BajaNomad - Ensenada losing cruise ships...again

Ensenada losing cruise ships...again

arrowhead - 10-14-2009 at 11:04 PM

The article in El VIgia says that Carnival Lines has decided to stop port calls of its ship Elation at Ensenada. The reason stated is that Carnival is charged $7,000 every time it docks for services it does not use nor require, like tugboat service. The modern cruise liners don't need tugs to dock as they have directional controls.

Then the owners of the only other cruise ship calling in Ensenada, the Radiance of the Seas, operated by Royal Caribbean, complained to the city that the town was dirty and the streets full of beggars and vendors. So they only guaranteed 9 more port calls.

http://elvigia.net/noticias/?seccion=generales&id=54291

mulegemichael - 10-15-2009 at 06:44 AM

..too bad..when we passed through ensenada last week there were two big ol cruise ships in port and the streets were bustling with actividad...the town really needs those tourist dollars and i would think they would clean it up...actually, didn't look too dirty to me and i don't think there were any more beggars than you would find on the streets of los angeles or sacramento....picky, picky, picky

Udo - 10-15-2009 at 08:01 AM

I feel that the Port of Ensenada should be paying the cruise ships for bringing in all the tourists.

I could be wrong with current policies of cruise lines, but about ten years ago we took one of the cruises to Ensenada and I remember the ship charged us $5.00 U.S. to disembark. :?:

surfer jim - 10-15-2009 at 08:05 AM

Bad news for the city....probably good news for the tourists.....

k-rico - 10-15-2009 at 08:06 AM

The Elation isn't making any money. It's changing home ports from San Diego to Mobile Alabama.

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/sep/28/san-diego...

With a full boat fo 2000 passengers, even half full with 1000 passengers, $7000 should be easy to come up with.

[Edited on 10-15-2009 by k-rico]

DENNIS - 10-15-2009 at 08:33 AM

It would be my wish that they would quit stopping here completely for a period of time long enough to cause the junk stands at La Bufadora to close up and blow away. What a mismanaged embarrasment. The Buf is a natural landform phenomona which deserves better than being piled high with shops that sell Chinese made Mexican curios and fake Viagra.

That said, the government apparently doesn't agree. They are in the surveying process of widening the road from Maneadero to the end of the road to accomodate more vehicles. When the ships are in, there's a lot of bus traffic on the road.
I'm not sure what's going on out here but, the Tiger Woods development may have something to do with the funding of the road project. The area is still considered rural and home owners don't pay taxes or have the headaches of building in other places. No impact studies...no building permits...no nothing. Looks like that will change soon enough to generate funding for projects such as the road.

MikeLikeBaja - 10-15-2009 at 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mulegemichael
..too bad..when we passed through ensenada last week there were two big ol cruise ships in port and the streets were bustling with actividad...the town really needs those tourist dollars and i would think they would clean it up...actually, didn't look too dirty to me and i don't think there were any more beggars than you would find on the streets of los angeles or sacramento....picky, picky, picky

Um.......I don't recall people taking cruises to Los Angeles and Sacramento :lol:

k-rico - 10-15-2009 at 08:45 AM

The loss of the Elation is a big hit to San Diego's tourist business also. The article I linked to states it's due to the US economy, not enough passengers. If the economy was strong things would be "cruising along." I bet when the economy picks up the cruise ships will return to both San Diego and Ensenada.

DENNIS - 10-15-2009 at 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by k-rico
I bet when the economy picks up the cruise ships will return to both San Diego and Ensenada.

Hope so. There has to be that point of no return that when enough places close down for lack of business, there won't be anything left to attract tourists.
Then again, it could be just like this Lassie movie:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0625629/

Bajahowodd - 10-15-2009 at 11:27 AM

The cruise industry faces a major crisis if there is not a near-term improvement in the economy. They have been building ever larger and tricked-out ships, thinking the boom would continue. If you recall, years back, the ships making the LA-Catalina-San Diego-Ensenada run tended to be much smaller and older. The newer larger ships have to deal with fixed costs that require a certain occupancy rate. Geez. they're launching ships with 4,000 passengers that have landscaped interiors that resemble hotel courtyards!

