RCCL issues crime warning for Nassau

[The Admiral]

Agree I think Nassau Is not a nice port and I skip it unless you want to go and pay to use Atlantis pools or go to their casino which you can do safer and at not cost on the ship. Nassau beach is no big deal Bahamas has other prettier beaches I’d rather go to.

 

heres my issue: RCI says they care about guest safety yet after continuing rise in tourist crimes to the point they even have US State department warnings they insist on stopping there. I know there’s no safe travel place, there’s crime all over the world but some places are worse than others and they should not be stopping in ports on state department’s warnings list if they really care about passenger safety.

 

but that won’t happen unfortunately until someone gets killed then when their families sue alleging RCI should have not put them in dangerous places where they are exposed to greater than normal crime risk, if the jury punitive damages award is large enough then maybe they will change.

 

i don’t know if it’s cheaper port fees, fuel savings or too much already invested in port infrastructure, but right now cruise lines have too much of an incentive to stick with Nassau and other less than ideal ports vs the potential human injury that can occur. COzumel is another port that been in the news re crime and the same stubbornness to stick with it prevails there too.

[goncruzn]

I don't necessarily care for Nassau, but it is not due to fear of crime and/or vendors.  Just like with any Caribbean port, the locals need the dollars and, yes, can be pushy trying to get you to look at their wares.  I take the same precautions in Nassau as I would the US, Europe, etc.  For me, Nassau just does not hold any appeal.  

[Giantfan13]

We just stopped in Nassau instead of CoCo Cay off our TA on the Rhapsody. Like many others, we also have been here many times but we just wanted to get onto dry land again after 6 sea days for the crossing. It is always posted in the dailies that Nassau is a bit unsafe and you should be aware of your surroundings at all times. As long as you stay in the 'touristy' areas, you will never have a problem.

 

Our problem with Nassau, opposed to most of the other islands in the Caribbean is that the people here just don't smile and aren't as friendly to tourists as so many of the other islands. Getting off the ship and thru the maze of hounding taxi drivers, hair braiders and just shouting vendors just makes one want to get away from these people instead of being drawn to them and their culture. We walk the main streets and all we get are coupons from shops but no friendly hellos. Maybe away from this area the people are more pleasant, but those are the areas we are warned to stay away from. And don't get me started on the Straw market and it's inhabitants. 

 

Cheers

Len

[Ocean Boy]

So let me give you a little insight that is a bit different from the experience of Gaintfan13. We found ourselves at Nassau on a Sunday and decided to go to church. When it came time for the sign of peace folks from all over the church were coming up to us to welcome us to their church. On going to communion the bishop of Nassau, who was celebrating the Mass, stopped giving communion when I got to him and took the time to welcome me to Nassau and their church and then gave me communion.

 

That is the memory that I always carry with me of Nassau and people.

[pstone1]

47 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

So let me give you a little insight that is a bit different from the experience of Gaintfan13. We found ourselves at Nassau on a Sunday and decided to go to church. When it came time for the sign of peace folks from all over the church were coming up to us to welcome us to their church. On going to communion the bishop of Nassau, who was celebrating the Mass, stopped giving communion when I got to him and took the time to welcome me to Nassau and their church and then gave me communion.

 

That is the memory that I always carry with me of Nassau and people.

 

Exactly!  I find you usually get exactly what you give!

[taxatty]

I now get off the ship in Nassau (where I've been many times for both business and leisure) for only two reasons, the Athena Cafe for good Greek food, and the Tortuga rum cake store, both of which are very near the dock and allow a quick hit and run visit. As others have stated, there used to be interesting nearby locally-run stores, many of which are now gone other than the Graycliff Chocolate store, which is quite good but expensive. Many of the vendors in the straw market appear to be selling the same cheap souvenirs.

[ONECRUISER]

17 hours ago, FLACRUISER99 said:

Sorry but Nassau is one of my favorite ports. It's not dangerous at all if you use your brain.

Yeah really, spent years in Flint and Detroit when they had a murder a day....

[pstone1]

9 hours ago, taxatty said:

I now get off the ship in Nassau (where I've been many times for both business and leisure) for only two reasons, the Athena Cafe for good Greek food, and the Tortuga rum cake store, both of which are very near the dock and allow a quick hit and run visit. As others have stated, there used to be interesting nearby locally-run stores, many of which are now gone other than the Graycliff Chocolate store, which is quite good but expensive. Many of the vendors in the straw market appear to be selling the same cheap souvenirs.

