All Aboard the Poop Float

This Mad Reader not only reads book, I also read blogs. One in particular inspired me today to blog a response:

Just a few minutes ago, I read a blog called Sometimes Economies Float. I found it very interesting how the consensus (among the writer and readers) was to support Royal Caribbean International’s (RCI) decision to continue to bring tourists to Labadee, RCI’s private* resort on the undamaged north side of the island.

Considering the author works in the industry as RCI, it isn’t surprising she comes to the conclusion she does. After all, it is predicted that packaged travel will increase this year by about 18%. In this time of economic woes, who wouldn’t want a piece of that 18%? Certainly someone in the travel/tourist industry would! So, apparently, would Royal Caribbean.

Of course asking Royal Caribbean to desist its morally bankrupt business practices would be the equivalent of asking lawyers to fight for the repeal of the Crime Bill: an action that affects their bottom line and let’s be honest… it’s standard for corporations to consider their bottom line as the bottom line. Pesky notions of corporate social responsibility are avoided with face-saving gestures (such as the million dollars RCI will donate as opposed to has donated).

But that aside, what exactly are people who take a cruise ship to a country that has just suffered a devastating natural disaster going to do at a private resort 85 miles from the disaster?

RCI’s website also suggests other activities:

Paddle along the gorgeous coastline of Labadee on a relaxing kayaking tour.
Become a pirate for a day
Soak up the sun while you float on the waves on a beach mat.
Grab a bird’s-eye view as you soar 400 feet above the beautiful peninsula of Labadee on a thrilling parasailing ride

I wonder if these tourists can catch sight of Port-au-Prince while they’re soaring 400 feet above the beautifula peninsula of Labadee.

* The designation private means that it’s guarded by a private security force, fenced off from the surrounding areas and passengers are not allowed to leave the property.