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TOURISM - TRAVEL - TOURS


USVI Record 1st Q Visits
M.A. Dworkin USVI - The Virgin Islands Department of Tourism is announcing record-breaking visitor arrival numbers for the first quarter of 2026, reinforcing the Territory’s continued momentum as a leading Caribbean destination. March 2026 delivered strong performance with 121,716 total arrivals, representing a 23% increase year-over-year and 14% above the previous high set in 2024. St. Thomas led the growth with 95,284 arrivals, up 24% compared to 2025 and 17% over 20


Cruise Ship Arrivals Frederiksted Pier
April 2026 4/7/26 Tues 8-5pm Jewel/Seas 3432 4/8/26 Wed 8-6pm Adventure/Seas 5238 4/8/26 Wed 8-6pm Scarlett Lady 4020 4/14/26 Tues 8-5pm Jewel/Seas 3432 4/21/26 Tues 8-5pm Jewel/Seas 3432 4/22/26 Wed 8-6pm Adventure/Seas 5238 4/22/26 Wed 8-5pm Vision/Seas 3208 4/26/26 Sun 8-5pm Jewel/Seas 3432 4/30/26 Thurs 8-6pm Rhapsody/Seas 3201 May 2026 5/4/26 Mon 8-6pm Rhapsody/Seas 3201 5/4/26 Mon 8-6pm


Women’s History Month: USVI Tourism’s Women Leaders
M.A. Dworkin USVI - As the national conversation transitions from Black History Month into Women’s History Month, the U.S. Virgin Islands offers a powerful story of legacy, resilience, and modern leadership - one led by women who carry forward a tradition of strength rooted deep in the Territory’s history. The spirit of women’s leadership in the Virgin Islands dates back to the legendary Three Queens - Mary, Agnes, and Mathilda, who courageously led the 1878 Fireburn l


UN Warns Trump Immigration Policies Dehumanizing; U.S. Tourism Faces Major Damage
M.A. Dworkin U.S. - The United States is facing mounting reputational damage from global tourism markets following unusually stark criticism from the United Nations’ (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, who warned recently that current enforcement practices by the Trump Administration risk being “dehumanizing, discriminatory and corrosive to basic human dignity.” Industry leaders now say that the language used by Mr. Turk is reverberating far beyond dip


TSA Offers $45 Fee for All Without Proper ID
A.J. Pike USVI Airports - For all those would-be passengers who need to fly but show up at the airport without proper ID, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is offering a new way to still get you on the plane and to your destination, but it’ll cost you $45. The TSA is rolling out its new ConfirmID program starting February 1, 2026, allowing passengers without a REAL ID, passport or other acceptable identification to attempt to proceed through security for


Royal Caribbean Cancels Cruise Stops in Gang-Infested Haiti
M.A. Dworkin Labadee, Haiti - As Haiti’s tourism continues to spiral downward due to out-of-control gang violence, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines (RCCL) has extended the suspension of its northern Haiti private destination cruise port stop in Labadee, Haiti, through the end of 2026. Labadee, is RCCL’s private fenced-off beach resort, which is only hours away from the capital, Port-au-Prince, and half-hour away from Cap-Haitien. It offers cruise passengers beaches, wate


U.S. Issues Travel Advisory on Grenada
A.J. Pike Grenada - The U.S. Department of State has increased its travel advisory to a Level 2 for the country of Grenada, urging Americans “to exercise increased caution” when heading to the country. The advisory was updated on January 5, 2026, to include the crime indicator, mentioning instances of armed robbery, assault, burglary, and rape against American citizens. “Violent crime can occur anywhere in Grenada,” the State Department wrote in its advisory, adding “


USVI 2025 Tourism Strong as Trump Policies Weaken U.S. Tourism Markets
M.A Dworkin USVI - The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism closed out 2025 with a strong tourism performance across the Territory, reinforcing its standing as a leading Caribbean destination. Throughout the year, travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands remained resilient, supported by consistent air access, active cruise operations, and sustained interest from key U.S. markets. The continued success of the USVI in attracting tourists to its islands differs greatly from


Antigua and Dominica Respond to U.S. Travel Ban
M.A. Dworkin St. John’s, Antigua - Antigua and Barbuda along with Dominica will encounter partial entry restrictions beginning January 1, 2026. President Donald Trump expanded restrictions on foreign nationals entering the United States by targeting two Caribbean nations that offer Citizenship by Investment (CBI), but he exempted three other nations that offer similar programs. The proclamation blocks nationals from both countries from obtaining: Immigrant visas, B-1

DPNR & DLCA NEWS


DPNR Coral Reef Week
DPNR ANNOUNCES THIRD ANNUAL VIRGIN ISLANDS CORAL REEF WEEK Commissioner Jean-Pierre L. Oriol of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) is pleased to announce that the Division of Coastal Zone Management will host the Third Annual Virgin Islands Coral Reef Week from April 12–19, 2026. This weeklong celebration invites the St. Croix community to enjoy a variety of free, family-friendly events designed to highlight the importance of the Territory’s vibrant


DLCA Launches New Pricing Tools for Consumers
A.J. Pike USVI - Following a directive by Governor Albert Bryan Jr. to prioritize cost-of-living relief, Commissioner Nathalie Hodge of the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs (DLCA) announced the launch of the 2026 Comprehensive Pricing & Inflation Report, a data-driven initiative designed to empower consumers through transparency, promote competition, and provide immediate tools to navigate rising market costs. This new initiative is highlighted by Territori


Delta Jackson Dorsch - A True American Heroine
M.A. Dworkin St. Croix - Transfer day in the U.S. Virgin Islands is celebrated annually on March 31. It marks the formal transfer of the islands from Denmark to the United States in 1917. It commemorates the end of colonial rule, the lowering of the Danish flag, and the raising of the American flag. Over the last 109 years there have been many heroes and heroines who have graced the Territory stage in the name of freedom, in the name of resilience, in the name of advancement.


Historic Fire Burn Queen Statue Stolen
M.A. Dworkin St. Croix - The Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) through the Division of Libraries, Archives & Museums, is alerting the public to the confirmed theft of one of the three Fire Burn Queens - a mahogany crafted statue - from the North Art Gallery at the Fort Frederik Museum in Frederiksted, St. Croix. The Department reported the theft to the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) on February 24, 2026, and an investigation is currently underway.


Historic Districts Guide Updated
St. Croix Times Staff USVI - The Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR), State Historic Preservation Office in conjunction with the Virgin Islands Historic Preservation Commission (VIHPC), is pleased to announce the release of its newly updated Historic Districts Guide, now accessible to the public through the Department of Planning and Natural Resources website at dpnr.vi.gov . This refreshed Guide provides clear, user-friendly direction for property owner
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