Fiji has been named as the top island Australia and The South Pacific by readers of the influential tourism magazine, Cond Nast Traveler.

Fiji has beaten destinations such as Bora Bora, French Polynesia, Tasmania, Australia, Moorea, French Polynesia and Tahiti, French Polynesia in the Top Islands: Readers Choice Awards 2022 category.

Very proud to today announce that Fiji has been named #1 Island in the Pacific by travel Bible Cond Nast in the US, said Tourism Fiji chief executive officer Brent Hill in a social media post.

Fiji has also been featured on the cover of the Cond Nast Traveler and featuring an right page spread on Fiji tourism.

Fantastic exposure for us in one of our key markets.

Congratulations also to Royal Davui Island Resort, Turtle Island, Kokomo Private Island Fiji and Nanuku Resort, Fiji being named in the top 10 resorts in the Pacific.

Book in and come and see what all the hype is about where Happiness Finds You!

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The Fiji Times In the top 10 resorts in the Pacific - Fiji Times

You may wonder what it's like to actually own and run an island: Is it all sunshine and lazy afternoons on the beach, iced tea in hand and a good book?

Or is it filled with challenge after challenge, pushing the owners to question whether they made the right decision, or if they should abandon ship?

In the early 2000s, Clem Newton-Brown and his family bought Picnic Island and used it for regular camping trips.

Based in Melbourne, they would fly to Tasmania, hire a car, drive two and half hours to Coles Bay on the east coast and then try to organise a lift out to the island or hire a tinny.

"When our family bought the island 15 years ago, we never thought we could do anything with it," he said.

"We knocked up a little shed to store camping gear and used to come down from Melbourne for wild camping trips with our young kids.

"They grew up appreciating the wild outdoors."

The Newton-Brownsthink it is, but they also admit it's hard work.

"Running an island is hard really hard, but we also love it. There is a lot that can go wrong and often does. You have to love the challenges, be self-sufficient and a little bit mad," Clem said.

"The environment is harsh, so there is always maintenance to do."

It took two years and dozens of boat trips to and from Tasmania to set up and build the current accommodation on the island.

"Having all the systems running for power and water is a real challenge, as we do not have [an] on-island manager however, we have set the place up such that most people can enjoy the island on their own and in comfort," he said.

The 5-bedroom retreat is now used for private bookingsof up to 10 people for$2,200 per night.

"We spent a lot of time working as labourers, carting materials out to the island by tinny," Clem said.

There are about 5,000 islands off Tasmania's coast and only nineare freehold.

One of them is Satellite Island, which a Melbourne-based couple, Kate and Will Alstergren, inherited 12 years ago from Will's uncle, Ian Alstergren, one of the founders of Tasmania's salmon-farming industry.

It's situated in the D'Entrecasteaux Channelin southern Tasmania, a five-minute boat trip from Bruny Island.

"It is hard to describe the magic of staying on your own private island," the couple has said on the island's website.

"Time seems to stand still. Satellite Island is about slowing life down and enjoying the simple things."

The owners are also sharing their island life with paying guests.

Their renovated summer housetakes private bookings, at $3,350 a night for two people.

Queensland investor Peter Huang saw an advertisement for Ninth Island off Tasmania's north-east coast in a Chinese newspaper in 2015, and called to make an offer shortly after.

He hadn't seen the island but said it was an opportunity he couldn't pass up.

Seven and a half years on, he said it was time to part ways.

"It's very sad the decision to sell was made clear for my family during COVID," he said.

Ninth Island is about 1.3km long, 550 metres wide and covers 16 hectares (40 acres). It's 11 kilometres from the Tasmanian coast.

It has been on and off the market for years.

"We had big plans for it, to build an eco-resort, but then the pandemic happened and we had to reconsider," Peter said.

In 2016, nearby Waterhouse Island sold to Singaporean businessman James Koh the owner of Fragrance Group for $5.5million.

Flinders Island deputy mayor, David Williams, said buying and running an island comes with a lot of responsibilities.

"There's a lot to it. You do need to have regard for the environment, otherwise it just destroys everything," he said.

"You need to be very eco-friendly and conscious."

For lots of reasons, it seems, life on aTasmanian island may not be for everybody.

Set the ABC News website or the app to "TasmaniaTop Stories"from either the homepage or the settings menu in the appto continue getting the same national news but with a sprinkle of more relevant state stories.

Here's a taste of the latest stories from Tasmania:

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What's it like owning an island? These people can give you a heads up - ABC News

Today, MSC Cruises is moving forward with its continuedexpansion throughout the United States by revealing plans for arecord 5 ships set to sail from American homeports by the end of 2023. The company is diversifying the range of itineraries offered in The Bahamas, Bermuda, the Caribbean, the Northeast,and Canada beginning in the Winter 2023-2024 season.

The brand-new MSC Seascape will lead the way with Eastern and Western Caribbean 7-night cruises after the ships inaugural voyage from Port Miami later this year. MSC Divina will join MSC Seascape in Port Miami, and both will offer a range of itineraries, including 3-night cruises to The Bahamas and 11-night cruises through South and Central America. MSC Magnifica will also join the record-breaking 5 ship fleet and offer shorter cruises to destinations like Key West and The Bahamas.

Sailing from Port Canaveral, MSC Seashore will offer a variety of shorter cruises to The Bahamas and 7-night Western Caribbean expeditions. This marks the very first time that one of MSC Cruises innovative Seaside EVO ships will set sail from Port Canaveral, providing travelers who prefer shorter cruises to enjoy all that MSC Seashore has to offer.

Setting sail from New York, MSC Meraviglia will travel to destinations like Florida, Bermuda, and The Bahamas after finishing up the ships inaugural summer season in the Northeast. Like every ship in MSC Cruises U.S. fleet, MSC Meraviglias trips to The Bahamas will include stops at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, the companys own eco-friendly private island focused on the ever-so-important topic of sustainability.

Rubn A. Rodrguez, President of MSC Cruises USA, said:Bringing more ships to the U.S. allows us to offer a wide variety of itineraries, adding new destinations and providing more opportunities for travelers to discover our unique international flavor. Its especially exciting to know how many of those guests will experience Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve and see firsthand how weve embraced the islands natural beauty, and how committed we are to sustainability. Caring for the ocean and showing our guests the true extent of its wonders drives everything we do at MSC Cruises.

AVAILABLE NOW- MSC Seashore:

Sailing from Port Canaveral with options including:

o 5-night Western Caribbean cruises: Calling at Costa Maya (Mexico), Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve (The Bahamas)

o 6-night Western Caribbean cruises: Calling at Cozumel and Costa Maya (Mexico), Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve (The Bahamas)

o 7-night Western Caribbean cruises: Calling at various combinations of Belize City (Belize), Cozumel and Costa Maya (Mexico), Nassau, and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve (The Bahamas)

o Shorter 24-night cruises: Calling at Nassau and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve (The Bahamas)

AVAILABLE NOW- MSC Seascape:

Offering 2 different 7-night itineraries sailing from Port Miami

o Western Caribbean cruises: Calling at Ocho Rios (Jamaica), George Town (Cayman Islands), Cozumel (Mexico), Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve (The Bahamas)

o Eastern Caribbean cruises: Calling at San Juan (Puerto Rico), Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic), Nassau, and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve (The Bahamas)

AVAILABLE NOW- MSC Meraviglia:

Sailing from Brooklyn, New York to Bermuda, The Bahamas, or Florida

o 5-to-6-night cruises: 2 or 3 days docked at Kings Wharf (Bermuda)

o 7-to-11-night cruises: Destinations include Miami and Port Canaveral (Florida), Cozumel and Costa Maya (Mexico), Nassau and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve (The Bahamas)

AVAILABLE SOON- MSC Magnifica:

Offering short cruises sailing from Port Miami

o 3-to-4-night cruises: Calling at either Nassau (The Bahamas) or Key West (Florida), plus Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve (The Bahamas)

o 7-night Christmas Cruise: Calling at Ocho Rios (Jamaica, Christmas Day), George Town (Cayman Islands), Cozumel (Mexico), Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve (The Bahamas)

o 7-night New Years Cruise: At Sea (New Years Eve), Isla de Roatan (Honduras, New Years Day), Belize City (Belize), Costa Maya (Mexico), Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve (The Bahamas)

AVAILABLE SOON: MSC Divina:

Setting sail from Port Miami

o 3-night cruises: Calling at Nassau and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve (The Bahamas)

o 7-night cruises: Calling at various combinations of Isla de Roatan (Honduras), Belize City (Belize), Costa Maya and Cozumel (Mexico), George Town (Cayman Islands), Ocho Rios (Jamaica), Nassau and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve (The Bahamas)

o 11-night cruises: Destinations include Montego Bay (Jamaica), Cartagena (Colombia), Puerto Limon (Costa Rica), Isla de Roatan (Honduras), Oranjestad(Aruba), Cozumel (Mexico), Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve (The Bahamas)

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MSC Cruises to Sail Five Ships from the US During Winter 2023-2024 Season - Porthole Cruise and Travel

New Zealand isnt the only nation to court rich foreign visitors in the era of Covid-19, with others also choosing to market themselves as exclusive destinations better suited to big spenders than backpackers.

Tourism Minister Stuart Nash has said Aotearoa will unashamedly target high quality tourists who spend more and stay longer as opposed to those who travel around our country on $10 a day eating two-minute noodles.

Aiming to boost tourism spending after the sector was devastated during the earlier part of the pandemic, countries looking to lure wealthy visitors often argue that welcoming fewer, but higher-spending visitors will also benefit local people and the environment.

