Cheapo dad’s trip report on Allure of the Seas sailing December 14, 2014

[Birdnutty]

Just got another fix in reading about Falmouth. I so enjoy your review!

 

I looked over the compass you scanned and saw a single line dance class. Did you notice whether or not the ship offers Zumba? It is my very favorite form of exercise and many other ships have had it. So hoping this one does too.....

[harryfat1]

Harry, on the Oasis there are 37 Small Wonders, 18 of which are View Finders, took a little over 2 hours to find them all, well worth the effort to find them all.

 

Jim,

 

Jim,

 

Thanks for the info. Interesting to see how there is a big difference in number of small wonders between the 2 sister ships. Wonder how many Oasis 3 and 4 will have?

[harryfat1]

Just got another fix in reading about Falmouth. I so enjoy your review!

 

I looked over the compass you scanned and saw a single line dance class. Did you notice whether or not the ship offers Zumba? It is my very favorite form of exercise and many other ships have had it. So hoping this one does too.....

 

Thanks for following along.

 

I don't do Zumba so I can't offer that info for you. Here is a link from another cruiser that sailed in November and he was kind enough to upload all the daily compass info for everyone to read. That info was what I used for my final draft of my spreadsheet prior to the cruise so maybe you can look through here to see if there are Zumba classes:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2136157&highlight=allure&page=4

[harryfat1]

After about 3 laps around the track, we figure it’s about time to head out of the ship to see Falmouth as we saw various people making their way off the ship from below.

 

Also somewhere along in our walk, I actually heard the captain over the PA for the first time that he said there was a big storm cell not far from us and it might be approaching us so we wanted to get off the ship before it does.

 

 

 

We decided to exit to the Fitness center area and see what that area looks like. Here are few pictures from the front entrance area – note the front of the ship area is blocked off from the elements so you won’t get blown over by the wind walking when the ship is sailing at 20 knots.

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

Few pics on the way back to the cabin. Walking outside the spa area, the wife and mother in law was approached by a Chinese speaking woman working at the spa in trying to soft sell them to do a spa treatment.

 

Interesting to see that spa sales pitches are in bilingual now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

On the way back to the cabin, we walked past the kid’s area. That’s about as close as we came to it as the younger one did not want to come close to it as he rather be with the rest of the family the whole cruise instead of being in there.

 

 

 

One more picture of the Royal Promenade. This one taken at 10:55 AM, after some people have already disembark. If you are here now, you would say the ship is not crowded at all. Think freeway traffic, there are rush hours and there are less rush hours.

 

 

The famous Henry vacuuming away all the dirt and sand. Poor little guy probably had to work the hardest last night as that was day 3, after the entire ship has come back from the beach at Labadee and you know everyone comes back with at least a handful of sand on their body/beach bags/shoes and multiply that by 6,000 people, that’s a whole lot of sand to be sucked up all around the ship/cabins last night. Yeah, even vacuum cleaners have peak and valley days at work.

 

[theatrebabe]

Henry is my 2 kids' (ages 4 and 2.5) favorite part of the cruises they have been on... They call him "silly vacuum."

[harryfat1]

Henry is my 2 kids' (ages 4 and 2.5) favorite part of the cruises they have been on... They call him "silly vacuum."

 

Henry is pretty expensive. I just checked Amazon and he costs $330, but has excellent reviews, so he must be good.

 

Maybe next time I cruise on Royal, I need to talk to the cabin steward to see what his thoughts are on Henry and maybe try it out myself using it.

[harryfat1]

For Falmouth, we looked and looked at the various excursions for months but none really appealed to us. They have one where it’s similar to a beach day but since we just had one yesterday, didn’t feel like doing a back to back beach day. The more exotic tours are expensive and requires long bus rides that we weren’t really crazy about so the decision was made to just walk around and then come back for lunch and swim (or so we thought).

