From the “things that make me want to crush a midget” file comes this little gem. You remember that earthquake in Haiti, right? Tens of thousands of people dead, lives ruined, bodies being stacked up in the streets? The one CNN is covering non-stop these days? Yeah, that earthquake. Well even that isn’t enough to stop Royal Caribbean International from docking one of their luxury cruise ships, Independence of the Seas, just a few miles from one of the worst disasters in recent memory.
The 4,370-berth docked at the resort of Labadee on Friday, with heavily armed guards patrolling 12-foot high fences, so passengers could get off and “cut loose” on the beaches with water sports, barbecues, and shopping. Are you kidding me? People are dead, missing, severely injured, homes are ruined, loved ones are lost just miles away and these guys are off on jet skis having a gay ol’ time? This is what’s wrong with the world, people.
Trying to make up for this blunder, Royal Caribbean said that the ship was carrying some food aid for the Haitians, and that one hundred percent of the proceeds from the visit would go to help the stricken people of Haiti. Sorry, guys, that’s just not cutting it for me. There’s a little thing called tact. How about just canceling the damn cruise? What? You don’t think the passengers would understand? Again, I repeat: this is what’s wrong with the world, because I guarantee that half of those people would be about as pissed off as I am right now if their vacation got shut down.
Screw you, Royal Caribbean. You just won the Most Disgusting Corporation of the Year award, and it’s only January. Bravo.
Comments
Kody Boye
January 18th, 2010 - 3:19:16 PM
You have to be kidding. Seriously... How fucking DESPICABLE, SOULLESS and HEARTLESS do you have to be to sail by PEOPLE WHO HAVE JUST LOST EVERYTHING in a fucking YACHT, that has PEOPLE WITH THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO AFFORD A CARIBBEAN CRUISE and its OWN SHOPPING MALL ON? How the hell? Who could be heartless enough to do such a thing, much less even THINK about doing something like that? The world's going to hell.
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Jsn_chrch
January 18th, 2010 - 3:54:24 PM
Makes me want to puke!
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Svosvt88
January 18th, 2010 - 4:00:57 PM
Look I have been on one cruise in my life and yea I had to work my ass off to get it. I see your point on the docking there and all that is really Stupid and heartless but Would it be fair to say it would be better off if they changed the route to somewhere else instead? Yea most of the people on that boat had more than enough money to do it and not care but i know there where people that had saved for it and taken time off work for it that yes they felt bad for the people but they all take the what can we do and walk away. Well I say the rich people should donate to these relief funds to help them and Royal Caribbean should donate all the money from that cruise to the relief funds for a start! Now i am willing to bet it's corporate that told that captain to go there and dock there after all that happened and it wasn't his choice. So i hope that nobody here is going to badmouth the captain for following orders.
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Jennifer Hudock
January 18th, 2010 - 4:11:20 PM
So when we take our next cruise, we're staying away from Royal Caribbean, eh?
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LKR JAY
January 18th, 2010 - 5:14:50 PM
You are an idiot! Your logic is completely flawed and you are whats wrong with the world today. How is enjoying a jet ski off the coast of haiti any different then off the coast of San Diego? Are you ok with the people in Haiti suffering as long as you're in the comfort of your own home? The Haitian government asked for RCI not to cancel the port as even more poeple would go jobless. It would just add insult to injury. If you are so concerned about Haiti DONATE CASH to the American Red Cross and prey for the people to recover. I'm sure you'll be thinking about the Haitian people when you're chowing down on your next burger. Hypocrit
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James Melzer
January 18th, 2010 - 5:30:44 PM
I did donate cash, and sorry, I don't eat meat.
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patrick
January 18th, 2010 - 11:31:58 PM
Why should we punish the people that work on Labadee (100 km away from the earthquake) living from the tips that royal caribbean guests leave on this private island? This part of Haiti has not been destroyed.
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Tahn
January 19th, 2010 - 4:34:57 PM
It's not despicable at all. Royal Caribbean is keeping hundreds of Haitians employed by keeping the resort open! They are bringing food and aid to the people there as well, along with all money that tourists spend there. Would you rather deprive these people of the assistance they so desperately need right now? I agree, playing in the surf and basking in the sun seems morally wrong at first glance, but you have to consider the benefits that this added cash flow and aid that Royal Caribbean is providing! And I agree, with LKR Jay, does it really make a difference where people jet ski and tan? Does doing these things in another Caribbean location make it any better? Everyone is trying to help, and you shouldn't criticize RC for doing what they think is right. What do you think RC should do? Just stop going there? So that the Haitians working in labadee suffer too? I personally think that doing so would hurt Haiti even more.
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James Melzer
January 19th, 2010 - 8:02:37 PM
You know what? You guys are right. RC did the right thing here, because I'm sure that being such a large corporation with millions of dollars, their only interest lay in what's best for the people of Haiti. I stand corrected. Therefore, I would like to change the title of this article to, "YOU People Make Me Sick." Happy?