Below are five destinations which have made no secret of their attempt to woo the rich as international travel rebounds. Fortunately for those of us of more modest means, most cater pretty well to budget travellers too.

READ MORE:* Kiwis top resort bookings in Fiji as holidaymakers put pandemic behind them* This is what it's like to snorkel with manta rays at night in Hawaii* What could New Zealand learn from Bhutan?

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Bhutan protects its unique cultural and natural heritage with a policy of high-value, low-volume tourism.

Often referred to as the last Shangri-La for its natural beauty and rich cultural heritage, the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan has never been a cheap place to visit, taxing tourists to help protect its environment.

Before the country reopened to international visitors in September, its high-value, low-volume tourism policy saw it charge them at least US$250 (NZ$440) a day, which covered accommodation, meals, a tour guide and a US$65 sustainable development fee.

Now, tourists are required to cough up US$200 a day to visit, and pay separately for their accommodation, meals, tours and other travel expenses, significantly increasing the cost of a stay.

Officials said the new policy would rebrand Bhutan, which is wedged between China and India, as an exclusive destination attracting discerning tourists (Nash, by the way, said New Zealand was after discerning travellers.

Bhutans foreign minister and chairman of the Tourism Council of Bhutan, Tandi Dorji, said the aim was to create high-value experiences for visitors and well-paying jobs for citizens while keeping the countrys carbon footprint low.

Those who can afford a trip can look forward to hiking through a network of pristine national parks, soaking up the Buddhist culture in well-preserved traditional villages, visiting intricate temples clinging to bare cliffs, and generally experiencing daily life in a country that measures its wealth and prosperity through a national happiness index rather than its gross domestic product (GDP).

BROOK SABIN

Bali has made it easier for remote workers (aka digital nomads) to work on the island.

Indonesias coordinating minister for maritime affairs and investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, caused quite a kerfuffle in 2021 when he said the country would ban backpackers from Bali when it reopened to overseas visitors.

We'll aim for quality tourism in Bali, so we won't allow backpackers to enter once the reopening plan for international travellers is officially put in place in the near future, local media quoted him as saying.

Pandjaitan later clarified that he had meant Bali wouldnt welcome those who might violate Indonesias health or immigration rules, but there are signs the country is looking to change its image as a budget traveller haven.

The Indonesian government has announced that remote workers from overseas (aka digital nomads) will be able to conduct online work in the country for up to six months without paying tax on a B211A visa. A five-year digital nomad visa is under discussion in the hopes it will lure more high-spending foreigners to Balis shores.

The islands mountainous hinterland, wild surf beaches, plethora of elaborately decorated temples, and famously hospitable people have attracted travellers of all budgets since it opened to tourism in 1914.

In recent years, Bali has become a hotbed for digital nomads, while a proliferation of luxury hotels (2022 arrivals include Banyan Tree and Jumeirah) draw travellers with plenty of Deutsches (or rather rupiah) to spend.

Brook Sabin/Stuff

VOMO resort in Fiji.

During the pandemic, Fiji famously advertised itself as a haven for the mega-rich, with Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama inviting billionaires to make the Pacific Island nation their temporary home.

So, say youre a billionaire looking to fly your own jet, rent your own island, and invest millions of dollars in Fiji in the process if youve taken all the necessary precautions and borne all associated costs, you may have a new home to escape the pandemic in paradise, he tweeted.

With tourism accounting for 38% of GDP, Fiji has made luxury travel a focus since reopening to foreign visitors.

The country aims to attract and expand high value customer segments and encourage a growth in visitor spend to promote sustainable tourism, Tourism Fiji says in its corporate plan for 2022 to 2024.

Private island resort Vomo is among the many accommodation providers in Fiji aimed at high-end visitors, but there are options for all budgets.

Brook Sabin/Stuff

There are more than 160 resorts scattered among the islands of the Maldives, most with overwater villas.

A once-in-a-lifetime destination for many visitors, the Maldives is famed for luxury resorts set on private islands boasting some of the best beaches in the world.

But in September 2020, the tourism-reliant Indian Ocean nation launched a loyalty programme it hopes will encourage people worldwide to make a Maldives getaway a regular treat.

Developed by Maldives Immigration and the Ministry of Tourism, the Maldives Border Miles programme rewards tourists for multiple visits.

Each of the programmes three tiers abaarana (gold), antara (silver) and aida (bronze) offers its own set of perks, with visitors rising up the ranks by paying repeat visits, staying longer and celebrating special events there.

While widely regarded as a playground for the rich and famous, its possible to hit up its powder white beaches for less than $100 a night.

RYAN ANDERSON/Stuff

Hawaii, a dream destination for many.

A dream tropical destination for many, Hawaii has become a victim of its own tourism success, with a record number of visitors in 2019 prompting locals to lament its effects on the environment and cost of living.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) aims to better protect the states citizens and natural resources by attracting mindful, respectful and high-value travellers.

HTA chief executive John DeFries said the organisation wanted to change the popular perception of the state as the playground of the Pacific to a diverse destination with a rich culture and fragile ecosystem.

New initiatives include requiring visitors to make a reservation to visit popular parks, such as Waianapanapa State Park and Kauais Kalalau Trail (non-residents must also pay parking and entry fees).

Some attractions have also put up their prices Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve in Oahu, for one, has capped visitors at 720 a day and hiked fees for non-residents from US$5 to US$20. Visitors also have to watch a nine-minute video before entering the water which aims to educate them on topics such as coral regeneration and marine life.

Oahu is lobbying for a regenerative tourism fee that would support conservation and environmental management programmes, while Hawaiian Airlines and various hotels have taken steps to raise cultural and environmental awareness among visitors.

The state has also launched a campaign similar to New Zealands Tiaki Promise, based on the concept of malama, or caring for the land. Participating hotels reward guests with a free nights stay if they spend a day helping to clean beaches or reforest land.

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The countries unashamedly selling themselves to rich (and responsible) tourists - Stuff

Indonesias Gili Islands look like heaven. But are they now a paradise lost? Allegations of catcalling, animal cruelty, pollution, damage to the reef and thievery now have some people questioning the impact of tourism on this once chilled-out trio of islands, with one Tripadvisor user calling it the Magaluf of Australia.

An Indonesian woman and former flight attendant recently shared a video on TikTok about being catcalled on the holiday island Gili Trawangan. The video has now been set to private, but it reportedly got 9 million views in just four days. It has been reported by Radar Lombok that in the video it was said: [This] catcalling thing is not playing anymore.It also makes me emotional if I remember until now.

This is so fucking annoying.Im really angry.I wont be going back to Gili Trawangan again, to be honest.

Honestly, Ive travelled everywhere, of course because I used to be a cabin crew, Ive travelled to various islands, like Love Island in Gorontalo, Papua, Manado, Bali, even every month to Bali, because I love its with Bali.Every time I go to Bali I dont have to be boring about the cat calling thing, because in Bali the people are that kind.

The woman also allegedly said (translated from Indonesian): I never got catcalling in Bali.What kind of clothes do you want me to wear?But when I go to Gili yesterday, thats so fucking disgusting.The catcalling is really amazing, its unbelievable.

Just arrived at the port, dragging the suitcase already has a lot of cat calling.Where are you going, sis, beautiful, beautiful;Do you want to snorkel for free or not, Ill give you free snorkelling;Ms. Asking for your WhatsApp number;Ms. come here first, let me accompany you;do you want to accompany me?And they are so fucking annoying.But they dont catcall Caucasians, they want Caucasians to use bicycles while wearing bikinis, they dont care.

So if you ask, dont blame the island, yes, the island is indeed good, but the people should change if they want tourism to progress.

Later on she posted a follow-up video, which was captioned: Hopefully the clarification I made can be accepted, I hope Gili Trawangan will be better and take action against these people, because honestly the island is very beautiful. Thank you. In the comments section of this video she wrote: The Minister and the local government have intervened. Thank you very much Mr. Minister @Sandiaga Uno [the minister of Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia] may you always be healthy and blessed by Allah SWT.

For those who want to take advantage of my problems, remember that karma exists.

Her video also sparked lots of comments from other travellers, with comments like: Is it true that the local authorities have investigated thoroughly? Want to go there [sic] so Im afraid where is a solo traveler flowing in.

According to news outlet Coconuts (who appear to have sourced this piece of information from tribunlombok.com), a resident who represents the North Lombok community,filed a complaint with the West Nusa Tenggara Police over [the video].

According to Coconuts, the complainant said the video suggested that North Lombok people are perverted and therefore damaged the islands image as a tourist destination.

Whats worse is that she claimed that the [harassment] was conducted by many people there, the complainant reportedly said.

RELATED: The Ugly Truth About Staying In An Instagram-Famous Treehouse

Coconuts reported in September that the woman was now facing defamation charges.

This isnt the first time the Gili Islands have got some bad press. As we reported earlier this year, one tourist complained of a boat ride from hell while trying to leave. On Tripadvisor, too, there are a slew of complaints about (alleged) animal abuse, litter, poor protection of the reef and the proliferation of partying.

One Tripadvisor user wrote: While Gili T itself is quite pretty with beautiful beaches, I could not get [sic] passed the extreme animal cruelty. The only means of transport in all of the Gili Islands is bike or horse, and the horses are actually a single small pony carrying loads of often 3+ people and luggage, whipped and beaten, underfed etc We only stayed for three days and while Id love to come back, I simply wont until the island considers a more sustainable form of transport (solar powered Tuk Tuks have been proposed).

