Cruise Capacity Upgrade for St. Thomas: WICO says Havensight can handle more ships, but dredging is the missing piece—channel and turning-basin depth work starts Sept. 2026, aiming to let the biggest vessels berth safely by mid-2027. More Regional Air Access: Tradewind Aviation opened reservations for extra winter/spring flights from San Juan to Virgin Gorda, Tortola and Anguilla through Spring 2027, plus continued service to St. Barth. New Fast Link to St. Thomas: Fly the Whale launches daily San Juan–St. Thomas service Aug. 3, cutting the trip to about 35 minutes and adding another gateway for USVI visitors. Beach Season Challenge (Sargassum): A new scientific look warns sargassum blooms may be self-sustaining, meaning the “smelly nemesis” could keep returning—bad news for coastal tourism and harbor operations. St. Thomas Tourism Product News: Preferred Hotels & Resorts adds 10 new members in Q2, including The Botany in St. Thomas (L.V.X. Collection), set to debut this winter. Local Community & Culture: The 72nd Virgin Islands Emancipation Festival opens in Tortola with a torch procession and a Lavida Cottoy-themed celebration. Safety Watch: A shark-attack roundup notes a fatal bite in the USVI this year, while officials also flag harmful algal blooms risks in the region. Territory Sports Spotlight: Virgin Islands sprinters Jaleel N. Croal and Beyoncé A. Defreitas advance to Commonwealth Games 200m semis in Glasgow.