These Caribbean Islands Are Getting a Wave of New Hotels, Cruise Itineraries, and Flight Routes
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Rosewood Little Dix Bay
It's that time of year when white-sand beaches, palm-studded resorts, and cruise ships that gleam against turquoise waters start to sound pretty damn fine. We've got all that for you here, plus a few surprises, to inspire your next vacation to the world's best place for soaking up the winter sun.
The BVIs are back
During my 25 years living in Bermuda and St. Croix, I've visited the British Virgin Islands countless times—and have had a front-row seat to the region's recovery from the devastating hurricanes of 2017. With its boutique hotels, superyacht marinas, and laid-back beach bars looking better than ever, now is the time to visit. Start by hopping onto a nonstop flight on American Airlines, which now operates five per week from Miami to Tortola, the country's main island, where ferries are easily accessible. Nearby is Peter Island, the BVIs' largest private island, where the ultra-luxe Peter Island Resort is planning to reopen in mid-November following a massive six-year rebuilding effort. Rum-fueled Painkillers are again being poured on tiny Jost Van Dyke, where the boutique hotel The Hideout recently opened next to the famed Soggy Dollar Bar. And on verdant Virgin Gorda, check out a trio of shiny new additions: Bitter End Yacht Club, home to the BVIs' only overwater bungalows; Biras Marina & Resort, a reimagined classic with soon-to-open villas and ample dock space for visiting boaters; and Rosewood Little Dix Bay, a stunning waterfront resort that just unveiled a five-bedroom, 23,500-square-foot villa to celebrate its 60th anniversary this year. —David Lahuta
Barbuda on the rise
Though the name of the country is officially Antigua and Barbuda, historically, most travelers, including me, have visited only Antigua, without giving a second thought to its smaller neighbor. But with the recent opening of an international airport and several hotels on the way, little Barbuda, with its pink-sand beaches and Frigate Bird Sanctuary, is finally coming into its own. Next year the long-awaited Robert De Niro–backed Nobu Beach Inn opens on Princess Diana Beach, a sliver of sand on the island's pristine southwestern tip, named for the iconic royal who used to escape here for a little peace and quiet. Further out, in 2028, Rosewood Barbuda will unveil an intimate 50-suite resort across 85 secluded acres, as well as an outpost of its signature Asaya Spa. Not to be outdone, Antigua is also leveling up: One&Only and Nikki Beach Resort & Spa are set to open properties in 2027 and 2028, respectively, and this month American Airlines will add more direct flights from Charlotte while Delta will add routes from Atlanta and New York. For now, Barbuda still feels like a discovery, but it's rightfully gaining recognition. Go now before the secret gets out.—Mariette Williams
It's better in the Bahamas
In my two decades of visiting the Bahamas, I've watched it grow into the Caribbean's unofficial cruise capital, and 2025 promises even more excitement for visitors arriving by sea. A new $300 million passenger port in the capital city of Nassau will bring numerous new lines, many of whose itineraries includes stops at their own private islands nearby: Carnival will dock at Celebration Key during its three-night Carnival Conquest voyage, which departs from Miami, while MSC Cruises' MSC Meraviglia will check in at Ocean Cay during its seven-night cruises from New York to Nassau. Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Pearl will embark on three-night cruises from Miami to Great Stirrup Cay by way of Grand Bahama. Not that all the news revolves around private islands: After a period in Mexico, Disney Cruise Line's Disney Magic will homeport in Fort Lauderdale and sail to Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, the line's private retreat on Eleuthera. Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Xcel will begin making seven-day voyages from Fort Lauderdale, calling at laid-back Bimini island, and in Nassau, Royal Caribbean International will open its Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, a 17-acre venue for cruise guests with restaurants, beach bars, pools, and cabanas. All this, combined with exciting developments in Nassau—including the opening of the interactive Junkanoo Museum, which tells the story of the island's Indigenous festival culture; the restoration of the Queen's Staircase, an 18th-century passageway in the capital's historic district; and the new state-of-the-art jazz club at the swank Baha Mar Resort—makes now a perfect time to book your cabin.—Brian Major
Around the islands
Brilliant Lady, the fourth ship from Virgin Voyages, will debut in September 2025 with itineraries that are unusually long for the brand, including a 12-night voyage with stops in Bonaire and Grand Cayman. After a full renovation, Antigua's adults-only Hermitage Bay reopened last month under new management with 30 redesigned sea-facing cottages and an updated spa. Beginning early next year, guests of Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort, on St. Lucia will be able to book Spice of Life, a nine-bedroom villa with an art collection that includes works by Yayoi Kusama and Damien Hirst. Last spring honeymooner favorite Sandals opened on St. Vincent and has off-property activities like bat-cave kayaking and bike tours.
Cap Juluca, A Belmond Hotel, Anguilla, kicks off this high season with a shiny new Guerlain spa right on the beach. JetBlue's new interairline partnership with Tradewind Aviation allows customers to book connecting flights to Anguilla, St. Barths, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda within a single transaction. After years of painstaking renovation and expansion, the Potlatch Club, a high-society hot spot since the 1950s, reopened on the Bahamas' Eleuthera island. Four Seasons Yachts will begin offering Caribbean trips in January 2026, including a seven-night sailing through the Lesser Antilles, with stops in Martinique and Antigua.
Salterra, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Turks & Caicos, located on the island of South Caicos, is already bookable with Marriott Bonvoy points—months ahead of its February 2025 opening. Grand Hyatt Grand Cayman Resort & Spa is under construction and slated to open in 2025. Norwegian Cruise Line's brand-new Norwegian Aqua will bring its hybrid roller coaster waterslide to the Bahamas this April on its inaugural cruise. After making its September 2024 debut in the Med, Explora Journeys' Explora II, the twin ship of Explora I, is spending the winter season in the Caribbean flitting among Miami, Martinique, Barbados, Puerto Rico, and other ports.
This article appeared in the December 2024 issue of Condé Nast Traveler. Subscribe to the magazine here.
Originally Appeared on Condé Nast Traveler
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