Another Tripadvisor user wrote: Litter is everywhere all over the island! Whether it be on the beach, in the sea or into the centre, you cant help but get annoyed at something that should be dealt with! It seems tourism became too much for this small island.

Another wrote: What I seen was animals being abused while working in the baking hot sun without any water, food or shade! I felt physically sick every time I seen one! What I would say is yes Gili T is great if you want a party, even to see turtles and grab a sunset pic on the famous swings. However apart from that Gili T left me sad, knowing that the environment, local people and animals are the ones suffering!

Yet another said the island had been totally ruined by tourists and that I was shocked to see what became from Trawagan after I visit it before, 6 years ago, by that time it was a magical place, now sadly it became a hell with drunk kids [and] screamingfamilies.

Another Tripadvisor user spoke of the Gili Islands dark side, writing: This is a nice island. A pretty chilled, unique but affordable location. Lots of fun to be had. However it has a dark side. There are no motorised vehicles on the island. Sounds cool. The major form of transport is bikes and horse drawn carts. Romantic? NO. The way these little ponies are treated is criminal and appalling.

Others claimed things like locals they dont like you and shared stories where they claimed they were robbed. Further Tripadvisor users bemoaned the dead coral, with some claiming that they had seen people being allowed to walk on it.

Whether you believe tourists are the real problem, or whether you think Indonesian tourism authorities need to take a closer look at how the Gili Islands are managed, it seems many people can agree the situation on the Gili Islands needs to be improved for the sake of the environment, the people and the economy.

The rest is here:

'Catcalling, Animal Cruelty & Litter': The Dark Side Of The Gili Islands - DMARGE

July 7, 2022, 10:42 PM If you visit a cruise line's private island in The Bahamas, have you really visited The Bahamas?

That was the Niles family debate as we walked through the U.S. Customs line at Port Canaveral after debarking the media preview "Christening Cruise" of the Disney Wish. The fact that we had to clear customs to re-enter the United States answered our question - legally, at least. But while we all enjoyed our stay in what legally was Bahamian territory, none of us felt like we had left the Disney domain, much less visited a foreign country.

Our only port of call on our Disney Wish cruise was Castaway Cay, Disney's private island in The Bahamas. Castaway Cay provides a Disney-designed perfect day at the beach. No need to ride a tender over, Disney dredged a harbor that allows its ships to dock just a short tram ride or a reasonable walk from the beaches.

Cast members hand you a beach towel as you step off the ship, and thousands of beach chairs and recliners await you on the sand.

Plop down and enjoy the day on one of the family beaches, or ride the tram a bit further up the island for the adults-only Serenity Bay. You can swim in the seawall-protected ocean water, ride down the Pelican Plunge water slide, or rent some snorkeling gear, if you did not bring your own. (Disney has dropped a Nautilus sub from the old Magic Kingdom 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ride down there for you to discover, among other nautical Easter eggs.)

Kayaks, paddle boards, and glass-bottom boat trips also await you, for an upcharge. Or you can opt for a massage in one of the cabanas next to the Serenity Bay beach.

Hungry? Lunch is included in your cruise fare and served buffet-style at Cookie's BBQ and Cookie's Too.

If you get thirsty for an adult beverage, roaming waiters will take your order on the beach, or you can visit one several open-air bars on the island. Don't bother with your wallet. Your room key is all you need, as drinks and other upcharges will be billed to your account.

All this convenience helps make a day at Castaway Cay feel like the ultimate beach get-away. You just don't feel the insecurity that you might on a public beach where you have to watch your things, including credit cards and cash. No one is running a hustle here, and no one cares if you have a drink on the beach. Heck, they'll even bring it to you.

Two moments illustrated the Castaway Cay experience for us. First, we all had a bit of a moment at water's edge when a stingray glided past us, just a couple yards away. One of my adult kids had gotten stung by a stingray in Malibu last fall, and the memory of that excruciating incident remains fresh. But Disney has removed the barbs from the stingrays at Castaway Cay, allowing guests to see and swim near these graceful creatures without risk.

Second, Laurie lost her sunglasses when doing a turn in the water. She didn't notice them missing for several minutes and figured there would be no chance of finding them in the surf 20 minutes later. But when she returned to where she had been swimming, there they were - easily seen in the shallow, crystal water, protected by Castaway Cay's seawall and left alone by other Disney Wish passengers.

This is not a normal beach.

And while that's a joy for anyone looking to enjoy a carefree day playing in the sun and the water, it can be a little disappointing to someone who enjoys the adventure of traveling to new destinations. Like Gertrude Stein's Oakland, there's no there there at Castaway Cay. As a place, it represents an ideal. There's no real history, no native or long-time residents, no home-grown businesses.

Norwegian Cruise Line created the first private island experience when it bought Great Stirrup Cay in 1977. Disney followed in 1997, when it signed a 99-year lease with the Bahamian government for the 1,000-acre former Gorda Cay, which Disney now calls Castaway Cay. Private islands allowed cruise lines to capture 100% of the money that passengers spent on drinks, equipment rentals, and excursions while in these ports. They also allowed cruise lines to provide a more secure, and thus potentially safer, experience that their guests would have in a public port of call.

For Disney's Imagineers, Castaway Cay provided a canvas upon which they could design the ultimate carefree beach vacation. And they did. Visiting Castaway Cay is a joy and a delightful asset to any Disney Cruise Line itinerary that includes it.

But sitting on the sand watching the ocean at the end of the day, I couldn't help but long for some more Bahamian flavor. Fortunately, Disney has felt that need from its guests and is working on a solution.

In 2019, Disney signed another deal with the Bahamian government, this time to take control of a portion of the island ofEleuthera, which will become the Disney Cruise Line's second private port of call, Lighthouse Point.

Expected to open in the next couple of years or so, Lighthouse Point will be designed to showcase Bahamian art and culture, much like the Disney Vacation Club's Aulani does for Hawaiian culture. (Imagineer Joe Rohde, who oversaw Aulani, also headed the Lighthouse Point project before he retired from Disney.) Work began in April on the project, which will include an Arts & Culture center, displaying works commissioned by Disney from Bahamian artists, along with family beaches and an adventure camp.

But why go to Disney's idealized version of The Bahamas when you could visit the real thing in Nassau or Freeport? Because, one might argue, you can't experience "the real thing" in those port cities any more. Foreign visitors, immigrants, and trade long have influenced the culture of port communities. But the modern cruise industry transforms port communities like nothing else in the travel business. How many jewelry stores and T-shirt shops does one port community need? Apparently, the answer in every port - at least, before the pandemic - has been "more."

Cruise ships also create enormous environmental strains on port communities. Disney boasts about its environmental efforts on the Wish, with its LED lighting saving 30 percent on energy consumption from lights, hydrodynamic hull and propeller design reducing greenhouse gas emissions by six percent, and liquefied natural gas fuel decreasing carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 20 percent compared to traditional diesel or marine fuel. But the infusion of thousands of guests every day into a port community can strain infrastructure when that community has not or cannot design it to accommodate those crowds. That pressure creates environmental damage of its own.

Well-designed private islands can mitigate that damage by diverting tourists to destinations created specifically for accommodating them. But more calls on private islands can mean fewer at traditional ports, robbing them of the income that their residents need. Disney's deal for Lighthouse Point reportedly includes a commitment by the DCL to make more calls on Nassau and Freeport, not fewer - which Disney can do easily by increasing the number of ships it sails on Caribbean routes. (Two more ships are on order following the Wish.)

Beyond the physical environmental issues, Lighthouse Point gives Disney the opportunity to spend its money to commission art and cultural experiences that the free market in Bahamian port communities too rarely supports in the rush to sell more jewelry, T-shirts, and knick-knacks. Yes, that puts Disney in the position of gatekeeping Bahamian culture for its guests. But is that a worse option than watching access to Bahamian culture collapse under the weight of unguided demand for more chain restaurants and indistinguishable shops? Disney's Imagineers have boasted that Aulani contains the largest collection of contemporary Hawaiian art in the world. I would love to see a similarly robust collection for Bahamian artists on Lighthouse Point someday.

Let's not forget, though, that it was Castaway Cay that awakened that desire within me. Like any great entertainment, one day on that lovely beach left me wanting more. Not just more time on Castaway Cay, but more opportunity to discover The Bahamas, too.

* * *For more coverage from the Disney Wish, please see our round-up post: All Aboard the Disney Cruise Line's New Disney Wish.

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Can Disney Unlock the Key to the Bahamas? - Theme Park Insider

With five ships in service for the first time ever, the Disney Cruise Line has lots of itinerary options for 2023. Bookings are currently open through summer of 2023, and with this schedule, youll find some new itineraries and ports to experience.

Disneys newest ship, the Disney Wish, will have its first full year of service in 2023. The Disney Wish will be sailing out of Port Canaveral, Florida. Like the other Disney Cruises departing a Florida port, these sailings will also stop at Disneys private island in the Caribbean, Castaway Cay.

The Disney Dream recently departed its original home port of Port Canaveral to make room for the brand-new Disney Wish. Its now offering cruises departing out of Miami, and will start out 2023 by offering four and five night cruises to the Bahamas, the Eastern Caribbean and the Western Caribbean.

Stops on these trips will include Nassau, Grand Cayman, Tortola, St. Thomas, Cozumel, Falmouth, and Castaway Cay (varying depending on the specific itinerary). Some of these sailings will be Marvel Day at Sea cruises, a special themed experience offered on select dates.

