Anyone read popular Mechanics?
In the current issue they cited how ships transiting the Panama Canal can line up and wait for days sometimes to get through! Last August one ship waited a week for its' turn to go - plus the Panama Canal authority instituted an aution process where a ship owner could bid to move to the fron to f the line. The highest bid on record was $220,000 for an oil tanker to move up. AND in that case the total cost for the transit in this case was $just over $400,000! Than implies the normal fee for passage was $180,000! Daily operating cost for some ships was also cited as being as high as $30,000 a day. So the 7 day delay cost the ship owner $280,000! One of the 2 locks closed abruptly for unscheduled maintenance when all these delays occurred.
So... what do you suppose
DCL is paying for our ride through the Panama Canal? If a tanker is $180,000... then what would the Magic cost... $150,000... or $200,000? And what if you had a little motor boat - or yacht? DO they charge based on tonnage or on a percentage of revenue the ship is running - if a commercial ship?
OK... enuf for goofing around... I gotta turn away for a bit... I'll be back...