 

John Watlings Rum Distillery, which is only a couple of blocks from Graycliff, is a lovely place to relax with an excellent Pina Colada or other rum drink.  You can take a free, self-guided tour of the distillery (or not) and then sit inside the plantation house or outside on the veranda to enjoy the view and a cocktail.

 

We also love Athena and have eaten there the past three times we visited Nassau.

[zoepipes]

Last time in Nassau, we took a walk to Graycliff to pick up some cigars (our second visit there).  Got very sketchy feelings this time around.  We entered through hotel and were "greeted" by someone asking if they could help.  Explained we were there for cigars.  This person followed us the entire time we were there and we were never out of his site.  Other than us and him (and the girl in the cigar shop), there were no other people visible.  It was weird.  He asked us to follow him when we were done and took us through the chocolate shop - okay, cool, maybe that's what he was waiting for this entire time.  Never felt uncomfortable walking there and back but probably would not get off the ship if it's on the itinerary the next time.

[not-enough-cruising]

23 hours ago, The Admiral said:

 

 

but that won’t happen unfortunately until someone gets killed then when their families sue alleging RCI should have not put them in dangerous places where they are exposed to greater than normal crime risk, if the jury punitive damages award is large enough then maybe they will change.

Are you going to sue American Airlines for dropping you off in Chicago?

[springfire]

With so many cruise ships stopping in Nassau, most cruisers have had enough of Nassau.  It is my least favorite stop.   I know I am not alone with these thoughts as tourism leaders in the Bahamas don't believe enough cruise ship passengers are getting off of the ship and spending money.  Bahamas Minister of Tourism Dionisio D’Aguilar says the government use to pay 12 million dollars a year in incentives to dock in Nassau but they will now stop paying as many passengers are staying on the ship. 

[cruise_co]

On 12/26/2018 at 11:28 PM, sfaaa said:

Never like Nassau. One of the most boring Caribbean ports crime or no crime.

I think Freeport has Nassau beat hands down. 🙂

 

We were in Nassau a year ago this week. I remember there also being a crime warning and I was all worried about it. Should I leave my wedding rings in the safe? I purchased Travelon theft deterrent cross body bags, and took other precautions I had read about. Turns out it was not bad at all. Hopped a van to Atlantis, swam with the dolphins, sat on the beach for awhile, toured the aquarium and grounds, took any van back to Nassau, explored a bit, back on boat.  Was a very pleasant, non stressful day. All the worry over the travel warnings was for naught. 

[The Admiral]

2 hours ago, not-enough-cruising said:

Are you going to sue American Airlines for dropping you off in Chicago?

 

Well there’s no federal warning about Chicago 🙂

 

and when you are on notice of a potential for higher than average risks you have a higher duty as a business than when you’re not on notice.

 

i bet if enough incidents or negative publicity occurs they would drop riskier ports - they’re not going to adopt your approach of - I just drop you off and it’s your problem if something happens to you. I believe The reason why riskier ports  haven’t been dropped is probably because it hasn’t cost the lines enough yet, when it it does they will drop those ports like hot potatoes!

 

 

 

[not-enough-cruising]

Check the European Union travel advisories. Chicago (and many other major US cities are regularly listed) 

 Elevated risk is relative to what was considered the normal baseline risk. Nassau is no riskier than just about any other Caribbean island,  or a multitude of other international destinations. if we begin to eliminate risky destinations,  we will have no place to cruise to. 

[KmomChicago]

21 hours ago, Giantfan13 said:

We just stopped in Nassau instead of CoCo Cay off our TA on the Rhapsody. Like many others, we also have been here many times but we just wanted to get onto dry land again after 6 sea days for the crossing. It is always posted in the dailies that Nassau is a bit unsafe and you should be aware of your surroundings at all times. As long as you stay in the 'touristy' areas, you will never have a problem.

 

Our problem with Nassau, opposed to most of the other islands in the Caribbean is that the people here just don't smile and aren't as friendly to tourists as so many of the other islands. Getting off the ship and thru the maze of hounding taxi drivers, hair braiders and just shouting vendors just makes one want to get away from these people instead of being drawn to them and their culture. We walk the main streets and all we get are coupons from shops but no friendly hellos. Maybe away from this area the people are more pleasant, but those are the areas we are warned to stay away from. And don't get me started on the Straw market and it's inhabitants. 

 

Cheers

Len

 

Thanks Len! This was my point exactly.

 

Also I agree that Nassau is no more dangerous than Chicago, which I visit all the time, and which, frankly, is really very dangerous in certain areas.  We did enjoy Fort Charlotte and the pirate and slavery museums.  It's just that Nassau could be a more charming place, which would be good for business, and it does not seem to make any effort to do so.

