GEORGE TOWN, Cayman
Islands -- Good riddance to the 2004 Atlantic Hurricane Season,
which officially ended its six-month run on Nov. 30. The season
began with Alex in August but will forever be remembered for
Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne.
From Grand Cayman
comes news that the Caribbean Utility Commission hopes to complete
restoration of customer service this week. The island-wide curfew,
while still in effect, now runs from midnight to 5 a.m.
The new reopening
for the 365-room Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman is October, while the
69 luxury Residences at the Ritz-Carlton, adjacent to the main
hotel, will open in June. The resort was originally scheduled to
open this month; although it had no structural damage from
Hurricane Ivan, resort officials wanted to ensure that the $400
million resort had not been compromised.
The Western
Casuarina Resort & Spa reopened 300 of its 340 rooms for
Thanksgiving as well as its restaurants, spa, pool, beach and Red
Sail Sports operation; the remaining guest rooms will open by Dec.
15.
Red Sail Sports
Grand Cayman also resumed operations at the Courtyard by Marriott
and will reopen at the Hyatt Beach Suites in mid-December, at Rum
Point later this month and at the Grand Cayman Marriott Beach
Resort in late February.
For information on
island renovations and post-hurricane progress, visit www.caymanislands.ky.
Meanwhile, Grenadas
post-Hurricane Ivan recovery efforts include restoration of
electricity to more than half the island; projections call for full
service by the end of February.
Point Salines
International Airport is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. with service
on BWIA and Air Jamaica from U.S. gateways and on LIAT and
Caribbean Star from various Caribbean islands. American Eagles
daily flight from San Juan departs at 6:20 p.m., effective Dec. 2,
and arrives in Grenada at 8:50 p.m.
Cruise calls
resumed last month; for November and December, a total of 78 calls
are expected.
The Calabash Hotel
reopened with all of its 30 rooms and 60% of its staff. The resort
had been closed for remodeling and suffered only minimal damage
from the hurricane. Meanwhile, Laluna and the Flamboyant Hotel plan
to reopen by the end of the year, Blue Horizons will reopen in
January and Coyaba Beach Resort next October.
For information on
island renovations and post-hurricane progress, visit www.grenadaemergency.com.
To contact the
reporter who wrote this article, send e-mail to Gay Nagle Myers at
gmyers[email protected].