Failing in Falmouth

[jonbgd]

I did a search and didnt see a thread

 

http://news.yahoo.com/worlds-biggest-cruise-ships-drop-anchor-caribbean-ship-063015265.html

[grand isle joe]

I did a search and didnt see a thread

 

http://news.yahoo.com/worlds-biggest-cruise-ships-drop-anchor-caribbean-ship-063015265.html

 

 

I read that news spot yesterday. IMO they hit the nail on the head especially when you read the comments.

[schmeed]

I've been to Falmouth (on Freedom in April of 2011). IMO, the port is lacking. The buildings were built by RCI, so they are not authentic. Most of the good excursions are based out of Montego Bay or Ocho Rios, so people simply pass right through Falmouth. In addition, they are a long drive so when you get back, there isn't much time to spend in Falmouth.

 

It's unfortunate that the locals don't necessarily feel like they are benefiting, but Jamaican tourism as a whole certainly has to be. With 3 major ports, instead of 2, there is room for more ships/passengers to come spend their dollars on the island.

[Irie]

i often defend jamaica, and still will. it is a pretty country with good people. most tourism exposure to jamaica comes from cruising. and unfortunately all everyone remembers is the pushiness. do you want some ganja. do u want a taxi. do u want your hair braided. do u want your hair braided in a taxi with ganja. i always just say to say no thanks and keep moving.

 

for the record i have been to labadee, haiti and they are twice as pushy there.

[Kenlorz]

I wonder if more people will stay around the Falmouth port once the Margaritaville is finished. I heard it's supposed to have a pirate ship, water slides, pools, etc, so that's sure to attract people who don't relish being stuck on a bus. By reading CC, its seems Margaritivilles have quite a following, so by my math... more people hanging locally would mean more people spending money locally. However, I kind of doubt the Margaritiville will open on its expected November date when we haven't heard nary a word around here on its progress or even if construction has started on the buildings :confused::confused:: November is just a few weeks away :confused::confused:. I guess it must be falling into the "no worries mon" mentality and typical Jamaican scheduling :confused:

[tahqa]

Are they going to build Margaritiville inside the gate or outside? If it is inside then it will mostly not help the locals to much. They need people to go outside and spend some money IMO.

 

And to get people outside of the gate it needs to be less scary out there IMO. :eek:

[gambee]

Interesting article, I have been trying to decide what to do in Falmouth next month. Our Initial thought was to go the beach, but I am really not a big fan of this idea. The other option was to go to a restaurant that offers internet, but I am just not sure if the area is safe. Most people claim that if you stay in the main streets it should be good.

[OCruisers]

Are they going to build Margaritiville inside the gate or outside? If it is inside then it will mostly not help the locals to much. They need people to go outside and spend some money IMO.

 

Inside! Saw the plans when we were there last year.

 

Margaritaville and the other places within the gates do provide steady jobs for some of the locals.

 

~~~~~

[klingoncruiser]

And to get people outside of the gate it needs to be less scary out there IMO. :eek:

 

 

BINGO! This is a two way street. I have no problem mon mingling among the locals to shop. I however am a minority in that view. It can be very daunting at time in Jamaica to deal with desperate vendors. My DW finds it just too much and stays close to the exit when I do try it.

 

I went to Falmouth before the dock was built. Not much of a town and pretty run down. I understand why people are hesitant to walk outside that gate. Shame... I loved the patties across the street from the gate. They were totally yummy!

[jonbgd]

Inside! Saw the plans when we were there last year.

 

Margaritaville and the other places within the gates do provide steady jobs for some of the locals.

 

~~~~~

So they would build it inside the gates so it is only open on port days???? That is a good business decision for the cruiseline especially if they own the franchise rights

 

 

I was in Falmouth in Mar. I wasnt to impressed with the port area and we did do a ships tour to DRF since my GF had never done it.

If and when we go back to Falmouth we might check out the area outside the gates as long as majority of the reviews support this.

While Im more inclined to go to local areas my GF is a little more cautious. She likes the security of being on a ship tour or places that have alot of cruisers frequenting it.

