If Carnival cant dock in Key West ...where do you think they will go?

[marshhawk]

Our 10 day Journeys cruise lists our first Port of Call as Key West.  With Key West blocking the "large" ships carrying more than 1300 folks, what Port of Call do you think will replace Key West?  I am thinking Nassau, but am hoping for HMC or Princess Cay.  Have you heard anything about what the cruise lines will do?

[asalligo]

I think that your ship may still dock in Key West, but I am totally torn on this issue. 

 

https://keysweekly.com/42/breaking-news-legislature-says-key-west-cant-limit-cruise-ships/\

 

Key West is one of my favorite ports to have on a cruise itinerary, but I spent a week in Key West in March and when a cruise ship is docked there it sort of ruins Mallory Square and further overpopulates an already congested area. I certainly understand why they want the ban, but I also want to continue to stop there.

 

I doubt I would ever return to Key West though other than on a cruise ship. It did not feel like a tropical vacation to me, but just another Florida city when staying in a hotel. Whereas, I love it as a cruise stop, lots of easy to get to touristy destinations and I do not have to drive three hours down highway one to get there.   

Edited May 3, 2021 by asalligo

[ProgRockCruiser]

39 minutes ago, asalligo said:

I think that your ship may still dock in Key West, but I am totally torn on this issue. 

 

https://keysweekly.com/42/breaking-news-legislature-says-key-west-cant-limit-cruise-ships/\

 

So when is Desantis expected to sign/veto the bill?

[Earthworm Jim]

I'd assume itineraries without Key West will look a lot like the current itineraries that don't stop at Key West. And the Key West stops may still happen with the political battle over that issue still ongoing.

[asalligo]

2 minutes ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

So when is Desantis expected to sign/veto the bill?

No clue and as I said I really am torn on this and in the end. I think I have to side with Key West. People who live there have a right to decide if they want a cruise ship to dock in their town.  

[TNcruising02]

It seems like large cruise ships would simply skip Key West since the lines know the majority of residents don't want them there.  I am fine with this port being skipped and would much prefer HMC.  I can easily make a land vacation with a Key West visit. When I cruise, the entire idea is to visit places outside of the US.

Edited May 3, 2021 by TNcruising02

[ProgRockCruiser]

14 minutes ago, asalligo said:

No clue and as I said I really am torn on this and in the end. I think I have to side with Key West. People who live there have a right to decide if they want a cruise ship to dock in their town.  

Yeah, I know what you mean.  I've tried to visit Key West three times now, and had to cancel each time for a variety of reasons.  Might get there this year, if hotel rates don't continue to climb into the stratosphere.

[tourismtessy]

I’m following this topic. We are scheduled to sail the Dream on 4 December and our first port of call is Key West. It’s an 8 day cruise right now but wondering if they will cut it to 7 without Key West or just add another sea day.  We have never been to Key West and are really looking forward to this port.

[naxer]

I like Key West as a stop, and that's one of my scheduled stops on the Conquest in September.   If we don't stop there, oh well.  I would only ever visit Key West on a cruise--otherwise three's not that much bang for the buck for me.  When I looked into staying there for a week's vacation, I thought it was too expensive.  But I think it's a fun stop when my drinks, food, and lodging are already paid for on the ship.  I can understand why they don't want me there on a cruise ship, and I respect that.

[Joebucks]

7 hours ago, asalligo said:

No clue and as I said I really am torn on this and in the end. I think I have to side with Key West. People who live there have a right to decide if they want a cruise ship to dock in their town.  

 

From reading a lot of responses about this, I seem to be in the minority that sides with the Florida legislature 100%. Think about it for a second, what if any city is given the option to decide what type of tourism they do or don't want? Who's actually going to vote for tourism? We're going to see more restrictions, and start a precedent we don't want. Tourism is the lifeblood of Florida. Nearly all of the awesome things we do in Florida are funded by our tourism.

 

Anything with a "environmental" case slapped on it, is usually the biggest load of crap you can find. The Key West elite just want to reduce the riff raff and some of the chaos it brings. I can understand that. However, they don't get to make that call. There are plenty of other activities there that are way worse on the "fragile ecosystem". I was there in october, and walked along the docks for a bit. Tons of trash in the water from local boats and bars. 

