Will Royal change Bahamas itineraries?

[South Shore 41]

The State Dept has issued a level 2 travel advisory for the Bahamas: 

 

"Exercise increased caution in The Bahamas due to crime.

Violent crime, such as burglaries, armed robberies, and sexual assault, is common, even during the day and in tourist areas. Although the family islands are not crime-free, the vast majority of crime occurs on New Providence and Grand Bahama islands. U.S. government personnel are not permitted to visit the Sand Trap area in Nassau due to crime. Activities involving commercial recreational watercraft, including water tours, are not consistently regulated. Watercraft are often not maintained, and many companies do not have safety certifications to operate in The Bahamas. Jet-ski operators have been known to commit sexual assaults against tourists.  As a result, U.S. government personnel are not permitted to use jet-ski rentals on New Providence and Paradise Islands.

 

If you decide to travel to The Bahamas exercise caution in the area known as "Over the Hill" (south of Shirley Street) and the Fish Fry at Arawak Cay in Nassau, especially at night."

 

For more info go to:

https://bs.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/security-and-travel-information/

 

Will Royal change their itinerary?

Edited March 2, 2019 by South Shore 41
added additional information

[Clarea]

13 minutes ago, South Shore 41 said:

 ...

 

Will Royal change their itinerary?

 

Keep checking here:  https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-ships/itinerary-updates

[ONECRUISER]

Nope, even when Jamaica and Mexico were worse nothing Changed. Can imagine what would be said about some USA Cities...

[Ocean Boy]

St. Croix was cut off for years until they cleaned up their act. However, I don't feel the slightest bit unsafe in Nassau.

 

I think one thing that will change is Coco Cay will be a diversion from Nassau as soon as the pier is finished so that RCI can have any customer money spent all to itself.

[blueridgemama]

I would avoid renting a car and traveling to the more remote areas or on back roads. I would also avoid excursions with private vendors that are not recommended by other cruisers or have good reviews on sites like trip advisor. If you stay in the touristy areas and use common sense, like you would in any city, you should be fine. Stay with a group-there's safety in numbers. Don't walk around at night.

[OCruisers]

10 minutes ago, blueridgemama said:

I would avoid renting a car and traveling to the more remote areas or on back roads. I would also avoid excursions with private vendors that are not recommended by other cruisers or have good reviews on sites like trip advisor. If you stay in the touristy areas and use common sense, like you would in any city, you should be fine. Stay with a group-there's safety in numbers. Don't walk around at night.

 

Agree!  Avoid walking around alone and just go where lots of others are with you.  

[dcgrumpy]

I doubt it. Cozumel,Jamaica,  Belize and most of Europe are at a level 2.

Edited March 2, 2019 by dcgrumpy

[MrFunInTheSun]

1 hour ago, Ocean Boy said:

I think one thing that will change is Coco Cay will be a diversion from Nassau as soon as the pier is finished so that RCI can have any customer money spent all to itself.

 

Agree with that, think we will see more and more cruises pull away from Nassau with Coco Cay as its replacement.

[mayleeman]

Makes Paradise Island and The Atlantis more attractive. The water park is much better for young people and kids. Even there, I would avoid isolated areas or walking away from the public beach areas.

[brillohead]

1 hour ago, dcgrumpy said:

I doubt it. Cozumel,Jamaica,  Belize and most of Europe are at a level 2.

And basically any medium-size-or-larger city in the USA!  

Level 2 = Don't be an idiot.  Don't wear expensive jewelry or flash large wads of cash or leave your expensive electronics unsupervised or wander down dark alleys late at night all by yourself.  

[nelblu]

Took a RCL tour to Blue Lagoon Island and no problem whatsoever.  Residents were pleasant and friendly towards tourists.  The crew on the boat taking us to the Island really interacted with everyone by dancing, singing, etc.  This was on our Feb. 2 Symphony sail.

 

Prior to that we sailed with our kids on Easter Allure sail.  Kids went one way to the various tours and we took a taxi to Paradise Island.  After we left the pier gate perimeter, other than the hawking of taxis and tours, we felt safe and secure going and coming.  The only downside was that we did not win at the casino.