 

Actually before talking about going into Falmouth, I should actually talk about the port itself. Not that I am an expert at Jamaica myself as it’s my first ever visit but if you read the various posts and comments from cruisers all over, if there is one country/port area that they will most likely not get off the ship, I would think Jamaica would be very high on the list.

 

While standing in line for the tram at Labadee, I overheard one lady talking to another cruiser saying Labadee would be the only port they are getting off this whole cruise as they don’t feel safe enough to get off at Falmouth or Cozumel. Really? I guess everyone has a different perspective on what is their comfort zone for feeling safe in their surroundings but I would think Falmouth, within the confines of the iron gates/fences would be as safe as any mall back at home.

 

If anything else, I would say the square area of Falmouth is “too clean” in that its way too sanitized by the cruise lines in order to create an artificial area of Jamaica or cruisers to get off the ship and shop and feel safe. It’s as if Disney came in and put in all these façade stores similar to how they set up EPCOT’s world showcase. It should come as no surprise that Disney ship also stops at Falmouth on their western Caribbean run. At any rate, you can look at the pictures and see for yourself what you would do in Falmouth.

 

OK, so we made it off the ship. On the way there, we visited the crazy aunt in the basement to see how secure her shackles are (aka taking pictures with the ship’s official photographer) and we bought the picture that has the date and the ship name and the port as my wife likes these kinds of photo keepsake.

 

Speaking of taking pictures, with the threat of rain and seeing the rain earlier, we decided to take the two small point & shoot camera of the ship instead of the big ones. Here is a bit of info I think only 2 readers out there will care about but just thought I pass it along. This won’t apply to you if you are in same time zone as Florida or if you only have one main photographer in the group, but if you are coming from different time zones or have multiple photographers like us, then read the next paragraph or else just skip.

 

Day 4 pictures gave me the most grief in trying to organize them for my personal online web page and DVD as the clock timers on them were all screwed up. From previous bad experiences, I know well enough to actually set an alarm timer on my cell phone to “synchronize” all cameras and cell phones once we arrived in Florida because if you don’t, then the pictures you take in camera A will be out of order when you combine it with camera B or cell phone C. Well, I synchronized my cameras and the wife’s camera and all our cell phones. Forgot to do so for my son’s camera and his cell phone and the in-laws camera. So when we were all taking pictures in Falmouth, even though we are standing in the same spot, the time stamps on each picture is different and I have to do a lot of manual drag and drop to get my story timeline down correctly.

 

Somehow my son’s iPhone picked up the local Wi-Fi signal and his clock time became local time so that adds one more layer of complexity as now we have Pacific/Central/Eastern time zones on every picture taken from various cameras. Anyway, keep that in mind for the 2 people reading this that it may apply to you. Check everyone’s camera time on day 1 or else you will be tearing you hair out.

Here is the first picture off the ship at the dock. Note the wet ground from the rain and the black iron fences separating the ship from the shops/workers? Also note the fence is not just pointing straight up but curve outward to the workers side implying that the fear of intrusion is coming from the other side.

 

 

Everyone must exit the area though the big security building at the front part of the compound.

 

 

Here is what the inside of the big building looks like

 

 

Rare picture of 2 mega ships facing each other at an angle. Typical ships are docked parallel to each other side by side by since Falmouth is built more like a spearhead in the front, the ships’ bow point at each other. I don’t know. I think it’s interesting but I’m sure you feel differently…

 

 

Hey, it’s the infamous Diamonds International. Get your fine jewelry here. Every cruise ship pushes these guys for diamonds on the port talks. I think these guys have a store (or multiple stores) in every major Caribbean and Mexico ports.

 

 

Other stores in the area with the ship towering over them in the background

 

[harryfat1]

More shops

 

 

 

The one big name restaurant area inside the compound, Margartiaville. Note the lady with menu and they have someone in costume (the pirate looking guy sitting on the left) taking pictures with tourists and trying to drum up business for the place.

