Cheap (but safe) things to do in Jamaica?

[reyesj226]

We are set to sail in a few days and have decided to do something cheap as possible in Jamaica, as we already have excursions booked in Grand Cayman and Cozumel.

Can anyone give me any ideas/suggestions, please?

I’m scared to even get off the ship and venture on my own, but I at least want to get off and look around. Is it really as bad as some say it is?

[aggiemom12]

since no one has responded yet I will let you know my thoughts... please don't take this as all negative or being anti-Jamaica, these are just my thoughts and my family's experiences....

 

Totally depends on the ages and how many in your group... our family has been there twice and both kids, now 20 & 17, have said never again... DH and I will be there again in October and haven't decided if we will leave the ship this time... and it's not so much about feeling safe as it is about excursion choices.

 

We dock at MoBay again... did Dunn's fall the first time, took a long scarry bus ride there... loved the falls but the tour guide made us "rent" gross plastic shoes, remember "jellies" and we all had on TEVA sandals, but were told those were not allowed, (we saw many there wearing them, just not on the ship sponsored tour) the shoes were slippery and dangerous...

 

2nd time, used a taxi bus to go to Drs Cave Beach which is beautiful and we would enjoy going there again but maybe on a Catamaran... the bus stopped several times, which we knew it would, but the driver would open the door and wait for someone to get off even when no one wanted off... it was rather odd and he seemed upset that no one wanted off at the little road side markets he stopped at... made many of us on the taxi bus very uncomfortable... it was $16pp for unlimited use, we ended up using it just to get to the beach and back to the ship, should have used a regular taxi but we weren't sure at the time, thinking we might like to stop and shop but we were not comfortable with the surroundings, very remote and uninhabited shopping areas.. so we passed...

 

BUT Drs Cave Beach is great and only $5 pp to get in, of course umbrellas and chairs are also $5 each but you really don't need those...

 

I feel safer visiting NYC... and both my kids love to travel and do so on their own, but the last time in Jamaica both were very uncomfortable, even to use the bathrooms at the beach... so follow your instincts!

 

There is a small shopping area at the pier.... prices were not that much higher and we were not followed around.

 

if there is a young male going, say between the ages of 15-35, be prepared to be frisked as you leave the Jamaica port.. not sure who is doing that, if it is Jamaican port authority or some other organization, but it was a pretty thorough pat down and made my son, 18 at the time, very uncomfortable...

 

So depending on the ages... travel experience... level of comfort... that would determine what to do there, especially since you are trying to keep costs down at this port... but we would definitely do Drs Cave Beach again... (without the kids)

 

[sunluva7]

We decided we would either go with a tour guide or stay on the ship. We booked a Dunn's River & island tour for our upcoming cruise with Mark Morris. The $35/per person is reasonable and worth the peace of mind that we'll be safe.

[TheWog]

For what you might be thinking, cheap and safe. You can walk off the ship and over to Island Village. It is a collection of shops and eateries. It is gated so you only deal with the shop owners in there. There is a beach there as well. If you eat at Margaritaville you can use the beach for free. Otherwise I think it costs $5 or something for a wristband (not positive of that). You can also go to Dunns River Falls for short money. Taxi ride (use JUTA cabs or hire a private tour guide) and climb the falls. Tube on the White River for $20 pp, again taxi or private tour guide. We used a private tour guide and left our stuff on his bus. We were not worried about our safety. We have also stayed in OR for land based vacations and been safe and enjoyed each of our times there. We will be returning in February (Falmouth though, so not sure what to do, but working on that).

[reyesj226]

Thanks for all the suggestions!!

I have decided to go to Doctor’s Cave Beach!!

I would have really loved to go to Mystic Mountain Park and Dunns Falls and willing to shell out $500 for the 4 of us, but after considering that we would lose 3-4 hours just to get there and come back, it didn’t seem worth it.

[James in SA]

We like to go on the Freestyle catamaran at Montego Bay. Nice and safe and no need for taxis as it leaves from and returns to the dock. At $35 it also passes the bargain test. They will take you to Doctor's Cave Beach and bring you back to the ship.

 

http://jamaicawatersports.com/

 

We just booked on Conquest on October and we will probably go with them again when we ge down to figuring out out port activities.

[ramjet]

SA, Wife and I are sailing conquest in Oct 24 . This sounds like a good tour to take can you tell me a little more about it please. Thanks

[James in SA]

SA, Wife and I are sailing conquest in Oct 24 . This sounds like a good tour to take can you tell me a little more about it please. Thanks

We are going again on Conquest October 3rd with some friends. The excursion is similar to the Dreamers Catamaran you can book through Carnival, except that it is 1/2 the price, it lasts longer, and it is usually not near as crowded.

