US Virgin Islands: Plans To Welcome Larger Cruise Ships #Cruise

US Virgin Islands cruises

Trend for larger cruise ships a reality

               Following a recent meeting of a subcommittee of the St.Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce, US Virgin Islands Governor Kenneth E. Mapp observed plans for infrastructure upgrades and additional berthing capacity to accommodate larger cruise vessels at Crown Bay and The West Indian Company (WICO) docks.

“The trend for larger cruise ships is a reality and working together we can find solutions which allow St. Thomas to remain competitive and provide growth opportunities,” said Governor Mapp.

The St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce reacted positively to the Governor’s plans to stimulate economic activity across the district.

Govern Mapp and members of the Ports of the Virgin Islands team outlined ongoing dredging projects, funded through the first phase of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) after last year’s storms. The dredging will permit Quantum Class vessels to dock on the north side at Crown Bay and Oasis Class vessels to berth at the West Indian Company facility.

Enhancing the visitor experience was also a topic of discussion at the meeting. Governor Mapp shared that the Department of Tourism is in the process of securing additional entertainment and greeters to showcase the creativity of Virgin Islanders throughout the ports and downtown areas. Also discussed was the desire to increase collaboration with merchants on the Main Street Revitalization project to help minimize the impact on commerce without further delaying the project.

The Territory’s chief executive also shared ongoing efforts to improve transportation and increase the number of U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents in the Territory as a means to expedite the inspection process and provide a smoother transit experience as the Virgin Islands prepares for more flights and visitors during the upcoming winter season.

The group heard a presentation from the Virgin Islands Port Authority (VIPA) on a potential development at Crown Bay that features activities such as a biking/hiking trail from the port to Lindbergh Bay. The West Indian Company presented concepts to expand berthing capacity, while Public Works Commissioner Nelson Petty updated the group on the Veteran’s Drive improvement project, which is on schedule.

Governor Mapp also noted the tourism product and experience in the district was improving thanks to strong public-private sector collaboration. He praised the contributions of the Carnival Corporation brands – Princess Cruises and Carnival Cruise Line – which have committed $800,000 towards the funding of various projects, including the Children’s Museum, the Little Libraries program, the building of a Children’s Playground (Carnival Fun Park) at Emile Griffith Park as well as $20,000 in supplies and equipment for the Charlotte Amalie High School Gymnasium. Funding for these projects is being administered by the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands.

In addition, Carnival Corporation has committed to a music program that provides instruments to the Department of Education and a program which will engage students on board its ships. Plans are also in the works to have officials from the cruise lines lecture in schools.

Governor Mapp said these types of partnerships are crucial to bridging the gaps where funding is either limited or not available under federal programs: “We look forward to continuing to strengthen our partnership with the cruise industry.”

Meanwhile, the Ports of the Virgin Islands – an alliance which includes the Department of Tourism, VIPA and WICO – remains committed to solidifying its partnership with the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) and the recently formed Eastern Caribbean cruise group.

Attending the meeting were Chamber of Commerce representatives Richard Berry, Vivek Daswani, Michael Creque, Filippo Cassinelli and John Woods; VIPA’s Executive Director David Mapp and Property Manager Deborah Washington; WICO’s CEO Clifford Graham; Commissioner Petty; and Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty along with Department of Tourism team members Angela Payne, Director of Visitor’s Experience, and Tanya Duran, who serves as Director of Office Operations.

Le Sereno - St Barths To Reopen November 2018

• September 13, 2018

Le Sereno St. Barth will reopen and welcome back guests in late November 2018. Following damage from the passing of Hurricane Irma in September 2017, the Contreras family decided to take the opportunity to completely rebuild the property, including more than half the rooms and all of the public spaces, while maintaining the iconic style of Le Sereno which has a devoted following amongst guests. The original team that created Le Sereno has been reassembled to undertake a complete rebuild, while keeping the essence of the hotel intact. An intimate beachfront property located on the ultra-private Grand Cul de Sac, a protected coral reef that is popular for kitesurfing, paddle boarding and snorkeling, Le Sereno has long beckoned travelers for its contemporary design and understated luxury service.