In the spring, the ship will move to Europe for the first time ever, staying there until early fall. These itineraries will run from four to eleven nights. Home ports in late spring, early summer will include Barcelona and Rome, while destinations on these itineraries will include ports in France, Italy, and Spain. There will also be one seven-night sailing through the Greek Isles.

Later in the summer, the ship will move to Southampton England, where several different itinerary options will be offered. These include a four-night trip to Spain, a seven-night British Isles cruise, a four-night trip to France, and a seven-night Northern Europe and Norwegian Fjords Cruise.

The brand-new Disney Wish will, like the Disney Dream before it, be based out of Port Canaveral, Florida. In 2023, it will offer three and four night itineraries to Nassau, Bahamas, and Castaway Cay, Disneys private island.

These shorter sailings are a great way to experience the new ship without a long commitment, and will also be the perfect option for a Disney Land and Sea trip.

In 2023, the Disney Fantasy will continue to be based out of Port Canaveral, Florida, offering sailings to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. These sailings will range from six to ten days, with stops at various Caribbean ports including Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Costa Maya, Tortola, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, San Juan, Nassau, and Falmouth. Specific ports of call vary by itinerary.

There is also a ten-day Southern Caribbean trip offered in July 2023. This sailing will include stops at Oranjestad, Aruba, Kralendijk, Bonaire, St. John's, Antigua, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Disney Castaway Cay.

Two eight-night sailings, in April 2023 and September 2023, will travel from Port Canaveral to Kings Wharf Bermuda. There, it will spend two days so guests can enjoy more time in Bermuda.

The Disney Fantasy will also be offering the brand-new Pixar Day at Sea themed cruises. There are nine date options, all on seven night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries. These sailings will include special character encounters, Pixar-themed entertainment, themed dining, and more.

The Disney Magic will be traveling around the southern part of the United States in the first half of 2023. It will start 2023 in Galveston, Texas, for itineraries ranging from four to seven nights. These sailings go to various locations (based on itinerary), including Cozumel, Mexico, Progresso, Mexico, and George Town, Grand Cayman.

Next, in February and March, the ship will move to New Orleans. The itineraries from New Orleans include four, five, and six night sailings to locations such as Cozumel, Progresso, and George Town, depending on the itinerary.

For the summer, the Magic returns to Miami for Bahamian, Eastern Caribbean, and Western Caribbean itineraries. It starts in May with a four-night, one-way repositioning cruise departing from San Juan Puerto Rico, and traveling to St. Thomas and Castaway Cay before ending up in Miami. Ports of call on the Miami Disney Magic itineraries vary and may include Nassau, Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Castaway Cay.

The Disney Wonder will start 2023 on the West Coast of the United States. In the beginning of the year, it will sail from San Diego on 3, 4, and 5 night Baja cruises, as well as several sailings to the Mexican Riviera. A one-way repositioning cruise in mid-May will go to Victoria, British Columbia before ending up in Vancouver for the summer.

From mid-May through September, the Disney Wonder will be sailing from Vancouver to Alaska. These itineraries range from five to nine nights and visit popular Alaskan ports.

With the addition of the Disney Wish, the Disney Cruise Line will have more options in 2023 than ever before. Regardless of the type of experience guests want to have, there is likely a great option.

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Preview of Disney Cruises in 2023 - Cruise Blog

Summer is here, U.S. re-entry restrictions are in our rearview and American travelers are beyond ready to embark on long-awaited vacations. And, the Bahamas is bound to be one of this years hottest destinations, thanks to newly eased entry protocols and a wave of new flights that make accessing the islands easy.

Spanning 100,000 square miles of some of the clearest ocean waters on the planet, the archipelago is a perennial favorite among those in search of blissful weather, tropical terrain, award-winning beaches, colorful coral reefs and pristine wildlife encounters, combined with the islands warm and vibrant Caribbean culture.

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The Bahamas Pares Down Entry Protocols From June 19, international travelers entering The Bahamas no longer need to apply for The Bahamas Travel Health Visa, regardless of their vaccination status. We acknowledge that the Travel Health Visa was a burden for travellers, and we are pleased to be able to eliminate it, Honourable I. Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation, said in his June announcement.

All unvaccinated visitors aged two years and older still need to submit proof of a negative PCR or antigen test taken within three days (72 hours) of departure for The Bahamas; but vaccinated arrivals are no longer subject to testing requirements.

BahamasAir Relaunches OrlandoGrand Bahama Route From June 30 through September 10, 2022, national airline BahamasAir is making it super easy and affordable to reach Grand Bahama Island, with twice-weekly nonstop flights between Orlando and Freeport. And, Inaugural roundtrip airfares start as low as $297.

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Boating Flings Are in Full Swing This summer, The Bahamas Tourist Office will host a series of exhilarating Boating Flings, leading caravans of boaters across the Gulf Stream and into brilliant blue Bahamian waters. Event participants will get to partake in various activities, delight in delicious Bahamian cuisine and engage in authentic cultural experiences across the islands.

Festivals and Events Are Back Also back this year is Nassaus iconic Junkanoo Summer Festivalone of the Caribbean's most lively and colorful carnival celebrationsrunning every Saturday, July 2-30. Grand Bahamas Groombay Summer Festival will also return, running every Thursday, July 7-28. Would-be visitors can find details on many more summer events at Bahamas.com/events.

The Atlantis Paradise Island Music Series Atlantis Paradise Islands Music Making Waves concert series, benefitting the Blue Project Foundation, will feature live performances from big-name music artists like Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Ashanti; five-time Grammy nominee Robin Thicke; Grammy, ACM, CMA, and AMA Award-winning group Little Big Town; and Grammy Award winner Sheryl Crow.

Disney Wish Begins Sailing To The Bahamas Disney Cruise Lines newest ship, the Disney Wish, is readying to set sail on its maiden voyage from its homeport in Port Canaveral on July 14. Thereafter, it will carry cruisegoers on three- and four-night voyages to The Bahamas, including stops at Disney's private island near Great Abaco, Castaway Cay.

For the latest insight on travel around the world, check out this interactive guide.

For the latest travel news, updates and deals, be sure to subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter here.

For more information, visit bahamas.com.

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What's New in The Bahamas - TravelPulse

Fairfield Consultancy Services OPC Pvt Ltd

London, July 05, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fairfield Market Research states that the global yacht charter market is expected to surge at phenomenal CAGR of 22.85% between the forecast of 2021 and 2027. The idea of revenge travel as vaccines reach the masses is expected to give the market a boost. Analysts anticipate that the global yacht charter market will reach US$25.53 Bn by 2027 as end users look forward to travelling as lockdowns ease.

Key Highlights of Global Yacht Charter Market:

The motor yacht charter segment is expected to lead with a CAGR of 24.89% by 2027

Europe to remain ahead as region has increasing number of high-net-worth individuals (HNWI)

Luxury yachts to trend bigger during the forecast period as the demand for entertainment aboard vessels spikes amongst millennials

Water sports to solidify the demand for yacht charters giving the global market an impetus

Looking For a Sample Copy of This Report? Request the Same Here: https://www.fairfieldmarketresearch.com/report/yacht-charter-market/request-sample

Rising Disposable Incomes and Increased Spending Capacities Drive Global Yacht Charter Market

Prior to the pandemic, the global yacht charter market thrived as ideas of vacations changed drastically amongst the youth. Sailing to private islands or nearby islands to vacation in isolated spots became a sought-after getaway idea amongst the younger demographic before the pandemic. As nations declared lockdowns to prevent spread of coronavirus, yacht charters served those who could afford vacations and getaway to local islands, helping the market retain a steady flow of income throughout the pandemic.

As the pandemic recedes, the global yacht charter market is expected to thrive with revenge travel. Improved savings for the salaried class, vaccine rollouts, ability to work from anywhere, and need to break free from more than a year long lockdown is expected to bode well for the global yacht charter market.

Efficiency of Motor Yachts to Surpass Others

The demand for motorised yachts is expected to surpass sailing yachts. This demand will be driven by the sheer efficiency of motor yachts that allows the end users to achieve a good pace to cover larger distances. It also allows convenient manoeuvres, giving the tourists a better control in choppy conditions. The use of motorised yachts is expected also pick up in sailing boats.

Story continues

Some of the key operating players in the global yacht charter market are Charter Yachts Australia, Dream Yacht Charter, Boatbound Inc., Fraser Yacht, Mertello Fairline Yacht, Thai Charters, and CharterWorld LLP.

