maxxedout2 Posted March 21, 2012 #301 Share Posted March 21, 2012 I did not feel uneasy but I hated Falmouth what a horrible waste ....over an hour to Ochos, about an hour to Montego Bay... nothing in the area except Royal Caribbean tours.. it is a joke Falmouth looks charming, British colonial architecture, brand new but that is a facade ....every little store is cheezy, they have all the diamond/del sol, tanzanite stores etc.. then they have cheesy stores with all sorts of made in china junk NOTHING says "Falmouth" except some cheap fridge magnets Falmouth was built to port the huge Oasis and Allure and to make money for Royal ...what a dump it is NO restaurants...no bars....no beach... a couple little stands..."jerk" stand, drinks stand I live in South Florida and you can see the same crap at any flea market, the same made in China bs, the same tye dye beach coverups....the same little food stands are right at the Swap Shop Flea market on Sunrise Blvd...same cheap stands Falmouth is Jamaican for "stay on the ship" Yes, Carnival has it's own "made for them" ports BUT at least they are nice Grand Turk : free pool/loungers , large Martgueritaville Puerto Maya Coz....3 Amigos, Fat Tuesday, some loungers on a rocky strip of sand Mahogany Bay ....free loungers, beach bars Costa Maya Mexico ....free pool/loungers, Margueritaville Falmouth...nothing but facade, cheesy stores, huge line to get taxis and buses to pay to get out of there or take a RCI tour at inflated rates How anyone can think it is fun to drive 3 hours or more extra to do the same stuff you can do right at the port in Ochos is beyond me +1. But I thought less about Mahogany Bay. Contrived port built on politically connected ground...the worst place for big ships. The channel is so narrow that a good cross wind or low visibility conditions will keep the ships from moving either in or out. Thrusters are not enough to keep these ships centered in a narrow channel against a heavy cross wind. Once, maybe more, a Carnival ship missed its next port because the Princess ship couldn't move out due to marginal weather. I personally will never go back. Nice, honest if edgy write up you did. HEY, I don't mind spending money on a cruise. I mean cruising is a BIG business after all....not a charity. But, it doesn't take much of a glance at the man behind the curtain to figure out, despite the good positive things we enjoy about cruising that, well, this isn't Oz. GUESS WHAT....I have 4 cruises booked now....just love to cruise! :D:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S.S.Oceanlover Posted March 21, 2012 #302 Share Posted March 21, 2012 We've never been anywhere where we were "uncomfortable", but Ocho Rios was close...Luckily we had an AMAZING tour guide who knew local culture and was from there. We never felt unsafe or in any type of danger. I would however, avoid Mexico until things calm down, we have chosen cruises that do not go to Mexico the past few years for this reason. Nothing wrong with Mexico on the Caribbean side. Its the Mexico on the Pacific side where the cartels are war having their war. Bill Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drafterdw Posted March 21, 2012 #303 Share Posted March 21, 2012 Agree with Jamica & Belieze but noticed no one metioned Limon Costa Rica....the rest of Costa Rica was fine when we were there but Limon was the dreggs and even our tour guide said that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayscore Posted March 21, 2012 #304 Share Posted March 21, 2012 Miami! :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMSACE6 Posted March 21, 2012 #305 Share Posted March 21, 2012 Agree with Jamica & Belieze but noticed no one metioned Limon Costa Rica....the rest of Costa Rica was fine when we were there but Limon was the dreggs and even our tour guide said that. Well, yes I agree, it was not a place I would have wandered beyond the dock shopping area, but I did a ship tour from the dock, and nowhere along the way, or on the tour, did I feel unsafe, or uneasy, but as I said previously, even in the closed in dock area of Colon Panama, I did not feel very safe, and felt quite uneasy. So still my vote for Colon, Limon, would be a close second, and Belize a third. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiraryker Posted March 21, 2012 #306 Share Posted March 21, 2012 So Montego Bay Jamaica is pretty much just stay on the ship port?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IResQU Posted March 21, 2012 #307 Share Posted March 21, 2012 Miami, seriously- I've been to Jamaica multiple times and never felt any more unsafe than in Cozumel. The port I feel safest in is Labadee Haiti (Private port via Royal Caribbean). In Barbados my husband was swimming in the waves and guys circled him and tried to grab his money pouch. I think knuckleheads are everywhere. Just be alert while in crowds and don't go where you don't know/isolated areas. Oh and I forgot the pick pocket in Puerto Rico who I surprised as I rapidly turned around and went after him....ER nurses are nuts. He didn't know my profession. Also full disclosure I hang out in Haiti on mission trips so fear I guess is relative. I think you go and have a blast. Relax a bit on the ship, be careful in ports.Karen As an ER nurse as well, this cracks me up! I think we are too used to restraining people, and reacting immediately, to think things through! :) Happy Cruising! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lakeport2739 Posted March 22, 2012 #308 Share Posted March 22, 2012 We were at La Romana on the Valor this Feb. This was not a nice port and we did not feel safe!! We stayed in the fenced area only briefly. Not a place we would go again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiraryker Posted March 22, 2012 #309 Share Posted March 22, 2012 We were at La Romana on the Valor this Feb. This was not a nice port and we did not feel safe!! We stayed in the fenced area only briefly. Not a place we would go again! Couldn't agree more!! You know it's bad when the bus from the ship drops you off and tells you not to leave the market area and get back on the bus when ready to leave - of course we couldn't find it and went searching and WOW scary stuff!