The year 2025 has dawned with the promise of finally resolving one of Cayman’s most intractable issues.
The recurring debate which has been ebbing and flowing but is as constant as the tides which wash our shores is that of the cruise pier.
‘To be or not to be’ doesn’t seem to be the pertinent question any longer.
From all indications that seems to have been overtaken by ‘how’ and ‘where’.
Caymanian Times takes the position - having listened, participated and even hosted numerous discussions and interviews on the issue - that a cruise pier is not just a necessity. It’s an inevitability.
We urge that the debate now be shifted to ‘how and where’.
It’s clear as the crystal clear waters that surround Cayman that the cruise industry is not going to adapt to suit Cayman.
The cruise sector is a global industry that’s currently expanding. COVID did not sink it. In fact, the cruise industry has bounced back and is even getting bigger than before. And that’s only referencing the size of the ships.
The massive investment it takes to build one of these floating resorts is only undertaken with a guarantee of a return on investment - whether short or long term. That speaks to confidence in the industry.
That confidence is shared not just by the cruise companies but also by the destinations they serve with investment in cruise ship berthing facilities.
That’s the ‘win-win’ that we should aim for.
And that approach also applies to high-end specialist cruises.
In fact, the more high-end, the more specialised the berthing facilities they demand.
Cayman can attest to the past economic benefit of the cruise industry alongside the successful land-based tourism that has been a main pillar of the economy.
But unlike other destinations which have adapted to accommodate the changes in the cruise business, Cayman has remained anchored in resistance to the general concept without allowing ‘berthing space’ to consider alternative options.
With the 2025 election campaign now ‘setting sail’ we hope to hear informed debate to address this pressing issue.
These debates should be results-oriented and not embedded in a fog of resistance.
It is of paramount importance that Cayman protects its natural environment…and that includes our coral systems.
Our environment is too precious on all levels to be sacrificed on the altar of economic progress. Our very survival depends on it.
However, our survival also depends on our ability to sustain ourselves - including maintaining the pillars of our economy.
The coming debate - referendum now or referendum later - must consider practical location and operational alternatives for a cruise pier.
We cannot allow the cruise sector to sail past Cayman due to a lack, refusal or rejection of adequate berthing facilities.
It is vital that Cayman stays on the cruise radar.
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