Comments on: BEST Concerned By Channel Proposals

By: Kim Smith

Kim Smith — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:13:21 +0000

@Wpplarestupid… please join us in BEST so you can see that we aren’t all Wppl… nor retired people… nor wives of expats who ‘ain’t got s..t to do’. We are Bermudians Wppl and Bppl and there is much to do to protect Bermuda’s very limited space for the future generations of ALLppl!!!

By: Tibicen bermudiana

Tibicen bermudiana — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 19:15:24 +0000

when the corals die and the shoreline starts washing away, then you will need housing too, bird

By: Wpplarestupid

Wpplarestupid — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:42:05 +0000

The Bermuda problem will not ever change.

BEST and the ppl in it are idiots.
We will never get anything done with these idiots complaining about everything.

BEST are a bunch of ppl who dont care about tourism. Effen retired people and wives of expats who aint got S…t to do.

The rest of us need JOBS

By: Timothy Hickey

Timothy Hickey — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 03:45:27 +0000

Hmm…Interesting remark…At one time I would have agreed with you when I cruised there in the 1990′s. But NOW, with the crime rate that has happened on your ONCE beautiful Island, a cruise to Bermuda has become no better than a cruise to Mexico!! So sad. I used to feel so welcomed on Bermuda. Not any more.

By: Timothy Hickey

Timothy Hickey — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 03:28:59 +0000

Just so you know 1 minute, ANY REAL cruise passenger to Bermuda will tell you we rent scooters and do the island for the 3 days we are there. We may eat breakfast onboard the ship BUT when we are out and about the Island during the day, we stop at pubs, eat at restaurants for lunch AND dinner THEN return to the ship for bed. We don’t speed back to the ship for meals. The so called trinkets we buy are NOT only onboard. REAL cruisers WANT the items of the Island and are willing to pay for them. So go ahead, think Air Travel. The numbers stated above are SO bloated because what air tourists pay for their flights and the prices they pay on the Island make them that way. When you see who can and CAN’T afford to stay on the Island, and the numbers start falling off because of the Island hotel prices and the like, and there are NO cruise passengers anymore, “THINK AIR TRAVEL”!!!

By: Puppet on a string

Puppet on a string — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 03:09:21 +0000

That might be so , but our slice has already been cut in half, and will get thinner after 2013.

By: Puppet on a string

Puppet on a string — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 03:07:26 +0000

Would you feel comfortable as a the tourism minister, the premeire, a cruise rep or tourist relying on the ferrys here? Probably not a bad idea in principle…but I cant see it been a good thing here.

By: itsme

itsme — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 01:15:19 +0000

@ RobbieM
Maybe it should have read. ” For the islands to our South “. That’s the point i was trying to make, the cruise lines did buy those islands, which is one of the MAIN reasons carnival is pulling out of Bermuda, because they can’t buy Bermuda.
Now ain’t that some SH!T.
When Carnival was first approached about cruising to Bermuda, they wanted to set up shop in Dockyard exclusively for their passengers, similar to what is seen at other destinations to our South ( BETTER ).

The OBA/UBP peep reference, is for those individuals who are apart of the complainers, but NEVER want to do or offer any solutions.

By: Graeme Outerbridge

Graeme Outerbridge — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:17:32 +0000

Well done BEST…you do Bermuda proud with your reasoned approach to the larger issues caused by the cruise ship industry and their huge impact on our coral reef platform. True long term value is in protecting our marine environment from the damage of this industry.NO is the correct response to widening our channels for the larger cruise ships^^

By: Larry Burchall

Larry Burchall — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:41:38 +0000

RobbieM – Teenyweeny correction

1998 visitor expenditure cruise = $64.9 million. NO. BDoT reported $42.5 million
Air = $266.4 million. NO. BDoT reported $438.0m

2010 visitor expenditure cruise = $61.00 million
Air = $322.9 million

So the disparity is even greater The average spend per Cruise Visitor in 1998 was $225. In 2010 it had fallen to $175 with the dollar buying less in 2010 than it would have bought in 1998.

In 2010, one airliner with 315 Air Arrivals provided as much spending as one mega-cruiseship with 2,500 passengers. (315 x $1,390 = $437,580 – vs – 2,500 x $175 = $437,500)

By: LOL (original)

LOL (original) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:03:09 +0000

This is the most possitive comment all day keep thinking out of the box. With all the alternitives you have presented here it’s no wonder that you dedicate your time to “shooting the messengers” trying to paint them as the “evil opposition” cause they don’t agree with your peeps. Funny that where have we heard that before………………

LOL

Doing less and getting paid more since……………….

By: RobbieM

RobbieM — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:00:38 +0000

Pastor Syl, I totally agree with you.

@ Its me says, Bermuda is not “down the Islands to our South”, so you cannot compare apples with oranges. The cruise lines bought those places! What’s up with “Listen up OBA/UBP peeps”? Sounds like you have an issue other than the one in the article?