Do You Have Any Query or Specific Requirement? Request Customization of Report: https://www.fairfieldmarketresearch.com/report/yacht-charter-market/request-customization

REPORT SCOPE & SEGMENTATION:

REPORT FEATURES

DETAILS

Yacht Type Coverage

Yacht Sub Type Coverage

Yacht Size Coverage

Yacht Usage Coverage

Geographical Coverage

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Rest of the World (RoW)

Leading Companies

Report Highlights

Key Market Indicators, Macro-micro economic impact analysis, BREXIT Impact Analysis, Electrification, Market Estimates and Forecast, Market Dynamics, Industry Trends, Competition Landscape, Category, Region, Country-wise Trends & Analysis, COVID-19 Impact Analysis (Demand and Supply Chain), Key Trends

Table of Contents:

1. Executive Summary 1.1. Global Yacht Charter Market : Snapshot 1.2. Future Projections, 2018 - 2027, (US$ Mn) 1.3. Key Segment Analysis and Competitive Insights 1.4. Premium Insights

2. Yacht Charter Market Outlook 2.1. Market Definitions and Segmentation 2.2. Market Dynamics 2.2.1. Driver 2.2.2. Restraint 2.2.3. Industry Challenges & Opportunities 2.3. Market Forces Analysis 2.3.1. Value Chain Analysis 2.3.2. Porters Five Forces Analysis 2.3.3. SWOT Analysis 2.4. Impact Analysis 2.4.1. Pre and Post Covid-19 Analysis 2.4.2. Economic Indicators (GDP Per Capita, BREXIT Analysis, etc.) 2.4.3. Electrification 2.4.4. Parent Industry Trends

3. Global Yacht Charter Market Outlook, 2017 - 2026 3.1. Global Yacht Charter Market Value Forecast, By Yacht Type, 2018 - 2028, (US$ Mn) 3.1.1. Key Highlights 3.1.1.1. Market Growth & Projections (Y-o-Y) 3.1.1.2. Market Share Analysis, By Yacht Type, 2019 & 2027 3.1.2. Sailing 3.1.3. Motor 3.1.4. Catamaran 3.1.5. Market Attractiveness Analysis, By Yacht Type 3.2. Global Yacht Charter Market Value Forecast, By Yacht Sub - Type, 2018 - 2028, (US$ Mn) 3.2.1. Key Highlights 3.2.1.1. Market Growth & Projections (Y-o-Y) 3.2.1.2. Market Share Analysis, By Yacht Sub - Type, 2019 & 2027 3.2.2. Classic 3.2.3. Open 3.2.4. Large 3.2.5. Market Attractiveness Analysis, By Yacht Sub - Type 3.3. Global Yacht Charter Market Value Forecast, By Yacht Size, 2018 - 2028, (US$ Mn) 3.3.1. Key Highlights 3.3.1.1. Market Growth & Projections (Y-o-Y) 3.3.1.2. Market Share Analysis, By Yacht Size, 2019 & 2027 3.3.2. Small 3.3.3. Medium 3.3.4. Large 3.3.5. Market Attractiveness Analysis, By Yacht Size 3.4. Global Yacht Charter Market Value Forecast, By Usage, 2018 - 2028, (US$ Mn) 3.4.1. Key Highlights 3.4.1.1. Market Growth & Projections (Y-o-Y) 3.4.1.2. Market Share Analysis, By Usage, 2019 & 2027 3.4.2. Corporate 3.4.3. Retail 3.4.4. Others 3.4.5. Market Attractiveness Analysis, by Usage 3.5. Global Yacht Charter Market Outlook, by Region, (US$ Mn), 2017 - 2026 3.5.1. Key Highlights 3.5.1.1. Market Growth & Projections (Y-o-Y) 3.5.1.2. Market Share Analysis, By Region, 2019 & 2027 3.5.1.3. North America 3.5.1.4. Europe 3.5.1.5. Asia Pacific 3.5.1.6. Latin America 3.5.1.7. Middle East & Africa 3.5.2. Global Market Attractiveness Analysis, by Region

TOC Continued!

About UsFairfield Market Research is a UK-based market research provider. Fairfield offers a wide spectrum of services, ranging from customized reports to consulting solutions. With a strong European footprint, Fairfield operates globally and helps businesses navigate through business cycles, with quick responses and multi-pronged approaches. The company values an eye for insightful take on global matters, ably backed by a team of exceptionally experienced researchers. With a strong repository of syndicated market research reports that are continuously published & updated to ensure the ever-changing needs of customers are met with absolute promptness.

ContactFairfield Market Research London, UKUK +44 (0)20 30025888 USA (Toll-free) +1 (844) 3829746Web: https://www.fairfieldmarketresearch.com/ Email: sales@fairfieldmarketresearch.com

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Yacht Charter Market is Expected to be Worth US$25.53 Bn by 2027, Surging at a Healthy CAGR of 22.85% : Fairfield Market Research - Yahoo Finance

The Cambridges visited the Scilly Isles last year and usually head to Balmoral during the summer to spend time with the Queen. Royal expert Ingrid Seward said this year the family will also want to return to a more exotic location.

She said: "They usually go up to Balmoral to spend time with the Queen and the rest of the family for a while and, this year, I think they will also go abroad for a short time, probably to Mustique, because William and Kate will want a change of scenery."

Ms Seward continued: "William and Kate havent been abroad much with the kids in recent years, apart from a trip to Jordan in the autumn, so I think theyll be itching to get back to Mustique this year."

Mustique is a holiday hotspot for members of the Royal Family thanks to its privacy and opulent offering.

Princess Margaret was one of the first family members to fall in love with the Caribbean island with William and Kate having jetted off to the tropical destination since 2008.

The couple last visited the spot, between the islands of St Vincent and the Grenadines, in 2019 for Prince George's sixth birthday.

On that occasion the Cambridges stayed at Villa Antilles, which was developed by Andrew Dunn, a friend of Prince William.

A stay at this luxurious, four bedroom pad with butler, chef, housekeeper and gardener can set guests back as much as 27,000 a week, depending on the time of year.

The villa also boasts a private "powder room" for visitors.

READ MORE ABOUT GRANT SHAPPS BEING TIPPED FOR PM

"The Middletons are pretty helpful with all this and Carole organises the Mustique trips."

Mustique was well known for being Princess Margaret's second home.

The first time she visited the island paradise there was no electricity or running so the Queens sister would shower using a bucket with holes in, hung from a tree.

Her former lady-in-waiting Lady Anne Glenconner said Margaret loved it as it was all an adventure to her.

Margaret's own villa was completed in February 1972. It was named Les Jolies Eaux, which means beautiful waters, in honour of its sea-view.

Her whitewashed island home was a haven from her marriage to Antony Armstrong-Jones, which at that time was falling apart.

He disliked the place and reportedly described it as Margarets 'Mustake'.

It was on Mustique that Margaret carried out her affair with baronets son-turned-landscape gardener Roddy Llewellyn.

When they met in 1973 he was 26 while Margaret was 43.

Margaret's villa Les Jolies Eaux was sold in 1999 after she gifted it to her son David Armstrong-Jones.

The royal link to Mustique continues, however, with Kate and William having fallen in love with the secluded haven.

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Kate and William 'itching' to return to beloved location with George, Charlotte and Louis - Express

For travelers who seek for diversified experiences, magnificent views of the Ionian Sea and the National Park of Mount Aenos, combined with elegance and luxury, Sui Generis Villa on Kefalonia, the largest and one of the most beautiful of Greeces Ionian Islands, is the first destination that comes to mind.

Located on a hill above Pessada cove, Sui Generis Villa, which is inspired by the Latin phrase Sui Generis meaning unique, offers magnificent views of the Ionian Sea. This property, which was recently included in Aria Hotels portfolio, has privacy in a secluded location with uninterrupted sea view in Pessada, a village on the southern side of Kefalonia, just 15 minutes drive from the islands capital, Argostoli, and close to nearby beaches.

For that reason, the property is the ideal choice for those who are willing to enjoy virgin mountains, turquoise and cerulean blue waters lapping up against white pebble beaches, and pine-scented limestone mountains slashed by lush, and green fertile valleys.

The two-level villa, in line with the Aria Hotels philosophy of authentic Greek hospitality, is defined by a first-class quality of design and natural materials, such as stone and wood. The unique design, in combination with the unprecedented luxury of Sui Generis Villa, create the ultimate holiday experience for groups of friends, couples and families up to 6 members. The interior offers three bedrooms with private bathrooms, including a master bedroom with free-standing bathtub and walk-in shower, a steam bath (Turkish bath), kitchen, living and dining area facilities.

The guests of the villa will be able to enjoy the infinity pool with built-in floating lounge and fireplace, which are placed in the extensive garden around the villa, the private parking, as well as the BBQ facilities.

Moreover, for visitors who are willing to execute a private social event, Sui Generis Villa is the ideal choice, as Aria Hotels tailor-made services will meet each expectation.

For those who seek for diversified experiences and have several things to see during their stay, Fiskardo is unquestionably Kefalonias prettiest village and the only settlement to have retained its 18th-century Venetian-style architecture before the earthquake.

Assos village, the lighthouse of Saint Theodoroi, the Monastery of Agios Gerasimos, the monastery of Kipoureon, the Castle of Saint George, Lixouri village, and the Potistis Waterfalls are just a few of the many places you may visit.

Aria Hotels, the family-owned boutique hotel and villas company, has radically expanded its carefully curated portfolio of hotels, villas and residencies and has now approached 50 properties on 13 island and mainland resorts across Greece.

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Sui Generis Villa: An Elegant Luxury Retreat on Kefalonia, One of the Most Beautiful Ionian Islands | GTP Headlines - GTP Headlines

One of the best things about flying small aircraft is the ease of access they afford to desirable places that are otherwise difficult to reach. Island destinations are a classic example.

Typically they require earthbound travelers to drive their cars onto ferries whose schedules and capacities often are limited. They also tend to be slow and time-consuming compared with other modes of travel. Even if you book faster passage with an air taxi service, you are still beholden to someone elses timetable. Making the trip in ones own airplane gives the sense of control that is lost in most other forms of travel.

Below are some of the islands at the top of our wish lists that have general aviation airports and lots to do once you get there.

Northeasterners know that even if you live in Massachusetts it can take all day to get to Marthas Vineyardunless you fly there. And while the well-known island hopping airline Cape Air and several charter operators can get you to this vacation hotspot quickly, landing on the vineyard in your own airplane feels like the ultimate expression of freedom. The island also offers a diversity of airports including the towered Vineyard Haven (KMVY), Katama Airpark (1B2) in Edgartown, with three turf strips, and Trade Wind (MA44), a private (permission required) grass strip in Oak Bluffs run by the Marthas Vineyard Land Bank Commission.

