Just had a week in Lanzarote, Playa Blanca
Discussion
fourstardan said:
Deep Thought said:
Interesting. I'd be all for it. I'd love to port in to PB on a cruise ship. 
None scheduled though.
https://www.cruisemapper.com/ports
Marella were scheduling Explorer to stop there over the winter but they've reverted back to Arrecife.
Word on the PB residents groups on FB is that its a no for now from the authorities. Cant see why they would have been let build something so big if they werent going to let cruise ships in at some point though.
Cruise companies are not exactly in a position to start growing at the moment. None scheduled though.
https://www.cruisemapper.com/ports
Marella were scheduling Explorer to stop there over the winter but they've reverted back to Arrecife.
Word on the PB residents groups on FB is that its a no for now from the authorities. Cant see why they would have been let build something so big if they werent going to let cruise ships in at some point though.
For info, there are 33 cruise ships in total due this month in Arrecife, and i'd say a decent percentage of those could be facilitated by Playa Blanca.
Edited by Deep Thought on Monday 22 November 18:28
Deep Thought said:
Its not a matter of growing, its a matter of being able to offer something different from porting in to the rather industrial port in Arrecife.
For info, there are 33 cruise ships in total due this month in Arrecife, and i'd say a decent percentage of those could be facilitated by Playa Blanca.
Still need money to build and finish the port, find staff, logistics to move ships about I go on.For info, there are 33 cruise ships in total due this month in Arrecife, and i'd say a decent percentage of those could be facilitated by Playa Blanca.
Edited by Deep Thought on Monday 22 November 18:28
Also just a thought but maybe the sea bed/harbour has issues in Arrecife?
LuS1fer said:
Does anyone really want a big ugly cruise ship spewing intermittent swathes of people into such a small resort?
It would put me off going there.
Bet some locals are up for it. It would put me off going there.
It all depends on how their visits can be monetised.
Do it right and local businesses will prosper, do it wrong and you get gridlock streets and roads and bussloads of tourists only spending money on the ship or a few key attractions and just the local council and government benefiting.
Thinking about lanzarote I guess most would just get on a tour bus and go to Timanfaya National Park or maybe to the beaches at papagayo assuming a new road and cafe get built.
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 23 November 11:49
fourstardan said:
Deep Thought said:
Its not a matter of growing, its a matter of being able to offer something different from porting in to the rather industrial port in Arrecife.
For info, there are 33 cruise ships in total due this month in Arrecife, and i'd say a decent percentage of those could be facilitated by Playa Blanca.
Still need money to build and finish the port, find staff, logistics to move ships about I go on.For info, there are 33 cruise ships in total due this month in Arrecife, and i'd say a decent percentage of those could be facilitated by Playa Blanca.
Edited by Deep Thought on Monday 22 November 18:28
Also just a thought but maybe the sea bed/harbour has issues in Arrecife?
Theres no logistics to move ships about as they would either port in in Arrecife or Playa Blanca. They wouldnt port in in one place then move them a matter of miles down the coast.
Arrecife (port) are objecting to the cruise ships porting in in Playa Blanca, not encouraging it. They want to keep them in their port (i take it their porting in is lucrative for them).
bennno said:
fourstardan said:
Good analysis...
One thing PB needs is a golf course, screaming out for one.
Sadly it would then be full of golf club people.One thing PB needs is a golf course, screaming out for one.
But the thing is though PB already has rather more than it's fair share of Cockney Oanists and superannuated Daily Mail and Express readers living through another winter there on a tight budget.
Out of them and Golfing types I'm not entirely sure which would be less appealing.
El stovey said:
LuS1fer said:
Does anyone really want a big ugly cruise ship spewing intermittent swathes of people into such a small resort?
It would put me off going there.
Bet some locals are up for it. It would put me off going there.
It all depends on how their visits can be monetised.
Do it right and local businesses will prosper, do it wrong and you get gridlock streets and roads and bussloads of tourists only spending money on the ship or a few key attractions and just the local council and government benefiting.
Thinking about lanzarote I guess most would just get on a tour bus and go to Timanfaya National Park or maybe to the beaches at papagayo assuming a new road and cafe get built.
Edited by El stovey on Tuesday 23 November 11:49
Theres much prettier ports than Playa Blanca do very well out of cruise ships and they dont become overbearing on the resort.
Again, i dont think we're talking about big numbers of ships - likely one a day, several days a week, over the quieter winter season when its quieter anyway - IF they are allowed at all.
The port area was an underveloped eyesore anyway, and the "centre" up from it was a little bit bleak so this might pump some regeneration in to that area.
Will be interesting to see how it pans out either way.