 

They have gotten pushier over the years but so has alot of other areas we have been to latly

[orville99]

And to get people outside of the gate it needs to be less scary out there IMO. :eek:

 

Agree 100%. On our last visit to Jamaica (third overall - one prior to Kingston and one to Ocho Rios - both BCS (before cruise ships), but first to Falmouth) we would have loved to wander around the streets of Falmouth. I especially wanted to get over to the church and the neighborhood surrounding it (~3 blocks from the pier), but the gauntlet of drug dealers, hookers, pimps, and drunks that surrounded the gates made that impossible. Perhaps if the mayor spent a bit more time and energy removing the riff-raff (that just moves up and down the coast when the ships change ports), and a bit less time blaming the cruiselines for putting a fence between its passengers and that mess, the outcome might be different. IMO, the fence should have been built around the perimeter of the town, not the perimeter of the port:rolleyes:

[meg8rs]

I visited Falmouth in June 2011 on the Oasis not long after it opened. A lot of it was still under construction. My partner and I did venture into the town only to be harassed and followed by the locals trying to push various products and services. In most Caribbean/Mexican cruise destinations they will leave you alone if you politely say no. Not in Falmouth! It was quite unsettling and didn't make us feel safe.

 

I had been looking forward to visiting Jamaica before the cruise but now I have no desire to ever go back. Others we talked to on the ship afterwards said the guided tours weren't much better. Oh, and we went into a local grocery store for some drinks and a patron came up and offered us a selection of illegal drugs displayed in his hand. That was enough to send us promptly back to the ship.

[Cruisin' Again 86]

Are the excursions thru RCCL pretty safe? Looking at horseback riding...

[tahqa]

Are the excursions thru RCCL pretty safe? Looking at horseback riding...

 

If you are doing any of the Chukka tours then I would say you'd be okay (it looks like you might be doing "Chukka Horseback Ride N Swim"). My experience with Chukka says that while they may take you to a sponsored shopping stop that the stop will be controlled to keep it safe.

Personally' date=' I'd avoid the Dunn's River Falls excursions as they will direct you through a shopping area at the end of the falls and the vendors there can be aggressive.[/size']

[cruisegirl1]

I am hearing of more and more folks staying on the ship. We got off as we booked private transportation to the beach in Montego Bay (we had been to Ochos Rios several times).

 

The port is a big disappointment with nothing there or nearby outside the gate. Please correct me if there really is lots to see and we simply missed it.

 

It is too far from both Montego Bay and Ochos Rios. The tours are cut short to allow for transportation time.

 

If folks stay on the ship – how does that help the locals?

 

 

M

[erin_cruisers]

Guilty as charged.

We were there last month, and booked a beach day excursion through RCI.

We've both been to Jamaica many times, and have done all the usual "must-see" sights. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves too.

 

And to get people outside of the gate it needs to be less scary out there IMO.

 

Very true.

Compare Jamaica with San Juan, another port we visit often.

We love to just wander and explore the old city, stopping in the smallest quaint little bar and restaurant for some local food / drink.

Never are we hassled. Now compare that to the ports in Jamaica.

I DO like the island - its very beautiful, and so are a lot of the people.

But the hassling and hustling I can do without.

[paggerscorvette]

We were in Falmouth in Dec. My DH, myself and another couple left the comfort zone and went through the gate. We stopped and had a few beers (local, can't remember the name) and walked back to the ship. I was very uncomfortable, been to Ocho Rios, and trust me, Ocho Rios had nothing on Falmouth.

[nelblu]

If you are doing any of the Chukka tours then I would say you'd be okay (it looks like you might be doing "Chukka Horseback Ride N Swim"). My experience with Chukka says that while they may take you to a sponsored shopping stop that the stop will be controlled to keep it safe.

 

 

Personally, I'd avoid the Dunn's River Falls excursions as they will direct you through a shopping area at the end of the falls and the vendors there can be aggressive.

 

We have no problems with aggressive or pushy vendors, however, We do have a problem with guards at these strip malls carrying magnum's 45s and gates at both ends of the mall. The last time we were in Jamaica we never got off the ship because of our previous experience. Other than Jamaica and some ports in Mexico, we feel safe in other Carib. countries.

