Steve’s Weekly Take — Friday, April 10, 2026

It was a big week for Caribbean travelers, and I wanted to pull the three stories that actually matter for your next vacation into one place. One of Jamaica’s most iconic luxury resorts reopened after Hurricane Melissa, a private-island all-inclusive in the Dominican Republic officially joined a major hotel loyalty program, and Virgin Voyages launched a short-window Caribbean cruise deal with a free Bimini sailing up for grabs. Here’s what happened, why I think each story matters, and the one thing I’d do today if I were planning a Caribbean trip for 2026 or 2027.

1. Half Moon Jamaica Is Back

After months of careful repairs following Hurricane Melissa in October 2025, Half Moon — the 400-acre, two-mile-beachfront icon just ten minutes from Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay — officially reopened its Eclipse hotel and reimagined Villas on April 2, 2026. Eclipse offers 57 beachfront accommodations and an infinity-edge pool, and the newly reimagined Villas now come in six- and seven-bedroom layouts built for families and multi-gen groups. The championship Robert Trent Jones Sr. golf course, the equestrian centre, and Fern Tree — A Salamander Spa are all back open, and the Sugar Mill and Delmare restaurants are serving again.

Why it matters: Half Moon is Jamaica’s highest-rated luxury resort for a reason, and its reopening is one more piece of evidence that Jamaica’s tourism product is not just recovering — it’s being reinvented. Pair this with the $200 million Sandals Jamaica reimagination we’ve been tracking (Sandals South Coast, Sandals Royal Caribbean, and Sandals Montego Bay all reopening late this year with new dining and new rooms), and you have the strongest luxury supply Jamaica has offered in years.

Steve’s take: I’ve been sending families and honeymooners to Jamaica for twenty years, and the question I keep getting is “should I still go?” The answer is clearly yes — and Half Moon is exactly the kind of property that reinforces why. If you want a non-all-inclusive luxury alternative to Sandals Montego Bay while those resorts are still closed for reimagination, Half Moon is the pick. If you would rather stick with all-inclusive, our team can book you at any of the other Sandals Jamaica properties still open — or Beaches Negril for a family trip.

2. Cayo Levantado Resort Officially Joins Hyatt’s Unbound Collection

If you missed our Wednesday piece, here’s the short version: Cayo Levantado Resort — a 218-all-suite, all-inclusive property on a private island off the Samaná coast of the Dominican Republic — is joining The Unbound Collection by Hyatt in summer 2026. The resort is boat-only arrival, which is rare for all-inclusives in this region, and features Taíno-inspired wellness, beaches on every side of the island, and seven restaurants and bars. As an Unbound Collection property, World of Hyatt members can now earn and redeem points on stays, which is a meaningful shift for anyone who prefers to cash in hotel points rather than pay cash for a Caribbean vacation.

Why it matters: Hyatt has been quietly building the most interesting Caribbean all-inclusive portfolio of any major hotel loyalty program — Bahia Principe integration earlier this year (20+ resorts with double points through June 30), Grand Hyatt Grand Cayman opening this month, and now Cayo Levantado. If you have been holding onto Chase Ultimate Rewards or World of Hyatt points, this summer is the time to put them to work in the Caribbean.

Steve’s take: The Samaná peninsula is one of the Dominican Republic’s best-kept secrets, and a true private-island all-inclusive with boat-only arrival is something you don’t find at Punta Cana. This is a great choice for couples who want something more boutique than Sandals or Beaches but still want the all-inclusive simplicity.

3. Virgin Voyages Sail & Save Ends Tuesday — and You Could Win a Free Bimini Cruise

Virgin Voyages, which is now fully live on the Pixie Vacations cruise search, just launched a short-window Sail & Save promotion running April 8 through April 14, 2026. Fares start at $89 per sailor per night on Insider cabins and go up to $119 for reduced Sea Terrace cabins on lock-it-in sailings. The real kicker for Caribbean fans: there’s a sweepstakes running alongside the sale for a chance to win a 5-night 2026 Resilient Lady voyage that includes a stop at The Beach Club at Bimini — Virgin’s private club in the Bahamas. The offer also adds more Miami sailings and reduces single supplements on Sea Terrace cabins, which is helpful for solo travelers who are normally penalized on cruise fares.

