Quote Originally Posted by razz View Post
Add in the cruises which are causing problems around the world. Cruise ships drop off their guests who race through the area being visited creating very crowded conditions, spending little and race back to the cruise ship. Little support for the areas that need financial investment to survive.

Venice has forced cruise ships to anchor far offshore for that reason according to different reports. The ships were causing huge water surges that compound existing water problems, excess crowds who spend very little and then leaving.

Perhaps for areas who have limited tourism, cruise ships are a bonus but for the well-established tourism areas, ....
A friend was telling me that old Quebec City was their favourite place to visit each fall. Once they added cruise ship tours down the St Lawrence River from New York etc., it has become a zoo whenever the cruise ship arrives. People race through the shops, crowd those visiting and staying for a few days and spend little.
We've never been on a cruise, and I've often wondered about what it is like to be on those floating cities. DH and I have determined that if we ever go on a cruise, we'll go on one of those Viking River Cruises, which are smaller and slower. A lot more expensive, but I'd rather go on one River Cruise than three Norwegian/Disney/Carnival cruises