Island Village (Distance from Pier (Safe?))

[schmenge]

I hope that I am using the correct name. (The shopping area with Margaritaville is the one I mean.)

 

Is it a pretty safe, hassle free walk from the pier to this shopping area?

 

We will be taking an excursion in the morning, but would like a quick walk to shopping in the afternoon.

 

Thanks.

[DukeFamily]

It's right there - basically ON the pier; right at the end of it. Can't guarantee a "hassle free walk" tho; you won't get a hassle free walk ANYWHERE in OR.

[LHP]

The last time we were there was Jan 2008. My husband and I almost did not get off the ship because we had been there so many times and hated the aggresive vendors.

 

Well, as luck would have it... I needed a refrigerator magnet (of all things)...and we got off the ship in Ocho Rios to get one....

 

I am glad we did because we were pleasantly surprised.

 

We walked from the port to the Island Village. Excellent sidewalks all the way and we were not hassled there or back. As you come out of the port area, you can see Island Village at the end of the road.

[Name Of The Game]

How is the walk to Margaritaville?

[Marie51]

I would say the walk from the pier to Island Village is a couple blocks. There are several shops there to pick up souveniers and also a small beach if you want to swim.

[Cruisin' On A Dime!]

We just did this in December - walking from the pier to Island Village (Margaritaville.) Let's just say that once out of the port area...things can be aggressive...such as driver's wanting to take you places or to buy things. A simple no thank-you worked. Once we were inside of the shopping village...all of this stopped. No vendors at all...very pleasant for shopping and eating.

 

We will be going to Margaritaville again for our next cruise...great place to eat, swim and relax! :D

 

Side note: Some of our family went to some other shopping area close by...they were escorted by a security guard with pepper spray in hand! Not sure if this indicates anything...but always be on your guard...

 

Crystal

[Daycare Provider]

It's no big deal walking from Island Village to the ship....you can almost throw a baseball to the ship from Margarittaville....lots of shops in the Taj Mahal shopping center and Island Village Center...

[dz63]

I hope that I am using the correct name. (The shopping area with Margaritaville is the one I mean.)

 

Is it a pretty safe, hassle free walk from the pier to this shopping area?

 

We will be taking an excursion in the morning, but would like a quick walk to shopping in the afternoon.

 

Thanks.

 

 

Yes, Island Village is the name of the shopping area where Margaritaville is located.

Island Village was a short and easy 5 minute walk back to the pier and no one hassled us during the walk.

 

To get an idea how close Island Village is from the pier, here is a photo of the Carnival Triumph Cruise Ship taken from Margaritaville.

 

[Name Of The Game]

How deep is the water by those trampolines?

[dz63]

How deep is the water by those trampolines?

 

 

We did not go onto the beach but stayed up by the pool and waterslide area at Margaritaville, as we understood there was an additional fee to use the beach and its toys. With that being said, I do not know how deep the water would be by those trampolines. Hopefully, someone else will be able to answer that question for you.

[Name Of The Game]

OK, thanks. I assumed if you were patronizing Margaritaville that the beach was free. :o

[sharks48]

It's a short walk to IV/M'ville from the ship - about five minutes. Yes, it's easy. But it won't likely be hassle-free. In that short walk we were approached by hawkers several times - including a guy trying to sell an "illegal substance" to our then-16yo son - right in front of us!!

 

Once you get to IV, however, there will be no hawkers. Admission is controlled and the beach is patrolled by guards to keep beach hawkers out. When we were there [several years ago, now], if you bought any kind of a drink [even just soda] at M'ville, they gave you a wristband that allowed you to use the "toys", etc. Nice hot tub and small beach - and the music wasn't too awfully loud....

[TheWog]

How is the walk to Margaritaville?

 

Easy, once inside Island Village you need to sort of go all the back the other way. A few mins from the ship

[dz63]

It's a short walk to IV/M'ville from the ship - about five minutes. Yes, it's easy. But it won't likely be hassle-free. In that short walk we were approached by hawkers several times - including a guy trying to sell an "illegal substance" to our then-16yo son - right in front of us!!

 

Once you get to IV, however, there will be no hawkers. Admission is controlled and the beach is patrolled by guards to keep beach hawkers out. When we were there [several years ago, now], if you bought any kind of a drink [even just soda] at M'ville, they gave you a wristband that allowed you to use the "toys", etc. Nice hot tub and small beach - and the music wasn't too awfully loud....

 

Wow! I really like that idea of getting a wristband with any drink purchase that allowed you to use all the toys at the beach! It looks like things have changed as this was not offered when we were there. Any drink purchase gave us access to the pool and waterslide only. There was an additional $3.00 charge per person for beach access and $5.00 a person for use of the water trampoline. There also was a large blue inflatable slide on the beach, called the "Hippo Waterslide". The fee for this was $3.00 for one slide, $15.00 for one hour or $25.00 for all day.

[Cruisin' On A Dime!]

Wow! I really like that idea of getting a wristband with any drink purchase that allowed you to use all the toys at the beach! It looks like things have changed as this was not offered when we were there. Any drink purchase gave us access to the pool and waterslide only. There was an additional $3.00 charge per person for beach access and $5.00 a person for use of the water trampoline. There also was a large blue inflatable slide on the beach, called the "Hippo Waterslide". The fee for this was $3.00 for one slide, $15.00 for one hour or $25.00 for all day.

 

 

We were just there in December and purchased many drinks. No wristband was given and we were quoted the different charges you listed for beach and water toy usage. I am not sure if things have changed since then...my kids would have loved to have used the water toys and such...but we just stuck with the pool and slide at Margarittaville.

 

 

Crystal

[Name Of The Game]

once you get to iv, however, there will be no hawkers. Admission is controlled and the beach is patrolled by guards to keep beach hawkers out. When we were there [several years ago, now], if you bought any kind of a drink [even just soda] at m'ville, they gave you a wristband that allowed you to use the "toys", etc. Nice hot tub and small beach - and the music wasn't too awfully loud....

 

note they said "several years ago".

[dcikon2]

I will say that Jamaica (Ocho Rios) is probably my least favorite port of all. We climbed Dunns River Falls and had a great time. However, I was constantly hassled in the market at the falls to buy things (drugs). We witnessed a person being arrested right outside Island Village (drugs). We did walk around Ocho Rios in another market. Though I felt safe in most areas, I never plan to return there.