Arvia and Iona in Tortola

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A moment to remember in the beautiful British Virgin Islands!

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[Ray B]

The BVI are indeed very beautiful, Road town, a very small port. Just those two ships could put ashore 10,000+ visitors.
As reported in the press etc, more and more ports are now starting to think the good times are over, where one or two small to medium size ships would call into their port. Now they are being overwhelmed with the numbers coming off the mega size ships, to the point where some are now taking steps to control the amount of visitors they will allow .
Are the bigger cruise ships now to big and becoming their own worse enemy.

[CaroleF]

Tortola was one of my and John's favourite Caribbean islands. It is small and the thought of those huge ships in port together is not pleasant. As Ray says the local people who, although they rely on tourists and tourism they can be overcome by vast numbers of visitors. Although I seem to remember that the last time we were there, a new terminal had been built it's still not large enough to accommodate two ship lots of tourists. It seems mad to arrange for two such huge ships to be there at the same time.

[towny44]

The BVI are indeed very beautiful, Road town, a very small port. Just those two ships could put ashore 10,000+ visitors.
As reported in the press etc, more and more ports are now starting to think the good times are over, where one or two small to medium size ships would call into their port. Now they are being overwhelmed with the numbers coming off the mega size ships, to the point where some are now taking steps to control the amount of visitors they will allow .
Are the bigger cruise ships now to big and becoming their own worse enemy.

No.

[Onelife]

YES!

That’s why the larger cruise ships are having to use tenders….just be patient and join the queue.

[david63]

That’s why the larger cruise ships are having to use tenders

I'm not sure that is true for two reasons.

Logistically it is a much bigger operation to use tenders on the bigger ships due to the greater number of passengers and secondly many cruise ports have expanded their facilities to handle these bigger ships.

[Onelife]

Both you and John have a much greater knowledge on this topic so I shall just Squeak! Squeak! and stick to things I do know about.

[Ray B]

OL, I was under the impression your knowledge knows no bounds.

[Ray B]

Towny, I was trying to provoke a discussion as to how the industry is moving.
It is true some ports are expanding to take bigger and more cruise ships, but at the same time ,some port residents have voiced their concerns that the visitor experiences are being compromised by the vast numbers of passengers coming ashore as well as their own.
Everybody wants to visit places we've seen on the TV or in films that are the must visit tourist destinations. But in these places a lot of the time you find it can be difficult to comfortably move around, and indeed, cast your eye on what you came to see.

[Onelife]

OL, I was under the impression your knowledge knows no bounds.

There is much truth in what you say Ray but there is greater strength in acknowledging when you might be wrong

[Onelife]

I wonder how long it will be before we hear stories of docking wars emerging…with the increase of Cruise lines/ships wanting their itinerary’s to be fulfilled its not beyond the possibility that those who are prepared to pay more will be shown preference over their competitors?

[Stephen]

It’s probably already happening.
How many times have had itineraries changed with the usual ‘for logistical reasons’ excuse.

[david63]

It has been happening for years. At one time P&O had the best berths at many ports, now they have some of the worst. Those with the most $$$ get the best berths.

The cruise ports got wise to that long ago.

[Onelife]

It has been happening for years. At one time P&O had the best berths at many ports, now they have some of the worst. Those with the most $$$ get the best berths.

The cruise ports got wise to that long ago.

Are you trying to ruin my day, David?

[oldbluefox]

Onelife having a strop with P&O because they won't let him take his chickens with him even though he claimed they were part of his Wellness programme but they were having none of it.

[Onelife]

I take it that you won’t be expecting any Burford Brown Eggs when you’re next passing.

[towny44]

It has been happening for years. At one time P&O had the best berths at many ports, now they have some of the worst. Those with the most $$$ get the best berths.

The cruise ports got wise to that long ago.

We are on a big ship, doing a one off cruise, and we have been berthing at the the most favourable spots.
So how do you figure that David.

[Ray B]

Towny, what is the name of this big ship that you are on ?

[david63]

We are on a big ship, doing a one off cruise, and we have been berthing at the the most favourable spots.
So how do you figure that David.

I suspect that you are in the Caribbean where Carnival have a much larger presence than in Europe