Reasons Cruise line passengers choose St. Kitts

[SpeedsterX]

The Gov't of St. Kitts needs to step in and save their most precious natural resource, South Friars Bay. It's the beach line that popular beach bar Shipwreck and others are at. The private owner of the whole south bay is selling to the Ritz Carlton and they are planning to kick the local beach bars off and put up a cookie-cutter mega resort. I made a video trying to explain why cruisers choose this port and the importance of that particular large piece of the Island to St. Kitts' tourist industry. It's short and to the point and tells how we as cruise line cruising enthusiast's may feel about why we cruise to St. Kitts and why we choose to spend the extra money to get that far south to visit this particular port. Please check it out and share if you can. They owner of the land are wanting them out in less than 30 days! :eek:

 

Here's a video that shows the bay and beach bars with a link to a Petition to try and save the bay from heavy commercialization.

 

Here's a locals Facebook page trying to drum up support to save the bay, it's natural resources and the beach bars that have become iconic. SOB-Save Our Beaches In St. Kitts & Nevis https://www.********************/saveourbeaches/?hc_ref=ARRVI70M6LPPhY42reoarvwWc2XV4EyW_oyZT__G-bjtL55gWu3ANr3PyDp7WIt3CnE

 

Thank for any support!

[paul58]

All of this to make a few bucks. It is terrible what the govt. of St Kitts has let happen on St Kitts and Nevis. I think it is the greed of too many politicians, on both sides of the aisle, over the years. They have allowed developers to run roughshod over the citizens of St Kitts/Nevis for years. I am guessing that there has been a few who have some large bank accounts somewhere. Drive around the island and see that there are many developments that were started and are now just sitting there uncompleted.

[St Kitts Mermaid]

If the cruise lines could address this to the government of St Kitts it would have a big impact on the fight to save this gem of the West Indies. Nobody wants to stop progress, they just want to preserve what made this island so popular with tourists and expats. St Kitts isn't on all itineraries because of its distance away from starting ports. The people of St Kitts need the cruise line industry much more than another fancy resort that only provides a few people with income. Cruise ships create much more revenue for little islands like this and are extremely wanted and appreciated.

[SpeedsterX]

If the cruise lines could address this to the government of St Kitts it would have a big impact on the fight to save this gem of the West Indies. Nobody wants to stop progress, they just want to preserve what made this island so popular with tourists and expats. St Kitts isn't on all itineraries because of its distance away from starting ports. The people of St Kitts need the cruise line industry much more than another fancy resort that only provides a few people with income. Cruise ships create much more revenue for little islands like this and are extremely wanted and appreciated.

 

Exactly my point!

[pghsteelerfan]

There is another thread about this sad situation, so cutting/pasting most of what I posted there after doing some "digging" for information after finding about this on Shipwreck's social media page the other morning. In that "digging" I was doing, these are the major points:

 

1. Owner of land in hurry to meet demands of buyer, thus wanting rid of the bars ASAP.

2. Carambola will likely not be affected since they own instead of lease that parcel of land

3. In the past, that area was restricted from development because a) wetland area for migrating birds and b) low lying land making it a hurricane zone

4. It appears regulations were changed at some point, greatly increasing value of the property

5. It is known that the owner is a Kuwaiti Corporation w/NY address; it's *believed* owner is foreign person well connected to St. Kitts' government (also did some digging on that, won't mention name in case incorrect, but individual I'm thinking of has donated quite a bit to St. Kitts).

 

Whether this is *fact* or *crap* (real or fake news), I have no idea but it sounds legit. Attaching the article for anyone interested.

 

https://www.themanchineel.com/non-satire/sob/

 

I'm really disappointed by this as Shipwreck is exactly what we love in a beach bar, not to mention those gorgeous views!!! It would be nice if "wetlands for migrating birds" could be used to the advantage of leaving South Friar's bay as is (undeveloped, thus eliminating need to get rid of Shipwreck and the others), but if it's birds vs. $$$, $$$ usually wins.

