Monthly Archives: June 2020

We'd all love to lay out on a beach right nowand no one does beaches better than the Caribbean. But with many Caribbean islands reopening, questions for travelers remain: Do you need to take a COVID-19 test before arriving? How are hotels and resorts stepping up cleaning efforts? Will you be able to rent snorkel equipment? And, importantly, do you have to wear a face mask on the beach?

To help you sift from all the information out there, we broke down exactly what to expect if you're heading to the Caribbean in the coming months, for every destination with a reopening plan. Note that not everyone is rushing to welcome travelers back: you won't find the Cayman Islands, Guadeloupe, or Curaao belowas they don't plan on open their borders anytime soon. (We've also left off the Dominican Republic, which has announced a July 1 opening date, but has yet to share many details beyond that.)

Read on for what to know about visiting the Caribbean this summer. And as you plan your visits, remember to keep checking in on local government and tourism board sites, as coronavirus updates come often.

This dual-island country officially reopened its borders, and its international airport on Antigua, on June 1. (As of publishing, American is flying the only route from the U.S., with a daily flight from Miami.) Visitors have two options when it comes to Antigua and Barbuda's mandatory coronavirus testing: you can pay $100 for free test at the airport upon arrival and quarantine in your hotel for about 24 hours until you get the results; or you can quarantine at your hotel or rental for the first 14 days of your stay.

You'll have to wear a mask in all public places, and when interacting with others outside your family circlebut you won't have to wear them at beaches or pools where social distancing is possible, Colin James, head of the country's tourism board told the Telegraph. At beach bars, stools will be removed and tables will be at last six feet apart; and, for now, local restaurants outside of hotels will be restricted to takeout. All hotels and villas are also being certified by the local government to ensure they're following local health and cleaning guidelines. Check back on the government's COVID-19 site for continuing updates.

Aruba reopens to American travelers next month

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Aruba is reopening its border in stages. First, on July 1, European, Canadian, and Caribbean tourists (with the exception of the those from the Dominican Republic and Haiti) will be able to visit. Then, on July 10, that will extend to U.S. travelers. No date has been announced for travelers from countries not mentioned above. Like a number of U.S. airlines, Aruba is requiring visitors to both complete a health questionnaire and upload negative COVID-19 PCR test results, within 72 hours of arriving, as part of a new embarkation and disembarkation (ED) card process. (You can also prepay for a COVID-19 test upon arrival at Queen Beatrix International Airport.) Once you've filled out that ED card and received approval to visit, you're set to fly.

As for the experience on the ground, masks are not required, but are requested in situations where social distancing is difficult. Hotels have installed plexiglass barriers at front desks, and many are offering contactless check-in. Outdoor restaurants have been open since late May, restaurants with seating inside (as well as spas) opened June 1, and bars and nightclubs opened on June 10. The island has also instituted a Health & Happiness Codeessentially a certification that shows that a tour operator, water activities coordinator, car rental company, or spa is complying with suggested safety guidelines.

The 700 islands that make up the Bahamas have a two-prong plan: First, international boaters (including yachters) and those with private planes were allowed to visit starting June 15. Next, on July 1, all international visitors will be welcome as long as they can show negative COVID-19 results from a test taken within 10 days of arrival, according to the Miami Herald. (There will be temperature checks at arrival points, too.) All visitors, no matter what mode of transportation they're using, will have to fill out a questionnaire, or "travel health card," before flying for government approval.

Hotels, villas, and Airbnbs will also open to guests on July 1, with enhanced cleaning in guest rooms and public spaces, and readily available hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes required by the health ministry across properties. Some hotels will also be limiting the number of guests in elevators. Masks will only be required when social distancing is not an option (like at the airport), and government officials ask that visitors "pack appropriate PPE such as face masks, just as they would their swimsuits and sunscreen." You'll be able to eat in at restaurants that separate their tables to provide social distance, and most shops, equipment and beach rentals, and boating companies will be open.

