Cruise Ships Still Find a Haitian Berth

[tekisui]

Source: The Guardian

Luxury liners are still docking at private beaches near Haiti's devastated earthquake zone for holidaymakers to enjoy the water

Sixty miles from Haiti's devastated earthquake zone, luxury liners dock at private beaches where passengers enjoy jet ski rides, parasailing and rum cocktails delivered to their hammocks.

The 4,370-berth Independence of the Seas, owned by Royal Caribbean International, disembarked at the heavily guarded resort of Labadee on the north coast on Friday; a second cruise ship, the 3,100-passenger Navigator of the Seas is due to dock.

The Florida cruise company leases a picturesque wooded peninsula and its five pristine beaches from the government for passengers to "cut loose" with watersports, barbecues, and shopping for trinkets at a craft market before returning on board before dusk. Safety is guaranteed by armed guards at the gate.

The decision to go ahead with the visit has divided passengers. The ships carry some food aid, and the cruise line has pledged to donate all proceeds from the visit to help stricken Haitians. But many passengers will stay aboard when they dock; one said he was "sickened".

"I just can't see myself sunning on the beach, playing in the water, eating a barbecue, and enjoying a cocktail while there are tens of thousands of dead people being piled up on the streets, with the survivors stunned and looking for food and water," one passenger wrote on the Cruise Critic internet forum.

"It was hard enough to sit and eat a picnic lunch at Labadee before the quake, knowing how many Haitians were starving," said another. "I can't imagine having to choke down a burger there now.''

more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jan/17/cruise-ships-haiti-earthquake

[Tansy_Gold]

1. "Hard enough to sit and eat a picnic lunch," but they did it anyway.

No words. None at all.




Tansy Gold

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. When I first heard it I went... no, this is nuts

then I thought about it... this means JOBS for a few people.

And the return of some normalcy which is part of the recovery effort.

[tekisui]

5. I guess my thought was, just 60 miles away seems like a good

place for bringing in aid. Especially as so many are starting to leave the city.

[BeFree]

7. Me too

Good place to bring in aid and take out the injured.

This kind of an emergency. Surely there are other ports of call the ships could go to?

As for jobs, there is plenty of work to be done so missing a few jobs is no biggie.

Maybe the military should just take it over?

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. I know but but of the RECOVERY phase

involves this return to normalcy.

[fishnfla]

3. dupe n/t

[onehandle]

4. Well, you can't stop the world from continuing. nt

[NYC_SKP]

6. Research indicates Cruise Industry is important to Haiti Economy, is Providing Aid.

I hate cruises but I thought I'd look into this.

The money coming in from these visits is said to be important to Haiti, makes sense.

As kind of sickening as it seems, that they didn't cancel stops there seems to be a positive decision.

Whether for PR or for humanitarians, some of the Cruise Lines (Royal Caribbean) are providing substantial aid.

Discussion board here: Cruise Critic internet forum: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1121161

Blog by president of Royal Caribbean: http://www.nationofwhynot.com/blog/

Apparently met with SOS Clinton: http://www.nationofwhynot.com/blog/?p=785

President of R.C, David something: http://www.royalcaribbean.com/aboutus/home.do

[greenbriar]

8. join in the already discussion

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7492544

[Capers]

9. Sounds like a security risk.