I got this email the other day.


"Dear Mr. Gauron,

Thank you for your email and for your interest in Bonaire's development.

Your comments will be taken into consideration.

Pls. be assured that Bonaire's cruise toursim will not grow into masses.

I do understand your concern and will pass it on to other appropriate authorities.

Sincerely,

Ronella Croes

Director
Tourism Corporation Bonaire
E-mail: gm@tourismbonaire.com

Kaya Grandi # 2, Kralendijk

T: +599 717-8322

C: +599 786-8322

F: +599 717-8408

---------------------------------------------

Then got this today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfG4OxDYXxg

My Lord!! Did I hear Ramonsito correctly?
"We want to grow from from 35,000 to 150,000 to 200,000 passengers"??
Duh..... And he was just elected. Oh boy..
Kralendyk is going to get crowded

Yep. I watched it in both languages and he said they were looking for growth from 35,000 passengers from cruise ships a year 4 years ago to 150,000 to 200,000 passengers in the next 2 to 3 years! That's intense. Also mentioned working on having the infrastructure in place for all of this.

Say good by to Bonaire!
I'm sorry, but this is crazy, what are they thinking? Or should I say, not thinking!

a discussion on this subject has taken place already http://www.oldbonairetalk.com/newsgroup/messages/29/315999.html?1179268029

The election poster for Ramasito shows a cruise ship in the background. One Bonairean I know from his party is all for massive cruise ship tourism. She believes this is best for Bonaire.

Oh my. cb

This would be the deal breaker for us. Traveling is getting harder (money) so we are becoming more selective. Neither of us likes crowds. I know several people are saying Bonaire won't go this route, but if it does I think the combination of expense of flight, difficulty of flights, and now adding cruise ship crowds would deter a lot of people. My experience at Eden Beach when the cruise ship people took over the place really left a bad taste in my mouth.

You said it, Tribs. cb

Tribs,
The CURRENT tally for this next season according to the CURRENT list is already 152,209.


Now, add the Summit which is scheduled (but not added into the total) 13 times with 2045 Passengers (add almost that many for crew - let's say 1500 conservatively) and add an additional 46,085.

Do the math and you are almost at 200,000 for next year.

So Susan...I have not been able to watch the video posted above (on dial-up) but Marilyn gave the projected numbers as the ones you gave as actual (and conservative). Does this mean it is happening this year? Could this mean it is actually going to get a lot worse? What is the new ship schedule? Is it still possible to plan a vacation to not coincide with the cruise ships or are there now boats in dock weekly? And finally, have any of the hotel owners opted to go the Nassau route...meaning are they going to prohibit cruise ship people from invading their property so that their paying guests can enjoy the facilities that they paid for?

Iwould suggest that you continue to express your concerns to TCB, listed in the first email. It is important that they hear that they will lose regular visitors to Bonaire because of the cruise ships.

Tribs,
The numbers I posted are for the 2007-08 season according to the CURRENT cruise ship list. This list is not yet posted anywhere on-line that I can find. Possibly TCB can provide the list as it stands now so you can better plan your holiday.

My e-mail of concern was just sent.

A tiny drop in the bucket, but every little bit might help raise awareness that not everyone is a fan of this sort of cash (and trash) infusion to this tiny island.

Just sent my email of concern to the TCB. What we need here is a massive influx of emails into the TCB to match the massive influx of pod people onto Bonaire. Bonaire Talk could shake the earth on this issue! Swamp the TCB with emails!!

I would suggest emails also go to Sen. Ramasito Booi. I do not know his email address.

What is the 'season' for scheduled cruise ships to Bonaire? I believe I read recently that the 2006-2007 season is over already. Sounds as though it coincides with northern cold weather.

