Florida Keys News - Key West Citizen
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
2 Carnival ships skip Southernmost City
Company opts for private island starting Thurs.
BY GWEN FILOSA Citizen Staff
gfilosa@keysnews.com

Carnival Cruise Lines will send two of its ships, the Fascination and the Ecstasy, to a private island in the Bahamas owned by a fellow cruise corporation instead of docking in Key West.

The change in itineraries, which begins Thursday, was strictly a business decision, said Carnival spokesman Vance Gulliksen.

"It's really a way to diversify ou...

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I was once a floating trailer park visitor...

Submitted on Sat, 03/16/2013 - 9:01am by Lovetotravel
Love reading all the comments about the "cheap tourist" from the "Floating Trailer Park"!!! My wife and I booked a certain cruise because the port of call was Key West. When we got to Key West we had a wonderful time going around the island on jet skies and stopping at a few art shops and bars. We spent over $500 in less than the 6 hours we was there. The people of Key West left us with a split feeling about the island due to the snobbery that was displayed, but at no point did anyone have a problem taking our money. We are returning this spring not on a "floating trailer park" and I wonder how we much different we will be treated. I know I don't live there and see what most of you see from the tourist from the ships but its obvious most of you don't like them and you express it. I hope to have a pleasant stay on your beautiful island and I promise not act like "trailer trash"!!!!!

Wish we could trust you

Submitted on Sat, 03/16/2013 - 3:31pm by david
Wish we could trust you Lovetotravel but the cruise ship lackeys excel in writing bogus letters to the editor saying how terrific their visit was an how much money they spent.. Money is not everything. it is up to the residents to protect our island and provide a sustainable tourist economy, mass tourism is and has been a catastrophe for the island in every way.

The Once and Future Tourist...

Submitted on Sat, 03/16/2013 - 2:21pm by Rabbi Flanagan
... who just happened to be reading the Key West Citizen and decided to coment on this story. What a coincidence. And are you planning on participating in the referendum, too?

LOL

Submitted on Sun, 03/17/2013 - 7:20am by 666
Yes, the cruise ship troika of Saunders, Swift and Paneco will have their hands full seeding fake letters, comments and articles. Watch how each one states how much money they spent, that they went to nice shops and galleries, the fact that they will come back again and spend more, and how they loved our island. We will see many "original" letters to the editor in the coming months. Fortunately, FACTS have been printed in this paper and we know all the tens of thousands of cruise ship passengers contribute a mere 4 percent of our tourism revenue. Assuming this letter is real, and they spent $500, it is more then made up for by the dozens that spend nothing, or maybe $10 on a beer and a tee shirt. Finally, you will be treated the same regardless of how you get here. We will take as much of your money as possible, fool you into thinking you are our friend, and send you back on your way thinking you experienced the real Key West. LOL!

Not a fan

Submitted on Thu, 03/14/2013 - 4:36pm by hosed
of the cruise industry but they do spend a little money on tours, bikes, scooters, drinks. As far as the bacteria in the water. Do not blame them. It comes from the hundreds of bums doing the pump and dump on their crappy boats anchored for free all around the keys.

Yes, but at what cost?

Submitted on Fri, 03/15/2013 - 9:52am by 666
According to The Citizens own article, the cruise ships account for 4 percent of our tourism revenue. 4 percent. The impact they cause, with thousands of people cramming streets, creating long lines, flooding the reef and encouraging cheap, high volume businesses is much greater than the contribution. In terms of sewage. My guess is all the bums in Florida do not even approach the amount of waste generated by one cruise ship. Do they dump in the water? I don't know, but since profit is all that matters, dumping may just be "a business decision."

Thank goodness and good riddance

Submitted on Thu, 03/14/2013 - 1:09am by Key West Ugly
Question is why didn't they take a chicken, a stray cat and a bum with them to breed more on their private island? Don't those things fit into the ideal island tourist destination? I'm at a loss here, someone help me.

It's called maximizing your profits.

Submitted on Wed, 03/13/2013 - 8:00pm by joey
They bring them to "their private island" where they probably get a percentage kick back from "fellow cruise company". They keep all the money made from food,beverages and entertainment. If I was a cruise passenger I would rather visit a real destination not another fake Disney World.

Duh. There is NOTHING on Royal Caribbean's island.