That said, the issue of port charges sounds like deja vu. Cabo San Lucas and the cruise lines have played chicken over port fees several times in the past. In Cabo, there is no cruise ship dock. Ships anchor in the bay and use their own boats to tender the passengers into the marina. One of the dustups a few years ago involved locals demanding that the local boats do the hauling.

In any event, it seems to me that for Ensenada, the cruise ship traffic represented the lion's share of tourism for the past few years. It could be a major blow. But then, again, how long will a vacuum last? Some other company may bring a smaller ship into the fray.

As for Dennis' complaint about the tacky bazaar at La Buf, first of all, from what I've gathered in chatting with myriad ship passengers ambling around there, they enjoy the experience. It may not be what you like. It may be wrong. But it represents a stereo-typical Mexican experience for many. And, the La Buf businesses have already been suffering. Didn't Celias close earlier this year?

DENNIS - 10-15-2009 at 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
But it represents a stereo-typical Mexican experience for many. And, the La Buf businesses have already been suffering. Didn't Celias close earlier this year?

If that's a stereotypical Mexico experience, this country needs another PR firm. Besides, don't they sell Viagra on the ship? They should put it on the pillows like mints.

Yes...Celia's closed and there are a couple of others just hanging on by the skin of their teeth but, the cruise ships don't affect their business too much anyway. These people don't necessarily come down here to eat since they get fed to death on the ship.

Another thing...All that crap that they sell at the Buf is available on Lopez Mateos in town. The forty mile bus ride through traffic just doesn't have it's rewards, as far as I'm concerned. There are some folks who take the cruise more than once but, I'll bet they don't go out to Punta Banda but one time.

Bajahowodd - 10-15-2009 at 12:19 PM

Dennis- Please note that I did say it wasn't necessarily right. However, I must say that I've seen many a cruise ship passenger enjoying themselves whilst walking around the area. Also, let's not forget that for many ship passengers this experience involves visiting a "foreign" country. The more timid will always opt for the escorted experience. Having never taken one of those 3-4 night trips, I have no idea what shore excursion options are available. But I surmise the La Bufadora trip is probably in competition with a winery trip. Probably the most ludicrous is when I see folks on an escorted walking tour downtown. Considering anyone can walk off the ship and just walk around, why pay someone to steer you to stores that are giving a spiff to the cruise line?

As for the La Buf experience, I frankly cannot tell you how many times I've been there. Having had vacation rentals at Punta Banda, having stayed at the Estero Beach hotel, or in a number of downtown hotels, if we're in town for more than a day or two, we invariably drive out to La Buf. I enjoy joking with the merchants, drinking a beer, and maybe even some of that bootleg tequila some of the merchants will pour.

As for viagra on the ship. Maybe if one has a Rx.

DENNIS - 10-15-2009 at 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
for many ship passengers this experience involves visiting a "foreign" country.

That is amazing, isn't it. These folks would have to be from central Kansas to get a new thrill from the ambiance of Mexico.

Speaking of.....I went into WalMart yesterday and saw a huge gondola of Halloween decorations and candy. I'll bet the Día De Los Muertos purists are steamin' about that.

Bajahowodd - 10-15-2009 at 01:58 PM

Anything to make a buck. Did you see any Xmas decorations?

http://www.directfrommexico.com/mexican-folk-art--dod.html

[Edited on 10-15-2009 by Bajahowodd]

mtgoat666 - 10-15-2009 at 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
It would be my wish that they would quit stopping here completely for a period of time long enough to cause the junk stands at La Bufadora to close up and blow away. What a mismanaged embarrasment. The Buf is a natural landform phenomona which deserves better than being piled high with shops that sell Chinese made Mexican curios and fake Viagra.

denny:
the type of people that go on cruises or visit la buf'a apparently are the type of people that love buying junka. the stalls selling junka would not be there if the crap didn't sell.

anyways, i think blow holes are kind of boring. seen one, seen 'em all... so no problem if they want to commercialize la buf'a

DENNIS - 10-15-2009 at 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mtgoat666
denny:
the type of people that go on cruises or visit la buf'a apparently are the type of people that love buying junka. the stalls selling junka would not be there if the crap didn't sell.

anyways, i think blow holes are kind of boring. seen one, seen 'em all... so no problem if they want to commercialize la buf'a

That's a rather ungreen evaluation of the area and it's having been raped by junk commerce coming from you who has been bleating the rightousness of environmentalism on this board since you appeared here.