Ever wonder what kind of damage a cruise ship can do a coral reef? Check this out: http://www.oceana.org/fileadmin/oceana/uploads/europe/reports/cruise_ships_eng.pdf

Message sent. Andy

Well, so much for the "off/slow" season which Joe and I always love to return to Bonaire. Could be that everyone (divers, snorkelers, etc) will be trying to book the rooms for the same time period...guess I'll have to start booking one year ahead in the future instead of seven or eight months ahead. Oh, my. cb

PS Would this increase (possible increase) in demand for land rooms (not pods) put the idea into the heads of the officials to build even more "larger" motel/hotel tourism units? Oh, my..oh my. cb

Carole..I suspect the demand for land rooms is directly proportional to the current airline situation. If people can't get to the island via air, they're not going to book rooms. That's the real "key".

From what I saw of Divi's planned All Incl. development at the new Sunset Beach, that appears to be pretty large to me. At any rate, from my personal observations it certainly appears that all the ocean front property is being rapidly grabbed up by potential builders for both private home ownership & commercial use.

I suspect once Divi's AI goes in, we will see Bonaire back in the charter market (in the 80's there was a charter from BOS called GWV) or another carrier or perhaps a Wed. flight on CO. That's what I see in my crystal ball.

You are probably correct, Ann. I'm just hoping Bonaire will remain serene (to a degree) and peaceful and not too over done for future trips, etc.

NJ has very few areas where you can just simply access the waters whenever and wherever you want....tons of McMansions going up where cute little cape cod homes or dunes once stood. Disgusting. (IMHO). When you DO find a public beach you must pay to access it. Not right. cb

Bonaire 2009 (Take a number please)

Bonaire 2010 (Note the toll bridge to Klein and water park)

Scary, Jerry....you just never know....cb

Jerry - Ok, color me naive, but is your picture for 2009 real or photoshopped? I realize it's not Bonaire, but is it really like that somewhere? That makes me shudder and break out in a cold sweat thinking about all those people in the same place. UGH

Becky....that looks like the beach at Rio to me. But who knows...very depressing.

All I know is I go on vacation to "relax", that scene is not relaxing to me... I'd rather be double booked with appointments all day and have 3 major emergencies as well as a half dozen walk ins.

God forbid Bonaire ever becomes like that - I'd certainly never return!

(Message edited by morgans4me on May 19, 2007)

I ask that the people who live on the island look at the the cruise industry and evaluate how it impacts them. Please take this sentiment to the polls in the next election.

I've just added the 2007/2008 schedule as was last provided to me, in the hope it will help with planning your vacations. It's available on InfoBonaire at http://www.infobonaire.com/cruises.html. Susan

Wow...I just don't know what to say. That's a lot of ships. I am very saddened by this. Thanks for posting the list Susan.

Just have a 2nd look at the schedule .... till end of October it is only the Freewind and the Polynesia ... we all know about the sh.... Freewind which is coming for many years - the Polynesia is a nice small sailing cruise.... Most of the ships on the list in high season are coming for years , nothing new - as the Arcadia, the Aida, the Cunard ships , the HAL ships ... . the only ones to get excited about are in high season the big ships from Princess Cruises --- instead of one a week there are now 1 week with 2 and 1 week still with 1 ship -- and the Celebrity with 1 ship every 2 weeks. It will certainly be crowded from just before x-max till just after new year - it was always a lot of ships at this time, but now they are a lot bigger - so in number of ships not that much more - but in number of passengers it makes a biiiggg difference.

I just saw a show on the Queen Mary II which boasts itself as an eco ship with it's on waste treatment plant. Sounds great but it also has 4 pods that move that boat, each producing enough power to move 3 jets at 500 MPH.

Remember in 2001 I think when the QEII was in and damaged the reef( I think as reported by Dee Scarr if I am not mistaken. Again, this was awhile back so do not quote me.

Some days such as Jan. 23 5k+ passengers will be in port. That's a lot of people!

Ann,

What is the typical "occupancy ratio" for these cruise ships? I believe the numbers above are capacity.

What percentage of their passengers come ashore in Bonaire? How are these typically spread out over the day?

