By Carl Pflanzer (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #133) on Sunday, December 12, 2004 - 12:20 pm: |
So do I hear correctly? The Queen Mary arrived at 6am this morning? Anyone with some pictures for us? It must be amazing.....
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By Linda Richter - NetTech (Moderator - Post #2052) on Sunday, December 12, 2004 - 12:23 pm: |
She is here. Jake is coming into town with the kids and plans on taking some pictures. She is absolutely immense and dwarfs the Silverseas ship that is docked in front of her.
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By Bill Carrier (BonaireTalker - Post #43) on Sunday, December 12, 2004 - 12:58 pm: |
I once saw a schedule of ships to arrive in Bonaire. But I don't recall where. Can someone post the schedule, or the web address?
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By Eileen Kimmett (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7019) on Sunday, December 12, 2004 - 1:18 pm: |
Please post pics!!
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By Linda Richter - NetTech (Moderator - Post #2053) on Sunday, December 12, 2004 - 1:43 pm: |
http://www.infobonaire.com/cruises.html
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By Jake Richter (Moderator - Post #5303) on Sunday, December 12, 2004 - 3:15 pm: |
Here you go with pics of the Queen Mary 2. Also included in several of the shots is the Silver Whisper (smaller and posher).
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By Bart Snelder (BonaireTalker - Post #18) on Sunday, December 12, 2004 - 3:48 pm: |
unf"ιη_ingbelievable!!!! That covers the coastline almost from Divi to Nautico, that is just unreal. Just doubled the population of Bonaire, what???
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By john merriner (BonaireTalker - Post #16) on Sunday, December 12, 2004 - 4:02 pm: |
WOW!!!
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By Eileen Kimmett (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #7022) on Sunday, December 12, 2004 - 4:12 pm: |
WOW!! Thank-you Jake and Linda!
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By Martin de Weger (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3720) on Sunday, December 12, 2004 - 4:26 pm: |
KEWL!! I remember her sailing out of the Rotterdam harbour. That is one impressive lady!! Too bad we are going th miss her when she comes back at the end of the month..
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By Carole Baker (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4429) on Sunday, December 12, 2004 - 4:32 pm: |
That is absolutely unbelievable! To double the population of the island with one docking...that is something beyond the realm of comprehension!
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By Cynde (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #12774) on Sunday, December 12, 2004 - 4:33 pm: |
WOW!!! Indeed...just WOW...what kind of activities do they plan for their passengers while on land..diving? touring the island? visiting Sorobon? Donkey Sanctuary? You certainly couldn't fill an entire day of shopping downtown! Anyone know?
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By Ann Phelan (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1625) on Sunday, December 12, 2004 - 5:02 pm: |
My new puppy had me up at 5 AM so we walked across the street to the sea and watched her looming pre dawn all lit up.
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By Glen Reem (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1940) on Sunday, December 12, 2004 - 5:06 pm: |
She certainly is impressively large as seen against a Bonaire backdrop.
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By Mickey McCarthy (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #173) on Sunday, December 12, 2004 - 5:21 pm: |
Glen
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By Glen Reem (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1941) on Sunday, December 12, 2004 - 8:19 pm: |
So it didn't 'double the population of Bonaire' quite. :)
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By Carole Baker (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4433) on Sunday, December 12, 2004 - 11:51 pm: |
Never been, most likely never will....cb
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By mary pequinot (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #397) on Monday, December 13, 2004 - 8:03 am: |
I just hope this isn't the start of more cruise ships in Bonaire. Bonaire is not a cruise ship type island-not enough jewelry stores and hype. And that's exactly why I like it.
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By Lee da Silva (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #8) on Monday, December 13, 2004 - 8:06 am: |
Jake and Linda, great pictures. Thanks
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By Bob Birk (BonaireTalker - Post #32) on Monday, December 13, 2004 - 9:21 am: |
Nice pictures, but they still look like the same old floating tourist boxes. Nothing of the stately elegance of the original Queens. Time marches on, I guess. Heavy sigh.
