Which cruise location had the clearest beach water you've seen?

[DarrenM]

21 hours ago, navybankerteacher said:

Damn !!! You’d think proper sewage management would be one of the primary steps of a civilized government with claims of interest in public health.  I still recall how bad was the smell from the Bay of Naples when I was first there - and how it is now as briny and clean as the Bay of Maine.

The water companys in the UK were de-nationalised and sold off to private firms some time ago.

 

Since then they have all chosen profit and shareholder dividends over investment in the waterways, and we are all now paying the price.

 

Its not just the Thames now, its almost every river in England and Wales, and almost all of the coastlines around the uk.

 

Its appalling what has been allowed to happen. I certainly wouldnt go in the water anywhere just now, and I live 800 metres from the beach on the NE coast of England.

 

Most of now wont even take our dogs on the beaches.

[DarrenM]

There is a word that partly explains why the UK has become a sewage hellhole, but I wont mention it as many are in denial.

[DarrenM]

Anyway, its enough to say that if any foreign visitors are embarking on a british cruise any time soon, keep out of the water at all costs.

[navybankerteacher]

5 hours ago, DarrenM said:

The water companys in the UK were de-nationalised and sold off to private firms some time ago.

 

Since then they have all chosen profit and shareholder dividends over investment in the waterways, and we are all now paying the price.

 

Its not just the Thames now, its almost every river in England and Wales, and almost all of the coastlines around the uk.

 

Its appalling what has been allowed to happen. I certainly wouldnt go in the water anywhere just now, and I live 800 metres from the beach on the NE coast of England.

 

Most of now wont even take our dogs on the beaches.

When you say water companies were privatized - are you also saying that all sewer systems were also privatized - which would strike me as a very unusual step?

[sandiego1]

I agree with others about Klein Bonaire, but my experience was about 20 yrs ago. More recently, the pink sand beach at Komodo Island. Nuku’alofa in Tonga had surprisingly clear water and abundant fish. Niki Hiva in the Marquesas was fantastic!

 

In the US, Fishbowl and Aquarium in Maui are fantastic but they have been closed for many years. Two-step and Kealakekua Bay on the Big Island are pretty good.

 

Our 1st trip to the Great Barrier Reef 15 years ago was awesome. However, our last trip in 2019 was quite disappointing. Much of the coral reef has been bleached and while the water is still clear, the amount of sea life was, sadly, greatly diminished.

 

lastly, snorkeling at several of the Galápagos Islands was pretty awesome. And the sea life is not afraid of humans.

[DarrenM]

11 hours ago, navybankerteacher said:

When you say water companies were privatized - are you also saying that all sewer systems were also privatized - which would strike me as a very unusual step?

The water companies manage the sewer systems.

 

Just google Thames water and you will see. They are, of course, in denial, but when their CEO etc get millions in bonus's whilst pumping raw sewage into rivers, you can see why most are sceptical that they have any excuses.

 

Its affecting rivers, the whole coastline, streams, and canals. Wildlife is dying, habitats are unliveable, and people are getting sick who swim unknowingly.

 

Its widespread.

 

Scotland is largely unaffected because surprise surprise they didnt privatise the industry.

[DarrenM]

This is part of a statement from a website called Surfers against sewage.

 

"Last year, 301,091 sewage spills were reported discharging in England, 14,008 in Scotland and 74,066 in Wales. Sewage discharged for an eyewatering 2.4 million hours across England, Scotland and Wales. Despite these figures showing a slight reduction from 2021, it’s completely unacceptable that our waterways are still being treated as open sewers on a regular basis."

[donnatello]

The clearest water we've ever seen (and able to actually go swimming in) was off the coast of Croatia.

[ldubs]

On 4/4/2024 at 7:26 AM, DarrenM said:

There is a word that partly explains why the UK has become a sewage hellhole, but I wont mention it as many are in denial.

 

After reading your posts I looked at several news reports.  This is really a sad situation.  Hopefully it will get the attention it deserves.  

[DarrenM]

17 hours ago, ldubs said:

 

After reading your posts I looked at several news reports.  This is really a sad situation.  Hopefully it will get the attention it deserves.  