Maine has a vast collection of interesting airfields, from numerous private turf and gravel strips as short as 1,000 feet to the deactivated Loring Air Force Base with a runway 12,000 feet long and 300 feet wide. You can still land at Loring (ME16) if you get permission in advance. Islesboros modest tree-lined runway does not detract much from the sense of being pleasantly lost in time when visiting the island. In many ways the place seems to have changed little since the 1600s when European traders and explorers traversed the area. Yes, you will see modern cars and boats, but there are miles of quiet, wooded hiking trails that help visitors forget the trappings of civilization.

Beaver Island in Lake Michigan has long been a destination for outdoor enthusiasts. From fishing and hunting to boating, bicycling, hiking, and camping, there is much to take in on this remote spot. Local companies rent bikes, kayaks, and other outdoor gear while guides lead island tours. Visitors can check out the Toy Museum, Marine Museum, and the Mormon Print Shop Museum, which followers of religious leader James Jesse Strang built in 1850 as the communitys print shop. Visitors can also climb the 46-foot Beaver Head Lighthouse, which was built in 1856 and was active until 1962, when it was decommissioned.

This island in the Outer Banks region was long known as a rustic, minimal spot that did not receive telephone service until 1956 or establish a public water system until 1977. But its natural, untouched, and unfussy style is a big part of the appeal. There is plenty to see and do here and lots of history worth noting. One of its most interesting stories involves the Ocracoke Banker Ponies, a herd that descended from Spanish mustangs who survived a shipwreck hundreds of years ago and have occupied the island ever since. For most of that time they ran free but now live in an enclosed 188-acre area under National Park Service care.

There is a lot going on at Friday Harbor, often called the gateway to the San Juan Islands, from farmers markets and film festivals to shops and sightseeing. There are many restaurants serving locally produced food and venues for the arts, including the San Juan Islands Museum of Art, which holds quarterly exhibitions of visual art from around the world. The waterfront is a popular destination for its shops and food, and as the departure point for whale-watching tours. Orcas, Dalls porpoise, humpback whales, minke whales, sea lions, and harbor seals are known to frequent the waters around the island.

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Forsaking the Ferry: Five Island Destinations for Pilots - FLYING Magazine - FLYING

Lizard Island, off the coast of northern Queensland, has stunning beaches, calm turquoise waters and 1000 hectares of national park. Its only an hours flight from Cairns but the luxuriousness of the island makes it one of the most exclusive places to stay in Australia.

Now, after years of planning approvals and engaging top-end architects, the island has a new premium property that comes with a private chef, sommelier, masseuse and a fleet of boats. The House and the Cottage two adjoining properties that can be hired as one have opened their doors for bookings this month, offering private access to three beaches on the estate from $16,000 per night.

The properties are managed by the award-winning Lizard Island Resort, which is nearby (but far enough away) so guests can use its facilities including pools, tennis court, gym, restaurant and bars. Those staying at the House or the Cottage will receive chauffeured transfers between the accommodation and the resort whenever they like. But why would you leave?

The cheapest option is to hire the House for two people, for a minimum of three nights, for $16,000. The big-gun option is to stay at the House and the Cottage, which will set you back $28,000 per night for up to eight guests.

Its a hefty price tag, but that includes a private host wholl attend to your every request including facilitating tailor-made experiences like fishing trips or exploring the nearby islands via one of the propertys private boats. Guests get a private chef and a sommelier for all meals plus a bespoke team of experts, including a naturalist, a facialist, a massage therapist and yoga instructor to help you make the most of your stay. And, to ease you in, youll get return scenic charter flights from Cairns and transfers from Lizard Island Airport to the House by four-wheel drive or boat.

The building itself was designed first by architect Robert Riddel, then realised by architect James Davidson of JDA Co.. Riddel was engaged to draw up the plans in the 80s, but it took owner Steve Wilson 25 years to gain approval to complete the building and so Davidson took over the project after Riddel retired. The properties have been fitted out with artworks by Indigenous artists including Sue Pascoe and Fiona Omeenyo, a custom rug by Tibet Sydney, Bemboka bedding and serving ware by Mud Australia and Dinosaur Designs.

Every single piece chosen for the House has a sense of place, says Wilson in a statement. Much of the furniture was hand-built by a local craftsman, while other renowned international pieces stand as functioning works of art I wanted guests to be captivated but also not feel uncomfortable walking inside with sand on their feet.

Its $16,000 per night to stay at the House, which has a three-night minimum stay for two people. Its $28,000 per night to hire the House and Cottage for up to eight people. Bookings are open now.

thehouseatlizard.com@thehouseatlizard

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Secluded Beaches, a Private Chef, a Fleet of Boats: This New Lizard Island Property Is Off-the-Charts Luxe - Broadsheet

Who hasnt fantasized about running away to a luxury home on a remote island? As tempting as that fantasy is, the reality of living on an island comes with some not-so-fantastic challenges.

For starters, buying a home on an island can be legally difficult. To buy a home in Virgin Gorda, part of the British Virgin Islands, people who are not from the BVI have to get a non-belongers landholding license, said Christopher Smith, an agent with Coldwell Banker BVI, and the process can take about six months. Building a home on an island is likely to take longer than on mainland, too. Construction schedules obviously depend on scale and permitting requirements, but a typical single-family villa takes an average of 14 to 18 months from conception to move-in, said Corby Parfitt, a St. Thomas-based real-estate agent with USVI Sothebys International Realty.

Then there is the cost of island living. On Vinalhaven off the coast of Maine, which has a year-round population of about 1,200, the grocery store receives a delivery from the mainland every day. But, you can expect to pay more for food because of the added costs of transportation and logistics, according to Kris Davidson of Davidson Realty, who is also a resident of the island. Island-dwellers also cant expect shipments at the drop of a hat. The biggest challenge, for some, is recalibrating expectations of time, said Mr. Parfitt. Things just take longer down here and the sooner you make peace with that reality, the healthier your experience, and its true for a week-long visit or a permanent relocation.

But, youre still on a beautiful island. I couldnt believe how unspoiled it was, and it still is, said Mr. Smith, who moved to the BVIs in 1992. I mean, it really is. And also how friendly the people are. Theyre very warm.

Vinalhaven, Maine // $4.5 Million

This approximately 200-acre farm is on the island of Vinalhaven, off the coast of Maine. The timber frame house is 2,640 square feet and has three bedrooms, three bathrooms and one half-bathroom. In the kitchen are cherry cabinets and soapstone countertops and the living room has a two-story fireplace with a wood-stove insert. The primary bedroom is on the first floor; an office and two ensuite guest bedrooms are on the second level. With 6,000 feet of waterfront on Long Cove, the property has outbuildings that include barns, including a two-level sheep barn that is partially heated, and chicken coops. Several Merino sheep and farm equipment, such as a John Deere Gator, are included with the sale of this property. The property is listed by Davidson Realty.

Blakely Island, Wash. // $10.3 Million

Blakely Island, part of the San Juan Islands, is where this 2.23-acre property is located. The main house is 1,833 square feet and has two bedrooms and three bathrooms. The 2,005-square-foot carriage house has two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a 2,500-bottle wine cellar.

There is also a separate 1,502-square-foot beach house on the property with one bedroom, one bathroom, NanaWall folding glass wall systems and a honey onyx bar. The property also features a hangar adjacent to a tarmac with three utility vehicles. The property is listed by Orcas Island Realty.

Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands // $9.5 Million

This approximately 2,723-square-foot villa is on the island of Virgin Gorda. The home has four bedrooms and four bathrooms. Each guest bedroom has an ensuite bathroom, patio and private entrance.

An infinity pool overlooks the Caribbean Sea and there is an outdoor grilling and dining area. The property is listed by Coldwell Banker BVI.

More: A Waterfront Home in a Historic Section of Fort Myers, Florida, With a 75,000-Gallon Pool and a Hot Tub for 16

Water Island, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands // $6.899 Million

Water Island is 491.5 acres and a 10-minute ferry ride away from St. Thomas. The house is 4,600 square feet with four bedrooms, five bathrooms and one half-bathroom. It has outdoor dining and sitting areas as well as a pool, hot tub and a pool pavilion. One of the guest bedrooms features custom-made bunk beds.

There are billiards and ping-pong tables and a home theater. The house has imported structural beams and solar panels with Tesla Powerwall battery units. The property is listed by USVI Sothebys International Realty.

Middle Cay, Bahamas // $12 Million

Middle Cay is a 2-acre private island off Eleuthera in the Bahamas. On the island is a main house that is about 2,800 square feet with four bedrooms, three bathrooms and one half-bathroom as well as an aproximately 2,700-square-foot guest cottage with three bedrooms and 2 1/2 bathrooms.

The main home has a kitchen with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances and the living room opens to a patio with a heated pool and outdoor shower. The property is listed by Coldwell Banker Lightbourn Realty.

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Living on an Island Isnt Always a Breeze - Mansion Global

If anyone proves you dont have to be born here to embody this places spirit, its Mel Meo. Much as anyone has been, Meo was Pine Island, in all its beauty, grit, whimsy and pathos.

The beloved artist and community matriarch died at her Bokeelia home April 20. She was 64.

Although her heart cancer had beencommon knowledge (islands are like that), news of her death was still a shock, as islanders struggledto come to grips. Maybe if she hadnt been so generous, in so many ways, it would have been easier to reckon with her loss, but Meos gifts were showered far and wide.

