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Warnings by Cruise Ship Companies Against SXM #156802
03/14/2018 05:12 PM
03/14/2018 05:12 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,917
New England (home), St. Maarte...
jmbcomms Offline OP
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jmbcomms  Offline OP
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,917
New England (home), St. Maarte...
We know some cruise ship companies are warning people not to go to SXM. We know that some cruise ship directors from ROYAL CARIBBEAN and MSC, at least, are telling passengers in SXM to avoid the French Side because it is "destroyed" and there is "nothing to do." All of that is pure B. S.

If you have witnessed this, please let me know on what ships and when this happened. Even better, if you have any printed matter from any cruise line expressing these same sentiments, please post it and / or PM me with it. I have the attention of the government and a lot of us want to put an end to this. Thanks for your help.

Jeff


Jeff Berger
Visiting SXM Since 1978
SXM Sponsors
Re: Warnings by Cruise Ship Companies Against SXM [Re: jmbcomms] #156803
03/14/2018 05:28 PM
03/14/2018 05:28 PM
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 280
Lithuania
Julius Offline
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Julius  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 280
Lithuania
Similar story - LINK

Re: Warnings by Cruise Ship Companies Against SXM [Re: Julius] #156804
03/14/2018 05:45 PM
03/14/2018 05:45 PM
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 656
Maine
SXMbeacher Offline
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SXMbeacher  Offline
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Posts: 656
Maine
Our experience the last two years we visited Philipsburg, has been that the hawkers/ barkers were there but not that bothersome. We have to avoid the timeshare folks like an obstacle course near the marina. Yes, they have to be very careful not to loose the cruisers or drive off the vacationers in that area!



Re: Warnings by Cruise Ship Companies Against SXM [Re: SXMbeacher] #156814
03/14/2018 08:21 PM
03/14/2018 08:21 PM
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 57
S
Steve Bond Offline
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Steve Bond  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 57
Absolutely agree. The SXM government needs to address the concerns of the cruise ships quickly before they refuse to make a port stop. Daily Herald had an article on it so the island better take this seriously. The cruise lines will not risk tarnishing their reputation by stopping at an island their clientele are complaining about. It’s a delicate situation as many of these hawkers are just trying to make some money in an economically depressed environment but frustrating the tourists will just worsen the situation for the island population.

Re: Warnings by Cruise Ship Companies Against SXM [Re: jmbcomms] #156815
03/14/2018 08:35 PM
03/14/2018 08:35 PM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 507
Florida
RobT Offline
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RobT  Offline
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Posts: 507
Florida
Our Carnival Pride cruise stopped in SXM in January. I did not hear anything bad about the French side, but few excursions were going there. After our brief tour of Orient Beach, I can see why they would not offer an excursion to Orient Beach. The Club Orient area was the only area that could handle a lot of people and the cruise ship would never organize a trip to Club O. I am not sure if Pinel Island was available either. Cruise ships like excursions to beach that have services. Orient Beach is not there yet. Prior to the trip, I thought the cruise lines were doing a good job of keeping people up to date on the status of SXM.


Beach Hunter
Re: Warnings by Cruise Ship Companies Against SXM [Re: jmbcomms] #156848
03/15/2018 11:18 AM
03/15/2018 11:18 AM
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 231
TOTOWA NJ
lina Offline
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lina  Offline
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Posts: 231
TOTOWA NJ
I ARRIVED ON THE FREEDOM January 10th never heard anything negative about SXM, not from the cruise ship, staff, or passengers .. could this be "fake News" ? lol


lina and piggy
Re: Warnings by Cruise Ship Companies Against SXM [Re: Julius] #156850
03/15/2018 11:43 AM
03/15/2018 11:43 AM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,278
Maryland/DC Metro
BeachKitten Offline
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BeachKitten  Offline
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Posts: 3,278
Maryland/DC Metro
Wow Julius, from that story:

"Primary locations for cruise and stay-over visitor harassment include Maho Beach, Mullet Bay Beach and Kim Sha Beach.
Adding to the visitor harassment mix with the barkers and cosmetic hawkers are taxi drivers screaming out to visitors, and timeshare sellers with scratch-card gimmicks."

I have to agree that it is annoying to be constantly bombarded by these things. We've gotten accustomed to it, but it does not make for a relaxing time trying to doze in your chair under an umbrella.

Those fly-by-night "cosmetic" operations are a scam. They must be short term leasing space in what otherwise would be an empty retail store. They have minimal set-up. The miracle eye tightening creme...HA!