With the high level of attention to detail and design-driven ethos that Sereno Hotels is known for, the new Le Sereno will feature the following:

• The entire Bungalow Piscine room category has been built from the ground up, featuring larger rooms and new interior design
• Three new rooms have been added to the Bungalow Piscine category, two of which are part of a brand-new Family Suite offering that includes private pools for each suite
• All-new waterfront Grand Suite Plage Sud rooms built from the ground up, featuring a larger bedroom and private garden with outdoor bathtubs
• Completely redesigned restaurant with new bar, lounge and an all-new beach restaurant extension, where guests can dine with their feet in the sand. The dramatic restaurant roof was rebuilt, and amazing views of the lagoon remain intact
• Brand new spa and fitness facility with new treatment rooms and new fitness equipment
• New garden space leading up to the Grand Suite Plage rooms, which will retain their classic look with new interiors
• New on-site retail boutique featuring curated finds from French brands
• The total room count will increase from 36 to 39 rooms

The iconic and much-Instagrammed pool at Le Sereno overlooking the Grand Cul de Sac retains the same look. The lobby building with its picturesque red doors will also continue to greet guests and each of the three, 7,000 square foot, four-bedroom Villas retain their much-lauded design, while the interiors have been refurbished and the private pools will now be heated.

A New Era for Le Sereno

In keeping with the Sereno Hotels philosophy of building, owning and operating intimate, design-driven hotels in highly desired destinations, the next phase of Le Sereno St. Barth will truly up the ante in the Caribbean with every room being touched with a fresh design. For the entirely brand-new Bungalow Piscine rooms the designer “flipped” the previous parquet floors and white ceiling and now the ceiling is made of intricate oak carpentry while the floors feature warm white stone. New corner couches have been designed to fit seamlessly into the room and the ceilings are open and airy with an extended height of 11 feet at their peak. The open-concept bathrooms will be air-conditioned, and feature custom made Iroko wood, oak and stone vanities. The Grand Suite Plage Sud rooms were demolished and rebuilt with entirely new finishings, a private garden with outdoor bathtubs and the floorplans have been reworked to allow for more living space. Each of the Grand Suite Plage rooms will feature new interiors, fantastic new furnished waterfront terraces, and a walkable garden will be unveiled in front of the suite entrances, to enhance the guest experience.

Amongst the amenities that won’t change, guest rooms will again include robes and towels made by D. Porthault exclusively for Le Sereno and bath toiletries by Ex Voto Paris, a private bar, 24-hour room service, in-room technology including complimentary Wi-Fi, cordless telephones, electrical outlets easily accessible next to the bed, flat screen TV’s and blue-tooth music systems. Guests will continue to be welcomed with complimentary beach bags and custom Le Sereno Havaiana flip flops; and also returning will be Anya Hindmarch’s custom-designed Le Sereno bags and accessories.

The Spa at Le Sereno has been expanded and now includes three full treatment rooms, inclusive of the waterfront pavilion, the island’s only beachfront treatment room, a true guest favorite and coveted space for relaxation. In-room spa services are also available. The new fitness room will boast the latest fitness technology and equipment. In between the spa and fitness facilities is a new garden that provides a serene space for guests to practice yoga or meditation.

New Restaurant Le Sereno and Beach Restaurant

The central heartbeat of the hotel is Restaurant Le Sereno, which will unveil a new look, while still maintaining 180-degree views of Grand Cul de Sac. A fully open-air concept, the space takes maximum advantage of the dramatic surroundings giving guests a water view from almost every angle. A new bar centrally located in the restaurant will serve up craft cocktails made with the freshest ingredients and an extensive list of wines and spirits. The bar will also feature a newly added juice station, where guests can order up freshly squeezed wellness and detox elixirs.

Executive Chef Alex Simone returns to Le Sereno and will unveil a new menu for the restaurant that features signature dishes seamlessly integrated with updated offerings. With a focus on Mediterranean dishes made with the freshest ingredients and fit perfectly with the restaurant’s beachfront setting, guests will find French and Italian infusions throughout.

An all new beach restaurant experience will also debut just steps from the crystal-clear waters of the Grand Cul de Sac. Located adjacent to the main restaurant, the entirely new space offers casual dining under the shade of coconut trees, where guests can have their feet in the sand and a million-dollar view of the Grand Cul de Sac’s protected reef. The restaurant is the perfect spot to sip on cocktails and enjoy a laid-back meal without having to leave the serenity of the beachfront location.

