HURRICANES IRMA & MARIA RAVAGE CARIBBEAN TOURISM

Iconic Caribbean Islands Fall to Irma & Maria

As Hurricanes Irma, Maria and possibly other ravage iconic Caribbean islands one after another, we at ULTIMATE VACATIONS stress over a multitude of tragedies. Meanwhile the list of decimated islands grows by the day.

This past Spring I took my first Windstar Cruise. For years I longed to sail upon a sailing ship like the Wind Surf and visit some of the iconic Caribbean islands often overlooked by major cruise lines and big name hotel chains. 

So let's review my cherished itinerary, the damage since inflicted on them recently, and share a photo for each battered island taken in a happier time.

St. Maarten - We sailed out of Philipsburg and spent a post-cruise night on island after our cruise. Today it has been demolished by the force of Hurricane Irma. 

Barbuda - Two weeks ago most people thought we mis-pronounced the name and must mean Barbados and Bermuda. Last week most people learned that this island now, at least temporarily, has zero residents living on it. It is a tiny island had only one minor tourist attraction when I visited - a butterfly farm. But the pink sand beaches stretched for miles and were simply idealistic!

                                                          Beautiful Barbuda beach

Dominica - Sadly I watched the destruction of Dominica from my living room last night. Dominica is a very mountainous island. I loved walking out on deck first thing the morning of arrival and viewing the lush (no longer) mountainous scenery. That afternoon we enjoyed a whale watching excursion that afforded us ocean views of this island.

                                                              Roseau, Dominica

St. Lucia - So far so good. We toured the brand new Royalton St. Lucia all-inclusive resort and attended Windstar's private beach event here. Happy for St. Lucia - so far.

Guadeloupe - So far two deaths have been reported after Maria passed through. 40% of homes are without power and 25% have no phone service. This French island is quaint. We shared the port on our day with the Seabourn Odyssey. We visited some historic centuries-old churches and buildings and some lovely shops in the pedestrian-only main street (during the day). I remember a kind shop owner. Wishing him the best.

                                                     Shopping in Les Saintes, Guadeloupe

St. Kitts - St. Kitts and Nevis were spared from Irma but were under direct Hurricane Warning yesterday. I have not received reports as this is posted. Great shops around the port and beach bars facing sister island Nevis. Loved the conch fritters here.

St. Barthelemy - St. Bart's is home to many rich and famous. There has been a lot of damage reported on St. Bart's: massive power outages, roofs galore detached from their former homes, tremendous flooding. It is easy to see why St. Bart's is such a magnet for the wealthy. It is simply beautiful, and heavily French influenced in terms of language, cuisine and art. I wonder how Le Select and Shell Beach held up. Best wishes.

                                               The tiny runway at St. Barthelemy's airport

As you can see, my batting average for this itinerary is terrible. Most of the islands I visited only a few short months ago have fallen to ferocious winds, high seas, and massive destruction. I pray for the best result possible for the residents, business owners and tourism industry in each of these treasured islands. 

OTHER HURRICANE INFLICTED  VICTIMS

Both the US and British Virgin Islands were mutilated by Hurricane Irma. Hotels will be shuttered until at least 2018 and cruise ships have removed these islands from the remainder of their 2017 itineraries. 

The Bahamas experienced relatively limited damage from Irma but is near the path of Maria. Fingers crossed.

Dominican Republic was spared by Irma but is expected to feel the pain of Maria soon. We have clients who just returned and more due to arrive next week. This is a very popular spot for our all-inclusive clients. Fingers and toes crossed. 

Key West - The city of Margaritaville was pounded and residents have not been allowed to return to their homes still. We don't expect hotels to receive guests for months. Such a shame. 

Puerto Rico - Maria has just passed over the island and reports are still coming in but early estimates are that folks may be without power for 4 to 6 months. Brutal. 

As expected, at ULTIMATE VACATIONS we follow and monitor hurricane developments closely for our clients, present and future. As Jimmy Buffett wrote in Trying to Reason with Hurricane Season - there really is no reasoning. We will sure be glad when this one is over.