[bouhunter]

 

Personally, I'd avoid the Dunn's River Falls excursions as they will direct you through a shopping area at the end of the falls and the vendors there can be aggressive.

 

Good grief...............just move on and don't buy anything if you don't want to:rolleyes:

[SECdawg]

We thoroughly enjoyed Ochos Rios and especially Dunn River Falls.

In fact to date it is my son's favorite. Yes the vendors are pushy and we encountered someone trying to sell drugs but the excursion was fabulous and most of the people we met were great. When we went to Falmouth last summer we stayed inside the gates. Have heard good things about Chuka but we would not venture outside the gates unless on a RCCL excursion.

[tahqa]

Good grief...............just move on and don't buy anything if you don't want to:rolleyes:

 

That's the normal reaction and it usually works... however, what about the girl that jumps in front of you while you're taking a picture and then demands you pay her for taking a picture of her. Or the guy that asks your name and when you unknowingly give it to him starts carving it into a piece of wood and says that you then owe him. That's just a couple of examples of the tactics that locals use in Jamaica. They don't bother me so much and I know how to deal with them, but I'm not your typical traveler. :confused:

[Kenlorz]

That's the normal reaction and it usually works... however, what about the girl that jumps in front of you while you're taking a picture and then demands you pay her for taking a picture of her. Or the guy that asks your name and when you unknowingly give it to him starts carving it into a piece of wood and says that you then owe him. That's just a couple of examples of the tactics that locals use in Jamaica. They don't bother me so much and I know how to deal with them, but I'm not your typical traveler. :confused:

 

Holy cow! Those are some pushy and aggressive tactics! It makes you realize how this is slowly caverning into a lose-lose situation. The more aggressive the people get with vacationers, the more vacationers go out of their way to avoid them, the more the local people get desperate and push harder, the more the vacationers stay in the 'safe zone' like behind a gate or on a ship. I, for one, have never been to the Caribbean. We found it very easy to find excursions in both Labadee (zipline & jet skis) and Cozumel (the 12-metre America's Cup Regatta and Mr. Sancho's All-Inclusive). On the other hand, Jamaica is turning into a nightmare to find something to do where we will thoroughly enjoy ourselves, feel safe and not be stalked by people pushy drugs, services or souvenirs.

[tahqa]

That's the normal reaction and it usually works... however, what about the girl that jumps in front of you while you're taking a picture and then demands you pay her for taking a picture of her. Or the guy that asks your name and when you unknowingly give it to him starts carving it into a piece of wood and says that you then owe him. That's just a couple of examples of the tactics that locals use in Jamaica. They don't bother me so much and I know how to deal with them, but I'm not your typical traveler. :confused:

 

Holy cow! Those are some pushy and aggressive tactics! It makes you realize how this is slowly caverning into a lose-lose situation. The more aggressive the people get with vacationers, the more vacationers go out of their way to avoid them, the more the local people get desperate and push harder, the more the vacationers stay in the 'safe zone' like behind a gate or on a ship. I, for one, have never been to the Caribbean. We found it very easy to find excursions in both Labadee (zipline & jet skis) and Cozumel (the 12-metre America's Cup Regatta and Mr. Sancho's All-Inclusive). On the other hand, Jamaica is turning into a nightmare to find something to do where we will thoroughly enjoy ourselves, feel safe and not be stalked by people pushy drugs, services or souvenirs.

 

I don't want to make the insinuation that all the people in Jamaica are like what I had in my above quote. I have met some wonderful and very nice people there. It's really a small few that make it rough for everyone. That's why I say to be careful and on your guard in the shopping areas.

[Ladysilver]

Good grief...............just move on and don't buy anything if you don't want to:rolleyes:

 

 

I agree...:)

[mrsdoc3]

Well. I will be in Falmouth for the first time in December, and I was wondering what to do there. My last trip to Jamaica was Ocho Rios about 15 years ago, and my husband and were followed by a cab driver for almost an hour trying to get us to go with him. He was going to show us where all the American celebrities' houses were. We would go into shops, and he would be waiting for us when we came out. We told him no repeatedly, but he kept hanging around. He finally gave up when we headed back to the ship.

 

I will be in Falmouth with a friend who has never cruised before, and now I'm concerned about being two unescorted women in this port.