For those who don't know, Royal Caribbean's private Caribbean island of Labadee is on the north coast of Haiti. It apparently escaped any damage in the earthquake that destroyed so many buildings and claimed so many thousands of lives.
As a result, Royal has decided to continue visiting, using the calls as a way to transport water and dry goods to the island. It points out passengers are also pumping much-needed money into the hands of the locals who work there.
The first ship since the earthquake was back there last Friday, three days after the earthquake, and more will be there this week.
Is it right to keep going? It's an impossible question. Of course they should, given they are getting supplies and money to the island. On the other hand, I struggle with the idea of going ashore and having fun knowing about the death and devastation just a few miles away.
Judging by yesterday's story on Cruise Critic I am not alone.
Cruise Critic asked its readers whether ships should have returned to Labadee so soon. Some 3,495 people responded across its .com and .co.uk sites. And the verdict? An overwhelming 67% said yes.
Here are the results:
Yes, Haiti needs the money - 35%
Yes, they're bringing aid - 32%
No, it's in poor taste - 19%
I'm on the fence - 14%
I wonder what the response would have been if they had asked: "Should cruise ships have returned so soon and would you like to be going?"
Jane Archer
Comments (1)
Personally I have mixed feelings about this.
As much as I agree that the region needs the income...it always has done, even before the earthquake...a greater proportion of me feels very uncomfortable with the sight of people playing in the sea, having access to huge amaounts of food & drink when only miles away there are people who are literally fighting for their own survival.
It is not an easy problem to solve for RCI...they have the money and ability to take aid to the area, but they also have the money to charter a couple of freighters and take more aid there without the frankly macabre and unsettling views of guests having fun and enjoying the beach as if nothing has happened.
CCL has donated $5m for aid and emergency equipment to be delivered to the area, they could quite easily have sent cruise ships but they have chosen not to.
I think there will be a real danger of RCI using Haiti's misfortune for their own benefit...even if that wasn't intentional, it could soon be perceived as such...a case of business as usual & we are taking aid so we are good people.
No...I am not entirely comfortable with that concept.
Posted by Ally Jones | January 19, 2010 8:29 AM
Posted on January 19, 2010 08:29