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Re: 1995 aftermath - how soon cruise visits resumed?
[Re: PelicanPirate]
#141471
09/08/2017 01:56 PM
09/08/2017 01:56 PM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 101 Pittsburgh
louise
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 101
Pittsburgh
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Our first visit to St. Martin was the November the next year after Luis. We hadn't realized that they had a hurricane until we arrived. The trees were still basically leafless and landscape not very colorful, yet. We stayed at Maho Beach Hotel, the current Sonesta. The main build was fine, but the adjoining one, which is now the upscale all-inclusive, was still in ruins. Orient Beach wasn't very developed,yet, but they did have a few beach bars/restaurants, and it was great. We still had a wonderful time. It was when we fell in love with the island and have returned every year since. Development was very limited back then. It was a simpler life, and the people were charming and friendly. Seeing the horrible looting and lack of order, currently, I am very worried about the island's future. Tourism is the island's economy. Those helping themselves to whatever they can grab should think ahead to what their lives will be like if they scare away the tourists. I agree with the assessment of at least two years to be ready for tourists since Irma has been so much more destructive than Luis. We would love to return, too, but will just have to wait and see.
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Re: 1995 aftermath - how soon cruise visits resumed?
[Re: louise]
#141472
09/08/2017 03:38 PM
09/08/2017 03:38 PM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,562 Long Island, NY
RICKnGRACE_LI_NY
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,562
Long Island, NY
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I think everyone is being overly optimistic. A year or 2 seems impossible from the pictures I am seeing. Phillipsburg has been badly damaged. Marigot is too. What would there be for a cruise passenger to see? Take an excursion to see the aftermath of the worst hurricane in recent times? And sadly Louise is correct. Tourism is the Island economy. We have been going since 1993 and I can honestly say have never been afraid. After what we are reading and seeing we are. There is a reason we have never been to Jamaica or the DR. I don't want to be on vacation and feel I need to be locked up in a compound to remain safe.
Rick and Grace
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Re: 1995 aftermath - how soon cruise visits resumed?
[Re: RICKnGRACE_LI_NY]
#141473
09/10/2017 12:01 AM
09/10/2017 12:01 AM
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Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 15 Cleveland, Ohio
uc2enter
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 15
Cleveland, Ohio
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I bought into my timeshare at Sapphire Beach Club in October 1994, I arrived back on the St. Maarten October 1995 after 'The three most notable storms during the season were hurricanes Luis, Marilyn, and Opal. ' Orient Beach was destroyed and many of the huts were gone and vegetation was gone and looked similar to Irma destruction but many other places on the island started to grow and develop but on 'island time' slow and steady. I believe that it took about 2-3 years to see actual changes all over the island. By October 1999, I recall being there for Hurricane Jose Category 2. Having been a time share owner for 23 years and having only miss about 3 trips and being involved in 4-5 hurricanes on the island from Category 2,3,4 and several tropical storms and tropical waves. Time of repairs seem to take longer for repairs with higher Category strengths from several months to 2-5 years to rebuild. The French side was fixed quickly compared to Dutch side. But over the years, both sides seem too help each other with repairs. But in all those years, never has the air port sustained the destruction of this recent hurricane Irma nor the loss of the shipping ports too. Usually with in days or weeks the Island started to rebuild and infrastructure was fixable. My second home at Sapphire Beach Club was of 5% that is still standing and working.
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Re: 1995 aftermath - how soon cruise visits resumed?
[Re: Cathyg]
#141475
09/10/2017 01:39 AM
09/10/2017 01:39 AM
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Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 15 Cleveland, Ohio
uc2enter
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 15
Cleveland, Ohio
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Understand, we were booked for 2 weeks in the middle of October 2017. We have decided to not go back this year for safety reasons and health reasons. You may want to check back in several months because or at the first of the year to see the progress. Because both governments on the island want a quick recovery and or economic factors may increase the process. I was on St. Martin right after Hurricane Louis in October 1995, and at the airport was almost sent to Puerto Rico because the island was not accepting tourists but as an owner the airport contacted Sapphire Beach Club and the woman who sold us the timeshare brought our deed and contract and we were admitted. Not many places were opened but our staff and managers took my wife and I and friend with other owners on catamaran trip and we drank Dom Pérignon champagne with a decendant of Dom Pérignon who owned a jewelry store on the island.
Last edited by uc2enter; 09/10/2017 01:40 AM.
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Re: 1995 aftermath - how soon cruise visits resumed?
[Re: RICKnGRACE_LI_NY]
#141477
09/11/2017 09:30 AM
09/11/2017 09:30 AM
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 388 ONTARIO
bvilovercgb
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 388
ONTARIO
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I for one hate what the cruise ships have done to the Caribbean way of life. Having said that, I doubt that there will be any around for a few years. The devastation of the infrastructure will be a monumental task in itself. Maybe sailors will restore the simpler ways, but the looting that has been going on says that the islands will not be safe for a long time. Martial law is in effect in Tortola...yeah who ever thought those lazy louts would surface. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />
Last edited by bvilovercgb; 09/11/2017 09:36 AM.
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