Dear Source:
Paulette raises an issue which has always bothered me–cruise ships telling visitors to go only to certain stores.
On the two cruises my husband and I have taken, I have attended the sessions for shoppers and listened to the spiel. It is obvious that certain of the big stores must be paying the cruise lines for this line of malarkey. I hastened to speak to individual passengers and tell them of other places to go in St. Thomas and that the so-called "discounts" available to them at certain stores were equally available and probably for better prices at other places. When friends have stopped here on cruises, I have had to tell them to ditch the coupons–only one friend would not heed my advice. She made a purchase and a stone fell out before she got home, so she had to go through an arduous and unfriendly refund process.
Often when I am in town, which is as seldom as possible because of the impossible parking, I see Paulette and appreciate what she is doing. I do not appreciate the other barkers standing in front of stores on Main St, and side streets as most have been extremely obnoxious, standing in front of me, blocking the already narrow sidewalk. I have frequently stopped to assist obvious visitors who are looking at maps and given them directions and tips on where to shop and where to eat.
We need a visitors' center and trained guides to assist people–perhaps one at Havensight, one at Crown Bay, and one in town.
On a positive note, my husband and I and a couple who spent Christmas with us in our home in St. Thomas, went out to dinner last night near Utica, NY. We sat outside and commented aloud that we could imagine we were at Wikked looking at the mega-yachts. Our young waitress, who just graduated from college, heard us and chimed in. She had just returned from a week in St. Thomas where she stayed at the Mafolie Hotel. She absolutely gushed about what a wonderful week they had, the beaches, shopping, a trip to Trunk Bay, and especially how polite and helpful everyone was. We were delighted to hear it. Obviously, some people are being good ambassadors. Everyone needs to be.
I hope the taxis will be marshaled to an area in a queue, a la Great Britain's terribly civilized method, and be prohibited from trolling Main Street. Also, how about a two-story parking garage at the Fort Christian parking lot? Kudos to Filipe and others who are trying to market the best of St. Thomas and give a more unique and welcoming experience to all our tourists.
Dena Langdon
St. Thomas
Editor's note: We welcome and encourage readers to keep the dialogue going by responding to Source commentary. Letters should be e-mailed with name and place of residence to source@viaccess.net.