Jamaica is among the first Caribbean islands reopening to international tourists

Alamy

Jamaica's international borders officially reopened June 15, but tourists are only allowed to travel within a specific stretch of coast, between Negril and Port Antonio (which includes Montego Bay and Ocho Rios). Set up with many of the top tourist attractions in the region, this corridor is intended to limit exposure from international travelers and provide easier contact tracing, should someone develop COVID-19 symptoms. "The most important thing is to be able to trace the visitors and to contain their movement," said Edmund Bartlett, the country's tourism minister, at a press conference in early June.

Before flying, travelers will need to complete an online health assessment (found here). Temperature checks will be required on arrival as well, but travelers do not have to present or take a COVID-19 test. Restaurants are currently limited to 70 percent capacity (without buffets), social distancing is required on beaches and at pools, and you cannot congregate in groups of more than 10. Visitors should note that a country-wide curfew is still in effect from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly, through June 30.

The island will be reopening to tourists July 15, as a phased reopening rolls out for locals: As of June 16, restaurants have reopened and are operating at 50-percent capacity with required temperature checks; public beaches, natural reserves, and golf courses are open (although groups must limit themselves to members of the same household); and visits to national parks like El Yunque are possible, by appointment only.

Travelers arriving in July will have to undergo a health screening at the airport, and may be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days, regardless of symptoms, or take a rapid results test at the discretion of the National Guard and health officials. Note, only the reopening of air travel has been announcedcruising is still on pause until further notice. Full details for incoming visitors have not been released, but in the meantime, be sure to check out Puerto Rico's health and safety guidelines for hotels, villas, and Airbnbs before your stay.

St. Lucia is rolling out a sanitization certification for hotels and rentals

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St. Lucia began welcoming travelers back on June 4, as long as they could provide a negative COVID-19 test taken within 48 hours of boarding their flight. A pre-flight health assessment, and temperature checks at the airport, are the norm now as well. Hotels and rentals are getting sanitization certification to ensure health and safety for guestif you're not staying at a certified accommodation, you'll have to quarantine for 14 days, so ask your hotel or host if they've been certified in advance. Restaurants on the island are currently only open for delivery or takeout. The country has created an extensive COVID-19 Q&A online, which it's updating with new information as the reopening continues.

Among the first Caribbean islands to reopen on June 1, St. John, St. Thomas, and St. Croix are currently accepting visitors. Most hotels have reopened with additional cleaning measures in place, and restaurants are operating at 50 percent capacity (or no more than 50 guests, whichever it hits first). Masks are required in public places and where social distancing of six feet is difficult to maintain. And, most importantly, beaches are open as long as social distancing is practiced.

We're reporting on how COVID-19 impacts travel on a daily basis. Find all of our coronavirus coverage and travel resources here.

Excerpt from:

A Guide to the Caribbean Islands Reopening this Summer - Cond Nast Traveler

Elite Island Resorts has announced reopening dates for its collection of world-class Caribbean properties, along with the introduction of some new policies, taxes and fees. Hammock Cove Antigua is currently the only resort already open and accepting guest arrivals, while Pineapple Beach Club Antigua is scheduled to reopen on July 10, 2020.

The remainder of Elite Islands resorts will open their doors again later in the year. On October 14, 2020, St. Jamess Club Morgan Bay, St. Lucia; St. Jamess Club & Villas, Antigua; Galley Bay Resort & Spa, Antigua; and Palm Island Resort & Spa, the Grenadines will be ready to welcome back guests.

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The Verandah Resort & Spa, Antigua; The Club Barbados Resort & Spa; and Los Establos Boutique Inn, Panama will follow suit on November 1, 2020.

Guests who had reservations and were scheduled for arrival dates prior to their resorts new reopening date may reschedule their stays for later dates without incurring any change fees.

The brand has also launched an updated and improved cancellation policy, applicable to bookings made between June 12, 2020, and December 24, 2021, for travel through January 02, 2022.

For all dates excepting Christmas Week and the month of February, reservations may be canceled for any reason without incurring any penalties up to seven days prior to their scheduled arrival. Bookings canceled under seven days before arrival will incur a cancellation fee equal to three nights worth of their planned stay.