 

Here is the description of the excursion... http://jamaicawatersports.com/cruise.htm The email for more info is dptgonefishing@hotmail.com .

 

When you get off of conquest you turn right instead going inside the port building, and you will find Freestyle moored there and somebody to greet you. At the end of the excursion they return you to the same place.

 

The two itineraries are done on the same boat, and you can make up your mind which one you want to do at the time of the excursion. Doctor's Cave beach is about a block away from Margaritaville, and if you want they will leave you there and come back for you with the boat in 2 or 3 hours.

 

In our last cruise some wanted to shop for gifts in the shops behind Doctor's Cave beach, and a nice young lady named Patrice accompanied us to the shops, showed us around, and made sure none of the locals bothered anyone. The escort was a nice extra, though the people were overall nice and not as pushy as the stories I have read here. We have come to like the place. Margaritaville was really crowded and loud that day and we were hungry, so Patrice suggested a place called The Twisted Kilt next to Doctor's Cave Beach. We had some great calamari and some Red Stripes. That place was very laid back Jamaica style compared to Margaritaville, which was a loud drunken frat party!

 

Oh... they gave us great foot massages on the way back and more drinks. They really did their best to make sure we had a good time. They earned a good tip. :)

 

Enjoy your cruise!

[ramjet]

Thank you, It sounds like what we would like to do. We will be their the week before you. Have a great time and thanks for the info!!!

[James in SA]

Thank you, It sounds like what we would like to do. We will be their the week before you. Have a great time and thanks for the info!!!

Actually I think we will be there 3 weeks before you if you are going on Oct 24th.

[huxlemo]

We are headed to Ocho Rios in 2 weeks. We have been there before. We are planning to get off the ship and just stay in the Island Village area. A bunch of us will hang out at Margaritaville and enjoy the beach there.

[Greselda]

Hi James in SA...

 

Come on over and join our roll call for October 3rd:D My DH is from SA too, so you will be in good company.

[zachnlucy]

We like to go on the Freestyle catamaran at Montego Bay. Nice and safe and no need for taxis as it leaves from and returns to the dock. At $35 it also passes the bargain test. They will take you to Doctor's Cave Beach and bring you back to the ship.

 

http://jamaicawatersports.com/

 

We just booked on Conquest on October and we will probably go with them again when we ge down to figuring out out port activities.

 

I wanted to use them also for the doctors cave beach catamaran trip, but I've tried all three email addresses shown about three days ago (one is no longer active), and have not received a response. Are they still in business?

[James in SA]

I wanted to use them also for the doctors cave beach catamaran trip, but I've tried all three email addresses shown about three days ago (one is no longer active), and have not received a response. Are they still in business?

 

Cindy,

 

I hope so! I have always used dptgonefishing@hotmail.com to contact them. Denise Taylor is the contact person for booking. (The other emails have been dead for a long time, they need to remove them.)

 

We wanted to use them in October, so I will try to make contact and report back.

 

James

[James in SA]

Yes, they are still there. I just confirmed with Denise availability for our October cruise. Use the dptgonefishing@hotmail.com email address and check your junk email filter if you don't get a reply within a day or so.

[EnTnSA]

Thanks for the info!

 

I will also be on your cruise on the third, and sent the email this morning.

 

Look forward to it!

[sgkrispic]

This trip sound like something I was looking for. Is it easy to get on and off the boat at the beach. One trip I took, I had to hold my shoes and walk through water above my waist to get on and off.

 

Some people mention going to the beach near the Village. Is it safe there and is the beach as good?

 

Thanks for any info you can share.

[James in SA]

This trip sound like something I was looking for. Is it easy to get on and off the boat at the beach. One trip I took, I had to hold my shoes and walk through water above my waist to get on and off.

 

Some people mention going to the beach near the Village. Is it safe there and is the beach as good?

 

Thanks for any info you can share.

 

Turn right immediately after you exit the ship and look for a blue and white Trimaran moored next to the same dock that the cruise ship uses. There should be someone there to greet and assist you. They will tie up to a dock wherever you get on or off, so no wading is required. Both Margaritaville and Doctor's Cave have docks.

 

There is reef snorkeling off the boat if you want to and snorkel equipment that you can use if you do not have your own.

 

Enjoy!

[tamhere2003]

Thanks for the information, I juse sent a email and i am hopeing they will respond soon. Sailing on the Conquest Oct 31st-Nov 7th.