AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Belize Life News cruise ship world not good

Thank you Bywarren!!!! Yes!! That's exactly what I was talking about. Could it work in Belize? Although, after reading Marty's above post, it's to late. The GIANT pier and the mass exodus of people to Belize City for day tours is a done deal. I can see the gears of greed spinning as we speak!

I hate to say this, and it grieves me deeply, but masses of tourists is not my idea of a vacation. My mother was born in St. Maarten, and a good many of my childhood trips were there to see family. It was a WONDERFUL place. I couldn't think of a place I would rather be. But mass tourism has ruined it. It's horribly overpriced, crowded, has mountains of crime now, and has lost ALL of it's true French and Dutch charm. It sickens me. I haven't been back in years. My family can't understand why we always went to Belize for a vacation when I had places to stay there available to me. On my last trip to St. Maarten, my uncle literally hired a body gaurd for me and my husband. Who wants that???? I now see Belize on the same road to ruin. So very sad. I hate having to look for somewhere else to go now.........
Debbie

Maybe they will designate Belize City and island. :p

OF COURSE he's unavailable for comment. He's probably in Miami picking out furniture for his new condo.

LOL!!! Bywarren you're a hoot.

By the way, in case any of you wish to discuss these issue in person while in Belize, I will again post my picture to help you recognize me.
http://community.webshots.com/user/bywarren

Or, if you come across Pedro and me in the bar, I am the good looking one.

PS: Debbie, one note of small optimism, nothing is a done deal in Belize until the money is there. If Belize has to come up with half the money, it's not a done deal.

Bywarren, that is a comforting thought, but like we all agreed, the greed factor here will present the money with bows on it, I fear. It's an "irresponsible" investors dream. $$$$$$$ Ching... Chings.... They hear the money rolling in already.... Although I think they may be disappointed in the end, it doesn't stop the mad rush to the front of the line. I'll be optimistic and consider your view. We can also consider that the Minister of Tourism could be a good guy, and is furious he was left out of this negotiation, may have serious reservations about the impact it could have, (maybe read our posts..LOL) and may have the power to nix it???? One can only hope.
Debbie

There have been lots of heralded projects in Belize that never got off the ground due to lack of funds. It is one thing for Belize to do what is has done, that being, just open it's doors and let the tourist $ roll in. Now that it is at the cross-roads that will require major investment, that might be a different story. I will remain causiously optimistic. And, I would still encourage the business community to seriously consider the viability of the cruise business when they have a growing and lucrative "over-night" business. I am not sure they can have "their cake and eat it too".

From the The Ocean Conservancy website located at

Ocean Conservancy Dynamic Issues Page

"Floating cities with their own zip codes, cruise ships carry millions of people each year to some of the world's most pristine and sensitive ecosystems. Largely unregulated, cruise ships also discharge huge amounts of waste directly into the water. From raw sewage to toxic chemicals, cruise ships dump huge amounts of waste directly into ocean waters, posing a potential threat to marine wildlife, fragile habitats and human health.

Cruise ship impacts have increased exponentially with the industry's dramatic growth. In 1998, 223 cruise ships carried 10 million passengers through some of the world's most sensitive ocean ecosystems. Since then, the industry has grown by an average of 10 percent annually, and is expected to bring more than 49 new vessels into service by 2005." There is a great PDF document called Cruise Control located at this page that explains the insanity of these floating cities. Well with the way Norwalk viruses are plaguing these ships we may luck out and the Belize plans will get axed.

Hon. Said Musa
pmbelize@btl.net

Hon Mark Espat
etswyph@travelbelize.org

I assume I'll be seeing both tomorrow night and I'll offer all your condolances on the death of the tourism industry as we know it. Funeral services to be announced at a later date.

Hon. Said Musa
pmbelize@btl.net

Hon Mark Espat
etswyph@travelbelize.org

I assume I'll be seeing both tomorrow night and I'll offer all your condolances on the death of the toursim industry as we know it. Funeral services to be announced at a later date.