[john91498]

I'd rather have another sea day than hit up key west...

[vintagegarage]

Since the people of Key West don't want us there, I won't give them my business, plain and simple.  If an itinerary has Key West on it, then I will choose a different itinerary.  There really isn't much to see there anyway.  I'd rather see a cruise-by of the Dry Tortugas National Park.  I have never seen Fort Jefferson, and I'm not sure if water depths or regulations would permit it, but I wonder if cruise lines have ever considered doing it.  I enjoyed a cruise-by of Iwo Jima and also Tinian, as well as a cruise-by of Cape Horn, and there are other cruise-by of various other islands and they are usually interesting.

[Swampbabe]

7 minutes ago, vintagegarage said:

Since the people of Key West don't want us there, I won't give them my business, plain and simple.  If an itinerary has Key West on it, then I will choose a different itinerary.  There really isn't much to see there anyway.  I'd rather see a cruise-by of the Dry Tortugas National Park.  I have never seen Fort Jefferson, and I'm not sure if water depths or regulations would permit it, but I wonder if cruise lines have ever considered doing it.  I enjoyed a cruise-by of Iwo Jima and also Tinian, as well as a cruise-by of Cape Horn, and there are other cruise-by of various other islands and they are usually interesting.

There’s quite a bit to do in Key West besides drinking Bud Light at Hogs Breath 🙄

[BlerkOne]

I see another sea day! There are only so many ports and many are already booked, some aren't open, etc.

[sammee]

With everything going on, we're just going to drive to Key West for a couple days and than over to St Pete to finish the vacation. At least I'll know I'll have Key West. I decided on a B&B, costs less than the hotels and right there by the action.

[Honolulu Blue]

12 hours ago, Joebucks said:

From reading a lot of responses about this, I seem to be in the minority that sides with the Florida legislature 100%. Think about it for a second, what if any city is given the option to decide what type of tourism they do or don't want? Who's actually going to vote for tourism?

 

I happen to be one of the ones that vehemently disagrees with what the Florida legislature did.  It struck me as a blatant disregard for the will of the people of one of its cities (1) because they don't like what they did and how they did it, and (2) because they can.  To take that to the extreme, what if the state decided to force Key West, or my city, or your town, to shove a theme park or a casino or a pig farm into the city limits without local input?  I personally would not like it very much.

 

Anyway, the more interesting question than the one OP asked in the title of the tread is if your cruise ship stops in Key West, would you get off?  I've seen some answers here, and thank you for those.  I think, at this point, I would not get off.  I'd be sorry, since I liked Key West on my two visits there (both by cruise ships that would be banned by this local ordinance), and most of the businesses near the port would really appreciate the customers no matter who they are or where they came from.  But I have a habit in life of not going where I'm not really wanted.  There are too many places that value my presence for me (and the $$$$$$ in my pocket, of course).

[musbeus]

I have been to Key West once but not on a cruise ship.  It really wasn't all that impressive. There are so many other nice welcoming areas to visit when focused on a US location.  We will be avoiding any cruise that ports there.  

[Joebucks]

13 hours ago, vintagegarage said:

Since the people of Key West don't want us there, I won't give them my business, plain and simple.  If an itinerary has Key West on it, then I will choose a different itinerary.  There really isn't much to see there anyway.  I'd rather see a cruise-by of the Dry Tortugas National Park.  I have never seen Fort Jefferson, and I'm not sure if water depths or regulations would permit it, but I wonder if cruise lines have ever considered doing it.  I enjoyed a cruise-by of Iwo Jima and also Tinian, as well as a cruise-by of Cape Horn, and there are other cruise-by of various other islands and they are usually interesting.

 

1 hour ago, Honolulu Blue said:

 

I happen to be one of the ones that vehemently disagrees with what the Florida legislature did.  It struck me as a blatant disregard for the will of the people of one of its cities (1) because they don't like what they did and how they did it, and (2) because they can.  To take that to the extreme, what if the state decided to force Key West, or my city, or your town, to shove a theme park or a casino or a pig farm into the city limits without local input?  I personally would not like it very much.