[Edited on 10-16-2009 by DENNIS]

DENNIS - 10-15-2009 at 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Anything to make a buck. Did you see any Xmas decorations?

Yes. At HomeDpo. A week ago I saw a whole room full. Everything but real trees.
Feliz uh...Nava.....Nevi.....Nuvvvo....Ah, screw it. MERRY CHRISTMAS.

The Gull - 10-15-2009 at 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS and fake Viagra.

...and how do you know?

The Gull - 10-15-2009 at 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mtgoat666

Quote:

Mennis, making widesweeping, uninformed generalizations of people more wealthy than a civil servant who choose to spend their disposable income on cruise ships, is the exclusive purview of GoatBoy. His omniscient condition is not to be taken lightly. Ya seen one know-it-all on this board, you seen them all.

:lol:

The Gull - 10-15-2009 at 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Anything to make a buck. Did you see any Xmas decorations?

Yes. At HomeDpo. A week ago I saw a whole room full. Everything but real trees.
Feliz uh...Nava.....Nevi.....Nuvvvo....Ah, screw it. MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Fleas on your huevos!!!

DENNIS - 10-15-2009 at 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Gull
...and how do you know?

Well, I tried inserting one, with great effort and pain, and nothing happened.....nothing till I drank a bag of pacifico and had to take a leak. It shot out like a 22 slug and popped a hole in the tank and...well...it was a big mess.
Thanks for asking.

DENNIS - 10-15-2009 at 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Gull
Fleas on your huevos!!!

Iguanamente, hormiga.

BajaBruno - 10-15-2009 at 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by k-rico
The Elation isn't making any money. It's changing home ports from San Diego to Mobile Alabama.

I may be misinformed, but my understanding is that a foreign built cruise ship can not go from US port to US port, without visiting a foreign port during the trip, which explains the Ensenada link. Without Ensenada, the ship could not operate on the west coast using the 3 or 4 day cruise plan.

I guess Carnival thinks Alabama has more disposable income to spend that SoCal, because they will burn a lot more fuel doing Mobile to Cozumel than they used going to Ensenada.

DENNIS - 10-16-2009 at 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaBruno
I may be misinformed, but my understanding is that a foreign built cruise ship can not go from US port to US port, without visiting a foreign port during the trip, which explains the Ensenada link.

I was under the impression that the foreign port thing had something to do with qualifications for gambleing. ???

BajaBruno - 10-16-2009 at 08:44 AM

I don't think so, Dennis. I believe any ship can gamble just by going into international waters.

It is the Passenger Service Act of 1886, a law forbidding foreign-flagged vessels from transporting passengers on one-way trips between ports in the United States, that makes the Ensenada stop necessary. See:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passenger_Vessel_Services_Act_o...

DENNIS - 10-16-2009 at 08:58 AM

Thanks Bruno...Interesting info.

Fake Viagra

Bronco - 10-16-2009 at 09:37 AM

Dennis can't thank you enough, seems Im still in good shape. Can't believe the $$$$ I'll save. Little weasel told me on good authority about some clinical trials done in La Jolla camp.

Bajahowodd - 10-16-2009 at 01:41 PM

The Jones Act mandate of not allowing a foreign flagged vessel to travel between US ports without making a foreign stop is not dissimilar to the FAA not allowing foreign airlines to take passengers between two US cities. The requirement forced NCL to re-flag the ship it uses in the Hawaian Islands to US registry so they were able to avoid going way out of their way every trip visiting a foreign atoll in the Pacific.

BajaBruno - 10-16-2009 at 07:53 PM

Bajahowodd, I could be wrong, but I think a Jones Act ship must be built in the US to be flagged in the US. Not many cruise ships have been.

Bajahowodd - 10-17-2009 at 12:21 AM

True. And not. Here's what happened.

http://www.frommers.com/articles/4963.html

[Edited on 10-17-2009 by Bajahowodd]

[Edited on 10-17-2009 by Bajahowodd]

BajaBruno - 10-17-2009 at 10:38 AM

Bajahowodd, very interesting. I see from other sources that NCL set up their own political action committee to spread the wealth to politicians, which presumably got their legislation to get around the onerous flagging rules.

