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Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM
[Re: Bigdaddy]
#257488
06/07/2021 02:30 PM
06/07/2021 02:30 PM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,088 Massachusetts
boucharda
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,088
Massachusetts
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Agreed....cruisers TO the Island do spend cash but cruisers FROM the Island probably not much
Last edited by boucharda; 06/07/2021 02:31 PM.
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Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM
[Re: Bigdaddy]
#257491
06/07/2021 02:34 PM
06/07/2021 02:34 PM
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Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 933
SammyM
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 933
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My opinion is that all of the above comments are way off the mark, and basically short-sighted. St. Maarten is/was essentially the number one cruise ship port-of-call in the Caribbean. It was the centerpiece of most cruises to the Eastern Caribbean. How does bringing more visitors to an island that depends so heavily on tourism impact it in a negative way? Yes, many of the SXM ports-of-call are for just one day, but the cruise ship visitors spend money all over the island when they disembark. 80% of St. Maarten's economy is derived from tourism with four of every five jobs within the labor force connected to tourism. This goes back bit, but in 2013 prior to Irma and COVID, 1,800,000 cruise ship passengers and crew came to St. Maarten and I'm sure they did more than just walk the streets of Philipsburg. It was reported that $423 million in direct income is poured into St. Maarten's economy from tourism.
As for St. Maarten standing as a cruise ship home port, those who come to the island to embark on their cruise most definitely spend money there prior to sailing. Having stayed at Holland House several times in the past, I have met many, many people who have flown to SXM and stayed on the island for a few days prior to their cruise. They stay at the hotels, eat at the restaurants, and shop at the businesses along Main Street. In the past, this has been for smaller yacht type cruises like Windstar. If larger cruise ships that carry 2,000 to 2,500 guests home port here I honestly don't see what the big deal is.
But, the bigger picture is that many cruise ship guests who visit the island for the first time fall in love with it and long to return for extended stays. That's what happen with my wife and I many, many years ago when SXM was a port-of-call on our tenth anniversary wedding cruise. Once we sampled St. Maarten we were hooked, and have returned steadily (more times that I can count) staying at hotels and rental properties on both the Dutch and French sides, dining at the local restaurants, and shopping at the various establishments. And, for those who believe St. Maarten is too crowded with too much traffic to deal with, there are many locations on SXM for those who wish to avoid the crowds (especially on the French side).
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Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM
[Re: Bigdaddy]
#257492
06/07/2021 02:43 PM
06/07/2021 02:43 PM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,088 Massachusetts
boucharda
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,088
Massachusetts
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You seem to be combining two different topics....cruisers who visit on a cruise (spend money) and cruisers who use the Island to start their cruise....totally different beasts. To assume that most cruise (SXM originating) patrons will stay on the Island remains to be seen. I am, obviously, in the camp of: land, cab, ship....return to port, cab, PJIA group
If they all "stayed for a few days before their cruise" there would be no comments about the Saturday onslaught at PJIA...or any issues at all
Edit: I will add that if I was taking a Caribbean cruise it would make much more sense to start the cruise in the Caribbean rather than spend days on both ends just at sea
Last edited by boucharda; 06/07/2021 02:45 PM.
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Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM
[Re: RickandJulie]
#257496
06/07/2021 03:01 PM
06/07/2021 03:01 PM
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 702 Lake Texoma, Texas
cruzer
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 702
Lake Texoma, Texas
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Many years ago we left out of St. Martin on a Windjammer cruise (first time to the island). We decided to go a couple of days early to explore the island before we left on our cruise. 22 years later we continue to return to St. Martin for extended stays. Let us hope others do the same. Coming at you from far left field... Your names sounds familiar. We also discovered st martin 22 years ago on a back -to-back on the Poly in December. Any chance we sailed together? Edited to add our names are Carl& Shirley
Last edited by cruzer; 06/07/2021 03:01 PM.
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Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM
[Re: SXMScubaman]
#257519
06/07/2021 06:15 PM
06/07/2021 06:15 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,902 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,902
Central Florida!
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Scubaman--there is a HUGE difference between a ship home porting in SXM, and using it as a cruise port of call.
