Our Neighbors

Because Bonaire is a marine park there is no anchoring anywhere. Anchors damage coral and the healthy condition of the coral is one of the big tourist draws here.

 

The island has mooring buoys for visiting yachts on a first come basis. When we arrived we picked up a buoy close to the marina in the north part of the mooring field. Later, when a spot opened up down by Karel's (and free WiFi) we moved to the absolute southernmost spot.

 

We are the blue dot. I have drawn in the ship and its dock lines

 

Our new mooring is about 500 feet behind the cruise ship dock so we get a good look at every ship as it docks. Since we have been here at least five ships have visited. The Monarch, 880 feet long, 105 feet wide, and carrying up to 2700 passengers, just arrived this morning. (Town will be crowded today.)

This morning's view from our cockpit

 

The Monarch

This interesting sailing cruise ship was in port Saturday.

Club Med 2

This shot shows how close the ships are to Karel's patio.

Norwegian Dawn

Not all our neighbors are big. Several of these little fishing boats go by every day too.