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.