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Tags: Island Travel / Travel News / Guantanamo Bay / Cuba / Bermuda / Palau / → All Tags

Uighur Travel: Bermuda Raises Its Profile by Taking In Four Ex-Gitmo Prisoners

First Palau, now Bermuda? Bermuda tourism has been on the decline for several quarters, with visitors passing over the sophisticated Atlantic island in favor of cheaper and glitzier destinations in Florida and the Caribbean, but a surprise deal with the U.S. has given it four new visitors that locals weren't expecting. In a move that has annoyed British authorities to no end, Bermuda agreed to admit four ethnic Uighurs from the U.S.-run Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba. The former inmates were cleared of any wrongdoing years ago, but their status created a political hot potato because officials believed they'd face repression if returned to China, and no U.S. state would agree to accept them.

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Tags: Fall Travel / Music Festivals / Beyoncé / → All Tags

Back of the Envelope Guide: Bermuda Music Festival

If the end of summer has you a little depressed, then planning an outing to Bermuda might keep you going through the months ahead: The first weekend in October offers up the 13th Annual Bermuda Music Festival.

Beyoncé, UB40 and Aaron Neville each take a turn at the center stage with Alicia Keys winding things down the evening of October 4.

Three-day ticket packages start at $200 and will guarantee you the same seat for all three evening performances at the National Sports Centre. Great weather, outdoor music and easy access to the beach? Sounds like summer to us.

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Tags: Celeb Travel / Cruises / R Family Vacations / Rosie O'Donnell / → All Tags

Rosie O'Donnell Leaving The View, Won't Be Going To Bermuda

No, no, Barbara Walters and Rosie O'Donnell won't be going on a cruise together anytime soon. After months of rumors, and plenty of taunting from Donald Trump, Rosie O'Donnell is reportedly leaving The View. TMZ says she will make the announcement on air this morning.

While we are sure most of Rosie's new found spare time will be spent blogging about her real reasons for leaving the daytime talkshow, one place she won't be heading to decompress from live television stress is Bermuda. Rosie and her partner Kelli O'Donnell, who run R Family Vacations, organize an annual summer cruise for gay and lesbian families.

Back in 2004 it was reported that 100 protesters greeted the S.S. Rosie, and chanted anti-gay slogans at the 1150 passengers, when they arrived in Nassau, Bahamas. Thus, Rosie and the gang, fearing a reapeat of the Nassau protest, have replaced Bermuda with two Florida ports of call for this summers cruise.

From the R Vacations website:

The Prime Minister of Bermuda personally contacted me to let me know that he and his government welcome all tourists regardless of sexual orientation or religious affiliation. We also received hundreds of emails from Bermuda residents welcoming us to their country.

However, Kelli and I are not 100% confident that some protestors would not meet us upon our arrival. While those groups may be the minority voice, we feel that our cruise would be more enjoyable with an alternate itinerary to ports where we know we are welcome by everyone.

Related Stories:
·R Family Vacations[Official Site]
·Rosie O'Donnell Ruins Summer Cruises [Jaunted]
·Cruises [Jaunted]

Tags: Travel Deals / Airlines / → All Tags

JetBlue's Bound for Bermuda

After five years of coaxing by the government of Bermuda, JetBlue will begin twice-daily flights from JFK to the island beginning on May 4. Fares start at $129 each way. One-way flights starting in Boston, Richmond,  and Buffalo (and connecting through JFK) are an even better deal -- they start at $139.

Related Stories:
·   JetBlue in bid to come to Bermuda [Royal Gazette]
·   JetBlue's Going to Bermuda [press release]