Environmental Considerations

Building the new Le Sereno provided an opportunity to take environmental impact into account in every aspect of the hotel. New solar panels, air conditioners with heat exchangers and LED lighting allow the hotel to offer new amenities to guests while significantly lowering energy consumption throughout the property.  All of the new construction is made with sustainably sourced woods and stone. The entire property is outfitted with new windows and insulation designed to reduce energy consumption. Le Sereno also features on-site water desalinization capability and used water is treated and reused for irrigation; which allows the property to be completely “off the grid” from scarce city water resources.

Le Sereno St. Barth’s will welcome guests in late November 2018 with starting rates beginning at 760 Euros/night.

For more information or to book a stay at Le Sereno St. Barth, please visit www.serenohotels.com or call +590 590 298300.

Source: www.luxurytravelmagazine.com

Back in Business: Divi Little Bay Proves Successful Since Reopening in May On St. Maarten

Divi Little Bay one of several Divi Resorts receiving multi-million dollar renovations and upgrades.

ST. MAARTEN -- Things are looking up at Divi Little Bay Beach Resort on St. Maarten and at other resorts in the Divi family. It's been two months since the Divi Little Bay reopened and just ten months since Hurricane Irma blew through the island, causing widespread damage. Now the resort is open once again and welcoming back loyal guests, owners and members to a completely new St. Maarten experience.

"Refreshed rooms, updated restaurants and exciting new features are around every corner at the new Divi Little Bay," said Marco Galaverna, Divi Resorts President & COO. "We've gotten lots of positive feedback on the changes we've made so far and we're looking forward to finishing up even more later this year."

New amenities and features open now include: 

• - Units refreshed from top to bottom with all new lighting, furniture, window treatments, water-saving toilets, interior paint, shower doors, faucets, crown molding, baseboards, 49" LED TVs, laptop safes, bluetooth alarm/clock/radio, interior doors and hardware, patio doors, appliances, HVAC, in-room Wi-Fi, electrical devices and panels, solar water heaters, exterior lighting and repaired roofs
• - Updated Seabreeze Pool and new menus at Seabreeze Restaurant
• - Fort Amsterdam Cafe (formerly Bayview Cafe) has been transformed with gourmet coffee and a new menu
• - Updated Gizmo's Bar & Grill with an extended deck and new menu, including beach service
• - Newly reopened Aqua Mania water sports center
• - Indulgence by the Sea Spa
• - All on-site shops
• - Aqua Mania water sports center
• - Completely updated landscape throughout the entrance and resort
• - New Adirondack chairs and cabana beds added to the beach

Other features scheduled to reopen in the fall include: 

• - New eatery called The Shack featuring Caribbean BBQ, Jerk, Roti and more
• - Stunning new main pool, pureocean pool (formerly the Casitas Pool), which will be enlarged with a new pureocean pool bar, waterfalls and expansive pool seating area
• - Expanded pureocean Restaurant and pureocean terrace
• - Updated Infinity pool
• - New kid's space and game room

"The resort transformation from September until now is unbelievable and our guests have definitely taken notice," said Divi Little Bay's General Manager Anne-Marie Brooks. "We've been humbled by how many positive reviews and comments we've received about the changes. We truly can't wait until the entire resort is completed in the fall so guests can enjoy everything Divi Little Bay has to offer!"

Photos of the resort can be found on Divi Little Bay's Facebook Page or by visiting https://bit.ly/2KLbU11.

Divi Little Bay isn't the only resort with a new look. Divi Dutch Village Beach Resort on Aruba recently underwent a massive, multi-million dollar renovation, which included modernized suites, three beautifully redesigned pools, a stunning swim-up bar, a brand new check-in building and more. In addition, Divi Resorts in the progress of revamping Divi Southwinds Beach Resort on Barbados and Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort on Aruba with plans to finish up those projects soon.

Travelers wishing to visit one of Divi's stunning resort destinations can receive 30% off with Divi's High Tides & Good Vibes offer when booking between now and September 30, 2018 for all 2018 and 2019 travel dates. With rates as low as $155 per night room only and $178 per person, per night all-inclusive, and travel dates through the end of 2019, it's the perfect time to book. Plus, with Divi's Kids Stay & Eat Free Program* and exciting kid's activities, even the youngest travelers will have plenty to do, without the added cost.