"It is good to do nothing all day, and then to rest" wink
Re: Warnings by Cruise Ship Companies Against SXM [Re: jmbcomms] #156851
03/15/2018 11:48 AM
03/15/2018 11:48 AM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,569
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Online content
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SXMScubaman  Online Content
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Posts: 18,569
Auburn, WA
"The miracle eye tightening creme...HA!"
Probably repackaged Preparation H. LOL

Re: Warnings by Cruise Ship Companies Against SXM [Re: SXMScubaman] #156852
03/15/2018 11:50 AM
03/15/2018 11:50 AM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,278
Maryland/DC Metro
BeachKitten Offline
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BeachKitten  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,278
Maryland/DC Metro
You got it Scuba! And PrepH works great.... wink

It began bothering me about the time this article was written:
https://www.sxm-talks.com/local-news/is-frontstreet-being-flooded-with-cosmetic-scam-operations/

Of course something may FEEL as if it's temporarily tightening, heck egg white can do that. But they pressure and lie. Not a good image for Front Street.

Last edited by BeachKitten; 03/15/2018 11:50 AM.

"It is good to do nothing all day, and then to rest" wink
Re: Warnings by Cruise Ship Companies Against SXM [Re: jmbcomms] #156863
03/15/2018 01:27 PM
03/15/2018 01:27 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,561
St Maarten
BillandElaine Offline
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BillandElaine  Offline
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Posts: 18,561
St Maarten
It is not fake news. Everyone's complaining, even on the beaches. It's due to so many being out of work, for sure. The government has just announced a no soliciting policy. We'll see how that goes.


Elaine
*********************************
God Bless the broken road....
Re: Warnings by Cruise Ship Companies Against SXM [Re: jmbcomms] #156864
03/15/2018 01:42 PM
03/15/2018 01:42 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,569
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Online content
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SXMScubaman  Online Content
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Posts: 18,569
Auburn, WA
Do you have a link to this announcement? Is it for beach vendors or for on street and store front solicitors or all?

Re: Warnings by Cruise Ship Companies Against SXM [Re: jmbcomms] #156865
03/15/2018 01:45 PM
03/15/2018 01:45 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,561
St Maarten
BillandElaine Offline
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BillandElaine  Offline
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Posts: 18,561
St Maarten
It's on the Government FB page. It says NO soliciting.

https://www.facebook.com/SXMGOV/pho...8480/981806245324034/?type=3&theater


Elaine
*********************************
God Bless the broken road....
Re: Warnings by Cruise Ship Companies Against SXM [Re: BillandElaine] #156867
03/15/2018 02:07 PM
03/15/2018 02:07 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,569
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Online content
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SXMScubaman  Online Content
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Auburn, WA
Thanks. Looks good on paper but will they really enforce it like so many other laws they have that go ignored.

Re: Warnings by Cruise Ship Companies Against SXM [Re: jmbcomms] #156870
03/15/2018 03:02 PM
03/15/2018 03:02 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,561
St Maarten
BillandElaine Offline
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BillandElaine  Offline
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Posts: 18,561
St Maarten
So far today, no! As I said, we'll see.


Elaine
*********************************
God Bless the broken road....
Re: Warnings by Cruise Ship Companies Against SXM [Re: jmbcomms] #156888
03/15/2018 09:09 PM
03/15/2018 09:09 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,917
New England (home), St. Maarte...
jmbcomms Offline OP
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jmbcomms  Offline OP
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Posts: 5,917
New England (home), St. Maarte...
No, it isn't; we already have evidence of it from two major companies. We're trying to find out whether it's coming from specific ships or entire lines.


Jeff Berger
Visiting SXM Since 1978
Re: Warnings by Cruise Ship Companies Against SXM [Re: jmbcomms] #156889
03/15/2018 09:11 PM
03/15/2018 09:11 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,917
New England (home), St. Maarte...
jmbcomms Offline OP
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jmbcomms  Offline OP
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,917
New England (home), St. Maarte...
The question I asked has nothing to do with Hawkers. That's a different but equally serious matter. My question regarded / regards warnings by cruise lines to avoid SXM, particularly the French Side. That's what I'm looking into here.


Jeff Berger
Visiting SXM Since 1978
Re: Warnings by Cruise Ship Companies Against SXM [Re: jmbcomms] #156904
03/16/2018 08:48 AM
03/16/2018 08:48 AM
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 7
Bourbonnais, IL
MT13 Offline
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MT13  Offline
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Posts: 7
Bourbonnais, IL
We sailed with Royal Caribbean Serenade of the Seas stopping in SXM February 2. Never heard a warning from anyone on the ship. Ship TV actually had a segment about SXM discussing shopping and points of interest.

Re: Warnings by Cruise Ship Companies Against SXM [Re: MT13] #156916
03/16/2018 10:33 AM
03/16/2018 10:33 AM
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,193
Virginia
Snorkeller Offline
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Snorkeller  Offline
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Posts: 1,193
Virginia
My experience off Grandeur of the Seas (Royal Caribbean) on Sunday February 18 was the same. I heard no "warnings" of any kind but for some references to the destruction that Irma had caused. The passengers I talked with about their experience on the island expressed no complaints about vendors or anything else. To the contrary, what I heard was generally positive about the people that they met or interacted with on the island. Of course, I only talked with a very small percentage of the total that went ashore.


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