 

 

 

 

It’s 11:35 with Indy in the background

 

[harryfat1]

More pics of life around the compound

 

 

Street musicians

 

 

Trying to get couple little girls to play with them

 

 

Tons of people from both cruise ships walking around. Not surprising as Allure had 6,200 passengers and assume Indy has at least 4,000 people given its holiday season, we are looking at 10,000 plus passengers. If you assume 25% of the people have no excursions planned and just wandered about the area, that’s at least 2,500 people milling about inside the compound.

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

Here’s looking back up at the secret balconies

 

 

Interesting woodwork throughout the shopping area. If I didn’t have to fly (meaning I can drive to FLL via car), I might be more tempted to buy some of them to bring back but I wasn’t crazy enough to want to take them home on the plane. Note that little cute kids chair on the left? After we took this picture, some family with a small one was looking at it with their little kids trying it out. Not that it would fit my kids but just thought it was cute.

 

 

 

The typical shirt store. My in-laws wanted to buy some shirts so we stopped at many shops looking for them.

 

 

Considering my hair length, no need to stop here

 

[harryfat1]

Pics of the back of the compound as we leave the shopping area

 

 

 

 

 

This is one chance you get to get a full rear view of the ship’s aft. Other ports don’t have area behind the pier for you to stand on

 

 

Hey, tow lines. Did I mention I like tow lines?

 

[harryfat1]

Here is the drive way leading you out of the compound either via auto or foot. Along the side of the road are historical info about Falmouth. Didn’t see too many tourists stopping by to read them or taking pictures of them

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

So here we are at the edge of the compound. The other side of the fence is the “real” Falmouth. From reading some cruise reports of people fearing to go outside the compound, I had visions of armed guards with semi-automatic rifles guarding the gates and many beggars lining up by the fence asking for money. Nope. Saw none of that.

 

 

If nothing else, the scenes from our previous Mexico cruise several years was more scary during the height of the drug war. Took these pictures at the 2 ports we stopped by. Just gives you the warm fuzzies when you see these guns at the tourist areas, no?

 

 

I don’t believe this picture made the front cover of the visitor’s brochure for some unknown reason…

 

 

At any rate, we exited through the gate and walked around Falmouth

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

The area outside the gate is a lively vibrant place with tourists and locals walking around. On almost every block, there is loud music blasting in your ears either from the mobile speakers or from the stores/side walk stands.

 

Yes, it’s not the prettiest area and you can see people are poor but I think that is the one key thing about traveling to see other countries is that you see more of the everyday people's living conditions and not just the sanitized version.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 19, 2015 by harryfat1

[harryfat1]

More area pics:

 

 

 

Christmas tree in the town area

 

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

So the question someone is probably is asking were we really worried about the surroundings. No. Not really. Not with that many other tourists around us and the security people at every block. Like I said, I felt more worried at other ports. But just like in any area, be it on vacation or the mall at home, just be aware and be careful of your surroundings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

Well, actually if I really had to think hard about safety in Falmouth, there was one issue that was worrisome. It’s called – AUTOMOBILES. Yeah, as in cars. The biggest safety concern is probably trying not to get run over by cars coming at you or behind your butt and they are going every which way with no lights and traffic signals in the narrow streets

 

 

 

 

So as we walked around, we started to noticed the shower/rain started up again. Crap. Not good as we had no rain gear. Time to head back.

 

Here’s a trolley that takes you around the area if you prefer that

 

 

The security check point at the gate to get back to the compound

 

 

As a quick summary of my thoughts outside the gates – everyone has their own safety comfort zone and if you don’t feel comfortable going outside, then don’t. I don’t get any commissions from Falmouth to bring people outside the gates. I just lay out the premise and the pictures and every family can decide for themselves what they like to do.

 

In no time did anyone approach us asking us to buy any illegal (or legal for that matter). In fact, nobody approached us. We just meandered the streets on our own. No aggressive sellers. The folks at the markets in Haiti were much more aggressive tin trying to get us to their stalls. Falmouth vendors are much more calm and peaceful in their approach to walk by business.