Bajahowodd - 10-17-2009 at 10:55 AM

Business as usual in DC, Bruno. I will say this, however. There was great support by the state of Hawaii for this. The US owned company that previously ran the inter-island cruises went bankrupt. Stop and consider that the cruises brought thousands of tourist a week to the islands, which often included pre or post cruise land packages. The big problem that persists is that by flagging one's ship US, one must comply with myriad work condition requirements, wage and benefit requirement, etc. Unlike the competitors using foreign registration, NCL couldn't just go to Jamaica or Haiti and pick up a bunch of locals, offer them three hots and a cot and put them to work on their ships. The cost structure prevents them from being competetive.

bacquito - 10-17-2009 at 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
fake Viagra.

0oooh, I'll be damned!!

toneart - 10-17-2009 at 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
fake Viagra.

I guess the placebo effect did not work either, huh Dennis?

DENNIS - 10-17-2009 at 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by toneart

I guess the placebo effect did not work either, huh Dennis?

It requires a sober mind. :lol:

Bajahowodd - 10-17-2009 at 03:46 PM

Just wondering what this association between Dennis and Viagra means? :?:

DENNIS - 10-17-2009 at 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Just wondering what this association between Dennis and Viagra means? :?:

I haven't mentioned a personal association with it. If I had one, I wouldn't.

A little good news.

arrowhead - 10-19-2009 at 08:09 PM

Because of Hurricane Rick, the cruise ships are diverting to Ensenada. They are supposed to get 10 arrivals this week. That should cheer the town up a bit.

Mexicorn - 10-19-2009 at 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bronco
Dennis can't thank you enough, seems Im still in good shape. Can't believe the $$$$ I'll save. Little weasel told me on good authority about some clinical trials done in La Jolla camp.

Those clinical trials you speak of wouldnt have anything to do with the homely widows living at La Jolla camp would they? :?:

Mexicorn - 10-20-2009 at 08:12 PM

Just bought a snuggie for my dog
www.mysnuggiestore.com

Ensenada - good? bad?

SunnyDay - 10-20-2009 at 11:25 PM

Ok, so we rented a place north of Ensenada for 5 months. Guests arrived and we took them to "town," of course, to shop the fish market, beer at Hussongs, etc. One trip the town was filled beggers (and how can you not give?) and pesky venors (possibly the same situation?) and the next it was none of them around and, well, hate to say it, but it was so nice. Wot's up? Ah, cruise ships! We had not put it together since the cruisers presence was not all that apparent. They, of course, brought out the street crowds of opportunists to be sure. Made it a totally different place. Next scene. Get invited to a dinner party at a Mexican home. Conversation about how we like it here from Wash State for a few months. Well . . . we do like it a lot, and there it was: "Oh, you don't got to town on Tuesday, Fridays or Saturdays do you????? Oh no! Don't!!!" and all that. So, the big picutre is the cruise ships pay, the small picture is apparently that they send locals and those in-the-know to stay away. Real bottom lin economic impact to Ensenada?

[Edited on 10-21-2009 by SunnyDay]

DENNIS - 10-21-2009 at 07:34 AM

Parking is a big problem in town. I know the ship passengers don't drive but, with the overall economy much improved over what it was ten, twenty years ago, most everybody drives, including all the employees of the shops in the tourist zone. At nine AM on any boat day, it's hard to find a parking place on or around Lopez Mateos and none of it is tourist traffic.
When tourism improves, parking will be worse. When the population grows, it will be even worse.

There is an unpublicized event in Ensenada which would boggle most anybody's mind. Be in town at 3 or 4 in the morning, preferably Saturday or Sunday when the bars close. It's like demolition derby and the taco shops are packed. You have to see it to believe it.

[Edited on 10-21-2009 by DENNIS]

bajabass - 10-23-2009 at 09:44 AM

That is a great time to be walking around downtown Dennis! We used to walk around and eat before driving back up to La Mision. All kinds of people wandering/staggering. The clubs closing, all the girls in the streets. The tweekers talking to themselves, hookers making last minute deals. Cops thick as flies, looking for the slightest mistake. Ah, the memories.