Costa Maya and Hurricane Dean discussion (merged)

[texancruzer]

So.... I figure our Voyager cruise in January that already has Roatan on the itinerary would probably stop in Belize instead of Costa Maya ?

 

I wonder when this will be officially figured out and released by Royal Caribbean ? HMMMM. Will wait and see.

 

I hope the people of Costa Maya area get lots of help to recover. We enjoyed our day touring the ruins of Chacchoben last year with David & Ivan. The people of this area were just getting their lives in a much better place too with the economic boost from the tourists. Unfortunately, such is the luck of the draw.

[texancruzer]

While in Costa Maya last November we were told that anchoring and tendering was not an option in Costa Maya for a few reasons....

 

1) the area is very shallow all around there and is only accessible via a narrow channel which lead to the pier area and.....

 

2) they have a real problem with crosswinds (which is why this port is missed due to ships being unable to manuver and dock) which will also not allow them to anchor (even though alot of times they don't actually anchor but use thrusters and gps to hold position).

 

Sounds like we will have to wait for the pier to be rebuilt.

 

My heart goes out to all the people in the area.

[WeatherGeek]

They are saying only six sections of the pier remain from what they can see in the distance. If you use Babel Fish, you can translate the webpage.

 

 

I translated the web page and my heart goes out to all of the residents of the area who have lost anything and everything. It sounds like complete destruction in Majahual, especially with a headline that reads "Majahual, destroyed."

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Hmm, so we were already going to Belize City. I wouldn't mind just spending two days there, but Costa Maya was our last port before chugging back on a seaday to FLL. I guess we just have to wait and see.

[annf]

Bleu Girl in message 222 ask how long does it take to rebuild a pier. That depends on the damage. The one in Cozmel destroyed two years ago is still a pile of rubble

 

Actually I was docked in Cozumel in May - at a gorgeous new pier. :)

[mjeffv]

Hmm, so we were already going to Belize City. I wouldn't mind just spending two days there, but Costa Maya was our last port before chugging back on a seaday to FLL. I guess we just have to wait and see.

 

Wish that were true as we would love the opportunity to go to Tikal. Not enough time currently. Unfortunately, the onboard revenue from casino and bars will likely prevent them from overnighting in any port. :(

[jetskier]

I didnt realize Hurricane Janet also a Cat 5 hit there in 1958.

Here is the official website for Chetumal. http://www.chetumal.gob.mx

You might be able to get some information from it as to who to contact. There is also a page with a list of phone numbers and email address.

 

Noemí Canto de Conde is over tourism dgturismomunicipal@opb.gob.mx

Juan Manuel Zamarripa Pérez is over Public Services dgserviciospublicos@opb.gob.mx

 

Dave

[MAO]

I was soooo saddened by the news of the destruction to Costa Maya. This past January I absolutely fell in love with this port. It is quaint and pictureque, slowly building with what I undertand restriction to keep it small...I told my DH that if he gave me $$ and said go by land there I would....anyway

Is it the same president as for Cozumel? They did a great job in Coz when Wilma hit 2 years ago...I believe they recieved awards for thier recovery success.

Best wishes to all the residents of Costa Maya!

MAO

[jetskier]

Actually I was docked in Cozumel in May - at a gorgeous new pier. :)

 

Yes but you did not dock at Carnival's pier. It is just now being worked on. Punta Langosta pier and International pier have been rebuilt for some time now.

Dave

[cruzegirl]

Hi Debbie -

If someone can give us a local address where we can send items, I definitely think you should post the list of what they need. I am just so skeptical about donating through Red Cross or any other relief organization. I want to send items directly to the people who need them. Hopefully someone has a friend "on the ground" who can receive them and give them directly to those who really need help. Would your friend be willing to receive packages and hand stuff out? If not, maybe someone knows those "hole in the fence" people or the Cat's Meow ladies.

 

I just feel sad and helpless and want to do what I can to return a sense of normalcy quickly, especially for the kids. I know you all feel the same. Mods -- any suggestions?

 

Leadft,

I will email Julie and see if she feels she can be that person. Or maybe can recommend someone who can. I also want to message the Mods to see if we can post that info. here and ask for contributions. I'm sure there's something in the rules I would be violating if I did it on my own.

I too, am skeptical about the Red Cross. This is why. When I was 21, I was home from college. While visiting my family, my brother while playing with matches burned our house down. This was in Arizona. We lost everything. I didn't even get out with shoes on. I lost my car, books, everything. A school was next door and gave me a pair of shoes in the "extra" box. They were 2 sizes too small but it was better than stickers in Arizona desert. We went to the Red Cross to seek help until we could figure out what to do. They turned us away. Why you ask? Because we had insurance. Even though insurance isn't instantaneous and I was in shoes too small for me and we had very little money, they did nothing. NOTHING I tell you.... So I have very little use for the Red Cross.