 

The worst experience I had was in Acapulco. As soon as we walked outside of the cruise gates, there was a swarm of taxi drivers trying to get our business. Even after I told them I already had a tour planned later that afternoon (I really did), there was one guy who walked side by side with me for at least 200 feet trying to talk to me and be my “buddy” and gave me his cell phone to call my local tour guide to cancel my tour so I can go with him instead. Now that’s aggressive in your face selling. Nothing close to that in Falmouth.

[harryfat1]

So here we are back, heading over to the other side of the square to visit the uncle in prison to see if he’s doing well (aka shopping)

 

 

 

 

 

 

[idamae3218]

Love your report. Great observations. We were on Oasis western Caribbean in 2012 & going back for eastern Caribbean this summer. Been to Falmouth twice. Once on Freedom, then Oasis. I thought the vendors in the square were over priced. I'm used to haggling when I cruise. The vendors in the port didn't haggle much, perhaps them knowing passengers are afraid to go outside the gates, they think they have a monopoly. However, we're originally from the inner city & were not afraid to venture outside the gates. After a rafting trip down the river, we went to buy some souvenirs. The first few outside were high, but we found some willing to negotiate. I can't pay more than $5 for a tshirt! I thought it maybe better the second visit, but it was the same. Perhaps as the years go by & more people shop there, they will become more reasonable. I love haggling in the ports, so it was strange the vendors were not really into it. We never felt unsafe in town. We're conscience of our surroundings & where we go. Lots of police around.

 

Looking forward to more of your report.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Forums mobile app

[Coralc]

 

 

Is that an old sugar cane mill structure? If not, do you have any idea what it is?

 

We are really enjoying your review and photos, Harry. :)

[Cruisin'Kim]

Love your report. Great observations. We were on Oasis western Caribbean in 2012 & going back for eastern Caribbean this summer. Been to Falmouth twice. Once on Freedom, then Oasis. I thought the vendors in the square were over priced. I'm used to haggling when I cruise. The vendors in the port didn't haggle much, perhaps them knowing passengers are afraid to go outside the gates, they think they have a monopoly. However, we're originally from the inner city & were not afraid to venture outside the gates. After a rafting trip down the river, we went to buy some souvenirs. The first few outside were high, but we found some willing to negotiate. I can't pay more than $5 for a tshirt! I thought it maybe better the second visit, but it was the same. Perhaps as the years go by & more people shop there, they will become more reasonable. I love haggling in the ports, so it was strange the vendors were not really into it. We never felt unsafe in town. We're conscience of our surroundings & where we go. Lots of police around.

 

Looking forward to more of your report.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Forums mobile app

 

 

We felt the same way when at Costa Maya. Port shopping vendors wouldn't haggle at all, one guy told us "not to waste his time", so we didn't - we left his stall area! Went into the actual town and got the same thing we were looking at for way, way, less money!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[harryfat1]

Is that an old sugar cane mill structure? If not, do you have any idea what it is?

 

We are really enjoying your review and photos, Harry. :)

 

Boy, you have one sharp eye to pick out these things from all my photos and ask me tough questions that I have no answers to. What do you do for a living?

 

I did a quick Google on “Pihl”, the name of the Danish construction company and Falmouth, per this article, it says they won the bid to build Falmouth pier and the buildings around it.

 

http://www.ekf.dk/en/WhatWeDo/cases/Pages/PIHL.aspx

 

Technically it doesn’t answer your question on what the funny shape thing is, but wouldn’t be surprised if Pihl built that sugar mill plantation if that’s what they do and sugar is very important in Jamaica.

 

Also found something in the archives on the delays on construction of Falmouth and comments from Pihl as reported on cruise critics few years back

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=4306

[Coralc]

I am an Agricultural Investigator :D, but I am only asking because I am really enjoying your photos and narrative.

 

It is A LOT more interesting than the usual blah, blah, blah. :D Thank you. (and I think the pihl sign is just a billboard ad ;) )

Edited January 20, 2015 by Coralc