Submitted on Thu, 03/14/2013 - 8:27am by *.* CLEARLY the original
Nothing there to generate a kickback. It's just like another day at sea for pax and crew. The ship provides the island 'activities'.There is nothing like a quiet day on a private bit of sand with another 2500 cheap people and their screaming kids, willing to fight over beach chairs and something resembling hot dogs . NASTY.

Good!

Submitted on Wed, 03/13/2013 - 7:43pm by Cruz
Lets hope Carnival pulls the rest of their Tailerpark-of-the-Seas ships out of Key West.

Frankly

Submitted on Wed, 03/13/2013 - 6:33pm by Sammy
I couldn't care. I don't hang out on Duval St. 24/7. There is nothing worth venturing onto Duval St for - for that matter. Makes you wonder about all the trolls here that do? I wish I had the time they did to sit on a bench and drink out of a paper bag all day .... and tell everybody how to run the island! Pretty darn humorous!

That's the problem

Submitted on Thu, 03/14/2013 - 7:22am by 666
Sammy, that's the problem, you need to care. It does not matter if you never go downtown. Downtown is the engine that drives our economy and tourism business. Everyone will be impacted by what happens in the future. You need to help your neighbors, family and friends keep this island viable for the 96 percent of our tourism business that does not come off these ships. This is not about sitting on a bench drinking or taking pot shots at others. It is a critical debate about the islands future and all Key Westers need to care, get informed, see the impact for themselves, and then vote their conscience.

Ding dong the wicked witch is dead

Submitted on Wed, 03/13/2013 - 6:31pm by 88maverick
Well, not quite that good, but it's a step in the right direction. Almost worthy of a celebratory parade. Regardless, good riddance to bad rubbish." Two down, 10 to go...

Maybe Chris Belland's dog

Submitted on Wed, 03/13/2013 - 5:38pm by david
Maybe Chris Belland's dog scared them off.

Shows that channel widening is meaningless.

Submitted on Wed, 03/13/2013 - 3:51pm by KeyWestDan
This just goes to demonstrate that widening the channel is a waste of money and a meanaingless exercise. There are no guarantees that the cruise ships will come and keep coming to even begin paying off the dreging costs, to say nothing of the environmental damage. And really, like others have said, who wants even bigger floating trailer parks? Carnavel and other operators get out of paying our embarkation fees and other costs of docking. They go to a private island which is really just an extension of the cruise ship and is another way for them to milk money out of their trailer park population without competition. Makes perfect business sense, wherein lies the rub for the t-shirt whores.

Business Decision

Submitted on Wed, 03/13/2013 - 3:31pm by 666
How many other "business decisions" will take place after we spend tons of money widening the channel and alienating our loyal visitors and snowbirds? We have NO control over this industry. If Cuba opens up, goodbye Key West. It will only be a "business decision." I actually think some cruise ships are fine. The problem is we are planning a whole future around this industry. Widening the channel, bussing them around to other spots like Lower Duval or Caroline Street, gearing the entire Truman Waterfront at them... This makes no sense. They represent only FOUR percent of the tourism dollars according to The Citizen's own article, have a huge impact to the other 96 percent, and as this article demonstrates, they have ZERO loyalty to the people of Key West. Please do not think since you never go downtown this does not matter to you. Our whole economic future is at stake.

This post deserves a Pulitzer!

Submitted on Thu, 03/14/2013 - 12:28am by Key West Guy

Please run this as a Citizen's Voice, at least... if not as a letter to the editor.

Best comment EVER!

When Cuba opens.........................

Submitted on Thu, 03/14/2013 - 10:59am by Sal Gutierrez
Duval street will be a ghost town an Mac and the Rabbi can sit at the Bull and sip $4.00 beers.

Then, perhaps, Key West can

Submitted on Thu, 03/14/2013 - 2:46pm by itsabouttime
Then, perhaps, Key West can go back to a little resemblence of how it used to be and the cycle can start over again. It might actually be a good thing.

Count Me In

Submitted on Thu, 03/14/2013 - 2:36pm by Richard Bigge
I'll buy.

What a day!

Submitted on Wed, 03/13/2013 - 3:18pm by Loose Stool
We get 2 less ships and Frankie gets his red shoes.

