although it is not a part of the West Indies, is historically and culturally linked with the other islands. It is often included in definitions of the Caribbean region.)

Why are the West Indies called the West Indies? This is a snippet I learned in my adult years: When Christopher Columbus arrived in this region of the Americas, he thought he had reached the Indies (Asia) on his voyage to find another route there. Later on, when Europeans realized that it was not the East Indies (Asia) that he had reached, they named it the West Indies to distinguish it from the East Indies.

Since all of the people of the Caribbean wholeheartedly claim the West Indian label, we asked some people in the area what it means to them to be West Indian. Melanie Hylton of New Jersey said that being West Indian is not just in name. It is a culture, it is unity, it is all of us as a people, she said. Just like here in the United States, we are made up of a melting pot of people who came from all parts of the world, but we came together in the West Indies and formed similar cultures on each island with just a little extra spice that makes each one unique.

Another person said to be West Indian is to be fun, energetic and colorful. In addition to that, I say to be West Indian also means to exude warmth like the sunshine and serenity like the blue waters, and to exude energy and be full of life like the lush flora and fauna of each island.

Bee Laine said that to be West Indian means she has a sense of belonging. My biological family provides a lot of support for me, she said. In a broader sense I know that I am embraced by others who share a similar culture. I am Jamaican, but when I am with other West Indian or Caribbean people, I am secure in my value system. The English-speaking West Indian people all experienced colonialism (the good and the bad). We all have the British foundation whether we like to admit or not this is part of the blend that makes all ah wi one!

Some of the most interesting statements came from young Caribbean-Americans. They said they do not feel that being West Indian or Caribbean means that you were born in the islands. They said that it is the way you are brought up. When you are raised by Caribbean parents, you grow up with a great appreciation for the culture and the history and love for the people. They become a part of you.

At the end of the day, it is our experience of life in the Caribbean and common African ancestry/roots that make us one with each other. That is true anywhere we are in the world. When one hurts, we all hurt, and when it comes down to the nitty and the gritty, we will be there for each other.

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Caribbean Currents: What does it mean to be from the West Indies? - The Philadelphia Tribune

What happened

Shares of cruise line stocks Carnival Corporation (NYSE:CCL) and Royal Caribbean (NYSE:RCL) both slumped in Friday trading, closing the day down 4.4% and 4.2%, respectively.

The jobs report -- and Delta -- seem to blame.

Image source: Getty Images.

The U.S. Department of Labor reported today that the U.S. economy added only 235,000 jobs to its pandemic-wreaked rolls in August -- less than one-third of the 720,000 new jobs that economists had forecast. CNBC called the report "the worst since January," observing that "heightened fears of the pandemic and the impact [of] rising COVID cases" appear to be behind the sad numbers.

And investors can draw two conclusions from this: First, the delta variant of COVID-19 is acting as a drag on the economy. At the same time as it depresses jobs growth, it's likely that the continued spread of the virus is going to weigh on the minds of anyone considering getting into proximity with a lot of people -- for example, bottled up on a cruise ship for days at a time alongside thousands of strangers.

And second, the corollary to that is that the more COVID-19 depresses jobs growth, the fewer people will have jobs -- and disposable income -- to spend on cruises even if they are inclined to cruise.

In both respects, therefore, a weak jobs report bodes ill for the cruise industry. That's the fact that investors in cruise stocks seem to be responding to today.

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the official recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium advisory service. Were motley! Questioning an investing thesis -- even one of our own -- helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer.

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Why Royal Caribbean and Carnival Corporation Stocks Slumped Today - The Motley Fool

Sports betting company BetMGM is expanding to the island of Puerto Rico.

The company has agreed to a strategic partnership with the Casino Del Mar at La Concha Resort in San Juans Condado neighborhood.

That will include the launch of both retail and mobile sports betting, including a retail sports book at the beach resort and a mobile app launch throughout Puerto Rico.

The two sides said they expected to offer sports betting capabilities as soon as the regulated market commences in Puerto Rico.

This marks a major milestone for BetMGM, as we share plans to bring our sports betting platform outside of the U.S. mainland for the first time, said Adam Greenblatt, CEO of BetMGM. La Concha Resort is an ideal partner, and together we look forward to bringing BetMGMs retail and mobile sports betting experiences to sports fans acrossPuerto Rico.

Its a major gaming addition for Puerto Rico, which has been home to casino gambling for decades but has never fully capitalized on it with any major casino resorts or brands.

That changed with this years announcement of Foxwoods entry to the market at the El San Juan resort, and now with the BetMGM deal theres a new trend on the island.

The Government ofPuerto Ricowelcomes this partnership for the economic development of our island, said Orlando A. Rivera Carrin, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission.

CJ

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BetMGM Is Expanding to Puerto Rico Caribbean Journal - Caribbean Journal