Cruising to Haiti

[bam bam]

Many of you are well aware of my thoughts about vacationing in third world countries. (I don't like it.) But to me the faux outrage of the Royal Caribbean Cruise ship docking in Haiti seems a bit absurd. Haiti has always been a place of immense despair and deep poverty. The earthquake has only augmented this fact. If Royal Caribbean has a port in the northern part of the country, an area that was spared the devastation and the cruise line has guests who want to relax there and spend money there, than who are we to judge? If no one care before the earthquake, why does a natural disaster make it all the more distasteful? New Orleans was dying for nine months after Katrina before our tourism business kicked in. Further, the money spent by vacationers is much more necessary to the relief effort as it represents sustainable, recurring funds as opposed to the money dump done by government and non-governmental organizations.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/20100119/ ... ews_ts1063

[Oyster]

If I'm not mistaken, the casinos around the state of La. did quite a nice business while the NOLA area casinos were down. Seems the same to me. You do not shut down life. You do all you can to maintain.

Of course, the casinos that were open had a huge windfall of Red Cross funds, homeowners insurance living expense payments, and FEMA checks to grease the skids...

[LauraMc]

Yes, I know the Vicksburg casinos prospered.
I don't see anything wrong with the cruise boat stopping in Haiti. Of course, I'm not a big fan of cruises much less cruising to poor places.
One of my in-laws had a chance to work somewhere like Haiti (might have been there). My sister was bragging how she was going to have a maid, cook, etc. They went for a visit to check the place out and didn't even stay the 5 days they were supposed to. I think they only lasted 3 days and he turned the job down.

[NoNoNanette]

I wouldn't hesitate to stop in Haiti.... gimmee a cold beer and pretty water and I'm happy.

However.... many cruise lines OWN/DEVELOP ports. Two right off the top of my head: Carnival Corp. owns Half Moon Caye in the Bahamas. No locals are on the island. Crew staff also leaves the ship during calls to bartend, etc. Locals aren't making any money.

Carnival also built the Costa Maya port..... if the locals are lucky, the more adventuruous (myself included) get the hell outta there and head to Mahuahl...a little fishing village... that's where I prefer to spend my money...with the locals.

That being said, not certain what the deal is in Haiti, but I'm guessing that it's private like Half Moon.

[Titchou]

Well, I wouldn't take a cruise to any place even if it was free...however, I don't have a problem with this...

(I can't believe I am even halfway agreeing with Bam on anything other than what a cool chick JAG is!! What does that say about me????)

[Suzy Wong]

Considering the quality of life and the state of things BEFORE the earthquake in Haiti, I doubt the citizens of Haiti were reaping any benefits from the resort area.