[SpeedsterX]

There is another thread about this sad situation, so cutting/pasting most of what I posted there after doing some "digging" for information after finding about this on Shipwreck's social media page the other morning. In that "digging" I was doing, these are the major points:

 

1. Owner of land in hurry to meet demands of buyer, thus wanting rid of the bars ASAP.

2. Carambola will likely not be affected since they own instead of lease that parcel of land

3. In the past, that area was restricted from development because a) wetland area for migrating birds and b) low lying land making it a hurricane zone

4. It appears regulations were changed at some point, greatly increasing value of the property

5. It is known that the owner is a Kuwaiti Corporation w/NY address; it's *believed* owner is foreign person well connected to St. Kitts' government (also did some digging on that, won't mention name in case incorrect, but individual I'm thinking of has donated quite a bit to St. Kitts).

 

Whether this is *fact* or *crap* (real or fake news), I have no idea but it sounds legit. Attaching the article for anyone interested.

 

https://www.themanchineel.com/non-satire/sob/

 

I'm really disappointed by this as Shipwreck is exactly what we love in a beach bar, not to mention those gorgeous views!!! It would be nice if "wetlands for migrating birds" could be used to the advantage of leaving South Friar's bay as is (undeveloped, thus eliminating need to get rid of Shipwreck and the others), but if it's birds vs. $$$, $$$ usually wins.

 

You are correct on all you said here. Like I said in my video, I believe it's going to have a negative impact on not only St. Kitts tourism regarding cruise line companies but also us avid cruisers as more commercialized crap is going to be shoved down our throats with no alternatives.

[pghsteelerfan]

You are correct on all you said here. Like I said in my video, I believe it's going to have a negative impact on not only St. Kitts tourism regarding cruise line companies but also us avid cruisers as more commercialized crap is going to be shoved down our throats with no alternatives.

 

I agree with you 100% on that. We actually prefer the itinerary out of San Juan and have done it, twice, fairly recently because we love the charm and undeveloped feel of some these islands on that itinerary. We've done this both times on Carnival (itinerary is St. Thomas; Barbados; St. Lucia; St. Kitts; & St. Maarten). Although the cost of the cruise itself is a little less expensive, it's the airfare that brings the total price up. So it's technically cheaper to do the typical itineraries to the same, commercialized islands. We choose to pay a higher price for a cruise to get away from that commercialism and feel it was worth it. Those two cruises are our two favorites. Out of all of those islands on that itinerary, St. Lucia and St. Kitts are our favorites because of the authentic, Caribbean charm and are not as commercialized. The difference between St. Lucia and St. Kitts is that St. Kitts is much smaller and nice, natural/uncrowded beaches are much easier for cruise ship passengers to access and enjoy since they aren't that far from port and cab fare to get there is very reasonable.

 

I forgot to mention that I love the videos you put together and I signed the petition, in addition to another one that was posted elsewhere that I signed yesterday. Have you thought about emailing the links to your videos to the cruise lines? ;p

[SpeedsterX]

I agree with you 100% on that. We actually prefer the itinerary out of San Juan and have done it, twice, fairly recently because we love the charm and undeveloped feel of some these islands on that itinerary. We've done this both times on Carnival (itinerary is St. Thomas; Barbados; St. Lucia; St. Kitts; & St. Maarten). Although the cost of the cruise itself is a little less expensive, it's the airfare that brings the total price up. So it's technically cheaper to do the typical itineraries to the same, commercialized islands. We choose to pay a higher price for a cruise to get away from that commercialism and feel it was worth it. Those two cruises are our two favorites. Out of all of those islands on that itinerary, St. Lucia and St. Kitts are our favorites because of the authentic, Caribbean charm and are not as commercialized. The difference between St. Lucia and St. Kitts is that St. Kitts is much smaller and nice, natural/uncrowded beaches are much easier for cruise ship passengers to access and enjoy since they aren't that far from port and cab fare to get there is very reasonable.

 

I forgot to mention that I love the videos you put together and I signed the petition, in addition to another one that was posted elsewhere that I signed yesterday. Have you thought about emailing the links to your videos to the cruise lines? ;p

 

Thanks for watching and signing! I have not thought of that but will check into sending them to the cruise lines. :D