Monthly Archives: August 2022

Royal Caribbeans newest state-of-the-art cruise terminal will open later this year in Galveston, Texas as the cruise line brings one of the worlds largest cruise ships to Texas.

The $125 million cruise terminal will allow Royal Caribbean to homeport an Oasis class ship in Galveston for the first time. The 170,000 sq. ft. building is 75% complete and is scheduled to open in November. The terminal will feature mobile check-in and facial recognition for a seamless arrival experience.

Allure of the Seas will sail seven night cruises to the Western Caribbean beginning on November 13, 2022. The cruise ship will also offer a few shorter four and five night cruises from Galveston as well.

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The week long cruises on Allure of the Seas will visit Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Roatan. Each seven night cruise will also have three sea days.

View Prices on Cruises on Allure of the Seas

Royal Caribbean posted the following video showing a construction update on this new $125 million cruise terminal in Galveston that will open in November.

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Royal Caribbean's Newest Cruise Ship Terminal Will Open This Fall - Cruise Fever

The battle of the dueling defamation lawsuits between Amber Heard and Johnny Depp came to an end back in June with a verdict, but that has not been the end of the story by a longshot. The verdict, in favor of Depp, has been appealed, and now were getting more information about the things we didnt hear at trial, including accusations of bad behavior by Depp on the set of the fifth Pirates of the Caribbean movie.

Pre-trial documents have been unsealed that reveal several things that the judge decided not to admit as evidence during the trial. One of them went to the heart of Depps defamation claim. According to the documents (via Vanity Fair), there were a pair of incidents, one on TV and another during the production of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, where Depp showed up looking drunk and stoned. According to Heards legal team

Mr. Depp appeared on TV drunk and stoned, to the point that Disney studio executives called [his former agent Tracey] Jacobs asking What the hell was wrong with your client. These same issues appeared during the filming of Pirates 5 and Disney told Ms. Jacobs the conduct was not going to be tolerated, Disney was not going to put up with this and that there was no love between Johnny and Disney, given the Pirates [F]ive situation.

Johnny Depps defamation lawsuit against Amber Heard was based on the claim that the Washington Post op-ed she wrote, where she claimed to be a survivor of domestic abuse, cost the actor millions because he lost his role in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise due to it. A Disney executive stated during the trial that the op-ed was not the reason the franchise moved on without Depp, but this information, if true, gives another potential reason why Disney would make that call.

Because Johnny Depps role in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise was at the core of his lawsuit, the movies were brought up several times over the course of the trial. While a Disney exec may have said the op-ed did not influence its decision to move on from Captain Jack Sparrow, it was stated elsewhere in the trial that Depp had a verbal agreement to return for a sixth film at one point.

There was also a great deal of mileage that came from a deposition that Depp made at one point claiming he wanted a million alpacas as part of his compensation for future films. Whether or not anybody actually entertained providing the alpacas to the actor was a question that was asked in court that of course got a lot of attention.

Whether or not this information could have changed the jurys mind well never really know. Both sides are now appealing the verdict, and so this case isnt quite over yet.

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Unsealed Court Documents In Johnny Depp Case Reveal Alleged Pirates Of The Caribbean Incident That Didn't Make It Into The Trial - CinemaBlend

Demand for long-term stays continues to grow in the Caribbean, according to a new report from Airbnb.

Recent Airbnb data showed that nights booked for long-term stays by travelers in the Caribbean almost doubled between 2019 and 2021.

Several destinations are seeing particularly strong growth in that regard.

Reservations for stays of 28 days or more in the British Virgin Islands have more than doubled, as have similar stays in Guyana.

St Maarten and Antigua and Barbuda have doubled their bookings for longer stays, while Dominica has also seen a doubling of long-stay bookings.

Airbnb has been pushing a remote work program in the Caribbean called Work from the Caribbean.

Airbnb is proud to have partnered again with the Caribbean Tourism Organization to continue promoting a variety of destinations in the Caribbean so people can work and travel within. The rise of digital nomads and the development of long-stay programs across the region continue to help in the recovery of tourism and in creating this campaign we hope to inspire travelers to stay in this wonderful region for a longer period of time, said Carlos Muoz, Airbnb Policy Manager for Central America and the Caribbean.

Most remote workers have been coming from the US, Canada, France and the UK, according to Airbnb.

The latest data released by Airbnb validates the hard work that destinations in the region have done to promote their countries as first class options for digital nomads, explained Faye Gill, the Caribbean Tourism Organizations Director for Membership Services. Countries quickly identified the niche and built the products, and services, to support growth in the most challenging of circumstances. Thanks to our partner, Airbnb, we are pleased to be able to provide a platform for our members across the Caribbean to build on the success that they have been able to achieve.