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By Harrie Cox (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #179) on Monday, December 13, 2004 - 12:24 pm: |
Some additional pictures:
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By michael gaynor (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1860) on Monday, December 13, 2004 - 12:47 pm: |
No need to worry. Bonaire's plans do not call for more cruise ships in the near future. There is a long standing project for a new pier with shops near where the old cusoms pier was, however it looks like it will be a while before it happens. Also, there is not enough infrastructure to support more than two ships at a time.
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By Walter Stegemann (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #4) on Monday, December 13, 2004 - 1:05 pm: |
Great photos W.O.W BIG BOAT
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By Linda Stoltzfus (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #411) on Monday, December 13, 2004 - 1:20 pm: |
Here Lurker...Lurker
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By Nat (BonaireTalker - Post #48) on Monday, December 13, 2004 - 1:32 pm: |
That many people generate a huge amount of human waste, garbage, and trash, especially with the lifestyle excesses on cruise ships. Anybody know what happens to it all?
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By Walter Stegemann (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #5) on Monday, December 13, 2004 - 1:38 pm: |
Yes I'am a lurker lurker
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By Linda Stoltzfus (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #412) on Monday, December 13, 2004 - 6:25 pm: |
LOL...
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By Marc @ CrystalVisions (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1363) on Monday, December 13, 2004 - 10:32 pm: |
More pictures (including aerial shots) at VisionsOfBonaire
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By Carole Baker (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4436) on Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 2:16 am: |
Awesome shots, Marc! What a thrill that must have been parasailing over the QM2 and the other cruise liner, too. Beautifully done!
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By Carole Baker (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4437) on Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 2:18 am: |
Oh, Harrie! I'm so sorry I forgot to thank you, too!!! My apologies! Thank you so much for sharing your photos with us, too. Ayo. Carole
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By DARLENE ELLIS (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1290) on Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 11:17 am: |
Jake, Linda, Harrie and Mark, Thank you all for sharing the photos of this giagantic vessel! She almost reaches the Divi from the town dock!!! In one of Mark's pictures you can see Ulf and Dee's boat and the Woodwind! It also appears that the bow is right in front of Cha Cha pier and the Dive Inn. Simply incredible!!!
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By J.J zambrano mazzei (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #113) on Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 1:52 pm: |
Jake.....the other boat looks like a toy...(great pictures) thanks
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By jason thomas (BonaireTalker - Post #87) on Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 5:57 pm: |
Wow I guess it does rain in Bonaire.
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By jason thomas (BonaireTalker - Post #88) on Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 5:59 pm: |
Wow I guess it does rain in Bonaire.
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By Linnea Wijkhof-Wimberly (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #806) on Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 6:34 pm: |
Great pics, Jake and Marc. Here's a shot of the original from Dave Lee's Queen Mary Photo Page. Hope I have better luck with this image.
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By Linnea Wijkhof-Wimberly (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #807) on Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 6:35 pm: |
Great pics, Jake and Marc. Here's a shot of the original from Dave Lee's Queen Mary Photo Page. Hope I have better luck with this image.
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By andrew hamilton (BonaireTalker - Post #57) on Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 6:39 pm: |
Anyone else think this is not such a great development? Does this mean Bonaire will go the way of Cozumel - rows and rows of jewelery shops selling tanzanite and other trinkets at inflated prices, together with ever expanding numbers of waddlingly obese 'cruise doozies'? How often will the boat call? Seldom I hope.
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By Carole Baker (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4442) on Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 6:52 pm: |
I don't really care for it, Andrew. I'm hoping there are not too many liners scheduled to arrive at Bonaire's port. See my posting up higher in this thread. cb
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By Bob Birk (BonaireTalker - Post #33) on Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 9:24 pm: |
For a number of years, Cozumel was our destination of choice. At that time, one cruise ship came in on, I believe, Wednesday. We just stayed out of town on that day. On our last trip, there were 2 or 3 in every day, they had added stop lights and a second gas station. Lost the flavor of the place, never went back. Love the shot of the original QM, saw her a few times. I was also on a destroyer berthed for a few days in Port everglades just in front of the QE. Those were the iron ships, not hotels caulked up and laid down in the water. Andrew, ditto on the cruise ship folks.
