Comments on: Cruise Ships Docking In Haiti. What’s Your Take?

By: jonwick

jonwick — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:14:25 +0000

In reply to Luke. Luke! so eloquent as always! Ha!

By: jonwick

jonwick — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:13:12 +0000

Darrell- I echo your sentiments here- I really do hope they are helping their ports, and it seems as though you've seen it a bit. Thanks for sharing your experience. I do think they help, but I also think they widen the gap. An interesting thought I had while reading your comment- is there a tipping point? how much help should the cruise ships/industry do to help that would make stopping there more justifiable? I think there is a point, but where that is, is up for debate.

By: Darrell Wilson

Darrell Wilson — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 05:52:26 +0000

Just was on the Jewel of the Seas Jan. 11- 22, 2010. Quake happened as we sailed between Cuba and Haiti. There were no scheduled stops in Haiti this voyage, but the cruise line did give passengers the chance to donate monies that were to be given to a Childrens welfare group to help the children of Haiti. Also, last night of the cruise, a bin was made available to deposit clothing that would be taken to Haiti on its next cruise, as Labadee was a port of call. The rational according to the captain and cruise line is that many Haitians are employed by the line and it has a long history of calling at this port. The vessel would also be used to transport releif supplies to that area of Haiti. This is neither to condone or condem the decision, just to give you a first hand account. On my cruise we stopped at Colon, Panama and Port Limon, Costa Rica and poverty was very evident here also. Do cruise ships calling at these ports help the local economy……I would like to think so.

By: Luke

Luke — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:50:14 +0000

Their response that they are going to help the local economy is so….what's the technical term, BS. Sorta like where very wealthy people argue that tax breaks for the rich will help the poor…there aren't any self serving fallacies in that argument are they.

Or the United Fruit company that was the cause of Guatemala's 36 year civil war. Their argument after they manipulated thousands of farmers out of their land was that they were building infrastructure such as roads to benefit the country. They were building roads, but it was to help their production, any help the roads provided to anyone outside of their investors was just an accident.

When I have a barbecue I sometimes help ant colonies, but I don't ask for any medals or act like I give a chicken finger about ants…

By: TheExpeditioner

TheExpeditioner — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:37:43 +0000

Coyal Raribbean – ha. Yeah I think you hit the nail on the head Jon. This whole episode kind of encapsulates the entire argument against cruises. I think it goes without saying: wouldn't a better choice for all these cruisegoers to have been to demand a refund and instead donate their time/money to those that could really need it right now?