[cementhands]

We took a cab to Junkanoo beach October 2018 enjoyed it. No one hassled us. Wonderful water. We could see the ship. We walked back and shopped the straw market. Bought a few things. The cab driver was very nice and friendly. He told us that they are trying to change the way that they are perceived.

St. Lucia recently in February 2019 we got off the ship and we were hassled to the point that we got back on ship. We’re pretty thick skinned seasoned travelers but we felt it very unsafe.

 Recently St. Lucia has experienced very high murder and crime rates. 2 German cruise passengers attempted robbery in park right off ship.

[Psycho and Barb]

53 minutes ago, nelblu said:

Took a RCL tour to Blue Lagoon Island and no problem whatsoever.  

We are doing the Blue Lagoon Island Dolphin Swim through RCCL this month on the Allure.  Taking our grandson on this and of course concerned about this State Department Travel Warning.  Any advice or thoughts on this excursion?

[nelblu]

4 minutes ago, Psycho and Barb said:

We are doing the Blue Lagoon Island Dolphin Swim through RCCL this month on the Allure.  Taking our grandson on this and of course concerned about this State Department Travel Warning.  Any advice or thoughts on this excursion?

 

We took the beach tour.  There were some 3 boatful of RCL Pax that went to the Island.  Some beach only, and others with special bands included the beach and Dolphins.  Both tours included a buffet lunch and loungers. Separate fee to use inflatable beach slides, etc.  In the fee it includes life jackets.

 

The start of the tour is to meet at a selected location on pier.  You walk with others, identified by type of tour for approximately 2 city blocks within the fenced perimeter.  There will be the boats waiting to take you to the Blue Lagoon Island.  Travel time is 30-40 minutes. 

 

Don't know when Allure leaves, but our Symphony was scheduled to leave at 2PM. We left the Island at approximately 12:30pm.  

 

Ultra safe tour. 

[Lv2sail_18]

15 minutes ago, Psycho and Barb said:

We are doing the Blue Lagoon Island Dolphin Swim through RCCL this month on the Allure.  Taking our grandson on this and of course concerned about this State Department Travel Warning.  Any advice or thoughts on this excursion?

Blue Lagoon Island is a private island completely separated from the main island, essentially for cruise ship passengers only.  I don’t think that the travel advisory will affect you at all.

[Psycho and Barb]

29 minutes ago, nelblu said:

 

Don't know when Allure leaves, but our Symphony was scheduled to leave at 2PM. We left the Island at approximately 12:30pm.  

 

 

Appreciate the in info.  The Allure is scheduled to be there 7 am till 5 pm with our excursion being from 9 am to 2 pm.

[leisuretraveler223]

Ridiculous.  If that advisory makes someone think twice about visiting the Bahamas, he or she really should just stay home.  Really, if the State Department did this domestically, the advisory would be in place for every urban center in the U.S.!

[South Shore 41]

Thanks everyone for your comments.  Haven't traveled abroad in a while and didn't know what to expect.  We do have an excursion booked for Pearl Island that day.  It is the last stop before we return to Miami and I thought it would be nice to spend relaxing on the beach.  

 

My other thought was to cancel the excursion and spend more time on the boat.  I've been viewing a lot of YouTube videos and the boat looks amazing. However, after all of these comments I will stick to plan A.  Very excited about the trip and can't wait!! 42 days to go!!!

[Jasukkie]

I felt much more wary in post-hurricane St. Maarten than I felt in Nassau. Just a feeling that it was easy to be isolated down the little alleys and we better stay with the cruise crowd on the beach. I'm not sure if things are better there now but the people trying to sell you things there was far more aggressive than in Nassau. No one bothered us at Junkanoo at Nassau when we declined the beach chair sale, and even that was a smile, no thanks, ok mum situation. 

 

Use the same caution you would use anywhere while traveling. Only bring the cash you anticipate needing in port. Keep your phone out of sight. Stay with the crowd. If you feel vulnerable due to age, mobility, lack of travel experience, book a ship's tour. And don't drink to excess!