Tesi Johnson, Gleaner Writer

GRAND LIDO Negril, for the six days spanning June 22-27, was home to the 'Friends of Festival at Sea', who occupied the entire property of the SuperClubs resort for a vacation package customised for African American patronage.

Blue World Travel Agency, out of San Francisco, California, has offered cruises and charters customised for African American patronage for over 15 years, under the banner 'Festival at Sea'. The activities and entertainment on the cruises mirror African American culture and their occupation of Grand Lido Negril marked their first resort take-over.

Patricia Yarborough, the owner of the 28-year-old Blue World Travel, said the success of the cruises prompted her company to organise a land-based vacation package under a similar theme. "Jamaica was the obvious choice for our first resort take-over," she said; "The guests always wanted to stay here longer when on stop-overs from the cruises. We always wanted to go top of the line with a great resort with great staff," she added.

So, 'Friends of Festival at Sea' organised a private charter of the entire property of Grand Lido Negril based its reputation as an upscale resort. "It has worked out really well," said Yarborough. "Grand Lido has surpassed our expectations and the guests had a wonderful time."

Among the activities included in the package were a church service, mini-Olympics, tennis, golf and domino tournaments. There was also a jazz concert starring United States jazz group, GEQ, and a comedy show with famed comedian, Sherman Golden. They also brought with them their own disc jockeys from the U.S. to complement to entertainment talent at Grand Lido Negril.

GIVING BACK

In keeping with their custom of giving back to the community, Friends of Festival at Sea asked all guests to take a children's book with them, to be donated to the local schools. They collected over 100 books, which will be handed over to the Orange Bay Basic School in Negril and Rio Bueno All-Age School in Runaway Bay. Also, the entire proceeds from a raffle sponsored by the nearby Time Square Shopping Centre, will be donated to the said schools.

Friends of Festival at Sea will return to Jamaica this October for a private charter of SuperClubs' Grand Lido Braco for Mark Curry's Jamaican Halloween. The package will be a five-day Halloween party, featuring a special night of comedy as the main attraction. All members of the diaspora, Jamaicans even, are invited to make bookings via the Blue World Travel website, at www.blueworldtravel.com. Their packages are open to singles and couples ages 21 and over.