Large Dingy Cancels Visit
Adverse climatic conditions stopped the largest cruise ship in the world from docking in Limón yesterday as it had been announced on Monday.

Cunard, the owner of the Queen Mary II, in a press bulletin, said that strong winds in the Caribbean Sea detoured the large boat from its making a visit to Costa Rica, leaving hundreds who came out for the visit, high and dry.

The cancellation also had a negative impact in the area where tourism officials expected more than 1/2 of the 2.600 passengers to visit the area, leaving behind an average of $120 each.

The QMII is the worlds largest cruise ship with a capacity of more than 4.000 people (2.600 passengers and 1.400 crew) with five swimming pools, restaurants, bars and mini golf course.

Cunard officials also said that the docking conditions at the Puerto Moín were not adequate to dock the ship. The cruise liner needs a minimum clearance of 10.3 metres, while water depth yesterday was only 10 metres.

The QMII was to dock at Moín, west of downtown city of Limón, where all other cruise ships dock. The Limón dock has a clearance of 12 metres, but due to damage to the sea bed due to the 1991 earthquake would have made it impossible to manouver such a huge ship around the area.

The Junta de Administración Portuaria y de Desarrollo Económico de la Vertiente Atlántica (Japdeva), the board that administers the area ports and economic development, said that the cancellation was a big disappointment and that there are plans to invest ¢8 million colones to dredge the sea bed to allow more clearance for ships.

Moín is port to most commercial ships that load and unload merchandise, cars and oil to Costa Rica.

Cunard reminded that the QMII will be in the Puerto Caldera, on the Pacific side, on March 13.