MPE CARIBBEAN REPORT NEWSLETTER – July 21, 2025

July 21, 2025

Carnival Cruise Line opens Celebration Key

Carnival Cruise Line opens Celebration Key

Carnival Cruise Line officially opened Celebration Key – the cruise line’s new exclusive destination on Grand Bahama over the weekend. Carnival Vista made the first official visit to the world’s newest premier cruise port on Saturday, and nearly 5,000 guests experienced the fun of Celebration Key: the world’s tallest Sandcastle, the world’s largest swing and swim-up bar, and the Caribbean’s largest freshwater lagoons. 

Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy, Carnival Corporation CEO Josh Weinstein, Chief Fun Officer Shaquille O’Neal and Carnival Vista Captain Paolo Severini turned the key that “unlocked” the gates to the iconic 10-story Suncastle, home to two thrilling racing waterslides. They also cut the ribbon to open Lokono Cove, the shopping village; and O’Neal made the first shot at the basketball court; followed by a champagne toast at Pearl Cove Beach Club, an adults-only retreat. 

“Opening this new exclusive destination marks an extraordinary milestone for Carnival as we open the first phase of our initial $600M investment, with more to come. Celebration Key is more than just a beautiful place; it’s a celebration of the Bahamian paradise our guests love, complemented by an impressive variety of incredible new experiences and offerings,” said Duffy. “We’ve built the ultimate beach day for our guests whether they crave fun in the sun or relaxation under a palm tree.”

Celebration Key will initially bring more than two million guests a year to Grand Bahama. By 2028, this number is expected to grow to four million. The economic impact for Grand Bahama is substantial, with hundreds of long-term jobs created by daily operations. The destination features an adjacent cruise pier capable of accommodating two of Carnival’s largest ships simultaneously. Already, construction on an extension to the pier is underway to accommodate two additional ships.

Simone Skinner returns to her roots in St. Lucia

Simone Skinner

Coco Palm, one of St. Lucia’s beloved boutique hotels, has appointed Simone Skinner as Managing Director. 

The move marks a full-circle moment for Skinner, who began her hospitality journey in St. Lucia at Coco Palm nearly two decades ago as Event Manager.

With a distinguished 30-year career in tourism and hospitality across the Caribbean, she returns to the property with a wealth of experience, a passion for team empowerment, and a bold vision for enhancing the guest experience.

Skinner’s extensive leadership background includes senior roles at Sandals Golf and Country Club in St. Lucia and Island Routes Caribbean Adventures in both Jamaica and St. Lucia, as well as board appointments at Cotton Bay Village and the Saint Lucia Golf Association.

A respected industry veteran from Trinidad & Tobago, she is already making her mark — reviving staff morale through creative team-building and advancing plans to elevate the resort’s offerings. 

The Coco Palm team celebrated her homecoming, praising her heart-centered leadership and commitment to innovation.

Southwest Airlines adds St. Thomas to 2026 route network

Southwest Airlines has added St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands to its 2026 network.

St. Thomas is the first of three new destinations for 2026 the carrier expects to announce this summer. 

It will be the ninth island destination served by Southwest in the Atlantic Basin – joining Aruba, The Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Turks and Caicos Islands. Southwest also offers international service to Belize, two destinations in Costa Rica, and three destinations in Mexico. Service is expected to begin in early 2026.

“Today marks an exciting milestone for the U.S. Virgin Islands and our growing tourism industry,” stated USVI Governor Albert Bryan Jr. “We are proud to welcome this new partnership with Southwest Airlines and look forward to greeting new travelers to our beautiful island home.”

In addition to offering new destinations, Southwest also is set to begin selling assigned and premium seating in the third quarter of this year and plans to operate with its new fare bundles and a reconfigured fleet, including extra legroom seating, in the first quarter of 2026.

Flashback to the 2023 Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx) Leadership Awards & Fundraiser — A moment to remember as Caribbean-American hotel executive Kevin O’Reggio of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts was honored for his outstanding contributions to the hospitality sector. 

Pictured here with media personality Vanessa James of VJ Media and CMEx President Bevan Springer, the celebration was one of the standout moments of the afternoon, recognizing leadership and excellence in the marketplace.

Quotable Caribbean

“CARPHA (Caribbean Public Health Agency) provides a safe environment for reporting and supports the hospitality and tourism industry in the most-tourism dependent region in the world because whenever something goes wrong with tourism in the Caribbean, we all get nervous; we all start to wonder what is the best solution and what CARPHA does for our resorts is to provide that level of safety and comfort. I want to thank [CARPHA Executive Director] Dr. (Lisa) Indar for the work she has done in providing a healthier, safer option for Sandals Resorts International.” — Jeremy Jones, Regional Managing Director, Sandals Resorts International

Proverbially West Indian

“Doh hang yuh hat whey yuh han’ cyah reach.” (Trinidad and Tobago) 

This Caribbean proverb means you shouldn’t take on more than you can manage. It encourages living within your means and making practical, well-considered decisions.

Medical Moment

The Cayman Islands Society of Anaesthesiologists (CISA) has been officially launched, marking the formal establishment of the Cayman Islands’ first registered specialist medical association and representing a major leap forward in anesthesia practice in the Caribbean.

“The establishment of a strong, collaborative national anesthesiology society will play a crucial role in supporting the overall health and well-being of the population,” said Dr. Dhruva Krishnan, Medical Director and Head of Anaesthesia at Health City Cayman Islands and Vice President of CISA. “CISA is committed to fostering excellence in anesthesiology, promoting continuing medical education, advocating for patient safety, and advancing health care standards across the region.”

Dr. Delroy A. Jefferson, Consultant Anaesthesiologist at the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority, serves as President of CISA.

Marketplace Excellence Corporation (MPE) is a global public relations, marketing and media company.