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Airbnb: Long-Term Stays Growing in the Caribbean - Caribbean Journal

Carnival Cruise Line recently celebrated their 3 millionth guest to board one of their cruise ships since the cruise line resumed cruises last year.

Over the past year, Carnival Cruise Line has made over 3,000 port visits at 92 ports in 32 countries. Here are the five cruise ports in the Caribbean and Bahamas that Carnival cruise ships visited the most since the restart.

5. Mahogany Bay, Honduras The fifth most visited cruise port by Carnival was Mahogany Bay with 123 ship visits. Carnival Cruise Line build this port area in Roatan a few years ago and provides a private beach area just for cruise guests.

4. Half Moon Cay, Bahamas One of Carnival Corporations private islands in the Bahamas, Half Moon Cay has been rated by many publications as the best cruise line private island. With a long crescent shaped beach and white powdery sand, its easy to see why this was the fourth most visited port by Carnival with 155 ship visits.

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3. Amber Cove, Dominican Republic Amber Cove opened seven years ago and is another cruise port built by Carnival Corporation. The port area features shopping, a large freshwater pool, ziplining, and over the water cabanas. Carnival cruise ships visited Amber Cove 159 times over the past year.

2. Nassau, Bahamas The most visited cruise port in the Bahamas, Nassau came in at number two on Carnivals most visited port list. Carnival ships stopped in Nassau 320 times, just under one ship a day on average.

1. Cozumel, Mexico Out of the 3,000 port visits made by Carnival, about 800 of them were to Mexico. Cozumel was the most visited cruise port in the Caribbean by Carnival over the past year with their cruise ships visiting the popular port 385 times.

Just about all cruises to the Western Caribbean make a port stop in Cozumel and it is consistently ranked as one of the most popular cruise ports in the Caribbean/Bahamas.

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5 Caribbean Ports Carnival Cruise Ships Visit the Most - Cruise Fever

Royal Caribbean International is swapping the 2023 programs of the Voyager of the Seas and the Adventure of the Seas.

According to a statement issued by the company recently, the original Voyager-Class ship will now cruise from Galveston starting in May 2023.

The vessel will take over the program previously announced for the Adventure, which is now set to replace Voyager on its formerly scheduled Florida-based itineraries.

After having its 2023 summer season in the Baltic dropped earlier this year, the 1999-built vessel was poised to offer a series of cruises departing from Fort Lauderdale during the summer before repositioning to Port Canaveral for the winter.

Both ships are set to sail to the Caribbean from their new homeports.

While Voyager will now offer short cruises Mexico departing from its Texas base, the Adventure is offering mostly week-long itineraries roundtrip from Florida.

The program includes visits to destinations in Honduras, the Bahamas, USVI, Dominican Republic and more.

The ship change is related to new maritime regulations, Royal Caribbean noted in the mentioned letter.

The International Maritime Organization recently shared new speed regulations we must adhere to and as a result, weve repositioned some of our ships for the upcoming 2023/2024 season, the company explained.

Booked guests will be moved automatically between ships, receiving similar accommodation on cruises departing on the same dates as their original bookings.

The passengers may also opt to change their reservations to other Royal Caribbean International cruises or receive a full refund.

In addition to changing the schedule of Voyager and Adventure, Royal Caribbean also swapped the programs of the Enchantment of the Seas and the Brilliance of the Seas recently.

The Vision-Class ship is now set to cruise in Europe and the Caribbean, while the Radiance-Class vessel is taking over its previously announced program that includes itineraries in Alaska and Australia.

The rest is here:

Royal Caribbean's Voyager and Adventure of the Seas to Swap Itineraries - Cruise Industry News

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The Mexican-Caribbean has long been a favourite vacation spot for American travellers: with endless sandy beaches, archaeological wonders and sumptuous cuisine, theres an endless array of choices for a wonderful summer vacation.

This was highlighted in Trip Advisors recent Best Destination List for 2022, where Cancun was named the best city in the world for sun-seekers. The cities of Playa Del Carmen and Tulum also ranked on the trending destinations list, for their growth in tourist-friendly attractions.

However, there is a clear limitation to these accolades. With 400,000 daily visitors passing through the state of Quintana Roo hoping to discover the best of these cities, some of the most popular beaches and attractions are becoming overcrowded. In these busy times for summer travel, why not visit some of the regions best-kept secrets the lesser-known islands of the Mexican-Caribbean.

If youre looking for a break from the hustle and bustle of mainland Quintana Roo, look no further than Isla Contoy: this 8-kilometre-long island is located north of Isla Mujeres and is completely uninhabited by humans. And the best part? It is home to some of the most stunning animals in the region.