During Christmas Week (defined as December 25 to January 1) and all of February bookings can be canceled for any reason up to 30 days before arrival without incurring fees or penalties. However, those canceled in less than 30 days ahead of arrival will be charged the full price of the stay.

And, to ensure that clients can book with complete confidence, certain that they can cancel their trips if necessary, Elite Island Resorts is solely offering refundable booking options for the foreseeable future.

Additional changes on the horizon:

Resort Fee: Starting July 1, 2020, all Elite Island Resorts properties will begin applying a new Resort Fee of $24.00 per room, per night to guest stays. The Resort Fee includes wi-fi service and any applicable taxes. A portion of the fee will help cover the resorts added expenditures relating to new, heightened health and safety protocols instituted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sales Tax: Guests should be aware that the Government of Antigua & Barbuda has increased its sales tax (ABST) from 12.5 percent to 14 percent, but the statutory service charge remains fixed at 10 percent. Elite Island Resorts net rates will continue to include sales tax and service charges.

COVID-19 Liability Waiver: Perhaps most importantly, and effective immediately and as a condition of staying or setting foot on any Elite Island Resort property, all guests and visitors are required to acknowledge the risks associated with potential exposure to COVID-19 and assume all such risks.

The policy requires visitors to confirm their understanding that, despite targeted preventive measures, and heightened health and hygiene practices implemented on the part of the resorts, the risk of viral exposure cannot realistically be reduced to zero; and releases the company from any liability associated with injury, illness, losses or damages that may be sustained in connection with COVID-19.

This in no way implies that the resorts havent taken comprehensive steps to ensure that the risk of viral transmission remains minimal. All Elite Island Resorts properties are using state-of-the-art cleaning and disinfection products and equipment, with the local Ministry of Health performing inspections daily. Each resort has even created a Clean Team whose duty it is to continuously clean and disinfect common areas and high-touch points throughout the resort.

Contactless check-in and check-out services have been implemented to minimize face-to-face interactions. Guest accommodations are free-standing and share no ventilation or air-conditioning systems with other rooms or villas. Plus, guest rooms and villas already enjoy access via open-air entryways, hallways and corridors. For more fresh-air access, nearly all accommodations also include spacious, private balconies or patios.

Most Elite Island Resorts dining venues are open-air, but protocols have been altered so that staff serves guests from the buffet, social-distancing guidelines will be adhered to between tables and in the buffet queue. Dining areas and bars are thoroughly and routinely cleaned using electrostatic disinfection following each meal service, along with route disinfection of high-touch points. Hand-sanitizing stations have also been installed in prominent locations throughout and food and beverage areas.

The extensive set of Elite Island Resorts' new health and safety protocols and procedures are too numerous to name, so customers may wish to contact their travel advisor or the company's customer service team directly for further details.

For more information, visit eliteislandresorts.com.

Continued here:

Elite Island Resorts Readying to Reopen in Caribbean Paradise - TravelPulse

Wherever youve been hunkered down these last few months, youre likely ready to get out into the sunshineand into the sea. Happily, you can now put that Caribbean getaway youd planned for winter and spring back on the books. After closing down to international travel and implementing safety measures to help contain the pandemic, several Caribbean islands have recently started to open back up, and are either already welcoming international travelers or have announced plans for when they will do so.

As of this writing, some islandslike Anguilla and St. Maartenhave yet to announce re-opening dates, while in other destinationslike Antiguatravel has resumed but many of our favorite hotels have decided to wait until the fall before opening their doors. Here, however, are eight beloved beach getaways that will be ready for you this summer, complete with info on entry requirements, on-island protocols, and where to stay that will allow for social distancing. (Note that details are subject to change, so check for the latest updates before booking.) While summer is usually low season in the Caribbean, current room rates indicate this year may be differentbecause, if nothing else, 2020 has proven to be anything but business as usual.

See the rest here:

8 Caribbean Islands That Are Reopening to US Travelers This Summerand Where to Stay When You Get There - Robb Report

Pirates of the Caribbean is one of the oldest rides at Disneyland Resort. It opened on March 18, 1967, three months after Walt Disney passed away. POTC was the last Disneyland attraction Walt had a hand in creating.

