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Topic: Exotic What?

cncservo
First Class Passenger
Member # 532

posted 02-16-2003 02:17 PM

We just returned From the 8 day Exotic Western Caribbean cruise on Carnivals Legend. The ship is most beautiful and graceful, the downfall comes from the ports of call. Poverty should be the theme for this cruise, Belize, Costa Rico, Panama. Why any cruise line would sail to these ports is beyond my reasoning. Costa Ricos' coast line consists of waves of mud churning up the constant flow of muddy waters from their rivers, and this is the dry season! Belize is somewhat better but has very little from my eyes to offer the cruise vacationer. Colon Panama is just a drop off for the Panama Canal which has alot of history to offer but little else. The trash along the highways and in town is horrible, especially in Costa Rico. There are no, I said no Caribbean Blue waters or beaches to be seen at these ports. We have cruised to Alaska, Eastern and Western Caribbean and taken tours on every cruise, these are the worst ports of call and tours ever. We spent $400 on bus rides through poverity stricken, trash laden, muddy water country side.

[ 02-16-2003: Message edited by: cncservo ]

Posts: 170 | Registered: May 99 | IP: Logged

CGT
First Class Passenger
Member # 3531

posted 02-16-2003 03:05 PM

It's Costa Rica.

CGT

Posts: 2760 | From: New York, New York, USA | Registered: Dec 2002 | IP: Logged

cncservo
First Class Passenger
Member # 532

posted 02-16-2003 04:25 PM

Thank yoa

Posts: 170 | Registered: May 99 | IP: Logged

Onno
First Class Passenger
Member # 3071

posted 02-16-2003 05:24 PM

quote:
Originally posted by cncservo:
We spent $400 on bus rides through poverity stricken, trash laden, muddy water country side.

Not everyone in the world is lucky enough to afford the luxury of cruise!

Onno

Posts: 3583 | From: the Netherlands (Berenbotje ging uit varen...) | Registered: May 2002 | IP: Logged

topgun
First Class Passenger
Member # 928

posted 02-16-2003 06:40 PM

Experience has shown that some of the dirtiest and dingiest ports of call can be far the most interesting to visit.

Too frequently we see passengers returning to the ship after 15 minutes or so ashore calling places disgusting, filthy and so on. Seeing poverty is just not many cruisers idea of a vacation. Probably rightly so.

Exotic by loose definition is just "something from abroad". I don't think that there is any misrepresentation by the cruise lines in using the word.

[ 02-16-2003: Message edited by: topgun ]

Posts: 759 | From: Burlington ont,canada Cruise center of North America | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 02-16-2003 07:17 PM

cnc, Belize has the 2nd longest barrier reef in the world. if you want blue caribbean seas you should have taken a snorkling or Goff's Key trip. The city itself is run down, but further afield it's beautiful, although you won't find a Cozumel type shopping mecca. As Topgun said, 'Exotic' means 'from abroad', and personally I would far prefer being on a single ship calling at any of those ports than doing the rounds of Cozumel, Cayman etc to meet numerous other cuise ship passengers in port on the same day.

You paid to see the country, it wasn't to your liking, so now you know not to go back. You are lucky to live where you do, the majority of beings on this planet don't have anywhere near the standard of living as those of us who can afford to go on a holiday, let alone cruise. Poverty isn't an excuse for trash, but neither does poverty mean the people are not happy living as they are. They may have as bad an opinion of the way you live as you do of them.

Pam

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

cncservo
First Class Passenger
Member # 532

posted 02-17-2003 03:32 PM

The reason I posted as I did was to inform other readers of this topic that, all might not be as exotic a cruise as advertised. Yes, Exotic does mean foreign, unusual or from abroad so why does Carnival not advertise exotic on every crise. I believe the word exotic is misleading in that there is something on this cruise above and beyond that is not available on other western, eastern or southern cruises. Do not get me wrong, the ship is great and Carnival is doing a great job but I believe this is somewhat misleading. I also posted this so when Bob Dickinson ( Carnival President) is in his office reading cruise talk he is aware there might be a problem. Also travel agencies and individules might take another look at this cruise before recomending or spending their money. I will not enchorage anyone, especially first time cruises to take this cruise. If this was my first cruise I would probably hesitated to take another not knowing what other ports of call are like. If you went to an exotic dance would you not expect to see more than a plan old dance performance.
Onno: I am very fortunate to be able to cruise and thank God that I can. The reasons that I can cruise are, hard work and long hours just like many other cruisers. No hand-me-outs here.

[ 02-17-2003: Message edited by: cncservo ]

Posts: 170 | Registered: May 99 | IP: Logged

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 02-17-2003 07:35 PM

I agree with all of the above postings!

The term 'EXOTIC' is the problem - or at least the general understanding/interpretation of it -

From Family Word Finder -

1.palm trees are exotic to northern countries: foreign, not native, not inddigenous, from abroad, alien.

2. She was famed for her exotic hats: unusual, different, unique, striking, exceptional, peculiar, strange, unfamiliar.

Ant 1 native, 2 commonplace, run of the mill, ordinary.

Word origin: Exotic somes from Greek 'exotikos', from outside, foreign.

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 02-17-2003 08:31 PM

I agree with all of the above postings!

The term 'EXOTIC' is the problem - or at least the general understanding/interpretation of it -

From Family Word Finder -

1.palm trees are exotic to northern countries: foreign, not native, not inddigenous, from abroad, alien.

2. She was famed for her exotic hats: unusual, different, unique, striking, exceptional, peculiar, strange, unfamiliar.

Ant 1 native, 2 commonplace, run of the mill, ordinary.

Word origin: Exotic somes from Greek 'exotikos', from outside, foreign.

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

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