Hi - I have heard that Carnival Cruise Ships is building a new port in Maimon. I am told it should be operational in Feb 2013. That should bring some needed renewal to the Puerto Plata area, no? Anyone knows details of the plans?
There will be some benefit to Pto Pta for sure, but the company will want to keep most spending within their own control, so local benefits will be limited.
IMO, "Limited" is not the right word. Benefits are as follows:
1) Putting Puerto Plata on a cruise destination map, not just for Carnival, but the port will be open for other cruise lines. There will be two berths for two 2,000 pax ships.
2) Construction jobs will be extensive
3) Operational jobs, direct and indirect, will be numerous.
4) Spending by passengers on taxis, tours, local crafts, etc. Passengers spend about $75 to $150 in port. Average 2,000 pax per day, do the math.
5) Spending by cruise staff in town, not to be underestimated, e.g. casino staff, bar tenders, etc.
6) Spending by cruise line for supplies, services, etc.
Conchman has every reason to be optimistic. How can he not with 2000-4000 excursion bound passengers disembarking within a stones throw of Ocean World? He knows what this will add to the payroll and spending at just one attraction in the local economy. Not to mention a job for any unemployed dolphins.
maybe oi benefit his operation, but can he suggest what it will do for the local Dominicans, of modest means, in the immediate area?
For starters, we estimate we will have to hire extra dolphin trainers, bus drivers, gift shop employees, photo and video operators, accountants, cashiers, guest services, etc or these people not considered under 'modest means?'
Taxi drivers, car rental sales and operators, do they count to have 'modest means?'
What about local restaurant operators, that sell food these taxi drivers, bus drivers, car rental operators, do they count to have 'modest means?'
I can go on and on, but its probably not the answer you want to hear.
a very positive, and optimistic prognosis from conchman. i guess that the scuttlebut that they will treat Maimon in a manner similar to Labadee, where it will be a virtual enclave economy, controlled by the Cruise line, is just rank pessimism. the suggestions in the US press that Carnival will develop the dockside area in their manner, with their own recommended shops, and that the locals will derive very little benefit, is exaggerated, at best, and libelous, at worst. i am still to read any working papers on Cruise Tourism which offer the opinion that it is a sustainable strategy for development in the Caribbean, not only because the benefits to locals are infinitesimal, compared to what the Cruise Line derives, but that it has a crowding out effect on land based tourism. let us not even bother to investigate the environmental issues surrounding Cruise Tourism, such as ocean dumping. sorry, conchman, but i cannot accept your cheerful view of the upcoming events.
You are wrong on this one. The port will be treated like the one in Roat?n Island, Hondura. The will control the port and everything in their vicinity, but the excursions, and what some tourists do once they are outside the port, they can't control.
Labadee is a special case, and the DR is not as dangerous as Honduras, so I don't think they will turn Maimon into another Labadee.
Due to the tragedy of the Costa Concordia, which is owned by Carnival, and also the recent events that happened onboard the Costa Allegra, (Engine failure and the ship was floating at sea hundreds of miles off the coast of Africa) Carnival reported a 139 million dollar loss for the first quarter of this year. There are several pending law suits against the company and so do not be suprised if Maimon plans are set back. I for one, as an ex cruise ship crew member, (5 years onboard Costa Cruise Lines), would love to see the port happen but when a loss like this is reported then it is predictable that plans would be set back.
BBC News - Carnival posts loss on Costa Concordia sinking
Every excursion that is usually offered on tropical cruises is within reach, such as golf, catamaran, scuba, snorkeling, beach, city tour, horseback riding, Monster truck, 4-wheelers, etc., etc. Granted the tour operators will have to expand capacity. Also witin an hour and half is Santiago. Cultural tours of museum, cigar making, etc. There is plenty availableSeeing it from up close here in Panama I can tell you that cruise ships can bring in a lot of money but only if within an one hour and a half driving from the port are enough things to offer for the passenger to leave the ship. I don't know the area very well so my question is, is there enough sight seeing and activity to offer besides Oceanworld?
Can happen anywhere. How many times were the Rui hotels in Cofresi closed for the virus?Are the cruises with or without Norovirus? Not for me, thanks.
Due to the tragedy of the Costa Concordia, which is owned by Carnival, and also the recent events that happened onboard the Costa Allegra, (Engine failure and the ship was floating at sea hundreds of miles off the coast of Africa) Carnival reported a 139 million dollar loss for the first quarter of this year. There are several pending law suits against the company and so do not be suprised if Maimon plans are set back. I for one, as an ex cruise ship crew member, (5 years onboard Costa Cruise Lines), would love to see the port happen but when a loss like this is reported then it is predictable that plans would be set back.
BBC News - Carnival posts loss on Costa Concordia sinking