[sacreole]

Key West, Fla., residents voted in favor of limiting the size of cruise ships and total number of passengers that can visit the popular, quirky island.

Voters passed three referendums that limited cruise ship visitors to a total of 1,500 per day; prohibited ships with a capacity of 1,300 or more from disembarking passengers; and giving priority to cruise lines with the best environmental and health records. The first two passed by just over 60 percent of voters, while the environmental referendum passed by 81 percent.

“This is a historic day for the people of Key West and for all who love this island city. By huge margins, voters rejected the large budget cruise ships that have overcrowded our streets and damaged our marine environment for the past 30 years,” said Arlo Haskell, treasurer of the Key West Committee for Cleaner, Safer Ships. “With a pandemic indelibly linked to cruise ships still spreading around the world, Key West has wisely chosen to protect itself and reset its relationship with the industry.

“Now Key West has a golden opportunity to become the premier small-ship destination in the Caribbean,” he continued. “As Key West turns its focus to small ships that can happily coexist with the overnight visitors that power our tourist economy, it will foster a more supportive business environment for our diverse, locally owned hotels, restaurants, and retail businesses, and it will only enhance our appeal as a destination to travelers from all over the world. This is a major moment in Key West’s history, and an event that will be celebrated for years to come.”

For the record, the City of Key West said this: “The referenda passed and is now part of the City’s charter. We will abide by the charter.”

However, the island is bracing for the legal challenges that are to come, some already in the works.
The day after the vote, American Airlines announced plans to increase service to Key West.

https://www.travelpulse.com/news/des...p-traffic.html

[kyle19125]

Other popular tourist destinations should take the lead and I for one wouldn't be a fan of visiting a port swarming with other tourists, what fun is that? People who are relaxed and having fun are more likely to spend more, and come back to visit. Also as perhaps witnessed it opens up competition for other forms of travel which helps keep prices competitive, which is especially needed for Key West airfares that can be somewhat massive due to lack of options.

[k350]

As a frequent visitor, this is great, hate those stupid things, they have ruined many places in the world.

This, like all the other places, is a resident decision as they are the ones impacted, it is easy for me to complain of the inconvenience, my household economics does not depend on these things. I just remember things like Venice, Italy, before it became cruise ship central, how nice it was, then going back years later and it was a chaotic mess, hated it.

About ten years ago or so, they voted against dredging that would allow larger ships to pull in.

[BNBR]

Cruise ships are awesome. But there is a time and place for them. I never liked going to Key West on a cruise and when staying in Key West, I never really liked the cruises dumping the passengers...

But many, many destinations are amazing for cruises and heavily rely on them. Time and place.

[Corrie22]

bottom line....cruise passengers do not spend money...they eat and sleep on the ship

[beach43ofus]

Great move! If they can do that, can Florida limit the #of cars that cross the state line each day?

[City Guy997S]

Originally Posted by Corrie22

bottom line....cruise passengers do not spend money...they eat and sleep on the ship

I'd disagree, they want to buy t-shirts, coffee mugs with Key West written on them, they want to eat a "cheeseburger in paradise" and drink at Sloppy Joe's bar.

The ship usually stops in Key West for about 6 hours, they don't stay overnight.

[gentlearts]

Tourism means money, but cruise ship passengers just cause more congestion than is worth it. Savannah turned down cruise ships for this reason.

[Corrie22]

CG, that's not money...and they are crowding out the tourists that do spend money

Money is a hotel for a week, all meals and drinks, rent a moped, dinner booze cruise, and shopping bags, etc

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by Corrie22

bottom line....cruise passengers do not spend money...they eat and sleep on the ship

They do keep the retail establishments going however.