Cayman cruise ban

The Cayman Islands government has banned large cruise ships from docking at the Spotts Bay dock because their large chains have damaged the coral reefs.
According to this article from USA Today, a cruise ship anchoring for one day can destroy nearly one acre of intact reef.
Those cruise ships which are capable of holding their position without anchoring will still be allowed to unload passengers at the port which is about 16 kilometres east of the capital.

Size matters

There's some fresh news in the 'mine's bigger than yours cruise ship wars'.

According to this Reuters article Royal Caribbean Cruises has ordered its second $1.20 billion "Genesis" cruise ship -- the world's biggest and most expensive cruise liner -- from shipbuilder Aker Yards.

The ship is expected to be 360 metres long, 36 metres longer than the height of the Eiffel Tower, and weigh 12 times as much. The Genesis-class vessels will be 47 metres wide and accommodate a total of 8,400 passengers and crew.

Can you imagine the size of the buffet?! Oy!