Norwegian Cruise Lines cancels ports of call on BI

[Lodestone]

Per HNN just now. Citing safety concerns, the Pride of America will skip Kona and Hilo until further notice.

[macuu222]

Ouch...That's gotta hurt Big Island Tourism!

[terracore]

That's where most of the helicopter noise comes from. I can't say that I'm disappointed.

The cruise ship companies keep their customers on a pretty short leash to ensure they spend most of their money on the ship.

[randomq]

They can't be stupid enough to think Hilo or Kona are at risk. But their customers may be. The probably did this so when customers call to cancel bookings they can say "the ship won't even be going to that island".

[KeaauRich]

Let's be brutally honest, the only unique reason a cruise ship passenger would want to visit Hilo or Kona on their tight itinerary is to see the Volcano Park. And with the Volcano Park opening and closing on an erratic basis, why would the major cruise lines want to risk cancellations (as randomq suggested) or complaints of "wasted days" from passengers on their "trip of a lifetime?"

Before you all blast me with the other interesting touristy things to see and do on a one-day visit to Hilo or Kona (The Botanical Gardens, Zip Lining, coffee farm tours, snorkel/scuba, etc.), filter out anything that couldn't be done at other Hawaiian Island ports of call. Is what's left enough of a draw to keep thousands of tourists happy and justify stops on the Big Island?

[Obie]

The cruise ships make their money on the shore excursions.

National Park,lower puna,lava tours all gone.

They will stop somewhere else.

[MarkD]

"Let's be brutally honest, the only unique reason a cruise ship passenger would want to visit Hilo or Kona on their tight itinerary is to see the Volcano Park."

How dare you disparage Hilo. #$@&%*! We have a beautiful oceanfront, with a nice highway built on top of what was once the largest black sand beach in Hawaii. Pull right up; park on the berm to look at the ocean. The water quality is only slightly affected by our 2-mile-long breakwater (about 50% longer than needed.) Take a swim.

Our city leaders put up a nice long fence so when you drive to the berm, you don't have to worry about pesky pedestrians from downtown trying to walk to the ocean and hindering traffic flow. Our Hilo Bay shoreline is a renowned visitor attraction. Won't see anything like it anywhere else in Hawaii....

[ericlp]

quote:

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Originally posted by MarkD

"Let's be brutally honest,

Our Hilo Bay shoreline is a renowned visitor attraction. Won't see anything like it anywhere else in Hawaii...

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Ya think someone could pick up the trash first? Heck, even the locals won't go for a swim in that water.

Also maybe they could take a walk down bayfront, and breath in all that fresh air... It's gotten really bad down there, I won't even go... not to mention the state of the farmers market with the popups. Well, then there is the park across the street, with the band stand AKA homeless shelter that has just as refreshing air as bayfront. Dunno. Something needs to change soon.

[kalakoa]

Citing safety concerns...

Rumor has it the "real reason" has more to do with "higher port fees".

[Todd H]

Time to think about the economic and tax benefits of pakalolo tourism! Just do some milling around in Seattle, Portland, or Boulder, Colorado. You'll see the slick brochures competing for attention with the perennial Ripley's Believe It Or Not, and all the other tourist attractions. Remember those Grey Line day-tours that you maybe went on when you were a kid on vacation with your parents? Those are still around, but there's a new twist - Pot/MJ/Kush bus tours that take folks on a full day of visiting recreational MJ shops, legal growing operations and, of course, munchie stops along the way. I'm really surprised Hawaii hasn't jumped on the recreational marijuana gravy train. Maybe time for some "emergency" legislation. Hey, there's been winery and brewery bus tours for decades, and not many of those have gone out of business. At least the pakalolo tourists will be inclined to stay on the Big Island instead of a 6-8 hour cruise ship visit where everyone is herded back on board before the ship sails away.

Todd