Lauren Simone Blogs

Antigua greeted us quietly. We arrived by cruise ship to spend just a few hours, and instead of fanfare or a grand port entrance, we were met with a brief rainfall, closed businesses, and a very low-key welcome. The customs office was open, so we got our passport stamped immediately.  No oversized letters were spelling out the island’s name, no dramatic arrival moment—and the port area itself wasn’t particularly walkable. Still, as is often the case in the Caribbean, the atmosphere shifted quickly. The rain passed, the skies cleared, and sunshine took over. One small but meaningful highlight was earning...

St. Kitts was undeniably beautiful, but the experience was shaped by a lackluster tour. While the island offered stunning views, cultural richness, and memorable moments with monkeys and dolphins, it ultimately felt like a one-day destination that deserved better planning to truly shine.

December 16, 2025—my birthday—and there I was, stepping off a cruise ship with my family into what felt like a full-circle moment. Our next stop was the British Virgin Islands, specifically Tortola. My mom brought me here when I was two years old, but I have no memory of it—so this visit felt like a reintroduction, and honestly, a dream come true. Tortola is the largest and most populated island in the BVI, which itself is made up of more than 60 islands, rocks, and cays—only 16 of them inhabited. With a population of roughly 30,000 people, most living on...

We set sail from San Juan aboard Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas, with St. Thomas as our very first stop. Warm Virgin Islanders 🇻🇮 welcomed us at the port, where a cheerful St. Thomas sign greeted us and iguanas lingered along the shore. We skipped the tourist crowds for Emerald Beach—just a $6 group taxi ride away—where white sand, snapper with rice and peas on the beach, and roaming chickens made the day feel beautifully local. Out of the six islands we visited, St. Thomas proudly earned our #3 spot.

Dr. Melissa-Sue John attended the Grand Opening of the Caribbean Heritage Museum on October 18, 2025, at the West Indian Social Club in Hartford, CT. Organized by the Friendship Group of Hartford, the event celebrated the rich history and cultural impact of the Caribbean on both the United States and Connecticut. The museum’s exhibits featured themes such as trade, migration, the West Indian Federation, and Marcus Garvey’s legacy. The opening attracted community leaders, including the Mayor of Windsor, along with authors, publishers, and professors. Dr. John praised the exhibit’s quality and historical depth and offered thoughtful recommendations to enhance the visitor experience—such as adding a donation box, posting clear hours, collecting cultural artifacts, and beautifying the building with a Caribbean mural. She described the museum as a vital space for preserving and celebrating Caribbean identity, resilience, and contribution to American society.