With that said, let me email the mods and we'll see what we can do. :)

[GoinCruisin]

Actually I was docked in Cozumel in May - at a gorgeous new pier. :)

 

It wasn't new... there are 3 piers in Cozumel. One is still pretty much a pile of rubble (Puerto Maya)... the other 2 are operational (Punta Langosta and International both had partial collapse after Wilma), Now, there is no "new" pier in Cozumel... although the 2 there did go through some major face lifts to become operational. For a long time, only one pier was operational with one berth... it's been a long road!!!

[woodofpine]

I'm a little surprised that a Pensacola resident and others would take the position that things could be up and running "in no time". With all the money and other resources of the US, New Orleans isn't really back in gear - a year later.

 

The Costa Maya region doesn't have the same insurance, government assistance, or other more basic resource access (ie. concrete) that US areas have that have taken a long time to recover from lesser (nasty) hurricanes.

 

The pier might be fixed in a matter of months - with concerted effort - but effort = $$ and that is an unknown. Its not as easy as one thinks. The pier was a pretty direct dredge slot from deep water. The mass of concrete that was the pier is now likely in the channel (washed around - yes hurricanes do wash stuff that size around - until it found the deepest spot). Simply getting that junk moved will take heavy lifting. You don't find that sort of equipment at the local marina (oh, that's right, they didn't have a marina).

 

It will be interesting to see how it shapes up. There was underlying tension in Costa Maya between the local Mayans and the out money of Mexico City partnered with the cruiselines etc. From what I was told, very few of the folks employed in the pier and adjacent development are local. This influx was beginning to appear in Mahajual too. The resulting monetary repatriation resulted in some weird economic statistics showing the area as being one of the wealthiest in Mexico - as measured in regional per capita domestic product; but the vast majority of that ended up in Mexico City bank accounts rather those of local residents.

 

On some levels, I suspect that the quicker the place recovers, the more that will evidence the effect of non-local money. I'd like to think the Mahajual of old will re-appear... But like my DW says, "Call some place paradise and you can kiss it goodbye..."

[GoinCruisin]

Leadft,

I will email Julie and see if she feels she can be that person. Or maybe can recommend someone who can. I also want to message the Mods to see if we can post that info. here and ask for contributions. I'm sure there's something in the rules I would be violating if I did it on my own.

:)

 

I emailed Laura to see what she would allow, and see if she had any suggestions... I'll post when I hear anything back, or she may post here directly.

[jetskier]

I was soooo saddened by the news of the destruction to Costa Maya. This past January I absolutely fell in love with this port. It is quaint and pictureque, slowly building with what I undertand restriction to keep it small...I told my DH that if he gave me $$ and said go by land there I would....anyway

 

Is it the same president as for Cozumel? They did a great job in Coz when Wilma hit 2 years ago...I believe they recieved awards for thier recovery success.

 

Best wishes to all the residents of Costa Maya!

 

MAO

 

Mexico has a new presidenta since Wilma. President Fox was running the country then. The current president is President Felipe Calderón. He spent last night in Chetumal and today is touring the damage at Mahahual/Costa Maya.

Dave

[bluewatervacation]

Bad news for those of us with cruises headed to the Costa Maya Cruise Ship Port. I just looked up the GPS coordinates of Hurrican Dean at Landfall and compared them to the coordinates for the cruise ship port. They are only 9,200 feet apart. This means that the cruise ship port in Costa Maya was less than 2 miles from the eye of Hurricane Dean. In other words, a direct hit by the 3rd largest hurricane in recorded history.

According to NOAA, the eyewall was located at 18.7N 87.8W at landfall. According to Google Earth, the Costa Maya Cruise Ship Port is located at 18.724N 87.7W

Link to NOAA's archive with the coordinates: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.public.033.shtml?

[GoinCruisin]

Bad news for those of us with cruises headed to the Costa Maya Cruise Ship Port. I just looked up the GPS coordinates of Hurrican Dean at Landfall and compared them to the coordinates for the cruise ship port. They are only 9,200 feet apart. This means that the cruise ship port in Costa Maya was less than 2 miles from the eye of Hurricane Dean. In other words, a direct hit by the 3rd largest hurricane in recorded history.

According to NOAA, the eyewall was located at 18.7N 87.8W at landfall. According to Google Earth, the Costa Maya Cruise Ship Port is located at 18.724N 87.7W

Link to NOAA's archive with the coordinates: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2007/al04/al042007.public.033.shtml?

 

Where have you been :p

 

Welcome to Cruise Critic!!

[Host Karen]

We visited this sleepy area some years ago on a Grand Princess cruise, and DH was taken with its charm. Our thoughts are with everyone who was affected by this storm.

 

I must point out that LauraS has a sticky on the main page of this forum regarding the generosity of our members: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=303303

 

While I realize that some of you may wish to contribute in some way, discussions regarding donations are not allowed on CruiseCritic. I recommend waiting a few days so that the full extent of the damage can be determined, and then perform an online search for organizations that may be accepting donations.