 

Anyway, the more interesting question than the one OP asked in the title of the tread is if your cruise ship stops in Key West, would you get off?  I've seen some answers here, and thank you for those.  I think, at this point, I would not get off.  I'd be sorry, since I liked Key West on my two visits there (both by cruise ships that would be banned by this local ordinance), and most of the businesses near the port would really appreciate the customers no matter who they are or where they came from.  But I have a habit in life of not going where I'm not really wanted.  There are too many places that value my presence for me (and the $$$$$$ in my pocket, of course).

 

Do you both honestly think you are "welcomed" on any island you visit? People (on all sides here) think more for themselves than they care to acknowledge. Those involved in the tourism industry want the people to come for their business. Those not involved, do not want you there. Period. That is mostly consistent where ever you go. It's just that the US has a different political system, especially in the whiny Key West locals.

 

I do absolutely love the idea for a dry tortugas stop. That is such a pain to get to. 

[Honolulu Blue]

1 hour ago, Joebucks said:

Do you both honestly think you are "welcomed" on any island you visit? People (on all sides here) think more for themselves than they care to acknowledge. Those involved in the tourism industry want the people to come for their business. Those not involved, do not want you there. Period. That is mostly consistent where ever you go. It's just that the US has a different political system, especially in the whiny Key West locals.

 

 

Since you asked, YES I DO believe I have been welcomed anywhere that I've visited.  Can those smiling faces on the taxi drivers, food vendors, sales clerks, and other people I encounter be wrong?  And those locals that I don't encounter and might wish I take my business elsewhere, they don't matter.  If enough of them really don't want us tourists around, they'll make their presence felt at or near the port, or at the ballot box.

[TNcruising02]

1 hour ago, Joebucks said:

 

 

Do you both honestly think you are "welcomed" on any island you visit? People (on all sides here) think more for themselves than they care to acknowledge. Those involved in the tourism industry want the people to come for their business. Those not involved, do not want you there. Period. That is mostly consistent where ever you go. It's just that the US has a different political system, especially in the whiny Key West locals.

 

I do absolutely love the idea for a dry tortugas stop. That is such a pain to get to. 

Yes, I think many of the islands do want people to visit.  We have taken island tours on pretty much every island we visited.  There is usually extreme poverty and many of the people need tourists to survive.  

Key West is not the same.  There are businesses that want the cruise ships and there are the residents who don't.  We've been there a couple of times on cruises.  One time we went parasailing and I am sure the people appreciated our business.  The other time we did a tour, and again I think they appreciated our business.  But Key West wasn't that special to us and we are fine with not going back since the majority of residents don't want cruise ships there.

Edited May 4, 2021 by TNcruising02

[BlerkOne]

4 hours ago, musbeus said:

I have been to Key West once but not on a cruise ship.  It really wasn't all that impressive. There are so many other nice welcoming areas to visit when focused on a US location.  We will be avoiding any cruise that ports there.  

Depends on the season and whether a cruise ship is in port.

 

Key West can be quite dead at times.

 

 

[BlerkOne]

4 hours ago, Joebucks said:

 

 

Do you both honestly think you are "welcomed" on any island you visit? People (on all sides here) think more for themselves than they care to acknowledge. Those involved in the tourism industry want the people to come for their business. Those not involved, do not want you there. Period. That is mostly consistent where ever you go. It's just that the US has a different political system, especially in the whiny Key West locals.

 

I do absolutely love the idea for a dry tortugas stop. That is such a pain to get to. 

Surely there can't be many true locals in Key West. The birth rate is lower than other nearby areas.

 

The principal industry of Key West IS tourism. The US Navy and USCG are likely next.

 

 

[Joebucks]

2 hours ago, Honolulu Blue said:

 

 

Since you asked, YES I DO believe I have been welcomed anywhere that I've visited.  Can those smiling faces on the taxi drivers, food vendors, sales clerks, and other people I encounter be wrong?  And those locals that I don't encounter and might wish I take my business elsewhere, they don't matter. 

 

Are you literally trying to argue that this happens in *other islands* but not in Key West?

 

I was in Florida last weekend and was welcomed at many places I went. That doesn't mean every local was glad I was there.

[scpirate]

14 hours ago, musbeus said:

I have been to Key West once but not on a cruise ship.  It really wasn't all that impressive. There are so many other nice welcoming areas to visit when focused on a US location.  We will be avoiding any cruise that ports there.  

What? You didn't like all the bums sleeping on the sidewalk?