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fecurtis
January 20th, 2010 - 11:55:22 AM
Yeah I agree with this article. I forgot that when cruise lines used to port in Haiti prior to the earthquake, Haiti was a stellar and thriving country with no one constantly dying from starvation and in mudslides (mudslides are caused by deforestation since the gov't doesn't bother with regulating deforestation nor does it bother having sound construction standards...obviously) and that it was not the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Clearly RC should not be porting their, no one should be. During this time, Haiti definitely does not need the money from the fees they charge to port there. To summarize, the author is an idiot.
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Jennifer Hudock
January 20th, 2010 - 12:30:10 PM
You know, there is a fine line between providing necessary relief to a country in need, and taking advantage of the situation so close to its occurrence. Regardless of what they were actually doing, it looks like "taking advantage." Not to mention that RC probably wouldn't have offered to do the things they did offer if someone hadn't called them on the above mentioned act. If they really wanted to make a difference, why not put together a relief cruise filled with helping hands willing to donate not just their hard-earned cash, but their time and efforts to helping Haiti recover. It doesn't matter where a tragedy happens, and yeah, life goes on despite major tragedies, but jet-skiing and having beach parties so close to the mark seems callous and indifferent. Is it any different than the indifference suffered by a poor country like Haiti on a regular basis, probably not, but showing a little compassion and redirecting recreational efforts to actually make some kind of difference would be ideal.
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Kody Boye
January 20th, 2010 - 12:31:50 PM
You people arguing about people who can afford a cruise and said cruise ships porting in Haiti and paying the fee to do that is completely absurd. What reason would a boat need to dock in a place that was just hit and practically destroyed by an earthquake, especially since it's still experiencing aftershocks, the latest being 6.1 (at least a point less than the original earthquake that displaced a third of the country?) A few things: 1 - You people are arguing that this isn't lecherous in the fact that people are paying to be on a cruise that's going by this country. Yes--they're paying to go there, but why would said people bother to see a country and its people suffering after an earthquake if they were of good heart? Obviously, waterskiing past people who are dying on the country's coast isn't insulting, because it only says, 'Yes, I have money to enjoy this waterskii and that big boat I'm staying on, but I don't want to donate to you.' Then again, maybe this cruised was planned before the earthquake happened, or was already in affect as it happened. If that's the case, it's easier not to blame them. 2 - To reiterate a point above, what need would a cruise ship have to port in a disaster-ravaged country? They obviously can't spare food or anything else the passengers might need (as in, food, tourism, etc.,) so what's the point? Thinking about this from a financial point of view, what do the cruise lines have to gain from docking there? 3 - The people on the cruise are 'helping the country' by being on the cruise. By... giving a cruise ship that normally docks in Haiti their money? Wouldn't donating directly help the country more? I have to say, it's pretty sad that you people are coming here and leaving rude, inane comments on a writer's blog. 'Oh, he's an idiot' and, 'Oh, he's a douchebag!' are obviously great insults. Uh, no--they're not. They only make you look like idiotic trolls who hide behind stupid usernames made up on the spot.
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Amy
January 20th, 2010 - 12:42:01 PM
Just when I think it can't get any worse. What has happened to people? Doesn't any one get it? Doesn't any one think about people anymore? Its really really disgusting
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Loretta Eight
January 20th, 2010 - 12:53:24 PM
Let's go easy with the itchy trigger-fingers guys. I understand that Labadee is a major source of tourist revenue for Haiti, which I imagine they need now more than ever. These cruises are booked months in advance, and I'm sure some contractual obligations apply to changing and or canceling stops. While it is unpleasant to consider people frolicking in an area that has just sustained a major disaster, it's not like they went there with that particular intention. How sobering an experience must that have been for the passengers? I'd like to hear from some of them.
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Nobilis Reed
January 20th, 2010 - 12:56:47 PM
I agree with Loretta Eight. James is overreacting.
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Scott Roche
January 20th, 2010 - 1:16:02 PM
I third the notion that the author is over reacting. Cancelling the cruise to this port of call would make sense only if the cruise line believed that their passengers were in any danger. Not stopping because there was a natural disaster in the area (even very recently) doesn't make a lot of sense. As many have said, cancelling at the last minute without good cause would result in monumental contractual headaches and while you would be at least accurate in saying that RC could absorb the costs of that decision there is no sound business (or even humanitarian) reason for them to do so. These tourists are bringing commerce to the area and as much as those who are affected by the disaster need aid, those not affected who still have jobs to report to need money. Would RC reimburse those people? I doubt it.
