The Caribbean – constant sunshine, vast blue seas, golden beaches, swaying palm trees, an idyllic location. 40 years ago, ships would only cruise either here or in the Mediterranean. So, this is one area which has experienced the side effects of cruising the longest. Is it good or bad for the Caribbean?

A typical modern cruise ship can hold up to 5000 people. The ship arrives at their destination early morning and by 9 am there is a constant stream of people going ashore. And they might not be the only ones – some destinations have 4 or 5 cruise ships anchored off shore each day. The effect of having 15,000 people descending on a community is vast. They all want to ‘do’ something, whether it’s shopping or sight seeing, and they’ll all want to eat and go to the toilet. They demand plastic bottles of water to avoid drinking the unfamiliar tap water. They leave their litter and by 5 pm, leave the island. The destination now must clean up and await the next day and next cruise liner. For it’s now their world.

So, cruise demand has changed the culture of the Caribbean. The previously poor people have lots more money and they themselves now demand more modern conveniences. They never had air conditioning before and quite like it. They have realized the usefulness of the internet. They like American cars. And so their culture has changed, their natural rhythm and methods of making a living – farming and fishing - gone. They rely now on the tourist for income – but what happens in bad weather or terrorist attack, when the cruise ships change their itineraries? No income.

They can, however, share their food, their music, their way of life and their traditions with the cruise passengers and teach them about their culture. It can mean better jobs and a chance of education; these Falls Guides are taking cruise passengers up Dunn’s River Falls and not only get paid, but get tipped and sell videos for additional income. Many locals are tour guides, bus drivers and shop keepers. They accept the increased income weighed against the loss of their old lives.

Here in Jamaica, Royal Caribbean International has recently built a customs house and shopping mall for use by all the cruise liners. It organises the quay area, gives cover and security to the store holders and legitimises the port. Gone are the itinerant traders who randomly laid blankets on the ground with their hand made carvings and souvenirs; now replaced by a modern, air conditioned shopping area. The stall holders can now keep their stock safe as they await the arrival of the masses.

And what about the nature and geography of the Caribbean? The impact of the crowds scares wildlife away and reduces the quality of their habitat. Paths get eroded, old ruins get worn away. Coral can get broken by ships both large and small as they anchor and then take the cruise passengers to see the sights they demand. Pollution has also take its effect over the years, although the cruise companies now minimise the impact their ships have on the oceans by switching to LPG fuel and shoreside power in port.

Here, stingrays have been trained over the years to come to a certain sandbank off Grand Cayman as a tourist attraction. Passengers are taken out to the sandbank to interact, watch them feed on pieces of octopus and have their photos taken with them. Nature being manipulated to meet the demands of the cruise passenger. Is that natural? Should it be allowed? The Caribbean skylines are now littered with large square hotel blocks which changes their identity; part of the penalty for being such a fabulous tourist area. So, is cruising in the Caribbean good or bad? You decide.