Divi's High Tides & Good Vibes offer runs from now until September 30, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. ET, for all 2018 and 2019 travel dates. For reservations, book online at http://www.diviresorts.com/caribbean-promotion.htm or call 1-800-367-3484 (Toll-free US) or 1-919-419-3484 (International). For group reservations, please call 1-800-801-5550 or email groupsales@diviresorts.com.

*For more information on Divi's Stay & Eat Free Program or activities for kids please visit http://www.diviresorts.com/kids.htm. Parent or guardian must accompany children at all activities.

About Divi Resorts 
Divi Resorts is the vacation expert of the Caribbean, with a collection of eight premium resorts spanning the five stunning Caribbean islands of Aruba, Barbados, Bonaire, St. Croix, and St. Maarten. For more information on Divi Resorts, call 1-800-367-3484 or visit http://www.diviresorts.com.

St. Maarten-St. Martin Tourism Continues Steady Recovery With New Flights And Hotel Reopenings After Hurricanes Irma And Maria

St. Maarten-St. Martin

The tourism industry in St. Maarten-St. Martin continues to recover at a rapid pace as airlines add new service to The Friendly Island and hotels reopen following the passage of Hurricanes Irma and Maria last September.

New Flights

American Airlines recently announced that it has increased seat capacity on their daily flight from Miami upgrading their Miami International Airport (MIA) – Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) route to a Boeing 737-800 aircraft, accommodating 160 passengers. In addition, American Airlines will be adding a daily nonstop flight to St. Maarten from its hub at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) starting November 4th, 2018, as well as a second daily nonstop from Miami effective December 19th, 2018. Both new flights are currently bookable and will be operated by Airbus A319 aircraft with a capacity of 128 passengers.

Flights Already Resumed

American Airlines is the latest to announce new service to St. Maarten. St. Maarten’s Princess Juliana Airport (SXM) continues to report great progress in terms of improved connectivity as the year progresses. As of May 2018, two-thirds of all carriers that provided flights to and from the award-winning airport have resumed regular service. From the United States, travelers can fly to St. Maarten with United Airlines, American Airlines, JetBlue, Delta Air Lines, Spirit Airlines, and Seaborne Airlines. Service from Toronto is available on WestJet, and Dominican carrier Air Century, and Panama-based Copa Airlines have returned as well.

“Due to the collaborative efforts by all stakeholders and the community at large, St. Maarten has been able to make a quick turnaround,” said St. Maarten Minister of Tourism, Cornelius De Weever. “We are grateful to the return of all airlines and the reopening of our properties.”

“This shows the confidence American Airlines has in the comeback of St. Maarten/St. Martin, the public and private sector have been working continuously with American Airlines to ensure that the flights return in a balanced way complementing the re-opening of various accommodations,” added St. Maarten’s Interim Head of Tourism, May-Ling Chun.

Hotels & Activities

As of May 2018, there are just under 2,000 bookable rooms available across the entire island. 122 villas and condos are open for business island-wide, boutique hotels and guest houses are ready to accommodate travelers, and several larger properties have conducted soft openings in order to welcome back guests. Amongst the larger properties, Divi Little Bay Beach Resort, Simpson Bay Resorts & Marina and Oyster Bay Beach Resort opened their doors. Many of these properties are currently offering promotional discounts for travel through the end of 2018. Additionally, Sonesta also announced projected openings for the Sonesta Ocean Point Resort and the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Spa scheduled for November 15, 2018 and February 1, 2019, respectively.

87% of all on-island activities are also available for guests to enjoy. Popular offerings at Aqua Mania Adventures, Flavors of St. Maarten, Rainforest Adventures, Lee’s Deep Sea Fishing, the Topper’s Rhum Distillery and more are open to visitors looking to experience fun and unforgettable times and do more than just relax on one of St. Maarten’s 37 stunning beaches. For those looking to get a taste of St. Maarten’s famous cuisine, the vast majority of restaurants on the Dutch side are open, especially along the Front Street, Boardwalk, Simpson Bay and Maho Stripes, providing travelers with a wide range of gastronomic options.

American's Can Now Bring Cuban Cigars And Rum Into The U.S. #CubanCigars #CubanRum

For the first time in 50 years starting Monday October 17th tourists from the U.S. can bring back the most coveted souvenirs from Cuba, cigars and rum  The only caveat is that the rum and cigars be for personal consumption, not resale.  Normal limits on duty and tax exemptions will apply.