Edited December 28, 2018 by KmomChicago

[GarlicBread]

Tbf, this letter could be used for the majority of ports in the majority of countries. 

 

But of course the cruise line are going to try and put you off getting off in one of the less fancier looking ports... more $$$ for them if you stay on...

[Giantfan13]

On ‎12‎/‎27‎/‎2018 at 9:07 PM, pstone1 said:

 

Exactly!  I find you usually get exactly what you give!

 

Sorry but that is absolutely NOT so, and not just in Nassau but in many places. I go to places with a happy attitude and always try and be polite, but in Nassau, that is hard. How many times can one say politely, NO Thank You, to 10, 20 maybe even 30 different taxi drivers who follow you till the next guy tries to grab you. Same for all the people trying to get you into their shops and markets. They hound you until you seem to adopt that attitude also. It has absolutely NOTHING to do with what I bring.

 

What you say is true for the people who live in Nassau, they get the same disrespect that they give the tourists. 

 

As I said previously, once you get away from the touristy areas and get to meet the 'real' folks, they are probably fine and likable, but that is just not what one gets coming off the ship and in any of the surrounding areas of the port. 

 

Cheers

Len

[pstone1]

2 minutes ago, Giantfan13 said:

 

Sorry but that is absolutely NOT so, and not just in Nassau but in many places. I go to places with a happy attitude and always try and be polite, but in Nassau, that is hard. How many times can one say politely, NO Thank You, to 10, 20 maybe even 30 different taxi drivers who follow you till the next guy tries to grab you. Same for all the people trying to get you into their shops and markets. They hound you until you seem to adopt that attitude also. It has absolutely NOTHING to do with what I bring.

 

What you say is true for the people who live in Nassau, they get the same disrespect that they give the tourists. 

 

As I said previously, once you get away from the touristy areas and get to meet the 'real' folks, they are probably fine and likable, but that is just not what one gets coming off the ship and in any of the surrounding areas of the port. 

 

Cheers

Len

 

To each is own.  I guess I have no limit as to how many times I can be polite.  To us, Nassau is no different than many other Countries that have touristy areas where vendors are aggressively trying to make a living.  

[drneal]

Nobody ever seems to like Nassau on cc.

we just got off the Mariner of the seas this morning.  Coco cay was cancelled and we spent 2 days in Nassau. We went to comfort suites on paradise island for one day and then shopping the next.  Overall we had a good time. 

Still it’s not a favorite and I would assume that many ships that hare registered in the Bahamas might have something to do with every ship stopping in nassau.

[mugtech]

Just read an article by CC about the 7 worst ports to make a second visit.  First one listed was Nassau.

[SRF]

Funny thing is, I have not had any problems with people offering me things or rides or anything in Nassau.  NADA.

 

Maybe you all just look like saps. 😄  

 

 

[grapau27]

On 12/27/2018 at 3:46 PM, pstone1 said:

 

We typically visit Nassau several times a year and have never felt unsafe or had a problem.  We are always polite and friendly to the locals and they respond in kind.

 

No matter where you are traveling to, it's always a good idea to be aware of your surroundings, keep a low profile, and leave expensive jewelry and cash on the ship. Crime exists everywhere (including US Cities), especially in high tourist ares.  .

Great advice.

The same applies in many European and Arabian ports.

 

[dutchclogs]

Coincidentally, I'm reading John le Carre's  The Night Manager. Recounting on a staged robbery in a restaurant,  he commentrs 'no one wears jewellery in the Bahamas except .[very rich anti-hero gf]  Novel was written in 1993.  Has the Bahamas always had this reputation?

[KmomChicago]

12 minutes ago, dutchclogs said:

Coincidentally, I'm reading John le Carre's  The Night Manager. Recounting on a staged robbery in a restaurant,  he commentrs 'no one wears jewellery in the Bahamas except .[very rich anti-hero gf]  Novel was written in 1993.  Has the Bahamas always had this reputation?

 

My first time was 1986 and the overall vibe was exactly the same as on my most recent visit in January 2018.  The funny thing is, I'm not scared of Nassau and on 5 visits, no one has tried to actually assault me, and on every visit I have gotten off the ship and had a decent time.  At least it's always got better weather than wherever I came from!  And it certainly has its own character.

[K32682]

The problem with declaring Nassau "unsafe" is lack of context.  Unsafe as compared to where?  Detroit?  Johannesburg? Barcelona? I've been to all of them and didn't find Nassau stood out as risky in comparison. 

 

Tourist operators including cruise lines have a vested interested in keeping you close because they would rather you spend your money with them.