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By Kevin Hardy (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #6) on Wednesday, December 15, 2004 - 1:48 pm: |
We were flying out the morning the QM2 was docked and got this view from the air. Really hope mega ships don't become the norm on Bonaire. We really saw what it did to Aruba (yuck!).
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By Carl Pflanzer (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #134) on Wednesday, December 15, 2004 - 7:16 pm: |
Thanks guys for the great pictures and stories.
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By Israel A. Sanchez (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #121) on Wednesday, December 15, 2004 - 7:50 pm: |
I too echo the sentiments on cruise ships. When my wife and I were in Roatan this past August we had the misfortune to Run into a cruiseship vomiting its cargo of podpeople into West Bay. Ugh! Very disconcerting to see the nice beach being transformed into a landfill at the end of the day. There were signs clearly stating that collecting was not allowed and please to refrain from touching the reefs, but guess what... chunks of corals, shells, and starfish taken as souveniers!!! Needless to say, quite a few were left at the beach to rot. I saw the QM2 when it docked in Manhattan, and was more disgusted than impressed. Another symbol of excessiveness in all aspects with complete disregard to its impact on the environment (Hummers anyone?). JMHO. Coach Izzy
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By gregg brewer (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #679) on Wednesday, December 15, 2004 - 8:45 pm: |
Coach,
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By Israel A. Sanchez (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #122) on Wednesday, December 15, 2004 - 9:18 pm: |
Hey Gregg, according to the Calendar, the Cow Mary 2 is supposed to dock her hefty derriere on the 26th, The AidaVita on the 28th, and the Silver Whisper on the 29th. I'm sorry to hear about the podpeople mobbing the Divi (is it the dive shop, the beach, the restaurant, or the casino? Hope you get enough tanks to stay well north (or south) while they are there. We will be staying at the divi from March 20-27, and the only one ship is due that week. The Aida Vita is scheduled to dock on March 22. My wife and I will probably spend our day at the national park that day. Oh well, I hope you have a good time! Coach Izzy
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By Glen Reem (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1944) on Wednesday, December 15, 2004 - 10:12 pm: |
Interesting aerial shot from Kevin. The lighting provides a fine view of an into-the-water discharge from the ship at the stern that looks to have oil content, with that telltale surface sheen. Good thing the water/wind flow is offshore. Looks like some sort of smoke from nearer amidships.
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By Glen Reem (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1945) on Wednesday, December 15, 2004 - 11:02 pm: |
Jake's second pic shows a 'lake' in the foreground. Left over from when 'the rains came'???
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By Carole Baker (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4445) on Wednesday, December 15, 2004 - 11:53 pm: |
I was checking out the same observations, Glen. I thought I saw something that appeared to be a sheen on the water in a couple of Marc's shots, too. My hubby thought it might have been the tide waters but I'm not certain.
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By Mickey McCarthy (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #174) on Thursday, December 16, 2004 - 12:54 am: |
Glen
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By Glen Reem (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1946) on Thursday, December 16, 2004 - 12:55 am: |
I recognized the location-- just surprised water still would be standing there from the rains. I have seen some water there in the past: )
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By andrew hamilton (BonaireTalker - Post #59) on Thursday, December 16, 2004 - 3:51 am: |
Good to hear that there is a concensus on this one - ie that this aint great news. No doubt some of the business folk on Bonaire will be happy, but there has to be a balance between what attracts folk who come to stay for 1-3 weeks and put a great deal of cash into the economy over a prolonged period and the one off pulses of cash brought by a cruise liner docking for a day. I certainly regard the appearance of leviathans (both the ship and the people it carries) with a degree of concern to say the least, and its a minus point in Bonaire's ledger. I loved the diving in Cozamel but would hesitate to go back because of all the associated cruise related paraphenalia.
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By Brigitte Kley - Coco Palm Garden (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #223) on Thursday, December 16, 2004 - 7:36 am: |
The QE2 comes for more than 20 years 2x per year ... and now it is the Queen Mary .... Cunard is one of the few interested in Bonaire ... we speak about an average of 1 cruise ship a week .. from Dec to March ...