As per an LA Times articleabout the history of the popular Adventureland ride:

Originally envisioned as a subterranean, walk-through wax museum (an idea that had been tossed back and forth between Walt Disney and the parks Imagineers since the late 50s), Pirates became a water-based dark ride after the unprecedented success of of Its a Small Worlds at the 1964 Worlds Fair.

You can join the pirate crew at Disney Parks around the world. In additional to the original at Disneyland, Disney has created versions of the attractionat Disney World, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disneyland, and Shanghai Disneyland, as well.

Pirates of the Caribbean has something of a cult following among Disney Parks fans, particularly after the Pirates of the Caribbean movie series starring Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow.

Reddit user ZRE1990 has taken his passion for Pirates and turned it into an incredible piece of garden art by making his own skeleton fountain inspired by the Disneyland ride.

The impressive piece of Disney Parks fan art includes an amazing level of detail, down to the green patina on the skeletons bones and the foliage strategically growing around the fountain.

Fellow Reddit users loved the Disney fountain, with several requesting a How To tutorial from ZRE1990. DaringItLog said, LOVE IT!!! Do you think you could post a build?? This is so neat!!

Others were interested in purchasing a Pirates of the Caribbean outdoor fountain from ZRE1990. User KristinTroglin wrote, I would seriously spend like two grand buying this from you, and DarthRelkew posted, Thats awesome. Like you could make some seriously good money selling fountains like this.

ZRE1990 hasnt committed to sharing a DIY tutorial or to launching a Pirates skeleton fountain shop, but either way, this amazing piece of Disney fan art is well worth checking out! A video of the fountain in action can be found below:

If I Cant Ride Pirates, Ill Bring Pirates To Me from Disneyland

We can almost hear the fountain whispering, Dead men tell no tales from the depths of Davy Jones locker.

Would you buy a Pirates of the Caribbean skeleton fountain? I would definitely add one to my backyard (maybe next to a replica of the Black Pearl!)

Read more here:

DIY Pirates of the Caribbean Skeleton Fountain - Inside the Magic

This new age of travel means visitors have new questions as they plan their trips.

What is the flying experience like? How have hotels changed? How can I ensure that I feel safe? How is the on-island experience different?

To answer some of the questions, Caribbean Journal has launched a new CJ Webinar series with Marriott International focused on Caribbean destinations and the protocols and practices of their reopening plans.

The first Caribbean destination to reopen was the US Virgin Islands, which officially reopened to tourists on June 1.

The latest CJ Webinar, presented in partnership with Mariott International, brought together top tourism industry leaders from the USVI to explain how the experience has changed and why travelers can feel confident.

The panel included Joseph Boschulte, Commissioner of the US Virgin Islands Department of Tourism; Dale McKinney, Regional Manager for the Caribbean at Delta Air Lines; Cliff Brutus, Director of Sales and Marketing at The Ritz-Carlton, St Thomas; and Lisa Hamilton, President of the US Virgin Islands Hotel and Tourism Association.

The new realities of travel mean that destinations, airlines, hotels need to explain whats expected from travelers, and what travelers can expect from them, said Alexander Britell, editor-in-chief of Caribbean Journal, who moderated the webinar. Our new webinar series is all about facilitating that conversation.

And dont miss this special report on what to expect in the reopened US Virgin Islands.

You can watch the full Webinar below:

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Traveling to the US Virgin Islands, Explained Caribbean Journal - Caribbean Journal

Bluebeard's Castle Resort solar system

The commercial solar system installed by ProSolar Systems at Bluebeard's Castle Resort in the Caribbean, featuring Enphase microinverters.

FREMONT, Calif., June 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENPH), a global energy technology company and the worlds leading supplier of solar microinverters, today announced that ProSolar Systems, a US Virgin Islands-based solar engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) firm, has used seventh-generation Enphase microinverters to restore and upgrade the commercial solar system at the historic Bluebeards Castle resort in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Bluebeards Castle resort solar system was initially commissioned in January 2014 with a rated capacity of 500 kW. Before the resort property and solar system were severely damaged by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, the system was composed of 1,887 solar modules and Enphase M250 microinverters, spanning 18 resort buildings and four ground-mounted arrays. The upgraded solar system features nearly 250 fewer solar modules, with 1,640 Enphase microinverters, but yields an upgraded system rating of 524 kW and projected annual energy savings of more than $350,000.