Carol Hill
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Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#257531
06/07/2021 06:45 PM
06/07/2021 06:45 PM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,088 Massachusetts
boucharda
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,088
Massachusetts
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Absolutely...and thus my point
..and...has anyone else tried to fake book a cruise from SXM? I mentioned that nothing seems to exist past June but I may be missing something
Edit: never mind....answered in a similar thread
Last edited by boucharda; 06/07/2021 06:58 PM.
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Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM
[Re: SammyM]
#257554
06/07/2021 08:21 PM
06/07/2021 08:21 PM
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,892 Portland, OR
jazzgal
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,892
Portland, OR
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As for St. Maarten standing as a cruise ship home port, those who come to the island to embark on their cruise most definitely spend money there prior to sailing. Having stayed at Holland House several times in the past, I have met many, many people who have flown to SXM and stayed on the island for a few days prior to their cruise. They stay at the hotels, eat at the restaurants, and shop at the businesses along Main Street. In the past, this has been for smaller yacht type cruises like Windstar. If larger cruise ships that carry 2,000 to 2,500 guests home port here I honestly don't see what the big deal is. I dunno. I sat next to someone on the plane who was going on the cruise. He was going direct to port from airport and had no plans to stay on SXM after the cruise. Granted, that's one person, but he can't be the only one with that view.
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Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM
[Re: Bigdaddy]
#257563
06/08/2021 01:49 AM
06/08/2021 01:49 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,495 Anguilla, British West Indies
NeilRooney
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,495
Anguilla, British West Indies
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Homeporting is also good for the islands wholesalers who are provisioning the ships. Food, beverage, cleaning supplies, various parts and repairs. And don't forget the impact of the crew members when off duty.
Another Day On Planet Earth
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Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM
[Re: Bigdaddy]
#257564
06/08/2021 05:54 AM
06/08/2021 05:54 AM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,024 Westchester /NYC
Colour1
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,024
Westchester /NYC
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If coming through customs/testing and baggage claim ( did I tell you we were so relived to make it through all that, we walked out without our luggage!! LOL) wasn't a nightmare un to it's self with one plane in. This is coming to be #*&! SHOW!!! Has anyone seen that video on the progress of the airport or lack of progress going into 2023!!! I can see cruisers and plane people going at it!! Nice way to start a vacation on a line that raps it's self around a hot steaming hallway!! They had better start handing out cold water and a bunch of Caribs!!
Sand Gravity, got to love it!
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Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM
[Re: SammyM]
#257720
06/09/2021 03:30 PM
06/09/2021 03:30 PM
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,892 Portland, OR
jazzgal
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,892
Portland, OR
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Jazzgal, I'm not saying everyone will take this approach but I would bet money that a significant number of folks will look to arrive one or two days in advance of their cruise departing date if not to explore St. Maarten, but just to assure they reach SXM in plenty of time to make the cruise. You may be right eventually. Based on the number of jets arriving last Saturday, however, I think most folks for that sail were arriving the day the ship sailed.
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Re: Cruise Ship Homeporting in SXM
[Re: kim]
#257965
06/11/2021 04:16 PM
06/11/2021 04:16 PM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,088 Massachusetts
boucharda
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,088
Massachusetts
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I would The vaccine doesn’t prevent you from getting COVID which many don’t understand. It prevents (hopefully) you from getting it bad. From what I read the two that tested positive had no idea and were a symptomatic. I The vaccine is 95% effective in PREVENTING you from getting the disease....and if you are among the other 5% it you will have a lesser form of the disease and prevents you from spreading the disease From the CDC: Vaccine Effectiveness All COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the United States are effective at preventing COVID-19 as seen in clinical trial settings. Research provides growing evidence that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines offer similar protection in real world conditions. COVID-19 vaccination is an important tool to help stop the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 vaccination helps protect people from getting sick or severely ill with COVID-19 and might also help protect people around them. To receive the most protection, people should receive all recommended doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. Some people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will still get sick because no vaccine is 100% effective. Experts continue to monitor and evaluate how often this occurs, how severe their illness is, and how likely a vaccinated person is to spread COVID-19 to others
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