[Talk Host]

For anybody who has been on a cruise, you know how when you arrive at a port, the locals line up along the dock, hawking taxi service, souvenirs, motor scooters, bus tours and so on. When you get back, you get on the ship and leave, right?

We just cruised on the Norwegian Sun and one of the stops was Guatemala. The same slew of vendors were lining the dock when we arrived.

But, when the ship sounded the horn to sail at 5 p.m., all of those vendors, taxi drivers, bus drivers, dancers, souvenir salespeople, the local fire trucks and cops were all lined up along the departure dock. As we pulled away, they all began waving, blowing their horns, flashing red lights, throwing kisses, flashing high and low beams and sounding the city fire whistles.

They waved and threw kissed until were were almost out of sight. I think that is really cool.

JLK

[swrinfla]

TH:

I'm not quite sure what response you're looking for here, but I am happy to throw my two cents into the mix!

Most of the smaller islands really do welcome the American Tourist! So, they may gather at the dock as the ship pulls away to acknowledge the American Tourist's donation to their economy!

Many islands in the Caribbeam depend upon cruise-ship passengers' largesse. Indeed, for many of the islands, the tourism dollar is really the top income generator!

SWR

[KayakerNC]

Yep.
Been on cruises and seen the local's goodbyes.
But it seems on most of our trips, the ship generally leaves around dinner time, so you miss it at a lot of ports.
Makes me want to come back soon.

[Talk Host]

Originally Posted by swrinfla

TH:

I'm not quite sure what response you're looking for here, but I am happy to throw my two cents into the mix!

Most of the smaller islands really do welcome the American Tourist! So, they may gather at the dock as the ship pulls away to acknowledge the American Tourist's donation to their economy!

Many islands in the Caribbeam depend upon cruise-ship passengers' largesse. Indeed, for many of the islands, the tourism dollar is really the top income generator!

SWR

Having visited dozens of ports over the years, this is the first time I've seen that. I guess I wasn't looking for a response, just making a comment.

jllk

[Becky]

That is cool TH! Been on many cruises and that would have been a first for me also! Wish I would see that! Guatemala huh? Haven't been there but now want to!

Becky

[joannej]

A few years ago we took a cruise that stopped at St. Kitts, a caribbean island. We elected to take the train tour of the island. The people who ran the train tour gave us free drinks (alcoholic), entertained us with songs, and gave everyone a free CD that featured their island. They wanted tourists to come there and wanted us to share their CD with others back in the States. I was really impressed with the St. Kitts people on and off the train!

[duffysmom]

We were on a transatlantic cruise and stopped at a port in Ireland and our send away was incredible. Full dress bagpipers playing as well as dozens of locals waving. Quite a sight.

[swrinfla]

joannej:

I agree with your assessment of St. Kitts. Been there twice and have done the train excursion both times. The people are delightful, the rum punch is great, the scenery is magnificent!

The enthusiastic send-off that TalkHost experienced isn't all that common these days (even the locals have become jaded!), but it is fun. My late wife and I experienced it 15 years ago at Roatan.

SWR

all the ladies got roses when we came off the gangplank.

[TrudyM]

My mom took myself and my then young son with her on her dream cruise 30 days circle pacific. She really didn't care were we stopped just liked being on the ship. We stopped at Christmass island the first time a cruise ship had ever stopped there probably because except for the boobie birds and and diving there is nothing there.
The funny thing was the local officials came on board and were being given the grand tour by the captain. They were all following him in single file. The first guy was all in a white uniform with a military looking cap, polished shoes the whole deal. The next guy had just the hat and uniform shirt but jeans and sneakers. The next in line had the shirt the hat and ragged shorts and sandals. The next guy had a t shirt. ragged shorts no shoes but still had the hat.
But all had big smiles but were walking very straight backed and serious.
They made quite a sight that really struck me as funny at the time.

The locals thought it very funny that we would stop at their little island especially as one of the passangers was buying drinks for anyone in sight it became a real picinic.

[swrinfla]

A different sort of send-off:

March 2009. Aboard the Westerdam, calling at Philipsburg, Sint Maarten. Remember that that's the Dutch side of St. Martin/Sint Maarten.

Also recognize that the ship is registered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

So, a Dutch ship in a Dutch port.

On our departure we were escorted for several miles by a Dutch Navy destroyer and Dutch Navy armed helicopter. That ship's crew were lined up all along rails, in dress uniforms (so far as I could tell).

Many guests aboard our ship didn't understand why the escort until the Captain (an Englishman!) came on the intercom and explained! I wondered what the passengers on the other cruise ships in harbor thought!

SWR

[princesspat]

Once when we went on a cruise to St Lucia, we were welcomed by school children in their uniforms, who gave each woman a large tropical flower. As a former teacher and principal, I just had to stop and talk to them.. So sweet!

[hoseman]

Been on 23 cruises - see something different each time but best welcoming was in Bermuda (the port where you go through the skinny mountain pass). Some local drunk guy yelling at the top of his lungs at the ship during our arrival - everyone was scared to get off the ship - the local police were not sympathetic and hauled the guy off.

Dude must have been left there from a previous cruise as everyone else on Bermuda was fantastic.

That port visit, we found a grocery store to reload on cokes - found a six pack for like $4 - not bad until upon checking out they were $4 each. We drank water and tea the rest of the cruise.

Cruising is fun and inexpensive if you are smart (and cheap like me).

[cybrgeezer]

I've been on 10 cruises, all to Bahamas, Mexico or around the Carribbean and haven't seen this. I'll have to book another cruise soon just to watch for it.

[christina.campbell46]

That’s really special huh!