She helped define the Pine Island aesthetic by turning her artists eye to what illuminatedits character. The design of the Pine Island flag was hers and included a fish house at sunset, mangos, mullet, a Calusa Indian and a bald eagle. The motto suited her as well: Community rooted in caring.

Born in Indianapolis, she moved here as a girl with parents Mable and Rocco and brother David. The family bought what was then the SeaBreeze restaurant on Bokeelia and she worked side by side with her dad, while her mother caught the fish. She graduated from North Fort Myers High and attended Lee County Vocational/High Tech Center to learn welding.

More: Sometimes, surprise endings are the best ... or at least, the sweetest

More: Randell Research Center on Pine Island still evolving after 25 years

Art was always part of her life. "Growing up in Bokeelia, she told The News-Press in 1995, there wasn't a lot to do, so I learned to draw, paint, sew, bake anything to entertain myself,'' Meo said. `"My mom was always into crafts and I learned a lot of that from her. We did a lot of artsy-craftsy things.''

When she and her fisherman future husband Steve Longtook a boat trip to the upscale, private island of Useppa, she was offered a job as cook at the Tarpon Bar. They were later married there.

Meo took several years off to raise her three children, while her husband fished until the 1995 net ban went off like a bomb in the commercial fishing community, sending the industry into a tailspin.

"People have had heart attacks, strokes; I had a stroke recently," she said in an interview five years later "People are stressed to the hilt. The emotional part is never going to be healed. I have to work every day on trying not to blame the people who voted for the net ban and not hold them in contempt. People don't care. They say, `Hey, after five years, get over it.' But it's like if a member of your family dies, try to fill that hole.

"My son is still in shock. Since he was a little guy, he just knew what he wanted to do. Now he's working to get his captain's license to haul people. But that's not what he wants to do. He wants to feed people. We were always proud to feed people. But now we're bad guys."

Yet without the net ban, the world might never have met Meo.

With her husbands main source of income gone, she turned to what she knew: cooking and painting. She opened a funky eatery/gallery combo, Fish-n-Art, in a repurposed island motel court. "It was a natural. My husband's a fisherman. I'm an artist," Meo later recalled. Shed cook and sell her husband's fresh catches from behind a small deli counter and kitchen bearing a caricature of Rocco, on the door. The space was filled with her creations: a powder blue chair with its curvy back that became an ideal canvas for bikini-clad, 1950s bombshell Betty Page;a fish-shaped wood carving painted avocado green declared "Live and let fish" to passers-by who read the commandment plastered on its citrus-colored scales.

"I'm a really good cook, so it caught on really fast," Meo told The News-Press in 2000.

But the place was more than an artsy diner. Saturday nights, Meo, her sister and a friend would tease their hair up into beehives, slip into padded torpedo bras and cat glasses and mount impromptu retro stage shows, often coaxing their customers into the act. Many of those customers became friends, as they stayed to talk about art, fishing, politics and family.

"I'm a real good listener. I became the local psychiatrist as well," Meo joked.

After six years, with demand for her pieces rising, she closed Fish-n-Art to focus on showing and selling her work in off-island galleries in Fort Myers, Sanibel, Pine Island and Naples.

Year after year, she donated pieces to Arts for ACT, an annual auction benefiting Abuse Counseling and Treatment, a shelter for rape and domestic violence victims and their children.

In2002, she shared the stage with celebrity auctioneer Lily Tomlin. Two years later, Hurricane Charley blew the roof off her stilt house, but spared her gallery, so she kept creating.

Meo found a clientele hungry for her images, which she painted with an increasing sense of urgency as old fish houses became upscale marinas, groves sold to developers and roadside fruit stands shuttered.

"I just see eras going by really fast, and the island changing," she told The News-Press. "I'm just happy to paint things and have it in my memory and other people's memory before it's gone."

Now that she's gone, observed Fort Myers arts advocate Sunny Lubner, "Southwest Florida just became more monochromatic."

Mel Meois survived by her three children Nathan Long, Anna Long and Luke Long; and three siblings David Meo, Rita Meo Sgro and Monica Meo and two grandchildren.

Her memorial service, at which anyone who knew her is welcome, will be Saturday, May 14at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church, 12175 Stringfellow Road, Bokeelia, time to be announced.

In leiu of flowers, please send donations to: Pine Island Playhouse,5861 Wisconsin St., Bokeelia, FL 33922 or the Pine Island Elementary Art Program, 5360 Ridgewood Drive, Bokeelia, FL 33922.

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Artist, advocate Mel Meo was a Pine Island treasure - News-Press

Prince Andrew, Duke of York, stands outside the Westminster Abbey after a service of thanksgiving for late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, in London, Britain, March 29, 2022. REUTERS/Tom Nicholson/File Photo

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LONDON, April 27 (Reuters) - The northern English city of York on Wednesday stripped Britain's Prince Andrew, who is the Duke of York, of the freedom of the city.

Local councillors voted en masse to rescind the honour bestowed on Andrew, Queen Elizabeth's second son, in 1987.

Andrew, who has fallen from grace as a member of Britain's royal family, in February settled a U.S. lawsuit by Virginia Giuffre accusing him of sexually abusing her when she was a teenager, potentially sparing him further embarrassment.

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"The honorary freedom of our great city is bestowed on those who represent the very best of York. It's inappropriate for Prince Andrew to retain any connection to our city," said Darryl Smalley, a York city councillor.

Andrew, 62, did not admit wrongdoing in agreeing to settle the civil lawsuit. He has not been accused of criminal wrongdoing.

Giuffre's case had focused on Andrew's friendship with the late Jeffrey Epstein, a financier and sex offender who Giuffre said had also sexually abused her. Epstein killed himself in a Manhattan jail in 2019 while awaiting trial.

Andrew has denied accusations that he forced Giuffre, who now lives in Australia, to have sex when aged 17 more than two decades ago at the London home of Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, at Epstein's mansion in Manhattan and Epstein's private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The royal family in January removed Andrew's military titles and royal patronages and said he would no longer be known as "His Royal Highness".

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Reporting by Andy BruceEditing by Gareth Jones

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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York strips its duke, Prince Andrew, of 'freedom of city' honour - Reuters

TheTurks and Caicos Islands Tourist Board, the exclusive tourism authority for the Turks and Caicos Islands, announced that the destination is welcoming the return of events, including the weekly Island Fish Fry beginning on April 21 and continuing with a full schedule of cultural and culinary events in 2022.

After a two-year hiatus related to the pandemic, this marks a significant milestone for the destination and an opportunity to celebrate its people, places, and unique culture.

Turks & Caicos Islands Tourist Board is thrilled to welcome the return of events, inviting our community and international guests to enjoy the authentic sights, sounds, and tastes of the islands, says Mary Lightbourne, Deputy Director of Tourism at the Turks & Caicos Islands Tourist Board.

After two years, its a monumental moment to bring our communities back together with a lively event schedule, kicking off with the beloved Island Fish Fry.

Starting this week, the Island Fish Fry will take place every week on Thursday evenings at PTV Stubbs Diamond Plaza on Providenciales from 5:30PM to 9:30PM and will feature over a dozen restaurant and souvenir vendors, a live band, and cultural performances. Known as the most sought-after event in the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Island Fish Fry entices locals and visitors to come together to create a lively celebration of all things Turks and Caicos in a family-friendly, open-air setting.

The Turks and Caicos Islands Tourist Board is also pleased to announce its schedule of events for the remainder of the year, with favorites including:

The Turks and Caicos Islandshome to the Worlds Best Beachis a coveted five-star luxury vacation destination for leisure, business, and notable guests from around the globe.With ten inhabited islands and over 40 uninhabited cays, the destination is inherently safe for travel in this new paradigm of physical distancing, given its expansiveness, stunning outdoor environment, privacy, spacious resort accommodations, and unique portfolio of extraordinary private villas and private islands vacations.Over 80 percent of the adult population is fully vaccinated making it one of the most inoculated countries in the world.

For more information on the Turks and Caicos Islands, call 1 (800) 241-0824 or visitwww.turksandcaicostourism.com.

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The Turks and Caicos Islands Announces the Return of Events - FTNnews.com

Thousands of genetically altered mice could be released on Nantucket through an MIT lab for a project known as Mice Against Ticks.

The project is hoping to prevent tick-borne diseases, research states. White-footed mice are responsible for infecting many ticks in eastern North America. Scientists hope that if less mice carry Lyme, then fewer tickets would become infected and would infect less humans.

Introducing antibody-encoding resistance alleles into the local mouse population is anticipated to disrupt the disease transmission cycle for decades, the research reads.

Lyme disease in the U.S. has nearly doubled since 1991, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Maine and Vermont have had the largest increases, followed by New Hampshire, the EPA said.

With so many people suffering from Lyme every single day, which is an awful disease, we need a solution urgently, said Joanna Buchthal, research director of the MIT Media Labs Mice Against Ticks project, told the Boston Globe. This offers a real, if revolutionary, way to tackle the problem.

An MIT professor first presented the idea to the Nantucket board of health in 2016.

At the time, Kevin Esvelt, assistant professor at the MIT Media Lab, said that more than 100,000mice could be required for the operation, with groupsof 20,000to 40,000released every two and a half months, Stat News reported.

He aimed for the mice to be released in 2023, the news outlet reported.

But before releasing the mice, field trials will be conducted on several small, largely uninhabited private islands in the region, the Globe reported. And the property owners have to confirmed their participation.

If at any time the community says nope, were not interested, Esvelt said, according to the newspaper. Then we walk away.

And not everyone is for the idea.