By: YES MATE!

YES MATE! — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 20:48:55 +0000

While I am no fan of the current government, I gotta set the record straight. They built one cruise ship dock (Heritage Wharf, at the cost of three docks). There are four four restaurants, five if you include Hammerheads at Snorkel Park, the location of the man made beach which has been there for over ten years and was/is privately built and maintained.

By: Pastor Syl

Pastor Syl — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:06:39 +0000

@ My Two Cents and Listen to what the Man Said: I am in agreement. One has to wonder who was given the contract to do this job and when. And why are we NOT building a hotel?? How many have been promised in the last 6 or so years? I don’t know but I do know how many have been completed. NONE.

BEST: Please, please keep up the good work, watch-dogging our fragile ecosystem!

By: its me

its me — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:46:22 +0000

Listen up OBA/ UBP peeps.
You can’t have it both ways. Do you want the tourist here or not. For the tourists who prefer to travel via ship, it is quite obvious that these ships WILL NOT and CON NOT berth in the City of Hamilton and St. George’s. While you continue to try and poke fun at the Govn’t for not being able to handle these ships, let’s actually look at it.
Down the islands to our South, where ships similar in size cruise and anchor at sea, I don’t remember the Govn’t of ANY of these countries actually tendering in the passengers. It was PRIVATE boats contracted by the ship and or the emergency boats that are on the ships. These boats will run 24/7 for the passengers who ventured off the boat whilst in port.
For the few ships that did dock at a port, most where to their own island or at a port that the cruise ship had a stake in.
So maybe Bermuda should just sell out like the islands to the South and allow the cruise ships to do whatever the hell they want.
Would that make you happy, Mr OBA/ UBP/ 40 thief

By: Listen to what the man

Listen to what the man — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:43:07 +0000

1 Minute you are so correct. All the time money and effort we put in to getting people who don’t stay here, and don’t spend money is ridiculous – a total embarrassment.

By: 1minute

1minute — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:46:45 +0000

We need to up the number of hotel room and concentrate on air travel. We need to work with the airlines and bring down the price of a ticket to get here. Hotels & the BUI need to work on bringing down the price of the rooms.
Cruise ship passengers don’t spend on land. their food in port is included in the cruise cost. The trinkets they buy, are from the shops on board.
Think Air travel

By: RobbieM

RobbieM — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:02:03 +0000

Government Facts and Figures

1998 Cruise Visitors 188,300
Air Arrivals 368,800

2010 Cruise Arrivals 347,900
Air Arrivals 232,300

1998 # of beds = 7,472
2010 # of beds = 5,722

1998 visitor expenditure cruise = $64.9 million
Air = $266.4 million

2010 visitor expenditure cruise = $61.00 million
Air = $322.9 million

Totally agree with you “Listen to what the man says”!

By: Listen to what the man

Listen to what the man — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:55:31 +0000

This was directly caused by our brilliant politicians deciding to build TWO docks at the end of the island with only two restaurants and one road out of dodge. Then they created a man made beach. My God these people deserve all the criticism they get’.

….and yet we still vote these jokers in each election. I guess that’s where the term ‘Dom Bermujan’ came from.

By: Timothy Hickey

Timothy Hickey — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:45:49 +0000

….and yet Bermuda complains when the Cruise lines cut back or cancel their visits to the Island huh? Go figure….

By: Timothy Hickey

Timothy Hickey — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:44:02 +0000

No, that’s NOT what I mean. The ferry operators on Bermuda are contracted by the Island where PRIVATE tender operators who own or lease their own vessels to operate contract with individual Cruise Lines. If you get stuck in the dockyard or ANYWHERE after being advised of transport times, that’s YOUR bad, NOT anyone elses. Bad planning on your part does NOT constitute an emergency on anyone else’s part! On many a cruise to Bermuda, I have witnessed people left on the dock only to be taken out to meet the ship by another means at their own expense.

By: your joking

your joking — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:24:50 +0000

exactly……get the hotel built in St Georges and provide incentives for insurance business and others to set up shop in St Georges and it will come alive again with shops and restaurants..etc…

By: your joking

your joking — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:17:56 +0000

ps…you mean like it is in Bermuda now with ferries stopping at 8:30-9 ….and every tourist i talked to this summer…….hundreds,……..ALL hated being stuck in Dockyard….

By: Listen to what the man

Listen to what the man — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:09:26 +0000

If Bermuda even had the $$$$$$$ to widen the channels (which they don’t but please stay with me). If we had the $70mill (which really means $140mill after over runs and crooked politician kick backs) then we should build a frickin hotel with it and fill it with REAL tourists.

Tell the cruise ship to go faking somewhere else!!!!!!

Can’t believe we are even talking about such a stupid and brainless idea. Only in Bermuda could there be such idiots in charge that such assinine ideas actually get talked about. Use the money to expand St Brendans – and the put the politicians in it. An shrow avay de key!

