In the Caribbean, Barbados is probably one of the most famous islands and every year Brits take long sun-soaked holidays in the area.

Now, Carnival Cruise Lines has opened a new attraction in Grand Turk, making it a great excursion for holidaymakers. The first guests to Conch World who were travelling on the Carnival Pride ship on the 9 June had a sneak preview with the grand opening being planned for the autumn period.

Conch World is a number of brightly coloured buildings to celebrate the native queen conch and has taken four years to complete the new attraction, which cost over $1 million.

The queen conch is a snail that is highly valued for its importance to the continued health of the nearby coral reefs. It provides food for lobsters, turtles, sharks and other marine life.

Graham Davis of Carnival Cruise Lines said:

‘The Caribbean is vital to the continued growth and success of the North American cruise industry, and the Grand Turk Cruise Centre and Carnival Corporation are very pleased to support the development of this spectacular and unique attraction. In addition to serving as an example of responsible, sustainable tourism development, Conch World will have tangible economic benefits, including creating numerous job opportunities for the local community.’

Those taking holidays in nearby destinations such as Barbados, the Bahamas and other Caribbean islands should maybe consider this as a new excursion.

Said to be Colombus’ landing site in the New World, Cat Island is the sixth largest island in the Bahamas and one of the most unspoilt and beautiful holiday destinations.

This is truly a relaxing place to be.  Cat Island is the home of Mount Alvernia, the highest point in the Bahamas and a lovely backdrop.  The beaches are long, the water is crystal clear and snorkelling is one of the big attractions to tourists.

The island is said to be named after Arthur Catt, a famous British sea captain.  However, some also say it is named after the hordes of wild cats that the English saw when they first landed on the island in the 1600s.  The cats are said to have been descendants of cats left behind by the Spanish in their rush to find gold in the South American gold rush.

Cat Island is about 48 miles long (77km) but is only one to four miles wide at any point.  From the high cliffs, you can view the dense forests and miles of sandy beaches with their pink and white sands.

If you are looking for a place to relax, this island has everything you could wish for.

Bermuda is a string of islands to the north of the Bahamas linked by causeways and bridges. Beautiful beaches, cricket matches, immaculately dressed gentlemen with their Bermuda shorts and afternoon teas befit the image that one has of Bermuda. Everything in Bermuda seems to work efficiently like clockwork no matter the weather.

Bermuda is surrounded by a wide platform of coral reefs that protect it from stormy weather and gives the inshore seas exquisite colours of blues and greens that lap at the pink sand.

Because of the warming effect of the Gulf Stream, Bermuda enjoys a pleasant climate. The humidity is high and the rainfall. Bermuda rarely sees extremes of either hot or cold climate.

Attractions:

Lavish tropic beaches, luxurious accommodations, serene splendour of magical flora and fauna of Bermuda makes it a popular destination. Water sports like snorkeling and diving are its main attractions.

Accommodations:

Rates for hotels are pretty high in Bermuda, but they deliver high quality and friendly services. It would be advisable to book in advance, for this popular getaway is ideal for long weekend breaks

So put on your Bermuda shorts and get ready to shake a leg in the sunny beaches of ‘Bermuda.’