Cayman cruise ban

The Cayman Islands government has banned large cruise ships from docking at the Spotts Bay dock because their large chains have damaged the coral reefs.
According to this article from USA Today, a cruise ship anchoring for one day can destroy nearly one acre of intact reef.
Those cruise ships which are capable of holding their position without anchoring will still be allowed to unload passengers at the port which is about 16 kilometres east of the capital.

Low season getaways

The urge to flee to the Caribbean definitely subsides as the temperatures warm up at home. But with prices falling up to 60 per cent in some places you might want to consider a summer island getaway.
Caribbean Travel and Life magazine has a great list of 25 of the top packages on offer for couples, families, spa enthusiasts and outdoorsy travelers.
My pick? I've been obessing about getting to Belize this summer, so I'd go with the Inn at Robert's Grove.
Snorkelling in the barrier reef, traipsing through the rainforest and checking out Robert’s Caye, a one-acre island just off of Placencia beach sounds perfect to me!

Harry hits Barbados

Prince Harry and his girlfriend Chelsy Davy have been spotted frolicking at the beach in a swank Barbadian resort, The Daily Mail reports.

It's the last stop for Harry before he is deployed to Iraq in three weeks.

Apparently the "third-in-line-to the throne has been seen knocking back punch and chain-smoking on the beach."

"A major reason for the choice of destination is thought to have been the Cricket World Cup, which is taking place in the West Indies. Sources say the couple plan to watch England play South Africa - the country where Zimbabwean-born Chelsy has lived for the last four years - on April 17," the article goes on to say.

Hey, even I would endure a soccer match for a chance to spend three weeks in Barbados.

Nevis spa the tops

Caribbean newcomer, the Four Seasons Nevis has won top spot in the coveted Condé Nast Traveler spa 2007 poll.

The ultra-lux resort received the gold with 90-plus scores across the board.

Overall: 94.7%
Number of Rooms: 196
Doubles: $$$
Location/Setting: 100%
Rooms: 92.9%
Diet/Cuisine: 92.3%
Staff/Service: 92.9%
Treatments: 96.6%
Programs/Facilities: 92.3%
Other Activities: 96.0%

It's pretty impressive, really, especially given that a Four Seasons spa has won the top resort spa spot in six of the poll's eight years.

Size matters

There's some fresh news in the 'mine's bigger than yours cruise ship wars'.

According to this Reuters article Royal Caribbean Cruises has ordered its second $1.20 billion "Genesis" cruise ship -- the world's biggest and most expensive cruise liner -- from shipbuilder Aker Yards.

The ship is expected to be 360 metres long, 36 metres longer than the height of the Eiffel Tower, and weigh 12 times as much. The Genesis-class vessels will be 47 metres wide and accommodate a total of 8,400 passengers and crew.

Can you imagine the size of the buffet?! Oy!

Phosphorescence in Puerto Rico

There's something kinda creepy and sad about swimming with dolphins.

I always feel really badly for these beautiful animals -- it's something akin to watching a circus.

But swimming with phosphorescent plankton -- now that's something I can get into!

You can find out all about it in this great article from The Telegraph.

Yacht Haven Grande

St. Thomas's newest mega-yacht marina, Yacht Haven Grande opened with a private party for 1,800 including 50 mega yachts last week.

According to this article, "worldwide, there are between 4,500 and 5,000 yachts that are 100 feet or longer. But infrastructure lags behind those numbers, without enough docking slips large enough to accommodate yachts that stretch 100, 200 or even 450 feet in length."

The $160 million marina and retail project includes an esplanade with three restaurants and 80,000 square feet of retail space.

The property also features 12 waterside condominiums each with three bedrooms, 3 ½ baths, and 2 terraces and plunge pool, all with views of the harbor. The Residences at Yacht Haven Grande (sounds like the name of a burrito to me) are currently on sale starting at $2 million.

Not just for weddings anymore

When you think about St. Thomas what comes to mind? Cruises, shopping, beaches, azure water and bar mitzvahs.

That's right according to this article, St. Thomas is becoming popular with "destination" bar and bat mitzvahs.

Apparently the St. Thomas Synagogue has recorded a tenfold increase in celebrants in the last four years.

I can only imagine how prohibitive the cost must be for not only holding the bar mitzvah but also flying in family and putting them up in this Caribbean hotspot.

But apparently the St. Thomas synagogue is a very spiritual place. The congregation was formed in 1796 by immigrants from Curacao and St. Eustatius when the now-U.S. Virgin Islands were under Danish control.

Kate takes on St. Barth's

Supermodel Kate Moss has been spotted frolicking in St. Barth's recently by Hello! magazine.

According to Hello! the waif-like-model is there shooting an ad campaign.

St. Barth's is the island of choice for many a celebrity including Nicole Kidman and her husband Keith Urban who apparently were there earlier in the month and Penelope Cruz who rang in New Year's on this tiny island which lies approximately 150 miles east of Puerto Rico.

As for Kate, she's been spotted on holiday at Necker Island and Tortola in the British Virgin Islands.