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LMG
January 20th, 2010 - 2:29:57 PM
Yes. Stop all tourism to Haiti because no one in Haiti should be allowed to have jobs and feed their families at a time of crisis. ::eyeroll::
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James Melzer
January 20th, 2010 - 3:22:56 PM
Okay, okay, seems like I've ruffled some feathers here. So I'm going to have one final say on the matter and let you all fight amongst yourselves. Consider this when taking into account how much RC cares about the people of Haiti. Up until 1991, Royal Caribbean wasn't even telling its passengers that it was docking in Haiti, just the resort of Labadee. It was a journalist that uncovered this fact and then, and only then, did RC admit it was going to Haiti. You really think Royal Caribbean cares about Haiti and not just its own image? C'mon. Wake up.
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RPM
January 20th, 2010 - 5:33:52 PM
I am totally in agreement. In good conscience, I could not go to Haiti at this point in time but have donated money. The argument that RCL "creates" jobs for Haitians just doesn't hold up. How much do they earn? Just give them the money and go elsewhere. They definitely need money more than anything else right now, that is a given. The Port at Labadee could be used for rescue efforts instead of dumping off a bunch of fun loving tourists.
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ENRIQUEZ
January 20th, 2010 - 6:02:06 PM
Every one feels like they are a humanitarian because they can donate something to Haiti. Screw Haiti! The earthquake was the best thing that could have happened to them. They have been in civil war chopping them selfs up with machetes seeking ethnic cleansing. The earthquake has made them the center of attention to people that couldn't even point out Haiti on a map or much less spell it. OK people died. I get it. Stop crying about it because Thailand lost much more during the tsunami and got back on their feet in about a year. sometime you have to loose a little to get a little more. Thousands died in Japan after 2 nukes but think of the lives that were saved by that. Japan looks like they are not affected by it anymore.
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gogreenobama08
January 20th, 2010 - 7:09:58 PM
Do any of you assholes know anything about Haiti? Do you realize that these people see it as demeaning to do physical work? They associate physical labor with their slave past and believe it is beneath them to do hard work or help eachother out. Right across the border the Dom Republic is doing fine. Why? Perhaps their ability to have solid leadership. The presidential castle in Haiti is bigger than the White House and you are going to bitch about a private cruise line. Simpletons. How about instead of bitching about a cruise ship, you ask yourself why aren't the filthy oil rich arab nations doing anything. They have more money than anyone. Ohh because they're all tied up in Dubai making all kinds of pointless shit. Israel has a first rate field hospital set up, why not the scumbag Saudis, or UAE or Kuwait? Well put that in your pipe and smoke it you bunch of cowards.
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Jason R.
January 20th, 2010 - 7:52:03 PM
Melzer, you're a drama queen with a two-bit intellect. Nice attempt at shifting the argument once after your insipid flop of a first take. No one is trying to saint RC.
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Laura
January 20th, 2010 - 7:53:55 PM
I think it could be a good thing. I heard on the radio that there are workers and civilians(like hair braiders) who will make money from the tourists. And they won't be taking any resources from the people who need it. Anyone looking at a carribean vacation should consider a volunteer vacation in Haiti, later, when the direct trauma has passed. Build a school, enjoy the locals' friendly natures, and soak up some rays.
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LMG
January 23rd, 2010 - 7:56:26 AM
James, Whether RC cares or doesn't care is beside the point. Whether RC mentioned "Haiti" vs "Resort of Labadee" is also beside the point. Both of those ideas do not change - in anyway - the money that is being spent there, giving people jobs so they can continue on with their lives and feed their families. You seem to prefer that people just avoid Haiti and spend their holiday money elsewhere, but that would only make people in Haiti that aren't already suffering lose their jobs and become part of the suffering. By RC calling it Resort of Labadee" rather than Haiti means that they were allowing their passagners to enjoy their holiday as they would have if they went anywhere else - and spend a lot of cash. If they knew it was Haiti, they would have probably stayed on the boat feeling guilty not realizing by doing so (and spending cash in Haiti, giving people jobs) they are becoming part of the problem.
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Crystal
January 30th, 2010 - 2:19:06 PM
RCI DID temp halt stopping in Haiti. It was the Haitian government and the UN that pleaded with them to come back. Upon returning, Over 120 pallets of water, medical supplies and food have been delivered by these RCI ships. Over 2 million dollars of relief and climbing has been brought in by Royal Caribbean since the earthquake. In addition they donated bunches of deck chairs off the ships to be used for patients. AND the tourists that get off the ships have generously donated top dollar to locals and have put locals back to work. The recent tourists to visit accounted for the highest amount of money left on the island in the history of a day in port. I think it is a lot more selfish to have the mentality that we should just abandon them and sail on by, ignoring them and denying them needed support and revenue. Labadee is a private beach area on another part of the island that is pretty private and hidden so the idea that people are partying in the middle of the devastation is crazy. Hundreds of locals are showing up for work and for the ability to sell their artwork. The response is thankfulness and hopeful now that the ships are coming. RC had to make a decision. I for one am proud that they opted to return and provide, support, aide, work and revenue for the people of Haiti. The other option is to cruise on by and ignore the chance to be a part of the solution.
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