Why it matters: Virgin Voyages is the most interesting adults-only ship option in the Caribbean right now, full stop. It’s the closest cruise experience to an all-inclusive boutique resort at sea — no kids, no casino cigarettes, no dress codes, included Wi-Fi, included gratuities, included dining at 20+ restaurants, and a genuinely great spa at Redemption Spa. If you are a Sandals couple who has been curious about adults-only cruising, this is the line to try first. For more context on the ongoing Virgin Voyages spring promo, see our Virgin Voyages Spring Savings guide.

Steve’s take: The deal ends Tuesday April 14, so this is a this-weekend decision. The easiest way to compare live fares is to use our Virgin Voyages cruise search — it’s the same booking engine Virgin Voyages advisors use, so every promo and sailing is visible. And because Pixie Vacations is a Virgin Voyages First Mate agency, booking through us costs you nothing extra and gets you ongoing concierge service for the trip. If you want a personal recommendation first — I’ve sailed VV and can tell you which itinerary fits your group — just use our quick vacation-quote form and we’ll reply the same day.

What I’d Do Today

If I were planning a Caribbean trip for 2026 or 2027 right now, here is how I’d stack these three stories:

  • Want Jamaica, not all-inclusive? Book Half Moon for late summer or fall 2026 before rates reset.
  • Want an all-inclusive with private-island drama and hotel points? Put Cayo Levantado on your Hyatt points list for summer 2026.
  • Want adults-only cruising this year? Lock in a Virgin Voyages Caribbean sailing during Sail & Save (by Tuesday, April 14) and enter the Bimini sweepstakes while you’re at it.

And as always, if you want a human to quote all three — or build a combination Jamaica + cruise trip for a wedding, honeymoon, family reunion, or teacher-group getaway — that is literally what we do at Pixie Vacations every day, for no fee. Request a vacation quote at pixievacations.com, browse Virgin Voyages sailings directly at our VV cruise search, or start with our general cruise page if you want to compare VV against Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line, and the rest. Want more Caribbean context? Our recap of the record-breaking 2025 Caribbean tourism year is the big-picture piece to read this weekend.

Safe travels this weekend — and if Welcome Home Week has you already missing your Sandals resort, we get it. So do we.

— Steve Griswold, Pixie Vacations

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s new in Caribbean travel this week?

Three stories stand out for the week of April 10, 2026: Half Moon Jamaica officially reopened its Eclipse hotel and reimagined Villas on April 2; Cayo Levantado Resort, a private-island all-inclusive in the Dominican Republic, is joining The Unbound Collection by Hyatt in summer 2026; and Virgin Voyages launched a Sail & Save Caribbean cruise promotion running April 8–14 that includes a sweepstakes for a free 5-night Bimini Beach Club sailing.

When did Half Moon Jamaica reopen?

Half Moon’s Eclipse hotel and reimagined Villas at Half Moon officially reopened on April 2, 2026, following repairs from Hurricane Melissa in October 2025. The resort is in Montego Bay, approximately ten minutes from Sangster International Airport.

What is Cayo Levantado Resort?

Cayo Levantado Resort is a 218-suite, all-inclusive, private-island resort on Cayo Levantado off the Samaná coast of the Dominican Republic. It joins The Unbound Collection by Hyatt in summer 2026, making it eligible for World of Hyatt points earning and redemption.

When does the Virgin Voyages Sail & Save offer end?

The current Virgin Voyages Sail & Save window runs April 8–14, 2026, with fares starting at $89 per sailor per night on Insider cabins and reduced single supplements on select Sea Terrace cabins. A sweepstakes for a 5-night Resilient Lady sailing with a stop at The Beach Club at Bimini is running alongside the promotion.

Where can I book a Virgin Voyages Caribbean cruise?

You can book any Virgin Voyages Caribbean cruise through Pixie Vacations at no extra cost, and search live availability on the Pixie Vacations Virgin Voyages cruise search. Pixie Vacations is a Virgin Voyages First Mate agency and provides ongoing concierge support for every sailing.

Pixie Vacations is a family-owned travel agency based in Atlanta, Georgia, founded by Steve and Diane Griswold. Steve has visited all 17 Sandals resorts, sailed Virgin Voyages, hosts the long-running MouseChat podcast, and runs the @GrizAllInclusive YouTube channel. He has been helping families, honeymooners, and groups book Caribbean vacations for over 20 years.