These are the worst of the worst. And for the cruise lines to

Submitted on Wed, 03/13/2013 - 3:05pm by *.* CLEARLY the original
mention all the 'activities' at Coco Cay is a joke. These cheap ships have nothing to offer ON those islands, really. They 'sell' activities using crappy equipment kept on the island and on the ship. There are no real 'local' businesses on that tiny pile of sand. It saves them fuel and port fees. It will be good to have the tacky ships and their tacky passengers GONE. Now if more Carnival ships will follow!!!

Cruise ships by-pass Key West...

Submitted on Wed, 03/13/2013 - 10:04am by
Mac and fellow Key West citizens rejoice.

Dang

Submitted on Wed, 03/13/2013 - 8:20am by TheHatchet
That's a lot of $5 t-shirts with $10 iron-ons that will go unsold.

5 dollah

Submitted on Wed, 03/13/2013 - 8:04am by Elvis
I suppose the t shirt shops and the over crowed and over polluted surrounding waters are less attractive then pristine clear waters and quiter streets. Cruise ship industry is your best friend one minute, then poof .. They are gone.

Maybe a lesson for future over development commitments? Vote "no" this fall and put pressure on quality tourism. Enough is enough.

Yes, Virginia, there IS a Santa Claus!

Submitted on Wed, 03/13/2013 - 6:47am by Mac

The Chamber of Commerce can't be very happy at this news, but Old Town residents are ecstatic. These are two of the trashiest floating trailer parks to visit here.

But what should make Virginia and the Chamber even more unhappy is the likelihood that this decision was made by Carnival based upon how unpleasant our town is to visit. After all, even tacky cruise shippers must find our t-shirt shops ugly and offensive, especially to their children.

Our city fathers and mothers should do a close self-examination in light of this Carnival pull-out. It's time we cleaned up our act, starting with Duval Street, which needs to be malled and given a new, upscale identity.

Wow

Submitted on Wed, 03/13/2013 - 6:27pm by Sammy
Mac you are by far the most hateful bigotted person in Key West. Since you have an opinion for everything why not get off your lazy arse and run for a local political office so you can se Key West sterilized of all the undesireables. You kind of remind me of Hitler and the need to have a superior race.

Really!!??

Submitted on Thu, 03/14/2013 - 8:32am by Cruz
Carnival is Key West's biggest customer and most of their ships that visit here are the cheapo short cruises. They are the cheapest cruises in the market and that reflects on the nature of their passengers. Do you really not see a connection between that and the fact Key West was just identified as one of the trashiest Spring Break destinations? Unlike many posting here, I do not have a problem with cruise ships. I have a problem with CARNIVAL cruise ships.

Carnival is the floating

Submitted on Sat, 03/16/2013 - 12:29pm by itsabouttime
Carnival is the floating Walmart of the industry. Look at the latest one having problems in St. Martin. Overflowing toilets, no power. Makes you even more suspect of the high fecal counts we get.

I prefer the OTHER Sammy

Submitted on Thu, 03/14/2013 - 12:24am by Rabbi Flanagan

At 6:33 PM you posted (see above) that you don't care.

I am glad to see that you cooled off after posting this rather ugly attack.

Good Riddance

Submitted on Wed, 03/13/2013 - 6:34am by Richard Bigge
Let's hope other ships follow suit.

Even the cruise ships are going somewhere else

Submitted on Wed, 03/13/2013 - 6:28am by Chi Chi
Key West has been so Disney-fied even the cheapest of the cruise ships stop coming here. Hmmm, should we widen the channel to entice even cheaper cruise ships? It seems some of your commissioners think so.

Mac will have a cow

Submitted on Wed, 03/13/2013 - 3:03am by Sal Gutierrez
when he reads this. I guess Carnival will be making the profits from there $4.00 beers instead of the boys on Duval.

Best New Thing in the World Today,,,

Submitted on Wed, 03/13/2013 - 2:28am by Key West Guy

... but it's only a start.

KW CitizenPollutes the Waters...

Submitted on Wed, 03/13/2013 - 2:07am by Rabbi Flanagan

The article states... "business advocates champion the ships as a necessary economic engine."

That is by NO MEANS a concensus opinion of the business community.

Very few businesses benefit from these tour busses, who pull into our rest-stop for a hot dog and a pee.

I see your point...

Submitted on Thu, 03/14/2013 - 7:41am by got beer?
But I doubt they are buying hot dogs when they have the feed trough back on the cruise ship. And, there are zero public toilets on Duval. But I see your point.
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