In short, how many are likely to be ashore at any one time? That is the most interesting number.

Just a point of interest relative to cruise ships.
Not that long ago... whilst secured to the Bonaire dock one of the "prestigious" cruise ships
dumped Glass bottles, glasses beer tops and all manner of bar trash ( fortunately the trash also included a number of room keys identifying the culprit ship)
Many of the local divers were commissioned to recover the trash which was subsequently collected with the intent that prosecution would be swift and certain.....
Anybody have a clue what happened next?
Someone out there can point to any prosecution action either settled or pending?
Curious at all?
Another "Cruise Ship" Freewinds regularly deposits their wastes on this little rock while not even promoting any local trade.
Do you want to see it happen ? Be there afternoon of Freewinds 1st day in port -- watch the septic trucks pull waste water from the Freewinds tanks and follow the trucks along the Lagun road to turn off behind the Government sponsored nursery.
Well shucks folks... just another day in paradise

Glen,

I read the stats on the passenger list on each ship arriving and that is how I derived my quote. The Princess ships have around 3k passengers. Keep in mind many crew come into port as well but they utilize different services than tourists whilst on island.

There are several days with the Summit & Crown Princess scheduled on the same day. Is that correct? The tourist industry will be hard pressed to accomodate all of them. Maybe it's a plot for people to have a bad time and the ships will eliminate Bonaire from their itineraries next year.

PS - a positive with the Freewinds is that it doesn't disgorge pod people and the jogging group is quite a sight early in the morning.

Ol' Blue 2012

Wow ... they enlarged the beach..Good deal!
Now it'll be just like the Joisee Shore.

It's amazing what a few tons of TNT can do.

Ann (or anyone),

What I am asking is how many people actually are ashore on the island from a docked cruise ship at any given time. Surely it is not the entire passenger list as implied in some of the totals above.

Does TCB have any data/estimates on this? It seems like a number that would be interesting to them, and all the merchants.

Are we considering the impact of 2300 passengers against 3500 passengers?
Why ask that sort of question?
Why not look a base number? Say (per thousand cruise visitors, what is the impact) isn't that more appropriate?

Brian,

Answers to both our questions are needed for an objective judgement here. Your first question puts hypothetical numbers to my question.

I am trying to separate 'total passenger ship capacity docking in Bonaire' from the 'number of passengers actually coming ashore'; the latter are the main subject of this thread and the number important to Bonaire.

I ask my question(s) to be able to project likely new 'passengers ashore' numbers.

Your last question: my 'real numbers' times your 'impact rate' goes to 'total impact', the thing we are all concerned about.

Welcome to the South end.
Bonaire 2012.

Jerry, where are these pictures from ? Florida ?????
You would archive more if you would not over do it............... and by the way, the owner of Klein Bonaire is a foundation , they bought it several years ago to protect it

Jerry, I can see it now....CSI Kralendijk!

My dear Brigitte, any Gov that allows open pit dumping of waste, and whatever, anything is possible. It's just a matter of time. Bonaire is growing faster then it can handle, black outs, poor water in some parts, diminishing wild animal populations, traffic, pod people. Can you say Cancun?

Sounds really like you have Florida in your mind.... and if you talk about Bonaire, as I said before, you are exagerating in a way that it is difficult to take you serious

Are the open pits real?
Running blackouts?
Poor water in some parts?
Adding 100,000 to 200,000 more people stepping on Bonaire, what will be the true impact over a few years?

Exaggerating, of course the pic's are. The damage done to Bonaire will be no exaggeration. Nothing good will come of this. Yes, some people will get rich, most won't.

I think I will open a lemon-aid stand down town, want to invest?

Wow..Jerry if you're right I think we all ought to chip in & buy Esmeralda. Who cares if the development is at sealevel..We ought to make loads of money if you're right! And that half finished hotel project down south that's been sitting there for over 10 years? I think we all ought to purchase it. You heard of buy low & sell high?? Now's the time!!

I'm in.