The island hosts over 70 species of birds, including the white-bellied bubia and the silvery gull. Visitors also have the option of taking part in a snorkelling or diving tour of the coral reef alongside the island, where whales, sting rays, colourful corals and sea turtles are visible. As the island was Declared a Natural Reserve and Fauna Refuge in 1961, special efforts are made to ensure that all wildlife and plant life is protected.

In addition to experiencing the beauty of nature in an unspoilt landscape, visitors also have the option of visiting the small Isla Contoy museum to learn more about the species that live on the island.

Visiting this island paradise couldnt be any simpler: boats that provide a one-day tour of the island depart from docks at Cancun, Puerto Morelos and Isla Mujeres. Remember to book in advance for your visit, as only 200 people are permitted to visit per day.

Whilst this tiny island is technically attached to its more popular neighbour, Cozumel, it still has much to offer its visitors. The peaceful island is located at the heart of the Cozumel Natural Protected Area and is flanked by three different ecosystems (mangroves, coral reefs and jungle).

The island is an excellent base for water sports, without being overwhelmed by a large group of tourists. Visitors are invited to kayak through the mangroves of the island, or take a Jeep ride through the jungle towards Cozumel. Thrill seekers even have the option of experiencing the Twister Speedboat, offering a fun-filled ride around the island.

To visit the island, tourists are able to take a short 10-minute ferry ride from the Punta Langosta cruise terminal in Cozumel across a small lagoon.

As one of the largest reef areas in the whole of Mexico, Isla Banco Chinchorro is not to be missed. The islands are located 30 kilometres from the port towns of Mahahual and Xcalak, and are exclusively accessed by boat.

The island is split into three parts (North, Center and Lobos) each with different marine life. Visitors who spend time on the banks here may be lucky enough to spot the elusive eagle rays, as well as loggerhead and hawksbill turtles, whilst the bravest divers can even swim with crocodiles. The seabed of Banco Chinchorro is also home to 69 sites with the remains of sunken ships, including the world-famous 40 Canones site.

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3 Lesser Known Islands To Explore In The Mexican Caribbean - The Cancun Sun

In the build up to the release of the fourth movie, "On Stranger Tides," original screenwriter Stuart Beattie revealed this tidbit:

"I initially wrote the character with Hugh Jackman in mind... hence the name Captain 'Jack' Sparrow."

Beattie had only written a few movies back home in Australia when he was hired to rewrite the "Curse of the Black Pearl" script in 2002, reportedly landing the gig because he was a "major pirate buff" and the studio wanted to add some realism.

Although he wrote the Jack Sparrow part with fellow Aussie Jackman in mind, the studio rejected the idea because they didn't consider him a big enough star at that point. Jackman only made his debut a few years earlier in "Erskineville Kings,"but found himself in the frame for Wolverine in "X-Men" thanks to his friendship with first choice Russell Crowe, eventually winning the role after Dougray Scott pulled out.

Would Jackman make a good Jack Sparrow? Well, at that stage of his career, he had already proven he could do charismatic heroes, as he repeatedly demonstrated in all his performances as Wolverine. With his background in stage musicals, he has shown a theatrical flourish in many of his roles, from illusionist Angier in "The Prestige" to P.T. Barnum in "The Greatest Showman." He also isn't afraid to send himself up, so his Jack Sparrow might have been almost as colorful as Depp's, although it's difficult to imagine him pushing the envelope quite so far.

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Pirates Of The Caribbean's Writer Originally Had A Very Different Star In Mind For Jack Sparrow - /Film

A general view of George Town and the sea can be seen from the peak of Penang Hill November 26, 2018. Picture by Sayuti Zainudin

Saturday, 06 Aug 2022 8:51 PM MYT

GEORGE TOWN, Aug 6 The tourism sector in Malaysia, and Penang specifically, is well-positioned to take advantage of the bright prospects of the cruise market in Asia.

Angie Stephen, the Royal Caribbean International vice-president and managing director for Asia-Pacific, said the Asian market, in general, is very new to the cruise market, and that not many cruise ships visit the region compared with Alaska, Europe, and the Caribbean, which are saturated with cruise ships.

Asia is the last untapped region and it has the fastest growing middle class. We all have a great opportunity to take the lead and drive the infrastructure and policy development here so that more ships will be drawn into the region, subsequently into Penang and Malaysia, she told a media briefing in conjunction with the Royal Caribbeans Spectrum of the Seas one-day showcase here today.

Penang is well-positioned because guests can walk right off the ship into the heart of the city. It is our customers favourite stop in South-east Asia cruises, she said.

After being negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic for the past two years, just like the rest of the tourism industry, Stephen said Royal Caribbean finally reported positive cash flow recently as well as encouraging figures for its load factor.

