Cruising.
Well, it looks like many different islands have been visited during the last 10 days aboard the different cruise ships and sailing boats of WorldWide Cruise Line’s Caribbean Cruise Board Game. Also, the islands visited and the activities that have been highlighted in the different Island and Ship Cards seem to have been a little off the beaten track, as opposed to the run-of-the-mill Carnival Cruise or Royal Caribbean Cruise experience. Some of the islands visited are definitely on the mainstream Cruise Line’s itineraries; others are possibly more suited to the docking of smaller sized ships and boats, or also a more specialized cruise travel experience.
Cruise Lines are mostly steering a wide berth away from Haiti (see Day 2, island F-46 on the scorecard) these days, but then again a visit to a walled off beach and play area only accessible to Cruise Line passengers, staff and guests so that they are insulated from the real-world of Haiti (as what was given to passengers even before the earthquake and disaster, and which is still ongoing) is rather sugar coating the island experience. For a quick view of Big Cruise Line politics and finance and the should-we/should’nt-we Haiti debate please see this Jim Walker article.
More specialized (often featuring smaller ship) cruises may also highlight the indigenous populations of the islands and their way of life and culture (see Days 9 & 10, visiting islands L-80 & P-110); they may also stay for a longer time at a destination, giving more time for passengers to explore, meet local people and become involved in local activities ~ to feel the real-time life of the islands.
A decision that should be made (preferably before cruising) is; do you want the ship board experience or the island experience. Larger cruise lines with their mega-sized vessels will probably be encouraging passengers towards the onboard amenities, while other companies will specialize in island activities, highlighting local culture, natural beauty spots and wild-life.
A cruise is an adventure and an education and will give you plenty to reflect upon during and after the experience. Please make sure that you have enough quiet time to take in, fully appreciate and meditate upon, the geography, people and natural wonders of these lands that are far from one’s natural habitat.