We're currently staying at Hotel Volcan near the marina, and while we don't have a lot to compare it to it's been fantastic for us - half board with two young kids means dinner is two minutes away every night and we don't have to hunt around for good restaurants each time. It's buffet but the food is great and I was impressed at the rotation, e.g. last night was mainly fish, all great including a lot of salad variations, and totally different to the meat courses from yesterday. Room is right in front of the kids pools, although it's pretty quiet at the moment that our four year old is a novelty to the other guests, if there were a hundred of him it might be different! Overall the place seems quiet but apparently it was still busy last month.
There's a short walk through no-man's-land (a bit of construction going on in places) to get to Playa Dorada beach, and that's probably as far as we'll need to go, not even seen the town bit yet, just a few of the cafes and shops near the marina. Like many I would probably hate it here in proper tourist season but 20° with a bit of cloud cover in December, I can't knock it.
There's a short walk through no-man's-land (a bit of construction going on in places) to get to Playa Dorada beach, and that's probably as far as we'll need to go, not even seen the town bit yet, just a few of the cafes and shops near the marina. Like many I would probably hate it here in proper tourist season but 20° with a bit of cloud cover in December, I can't knock it.
Done wonders for Kirkwall up here in the Orkney Isles. Town much regenerated. More jobs. Influx generally 10 - 3 pm (so sits nicely just inside the school rushes). Won't comment on the ecology aspects as not qualified. However, Scrabster is trying the same "cruise grab" to get the Cruisers to go there instead to then land trip to Moy Castle and JOG. Kirkwall worried as the boats usually do Faeroes, next day Shetland, then Orkney, then head down the North Sea and Channel, not time to visit both ports / attractions.
I do remember being on the Scrabster ferry when someone commented on "cruisers coming to Orkney" a decade or so ago. A passing ship hand commented "aye, the Germans tried that, didn't end so well for them...>".
I do remember being on the Scrabster ferry when someone commented on "cruisers coming to Orkney" a decade or so ago. A passing ship hand commented "aye, the Germans tried that, didn't end so well for them...>".
Allegro_Snapon said:
Done wonders for Kirkwall up here in the Orkney Isles. Town much regenerated. More jobs. Influx generally 10 - 3 pm (so sits nicely just inside the school rushes). Won't comment on the ecology aspects as not qualified. However, Scrabster is trying the same "cruise grab" to get the Cruisers to go there instead to then land trip to Moy Castle and JOG. Kirkwall worried as the boats usually do Faeroes, next day Shetland, then Orkney, then head down the North Sea and Channel, not time to visit both ports / attractions.
I do remember being on the Scrabster ferry when someone commented on "cruisers coming to Orkney" a decade or so ago. A passing ship hand commented "aye, the Germans tried that, didn't end so well for them...>".
We were there in September on Marella Explorer 2 (which, as it happens is the Marella Ship thats in the Canaries right now, and doing Lanzarote as part of that). I do remember being on the Scrabster ferry when someone commented on "cruisers coming to Orkney" a decade or so ago. A passing ship hand commented "aye, the Germans tried that, didn't end so well for them...>".
Celebrity Silheoutte was there that day also. We tendered in.
We had a great day. Did the walking tour of the town, with a Guide. We did it as part of Shetland on the way up, then Iceland for three days, then Orkney on the way back. 13 days overall.
Not seen this mentioned anywhere, but this place rents boats from the marina, including a small boat (3 or 4 seater) anyone can take out without a licence. Took 4yo son out for an hour for €59, totally worth it. Hourly rate gets cheaper the longer you hire for.
https://m.facebook.com/Thidays-Ocean-Adventures-79...
There's an anchor so you can drop it and swim up to Papagayo beaches, not sure I'd trust myself not to let it drift away though!
https://m.facebook.com/Thidays-Ocean-Adventures-79...
There's an anchor so you can drop it and swim up to Papagayo beaches, not sure I'd trust myself not to let it drift away though!
Edited by ScotHill on Sunday 12th December 07:41
ScotHill said:
Not seen this mentioned anywhere, but this place rents boats from the marina, including a small boat (3 or 4 seater) anyone can take out without a licence. Took 4yo son out for an hour for €59, totally worth it. Hourly rate gets cheaper the longer you hire for.
https://m.facebook.com/Thidays-Ocean-Adventures-79...
There's an anchor so you can drop it and swim up to Papagayo beaches, not sure I'd trust myself not to let it drift away though!
Nice one, I've always wondered if you can do boat rentals, be good for fishing off with. https://m.facebook.com/Thidays-Ocean-Adventures-79...
There's an anchor so you can drop it and swim up to Papagayo beaches, not sure I'd trust myself not to let it drift away though!
Edited by ScotHill on Sunday 12th December 07:41
Yes, I'd definitely not want to be mooring up to a beach lol.
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