One of the most powerful aspects of using Enphase microinverters at Bluebeards Castle is that this complicated solar system is on a single, easy-to-use monitoring platform, which is a major help for long-term operations and maintenance work, said Ashley Edwards, project manager at ProSolar Systems. We were able to realize significant savings because the original Enphase M250 microinverters, cables, and other balance-of-system components linked right up with the new Enphase IQ 7 microinverters on a single platform. It was even possible to redeploy Enphase microinverters once attached to modules that had been mangled by the storm in a single, 90-module ground-mounted array. The Enphase Enlighten monitoring platform recognized and displayed that array alongside the new IQ 7 microinverters without missing a beat.

I worked for the company that originally installed the solar system at Bluebeards Castle in late 2013, at which time it was the largest privately-owned commercial solar system in the Caribbean, said Dan Chrisman, lead solar installer at ProSolar Systems. Enphase was the right choice for this complex project because it gave us a lot of design flexibility, while also offering ease of installation and simple commissioning. I am proud of how the new system for Bluebeards Castle has come together and appreciate the support Enphase has provided on some of the technical challenges inherent to the property.

The Enphase IQ 7 microinverter leverages Enphases 55 nm custom ASIC for higher reliability and better economies of scale. This high-performance microinverter is based on the unique, software-defined architecture from Enphase and features built-in support for Rapid Shutdown. Enphase microinverters are subjected to a rigorous reliability and quality testing regiment with over one million cumulative hours of test cycles in heat, high humidity, salty air, and extreme cold. Enphase IQ 7 microinverters are designed to be long-lived energy assets and do not contain complicated moving parts or easily breakable components, such as fans, and are backed by a 25-year warranty.

With the Bluebeards Castle project, the team at ProSolar has demonstrated it is one of the leaders in exploiting the full capabilities of the Enphase IQ system, and I commend them for this accomplishment, said Dave Ranhoff, chief commercial officer at Enphase Energy. Before Enphase releases a new product, we subject our microinverters to intense quality testing to ensure they are durable enough to survive extreme climate conditions, and its great to see ProSolar and its customers benefiting from this practice.

For more information about commercial and residential solar in Florida and across the Caribbean, please visit the ProSolar website, and for more information about commercial solar with Enphase IQ microinverters, please visit the Enphase Energy website.

About Enphase Energy, Inc.

Enphase Energy, a global energy technology company, delivers smart, easy-to-use solutions that manage solar generation, storage and communication on one intelligent platform. The Company revolutionized the solar industry with its microinverter technology and produces a fully integrated solar-plus-storage solution. Enphase has shipped more than 27 million microinverters, and over 1.1 million Enphase systems have been deployed in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit http://www.enphase.com and follow the company on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Enphase Energy, the Enphase logo, M250, IQ 7, IQ, Enlighten, and other trademarks or service names are the trademarks of Enphase Energy, Inc. Other names are for informational purposes and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including statements related to the expected capabilities and performance of Enphase Energys technology and products such as efficiency, kWh production, and power output; our product quality, reliability and ease of installation and monitoring; potential energy cost savings realized from our products; and the quality of products and service provided by our partners. These forward-looking statements are based on Enphases current expectations and inherently involve significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of certain risks and uncertainties including those risks described in more detail in Enphases most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other documents on file with the SEC and available on the SECs website at http://www.sec.gov. Enphase Energy undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or changes in its expectations, except as required by law.

Media Contact:

Christian Zdebel, pr@enphase.com, 484-788-2384

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/340939ea-fc01-43a9-acbc-ff4b7626a5ae

The rest is here:

Enphase Energy and ProSolar Restore Solar Power at Bluebeard's Castle Resort in the Caribbean - GlobeNewswire