Groundbreaking ceremonies for the Caribbean’s newest destination, the $65 million Amber Cove Cruise Center, were held on May 15th in the Dominican Republic at the project site on the Bay of Maimon located near Puerto Plata in the country’s North Coast. The new facility is scheduled to open in 2014.

St. Kitts and Nevis’ Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Sen. the Hon. Richard Skerritt delivered good news to the island’s tourism stakeholders in the National Assembly on Thursday. "The global recession has changed the face of tourism markets everywhere," he said.

After the Costa Concordia wrecked off the Tuscany coast in January, killing 32 people, lobby spending by its corporate parent soared. Carnival’s lobby bill in Washington last quarter totaled $522,000.