 

Karen

HostKaren@CruiseCritic.com

[MAO]

thanks goincrusin! I just saw some pics, brought tears to my eyes for the second time today. Read the paper this am and like I said was soooo sad! Not that I like hearing about anyone hit my mother nature but recently i realized i take it personally in some sense when it's one of the places I have so enjoyed via cruising. I feel just awful for the people and the land, not even that I may not be able to go there for awhile...thats just not it....these beautiful places (Costa Maya) have brung me so much joy.....augh!! It's just awful

Be Well all!

MAO

[cruzegirl]

I emailed Laura to see what she would allow, and see if she had any suggestions... I'll post when I hear anything back, or she may post here directly.

 

Lucy,

Isn't life funny..... We've had our differences on other threads but here we are on the same page so to speak of this effort....:D It's awesome.... I have also emailed CC and will post once I hear something. Hopefully they will come here and check out the posts and post for us. I sent them the thread to get them to read/check it out sooner.....

[cruzegirl]

We visited this sleepy area some years ago on a Grand Princess cruise, and DH was taken with its charm. Our thoughts are with everyone who was affected by this storm.

 

I must point out that LauraS has a sticky on the main page of this forum regarding the generosity of our members: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=303303

 

While I realize that some of you may wish to contribute in some way, discussions regarding donations are not allowed on CruiseCritic. I recommend waiting a few days so that the full extent of the damage can be determined, and then perform an online search for organizations that may be accepting donations.

 

Karen

HostKaren@CruiseCritic.com

 

Ok. I guess we have our answer...... Wasn't the one I was looking for.... But now we know..... What a shame......

[GoinCruisin]

I heard back from Laura... if we can find something official (I know people are wanting to stay away from Red Cross), then we can encourage people to donate that way.

 

Cruzegirl, if you get up with Julie, see if she can find anything there local, realizing that may take some time.

 

I'll email Cliff from the blog and see if I hear back from him.

 

Surely there is already something underway for getting relief to these people besides the Red Cross. What I fear is that too many people know nothing about this place, and the media isn't helping with their "sparsely populated" talk, so us cruisers might be a big help to them, and we all know that the cruising population is the best there is!!! I told Laura that we would run anything by her before posting it out here...

[Leadft]

Debbie - What a terrible story! I bet you are a much stronger person for having gone through that.

 

Karen - I am sorry, I didn't realize I was violating a rule. Let's take this offline. Anyone who can provide information for a local contact, anyone who wishes to help organize a relief effort, or anyone who wishes to donate, please email me at Leadft2 at yahoo dot com.

[GoinCruisin]

Lucy,

Isn't life funny..... We've had our differences on other threads but here we are on the same page so to speak of this effort....:D It's awesome.... I have also emailed CC and will post once I hear something. Hopefully they will come here and check out the posts and post for us. I sent them the thread to get them to read/check it out sooner.....

 

I was thinking the same thing! It's funny how something like this can pull together people that otherwise wouldn't have come together.

[cruzegirl]

I heard back from Laura... if we can find something official (I know people are wanting to stay away from Red Cross), then we can encourage people to donate that way.

 

Cruzegirl, if you get up with Julie, see if she can find anything there local, realizing that may take some time.

 

I'll email Cliff from the blog and see if I hear back from him.

 

Surely there is already something underway for getting relief to these people besides the Red Cross. What I fear is that too many people know nothing about this place, and the media isn't helping with their "sparsely populated" talk, so us cruisers might be a big help to them, and we all know that the cruising population is the best there is!!! I told Laura that we would run anything by her before posting it out here...

Lucy,

That's excellent that she will allow that. I clicked on the thread link from Host Karen and felt like we couldn't post anything. Obviously we will run it all by CC before doing so.

I have emailed Julie and it might be a few days, but I know she'll get back to me as soon as she's able. All I know is they need the basics.

I also fear that this little town will be ignored. It's small, not many people know about it. Let's hope someone gets it back in the news.

[GoinCruisin]

Lucy,

That's excellent that she will allow that. I clicked on the thread link from Host Karen and felt like we couldn't post anything. Obviously we will run it all by CC before doing so.

I have emailed Julie and it might be a few days, but I know she'll get back to me as soon as she's able. All I know is they need the basics.

I also fear that this little town will be ignored. It's small, not many people know about it. Let's hope someone gets it back in the news.

 

 

I think generally, the rule that Karen posted is pretty strict. I think they just don't want any strangers or outsiders coming in here asking for donations, etc. We definitely want to run it by the CC team first!! I have emailed Cliff, first to see if he is okay (I fear for that sweet dog too, especially since he said they were staying in his truck :() and second to see what he knows about organizations and getting them some much needed help. I know others know people in the area... let's find something official, and a way we can reach out. I'm not sure CC wants us plastering anything all over the place, but if we can at least find something, for those that do want to help... I know we are not alone in this helpless feeling. If in doubt, email CC before posting for sure.

My email addy is lilmisschris2000 at yahoo