http://cruisecritic.com/boards

Has a message area under Ports of Call for Bonaire. Most of the questions involve snorkeling/diving, day passes at resorts, should I get off the ship, etc.

everyone should post responses such as "ugh - what a horrible port of call; downtown is too small, no shopping, nothing to do. I wish the cruise lines would drop this island from its itinerary".

This discussion just came up over in the Webcams listing last week when we saw the ships coming in. It really is a double edged sword between bringing in tourism money to the local economy and overloading what we all see as our quiet little get-away island. I agree with Sue to some extent, but that's mainly from my own selfish reasoning.

I never have heard directly from the locals on island, but I have to assume they're happy to have all the cruise people spending their money.

From what I have heard from the locals it is not a huge bon to the economy beyond the tour guides, taxis, some bars at Lac Bay and such. Not much is apparently purchased downtown from what I have been told, at least not to the extent that people would hope. Some locals have told me that the biggest income is in the port taxes and fees paid by the cruise ship companies to the government