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoanK Posted March 23, 2012 #310 Share Posted March 23, 2012 Belize, hands down. Never felt uneasy in Jamaica maybe because I used to work with Jamaicans and understand them. Belize .. took a city tour .. all buildings including the governors have bars on the windows .. says to me lots of theft. Next time to Belize in the port .. I went to look out across the street and to this day I see all these arms stuck thru the fence waving madly .. a sea of arms stretching toward me. ...the bars on the windows in Belize gives the home owners a reduction in Insurance rates... all related to hurricane protection. Easier to cover with plywood JoanK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T. Advisor King Posted March 23, 2012 #311 Share Posted March 23, 2012 This is true. Plus it adds another element if one has kids - obviously, their safety trumps any sense of adventure the parent may have. Which is why I think it's great that Carnival has their own 'sanctioned' excursions. :) True. But I think you have to keep things in perspective. When I take my kids downtown, there is an element of danger that approaches the danger of some (many?) cruise ports. Because it is our home city, the danger is less than a stranger would perceive because we're experts about our own territory and are much better at assessing nuances than we would be when we're travelling. But I do take my kids downtown, so I shouldn't be unwilling to take my kids into cruise ports that may be somewhat unsafe, but more safe than my own city. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
war_eagle99 Posted March 23, 2012 #312 Share Posted March 23, 2012 Agree with Jamica & Belieze but noticed no one metioned Limon Costa Rica....the rest of Costa Rica was fine when we were there but Limon was the dreggs and even our tour guide said that. Was just getting ready to. Only place my wife and I have felt unsafe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdk Posted March 23, 2012 #313 Share Posted March 23, 2012 Jamaica!!!! I don't think it matters which port Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
douglinc@msn.com Posted March 23, 2012 #314 Share Posted March 23, 2012 My family was planning on going on the Magic next month beacuse we haven't been to GCI yet. We decided to go on the Miracle because we weren't sure about Jamaica...hmmm....now that I have been on these boards for a few months I get the feeling that it is just the wrong place at wrong time for some of the violent encounters vacationers have encountered. I am not here to bash any countries but now that I am a mother to a young child these kinds of things seem to matter a little more. Anyone have a port that stands out in your mind that you would NOT return to? The port I dislike more than any other is Montego Bay, Jamacia. Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themnms Posted March 23, 2012 #315 Share Posted March 23, 2012 jamaica and belize my two choices also! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjfromsd Posted March 23, 2012 #316 Share Posted March 23, 2012 Being a So. Cal. girl,....quick inexpensive getaways to Mexico are often my best option for cruising. Despite all the "bad news" and Mexico bashing I find the people delightful and the ports friendly. I, of couse am glad I wasn't on that PV tour with the robbers, but I read worse in the paper every day...not to mention the evening news. I completely concur with the post above. Signed, jjfromsd, the So Cal dude Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiraryker Posted March 23, 2012 #317 Share Posted March 23, 2012 The port I dislike more than any other is Montego Bay, Jamacia. Doug Can you explain? We will be visiting in Jan with teenagers/small kids and my father that uses a wheel chair - just wondering what is bad about this port? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikey49 Posted March 25, 2012 #318 Share Posted March 25, 2012 Belize & Ochos Rios! Hands down the 2 places out of 8 cruises that my family & I felt the most unsafe. I will never go to Jamaica again! If I go to Belize, it would be to a resort. But since my family & I will only cruise for vacations out of the U.S.A., that won't be an issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank12 Posted March 25, 2012 #319 Share Posted March 25, 2012 jamaica and belize Agree 100%. Not terrible, but felt uneasy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiseTeacher7 Posted March 25, 2012 #320 Share Posted March 25, 2012 We didn't book an excursion, but for the very reasons listed in this post we did not take the tender to Belize. Everything that we have heard is that unless you have an excursion, don't bother with Belize. Its sad that Jamaica has been on such a decline. When we honeymooned in 1998 we went to waterfalls with an excursion and in the afternoon hired a private cab to drive us around the area. We didn't encounter any problems. Overall it seems that many of the cruise lines are avoiding Jamaica. Its sad that the locals in any port have to be rude and agressive. Their economies are dependent on tourist dollars and if they keep robbing and harassing people word will get out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikel24m Posted March 25, 2012 #321 Share Posted March 25, 2012 Jamacia is the worst port IMHO --been to MO Bay and Ochos Cab drivers outside the fenced in dock area are very aggressive!!! We have seen all that is at both ports and do not leave ship. We had the best experience in Ocho Rios when we had our other ports cancelled because of weather.I didnt have time to plan something I looked for someone that looked important( I think he was the taxi manager maybe) and asked for a guide for the day and he called his son outside the gate.I guess its luck of the draw.We went on a great tour ,went shopping ,many great pictures and lunch in the fishing village Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladybug1s Posted March 26, 2012 #322 Share Posted March 26, 2012 Nassau. That place is creepy. I would never go back. Too many pushy people, too. I had heard that Jamaica has gotten a lot better. For those who have been recently, is that true ? are you talking about Nassau BAhamas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank12 Posted March 26, 2012 #323 Share Posted March 26, 2012 Miami! :rolleyes: That got a LOL from me! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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