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By Bob Birk (BonaireTalker - Post #34) on Thursday, December 16, 2004 - 9:32 am: |
The folks who do these cruises seem to think they are the greatest thing since sliced bread. Lots of food, drink, excercise (gyms), a casino, they get to dress up some nights. Lots of stops where they can get off the boat and "mingle" with the quaint natives. On the other hand, the places where we visit or have visited (a week or two at a time) like the input of currency, as the souveniers generally sell for twice as much around the piers. At mealtime, the "sailors" tend to mosey back to the ship where the meals are already paid for. It is amusing to see thousands of folks (in all kinds of interesting dress) crowding a town square in the afternoon, and then see it deserted a few hours later, except for some trash. I've seen this scenario in Cozumel, St Maarten, Grand Cayman, St Thomas and Belize City. I prefer shorts and sandals. As an ex-sailor, any ship without a gun mount is a target. But, to each his own. Give me a secluded beach, some grilled fish and cold beer and some diving and I am "on vacation".
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By Kelly Baum (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2113) on Thursday, December 16, 2004 - 10:27 am: |
"...vomiting it's cargo of podpeople" .... lol... that's one of the best descriptions I've ever heard... well said Coach Izzy..
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By Glen Reem (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1947) on Thursday, December 16, 2004 - 12:31 pm: |
Mickey,
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By Kevin Hardy (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #9) on Thursday, December 16, 2004 - 2:13 pm: |
Some of what you might be seeing in my airel photo might be the dirt on the Bonaire Exel plane window and the JPG compression. I don't recall seeing any smoke from the ship. Now the slick was definately there, however it's to the leeward of the ship so who knows.
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By Glen Reem (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1948) on Thursday, December 16, 2004 - 2:34 pm: |
If the slick were to windward, it would not likely be from the ship, but to leeward... :)
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By Israel A. Sanchez (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #123) on Thursday, December 16, 2004 - 8:15 pm: |
Regardless of what the picture implies, that behemoth does affect that water that surrounds it. They had to dump their ballast water somewhere, and I'm guessing it was some place pretty close. Ballast water is a common way to introduce foreign species/organisms into an environment, and let's not get started on waste management, Ok, ok, I'm not getting mad... Take a deep breath... Ohhhmmm!
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By Cynde Loo Hoo (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #12810) on Thursday, December 16, 2004 - 8:24 pm: |
Diversity is good in the world, and I say to each his own. I know that there are regulations for cruise ships, and when and where they can dump (some comply, some don't). Don't get me wrong, I would not want Bonaire to see 4 a day like St. Martin, however, there are people that enjoy them (be them podpeople or not). We can't fight it, they exist, and a lot of people enjoy them. I have only been on one cruise, and it was with my mom 3 years ago. One of the best memories I have of our relationship. We had a wonderful time, dressing up for dinner, enjoying the amenities the ship had to offer. It was only a 4 day cruise from LA to Ensenada Mexico, and since we were from San Diego, we didn't "vomit" off of the ship with the rest. We stayed on and just had a nice relaxing afternoon in our room with a balcony.
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By Carole Baker (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4449) on Thursday, December 16, 2004 - 9:39 pm: |
Cynde, you mean you and Mom did not hit Husong's Cantina in Ensenada??? No primal screaming for the two of you on that cruise??!! LOL. That is the only place I recall during our jaunt down to Ensenada....it was one of those "lost days", if you know what I mean. That Mexican tekillya can really get to you during the daytime....memories....that's all at this point of our lives.
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By Cynde Loo Hoo (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #12812) on Thursday, December 16, 2004 - 9:47 pm: |
Ah....Husongs...spent many a night in that place between the ages of 19 and 24...even broke my nose there...my brother got arrested there...ah..."memories, are so beautiful and yet....many colored memories, the way we were" think Barbara Striestand here ;-)
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By Linda Stoltzfus (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #420) on Friday, December 17, 2004 - 11:43 am: |
Just a note on Cruise Ships... Last April, while snorkeling off of the south side of Klein, I swam into a huge amount of surface scum. The dive boat followed the scum back to the cruise ship at the dock. Needless to say, I scurried off that dive boat directly to the showers!!
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By Cynde Loo Hoo (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #12813) on Friday, December 17, 2004 - 5:03 pm: |
Linda, ICK!
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