I suspect it won't, until we have a change of government.

 

It might not even then.

 

It seems we live in a world where shareholder dividend is valued higher than the saving of the planet.

 

The wild life around the UK is really suffering too, and very few people who could help, seem to care.

[ldubs]

7 hours ago, DarrenM said:

I suspect it won't, until we have a change of government.

 

It might not even then.

 

It seems we live in a world where shareholder dividend is valued higher than the saving of the planet.

 

The wild life around the UK is really suffering too, and very few people who could help, seem to care.

 

Interesting a country that was able to implement NHS would hand over these essential infrastructures to private business.    

[DarrenM]

Not all of us in the UK believe in privatisation. And it's proving to be catastrophic for our waterways.

 

Unfortunately our current government are no longer governing with the will of the people.

 

I read somewhere that the majority of the water company shareholders don't even live in the UK, and just see it as a money cow.

 

So we the people, have no way of changing it, until we have a government prepared to re-nationalise.

 

It's a sad and sorry state of affairs.

 

Like I said earlier. If visiting the UK keep out of the water.

 

 

[navybankerteacher]

5 hours ago, ldubs said:

 

Interesting a country that was able to implement NHS would hand over these essential infrastructures to private business.    

That was my initial thought.  Of course their NHS is sufficiently flawed to encourage all who can afford it to buy private medical insurance/coverage: recent reports show that as many as 22% are fed up with delays in receiving essential care and general decline in quality, and are buying private coverage.

Edited April 6 by navybankerteacher

[DarrenM]

On 4/6/2024 at 11:24 PM, navybankerteacher said:

That was my initial thought.  Of course their NHS is sufficiently flawed to encourage all who can afford it to buy private medical insurance/coverage: recent reports show that as many as 22% are fed up with delays in receiving essential care and general decline in quality, and are buying private coverage.

So much to unpick here.

 

In 2010 patient satisfaction was at its highest ever in the NHS and waiting lists were the lowest.

 

2010 saw a change in government. And for the last 14 years chronic underfunding and privatisation has seen to the highest waiting lists ever and lowest patient satisfaction.

 

Exactly the same things have happened to our wayerways.

 

There is nothing wrong with our NHS and waterways that adequate funding, care and will to do the right thing, couldn't put right.

 

22% always bought medical insurance. Its probably only the 22% that can afford it. The same 22% help prop up what's happened in the last 14 years.

 

Any many of us luckily get private medical insurance as part of our salary packages through work. 

 

The UK is seriously broken just now, and like I have said, if you are visiting in the next 12 months, keep out of the water.......genuinely keep out if the water.

[DarrenM]

It's also worth noting that upto around 2021, the pastine of outdoor sea and river swimming was a growing fun thing to do, especially amongst older folk 

 

This has now come to a halt almost everywhere.

[navybankerteacher]

6 hours ago, DarrenM said:

So much to unpick here.

 

In 2010 patient satisfaction was at its highest ever in the NHS and waiting lists were the lowest.

 

2010 saw a change in government. And for the last 14 years chronic underfunding and privatisation has seen to the highest waiting lists ever and lowest patient satisfaction.

 

Exactly the same things have happened to our wayerways.

 

There is nothing wrong with our NHS and waterways that adequate funding, care and will to do the right thing, couldn't put right.

 

22% always bought medical insurance. Its probably only the 22% that can afford it. The same 22% help prop up what's happened in the last 14 years.

 

Any many of us luckily get private medical insurance as part of our salary packages through work. 

 

The UK is seriously broken just now, and like I have said, if you are visiting in the next 12 months, keep out of the water.......genuinely keep out if the water.

Until a year or so ago it was more like 12% who had private medical insurance.  

 

And, of course, “adequate funding” can fix most problems  - how one gets it is the problem.

Edited April 8 by navybankerteacher

[broberts]

On 4/2/2024 at 6:27 AM, Debberly said:

I'm curious about the beaches beaches you've been to on a cruise stop.  The clearer the water, the better!

TIA,

Debbie

 

Weather and sea conditions can change visibility for some time. Pristine Caribbean waters are often clouded for weeks following major storms.