New Princess shore excursions include sailing in a yacht race

As Princess Cruises begins its return to the Caribbean this month for the fall season, they are introducing 16 new shore excursion options, including a series of Connoisseur” tours with smaller groups for “a more personal experience,” the line says.
 

Options range from hiking mountains to exploring caves, and watching monkeys to discovering a cocoa plantation.
 

“The new tours are part of the approximately 550 shore excursion options available in 38 Caribbean ports during the season,” the cruise line says.
 

Among the new offerings are a selection of visits to exclusive resorts, tours of private estates and even the experience of sailing in a yacht race.
 

“Family groups will also find new tours designed especially with kids in mind, including a pirate ship adventure and boogie boarding lessons,” Princess says.
 

The race option is to “compete in America’s Cup 12-Metre Yacht race under the eye of an experienced crew. “Each guest is offered a small task and is given instruction by the crew members,” according to Princess.
 

By David Wilkening

Curacao becomes world’s newest country
The Dutch Caribbean island of Curaçao is poised for tourism growth after becoming an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Curaçao has been one of five island territories of the Netherlands Antilles, which has had its seat in Willemstad, Curaçao.
According to a news release:
“Curaçao will now exclusively reap the benefit of taxes brought in from its rapidly developing tourist industry. The change in Curaçao’s status to that of being an independent nation within the Dutch Kingdom translates to more tax dollars available for tourism development. Now, greater resources will be available on-island to develop new port facilities and hotels, positioning Curaçao for significant growth in its tourism product.
“With this historic change brings huge potential for growth in our tourism landscape to meet the demands of the North American market,” said Hugo Clarinda, the country’s Tourist Board Executive Director.
The anticipated increase in hotel rooms will be welcomed by the North American market, which is showing a growing demand for an exotic, off-the-radar destination such as Curaçao, visible in the sheer number of Americans and Canadians visiting. Curaçao has seen an increase of nearly 40 percent in arrivals from North America, as of August 2010, the most of any other Caribbean island.
The country was named one of the “9 Top Sports for the Savvy Luxury Travelers in a recent CNN article.
Tourism officials expect more hotels to follow the example of the 350-room Hyatt Regency Curacao Golf Resort, Spa and Marina, which opened last April. Other chains are expected.
By David Wilkening