My worst fear is that were gonna make a modification that effects a whole chain of reaction in this environment, said Danika Conners, an herbalist and vocal critic of Mice Against Ticks, told CNN in 2018. No matter how much they test this, we do not know how this is gonna affect the environment five years from now, 10 years from now, 15 years now, 20 years from now.

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Thousands of genetically altered mice could be released on Nantucket by MIT scientists - MassLive.com

Nicolas Cage and Pedro Pascal are a winning team in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, a daffy, good-natured, action-packed bro-mantic comedy. Pascal is especially adorable as puppy-like Spanish billionaire Javier Javi Gutierrez, who worships his idol Nicolas Cage and offers a million dollars to have him attend his birthday party at his fabulous seaside villa in Majorca. The possibility that Gutierrez may also be the head of a mob family whose main business is international arms dealing will complicate matters.

The key comic conceit is that Nicolas Cage plays himself, as hilariously self-absorbed actor Nick Cage (extra k to fictionalize Nic Cage, according to the screenwriters), who is struggling to keep his foundering career going. This single-minded endeavor isnt only due to his need to share with the world his seriously nouveau-shamanic acting ability. Its not even solely to placate his badgering imaginary alter ego, the lithe, leather-clad, floppy-haired Nicky, a monstrously CGIed version of the youthful Cage from his Wild at Heart era, whos all about maintaining the old fabulous level of fame and punctuates his brutal pep talks with the screech, You are Nick FUCKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIN YAHOW Cage!

The other motivations include the fact that because he lives way beyond his means hes desperately in debt.

(We know the point about massive indebtedness is true about the real-life Cage, who has blown several fortunes in his lifetime on, among other things, fifteen lavish homes, including two European castles and three private islands; more than fifty fabulously expensive cars, including the late shah of Irans Lamborghini; four yachts; a rare Tyrannosaurus bataar dinosaur skull, and a massive, nine-foot-tall, pyramid-shaped tombstone in the oldest cemetery in New Orleans, where the actor intends to be buried. In fact, the actual Nicolas Cage is so improbable a character that a biographically accurate movie would be harder to believe than this crazy comical adventure tale.)

There are also the familial problems of his fed-up ex-wife, Olivia (Sharon Horgan), and alienated daughter, Addy (Lily Sheen, whos actually the product of Hollywood inbreeding as the daughter of Kate Beckinsale and Michael Sheen). They consider Nick Cage an embarrassing loser for all of the above reasons.

Stir into this humiliating mix the loss of a major career-saving role hed auditioned hard for in the valet parking area of the Chateau Marmont for befuddled director David Gordon Green (playing himself), and Nick Cage is ready to announce to his manipulative agent (Neil Patrick Harris) that he is:

A) giving up acting forever, and

B) prepared to take the billionaire-birthday-party offer.

But the unexpected bonding of Nick and Javi in Majorca changes everything. Nick winds up collaborating on Javis script which is designed to be a starring vehicle for Nicolas Cage, of course by dropping acid and exploring their innermost feelings, among other methods, comprising the films funny second act. Their therapeutic idyll is complicated by the intrusive agenda of two CIA agents (played by Tiffany Haddish and Ike Barinholtz) who are investigating the Gutierrez mobs kidnapping of the Catalan presidents daughter in order to swing the election against the candidate running on an anti-crime ticket. Nick gets roped into trying out the role of actor-as-spy to bring down his friend. In the end, he has to run through a number of scenarios resembling his various action movies in order to save Javi, his family, and himself from disaster.

The movie has plenty of plot that gets wackier every minute, which doesnt really matter because the whole fun of it involves watching Nicolas Cage performing an enjoyably absurd version of his own life as a star, abetted by Pedro Pascal as the ultimate superfan. The real-life Cage has long since embraced the loony, overacting, Age of Cage Frankensteins monster of a movie star persona fostered by young social mediasavvy fans whove generated a million memes in his honor and this film is a gift to them. But the Nick character within the film is far more edgy and diffident about the weirdness of his own fame, his adenoidal voice wavering uncertainly when thanking people who rave about the profoundly meaningful impact on their lives of his 1994 comedy Guarding Tess, or who want to hug him and take selfies with him because he did such supreme voice work in The Croods: A New Age.

Hes stunned when hes confronted with Javis shrine to all things Nicolas Cage, which takes up an entire secret room, and particularly poleaxed by the deeply disturbing life-size replica of Cage as homicidal nutcase Castor Troy in John Woos 1997 movie Face/Off, positioned with outstretched arms aiming two gold-plated guns that are supposedly the originals from the film. Just one disturbing aspect of it is that Nick wants his golden guns back.

Cages performance in Unbearable Weight as a hangdog Nick Cage in crisis is a nicely judged comic turn but Cage always was good in comedy. His legendary insane-actor conviction, which led to those fascinating but demented bold choices that drove fellow actors mad at the beginning of his career, before people became accustomed to the Tao of Cage, pays off here. The demands of comedy make it easier to see that, for all his over-the-top brio, Cage has got more hard-earned precision in nailing down effects than hes been given credit for lately, now that his name is synonymous with excess. He knows how to put a ripe spin on a punch line and invest his Method madness into some preposterous bit of business. Just watch him give his all in the tripping-balls sequence, as LSD-addled Nick and Javi, convinced theyre being pursued by undercover agents, try to scale a wall and then play out a lugubrious farewell scene when Javi cant make it over, with Nick howling and pounding the wall in anguish.

According to director Tom Gormican, real-life Cage himself calls this scene an example of their having captured on film the full Cage.

The script was cowritten by Gormican and Kevin Etten, and they had no backup plan if Cage turned them down. Gormican, a Cage devotee since he first saw his hyperbolic performance in the Coen brothers comedy Raising Arizona in 1987, has essentially made a movie about the gushing joys of film fandom, saying:

We [got] Pedro Pascal to just basically say the things that we wanted to say to Nic and then watch it happen. . . . The whole movie is like an avatar for Kevin and Is personality we just really like Nicolas Cage. We were talking, like, Okay, whats the worst case scenario wed be happy with? And we said, If we get to have lunch with Nicolas Cage I feel like thats enough. Like, I want to have a salad with Nicolas Cage somewhere in Los Angeles, and if thats the only thing that happens, its worth our time.

So if you cant get into the sloppy-sweet spirit of all-out film fandom, this probably isnt the movie for you.

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The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent Is Lovingly Made for Sloppy-Sweet Fans Only - Jacobin magazine

Andrea Zelinski

MIAMI -- Royal Caribbean Group's Jay Schneider had me at "microbubbles."

After arriving in town for this year's Seatrade Cruise Global conference, I stopped for a visit at Royal Caribbean Group's headquarters. That's where I found Schneider, the company's chief product innovation officer, laboring over a memo.

I wondered aloud what it means to be a chief product innovation officer. Before long, he abandoned his laptop, pulled out a key card and walked with me to show me The Cave and the warehouse.

"We like when we come up with a crazy idea," he said.

His job means developing innovations around hardware and destinations for Royal Caribbean, and group-wide digital innovations like apps and facial recognition tools to speed up embarkation.

He leads a "team of nerds," he said, himself included, who get comfortable trying something different. The idea behind his job, he said, is to tap his "brand nerdiness" and experiment to ensure that each new ship is the best one yet.

That's when he introduced me to microbubbles. These cold beads of bubbles, produced by compressors and pushed out under the hull, can reduce friction between the ship's hull and the surrounding water, boosting energy efficiency. If the bubbles are too warm, they dissipate with heat, but the ship can sail more efficiently on over cold microbubbles.

When Royal Caribbean introduced microbubbles on the Harmony of the Seas, they found the ship was 20% more efficient than its sister ship, the Allure of the Seas. Now the bubbles are deployed on the Wonder, Symphony Harmony, Odyssey, Spectrum and Ovation of the Seas.

Driven by the question of how cruises can better compete with land-based vacations, he said it was that kind of ingenuity that led to the creation of Royal Caribbean's private islands, like Perfect Day at Coco Cay in the Bahamas; it was in an attempt to build the "perfect day for a family," he said. At least one more island is in the works, he said.

We arrived at the door of The Cave. Through that door is a room where nearly every surface is a screen: three walls, the ceiling and the floor, he said. This is where the team explores onboard concepts as if they are guests walking through a ship's neighborhoods. They can look up, down and to the sides: are there any unintended consequences to putting those staterooms overlooking this corridor? How does it look and feel? What did they never notice when they were designing this space?

Schneider, who worked for The Walt Disney Company until he moved to Royal Caribbean Group in 2016, said The Cave was the kind of tool he used there, and where he first roamed worlds build for Star Wars attractions.

Then he showed me the warehouse where his team builds out replicas of their ideas, like entire stateroom mock-ups; a new idea for a bar; or interior cabin windows with more lifelike imitation views of the sea.

Not all of their ideas pan out, he said, alluding to the interior windows with imitation sea views or a new bar concept.

But having the space to build mockups and explore in The Cave helps the line continue to innovate during the pandemic, when they couldn't evaluate designs in person in shipyards halfway across the globe.

"In the pandemic, it was the only way to pull that off," he said.

While some ideas didn't pan out, others did. Upon hearing that teens and pre-teens wanted their own space to make friends, the team wondered whether there could be a secret door to get into such a space. So, they considered an arcade, where one video game would unlock to open a door to the next room when someone wins the game. They built a replica, tested it out and created three ways to trigger the door.

That secret door now exists on the Oasis of the Seas, although the original sits in the warehouse, like an exhibit in a museum of "crazy ideas."

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Dreaming up life-sized innovations in Royal Caribbean's headquarters - Travel Weekly