Caribbean Travel

AJC.com SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico  — Caribbean tourism officials are working overtime to reassure reluctant travelers that plenty of sun-soaked islands were untouched by a recent spate of deadly tropical cyclones. Storms so far have sidestepped Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the entire eastern Caribbean, including Martinique and Barbados. Officials worry that potential visitors may wrongly assume the entire region was ravaged by four storms that pummeled several islands since mid-August, said Alec Sanguinetti, head of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association.

Market Watch MSC Cruises is celebrating the winter Caribbean season by offering a special value for Baby Boomers and Seniors. Boomers and Seniors can save at least 50 percent on the price of a memorable MSC Cruises Caribbean sailing -- and get even more value for their money when they take the kids/grandkids along for free with the line's "Kids Sail Free" policy!

Delaware Online My family and I spent "primary week" on the rugged, verdant Caribbean island of St. Lucia. We vacationed at a beautiful bluff-top villa owned (coincidentally) by the family of Democratic State Senate candidate Dee Durham, who unfortunately lost her primary. But more about that later. Ah, St. Lucia! Clear blue waters. Spectacular sunsets. Plenty of lagoons for diving and snorkeling. Outstanding cuisine. Impeccable service. A live volcano. No TV. Perhaps most importantly, a new favorite beer: Piton, named after St. Lucia's famous "twin peaks." Just a week of sun, fun, the printed word, and family togetherness.

Just the flight Virgin Atlantic has marked the tenth anniversary of launching its flights to the Caribbean. The airline began serving the island region in September 1998 when it launched flights from Gatwick Airport to Antigua, Barbados and St Lucia. A number of other new flights followed, including connections to Grenada and Tobago in 2003, Montego Bay in 2006 and Kingston last year. Virgin Atlantic's Caribbean services proved so popular that it extended them to the north of England, with flights from Manchester Airport to Barbados launched in November 2005, followed by a service to St Lucia the next year.

STL today NEW YORK — The Caribbean remains a top destination among cruisers, and more are bringing their children along for the journey, according to a new survey by the Cruise Lines International Association. Cruise experts also say that in response to rising fuel costs, cruise lines are increasing surcharges and changing their itineraries. Some are skipping Aruba, once a popular port, because of the extra fuel it takes to get there. "You're seeing a lot less of the real exotic types of itineraries that require more sea time because it's so expensive," says Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor-in-chief of CruiseCritic.com.

Sun-Sentinel Travellers to the Caribbean, the world's most tourist-dependent region, can expect generous deals even through winter. The islands depend on air service for arrivals and can't lure motorist traffic like Florida can. They're anxious to offset higher airfares and in some cases, fewer flights. Some islands, including Jamaica, have pledged to pay American Airlines millions of dollars to ensure certain levels of flight service and passengers for the year. To find deals, options abound, many advertised on the Internet. Online travel company Travelocity, for example, offers a "Race to Savings" for trips through Jan. 15, with half off at the Courtyard by Marriott Fort Lauderdale East hotel or Hyatt Regency Acapulco in Mexico, when booked with flights. The Caribbean's all-inclusive hotel chain Sandals offers airline credit up to $550 per person for stays booked by Oct. 23. And in the U.S. Virgin Islands, guests booking by Oct. 31 get a fifth night

the jamaica observer A new deal is being finalised between Jamaica and Air Mexico (AeroMéxico) for the airline to airlift tourists from Shanghai, China to Montego Bay by January of next year. Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett told the Business Observer yesterday that the discussions are far advanced, although the frequency of the flights into the island are still being worked out.

marketwatch.com Beginning this week, American Airlines First and Business Class customers traveling from the Caribbean can enjoy a taste of the islands in-flight through freshly updated menu offerings that incorporate many local Caribbean flavors. Chef Cindy Hutson of Ortanique on the Mile, a highly regarded Coral Gables, Fla., restaurant featuring Caribbean cuisine, collaborated with American Airlines to design the new menu selections in a way that reflects her unique style and culinary skills, which she describes as "edible art." Chef Hutson demonstrates the virtues of a flavorful combination of fish, fruits, vegetables and traditional tropical seasonings.

The Telegraph The Caribbean is a cruising paradise. With 7,000 islands, gentle trade winds and a year-round warm climate, the region is irresistible to cruise lines and has become the most competitive cruising destination in the world. Major companies such as Royal Caribbean International, Carnival Cruise Lines, Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess Cruises dominate these waters, but the beauty of the Caribbean means there is also room for smaller lines, as they can call at islands that larger ships cannot reach.