She said Royal Caribbean is working its way up to 100 per cent load factor as it continues to see strong international demand due to the easing of travel restrictions and more flight availability into the region.

Meanwhile, Penang Port Commission chairman Datuk Tan Teik Cheng said Penang is primed for a tourism rebound with the arrival of Spectrum of the Seas.

Penang Port has served 13 international calls totalling nearly 35,000 passengers just in July this year, 27,000 of whom were guests from Spectrum of the Seas.

As one of the chosen port calls in Malaysia for Spectrum of the Seas twice weekly sailings, Penang Port is pleased to warmly welcome and host Spectrum of the Seas, and appreciates the economic growth, joy and benefits this will bring to Penang, he added.

Spectrum of the Seas will make 50 visits to Malaysia for the rest of the year, translating to over 200,000 guests enjoying what the country has to offer.

Among the highlights of the cruise include its wide array of gastronomy indulgences, spa, fitness centre, music hall, swimming pools as well as numerous action and adventure-filled activities such as a rock-climbing wall, a skydiving simulator, and a surf simulator. Bernama

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Penang well-positioned to take advantage of the bright prospects of Asias cruise market, says Royal Caribbean International veep - Malay Mail

Twelve applicants from ten Caribbean countries have been offered scholarships and study grants from the CTO Scholarship Foundation

The collective dreams of a record number of Caribbean students who are pursuing further education in tourism and related subjects are closer to becoming a reality with financial support from the regions premier tourism education charity.

Twelve applicants from ten Caribbean countries have been offered scholarships and study grants from the CTO Scholarship Foundation for the 2022/23 academic year, after new donors joined existing sponsors in responding to the foundations plea for funding.

We are extremely heartened by the commitment of our donors and sponsors to the development of the Caribbeans tourism human resources and by extension the regions tourism and hospitality sector, says Jacqueline Johnson, the chairman of the CTO Scholarship Foundation board. To step forward as theyve done in these difficult times underlines their dedication to investing in the Caribbeans future.

After awarding just two scholarships last year due to a lack of funding, the foundation celebrated a number of firsts this year. For the first time ever, Blue Group Media, a Miami-based independent advertising sales company that represents national and global media brands, has come on board as a sponsor and is funding two scholarships. In addition, through the fundraising efforts of Jonathan Morgan, the son of the late Bonita Morgan, the former Caribbean Tourism Organization human resources director, three students will receive funding through the Bonita Morgan Memorial Scholarship.

Its the first time since this scholarship was introduced in 2019 that the foundation is awarding more than one such scholarship. Among the three recipients is Mykerline Stphane Brice of Haiti, who will pursue an advanced diploma in hospitality and tourism management cooperation at theToronto School of Management in Canada. Brice is the first Haitian ever to apply for or granted a scholarship in the foundations 25-year history.

More than a scholarship, I consider it a demonstration of trust in my career development in the tourism field, said Brice, who plans to keep working on meaningful tourism projects in her home country and contribute to the development of Caribbean tourism.

The following are the scholarship and grant recipients and their areas of study:

Study Grant Sharissa Lightbourne Turks & Caicos Islands Analytics Certificate Programme, Management Concepts, Atlanta, GAQuinneka Smith The Bahamas Food and Beverage Management, Conegosta College, CanadaRoshane Smith Jamaica Flight Instruction/Pilot Training Aeronautical School of the West Indies Ltd., Jamaica

Bonita Morgan Memorial Scholarship Keisha Alexander Grenada Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management, University of the Commonwealth Caribbean, JamaicaMykerline J. Stephane Brice Haiti Advanced Diploma in Hospitality and Tourism Management, Toronto School of Management, CanadaAdelineRaphael Martinique Disaster Risk Management, Florida International University, USA

Arley Sobers Memorial Scholarship Brent Piper Trinidad & Tobago BSc., Computer Science, Howard University, USA

Audrey Palmer Hawks Memorial Scholarship Nesa Constantine Beaubrun Saint Lucia Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Marketing, Chartered Institute of Marketing, UKTiffany Mohanlal Trinidad & Tobago MSc, Tourism Development and Management, UWI, Trinidad & Tobago

Thomas Greenan ScholarshipKoby Samuel Antigua & Barbuda Hospitality Management and Culinary, Monroe College, USA

Blue Group Media ScholarshipAlexandra Dupigny Dominica BSc, Tourism and Hospitality Management, DominicaAntoniaPierre-Hector Dominica -BSc, Tourism and Hospitality Management, Dominica

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Record number of Caribbean nationals receive 2022 tourism scholarships from regional charity - eTurboNews | eTN