By: RobbieM

RobbieM — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:02:38 +0000

These cruise ship passengers spend little in Bermuda. A huge amount of revenue from Government is required for the infrastructure to provide services to these visitors, so the Government probably does not make much of a return either (if anything.
The Panamax ships boost arrivals figures for the Tourism Minister, but here are the revenue figures:

1998 visitor expenditure cruise = $64.9 million
Air = $266.4 million

2010 visitor expenditure cruise = $61.00 million
Air = $322.9 million

With almost double the # of cruise passengers in 2010 compared with 1998, Bermuda took in less money! Factor in inflation at 2-3% per year for 12 years and one can see that the cruise passengers are not contributing much to Bermuda. Factor in the wear and tear on facilities used by them, we probably come out at a net loss overall!

By: Timothy Hickey

Timothy Hickey — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:55:22 +0000

Maybe Ganja….BUT, as my mom used to tell me, “Half a slice of pie is better than NO slice of pie”!! Bermuda could have the normal amount of ships in port and have those anchored offshore as an added bonus to the Islands tourism. The issue with the end time of the tenders can be worked out with the tender operators which I am sure would appreciate the added business!!

By: My two cents

My two cents — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:53:11 +0000

trust levels

By: My two cents

My two cents — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:52:05 +0000

Where is the money to do this job? The country is broke a s a joke. The fact that we are even hanging on to this idea is beyond ridiculous. Who has this job already been promised to? How long have they had the contract? Time to dig up the dirt on this questionable project. Government rust levels are at an all time low worldwide. And we are allowing these politricians to destroy our countries and our livelihood. Look at the mess the world is in due our horrible corrupt politicians that are being paid BY THE TAXPAYER. We are giving our hard earned money and getting nothing in return but more debt and higher taxes. What can we do? We must do something to knock these people off there high horses. Time for a reality check. A boycott of some sort? Any suggestions?

By: navin johnson

navin johnson — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:49:45 +0000

with air arrivals contributing more than 10 times a day than cruise arrivals does it not make sense to find another way to bring 25,000 more people in by air each year…..easier said than done I’m sure but by most measures cruise visits are not worth much to the island in real money….

By: Triangle Drifter

Triangle Drifter — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:39:43 +0000

Tough call. While it is well known that cruise visitors do not contribute anywhere near the benefit that the air visitor does, it is the Bemrudians themselves who are not ready for air visitors to return. The poor attitude towards so called servitude jobs has to change before any improvement at the airport arrivals hall will happen.

We are left with accomodating the ships or getting out of tourism completly. We are not doing a very good job of serving the ships as it is. Again, it is a human problem, not an infrastructure problem.

Being able to dock in Hamilton & St Georges will reduce the human transport problem & also encourage business in those ports, though a drastic change in attitude of many sales clerks is needed there too.

I’ll give former Premier Brown credit where due. He advocated widening, at least the St Georges channel & warned of the trend to the panamax ships. Too bad that while doing that he was also busy with other questionable financial ventures.

Now Bermuda is broke with nothing to show for it. No deep & wide channels. No new causway.

By: Ganja Mon

Ganja Mon — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:38:54 +0000

easier said then done. When the ship isn’t at a dock you cant really enjoy the Island. I have been on a cruise to (can’t exactly remember which Island) but the last tender stopped well before you could enjoy the night life.

By: Listen to what the man

Listen to what the man — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:28:18 +0000

In conclusion: There’s not a brain cell between them. We are in deep doo doo.

By: Listen to what the man

Listen to what the man — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:27:08 +0000

Timothy. One reason that this won’t work is that it makes too much sense. Government will not hear of it because of that fact alone. Our politicians would much prefer to widen the cut by 120 feet in order to accommodate and extra 10 (yes ten) feet of cruise ship width. This sounds so ridiculous to anyone of reason, but to a politician this is the way to go. Insane to anyone of sound mind – but a splendid idea to those in charge of ruining Bermuda. I can only conclude that this study was done by the same people who decided it was a good idea to charge twice as much for our shortest ferry ride, as for our longest ferry ride.

By: Timothy Hickey

Timothy Hickey — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:06:36 +0000

Just a thought. Why is it that to preserve the serenity, beauty and purity of Bermuda that the cruise lines can not anchor offshore? This is done in Belize where a ride on a tender of about 30 minutes to shore is done. I am aware that there is many Coral areas around the Island but I also believe that there ARE areas where vessels can drop anchor and tender people in. This action would produce jobs for captains of charter vessels that would be hired by the cruise lines to transport cruise passengers to and from St. Georges & Hamilton. It would also help to preserve the Eco system of Bermuda. If this could be done, than Bermuda could continue to sustain it’s cruise docking areas AND have the availability of extra tourists by having cruise ships anchored offshore. Just a thought….