Psych Cruiser

I have been to nassau many times in the last few years. I do not find it a unsafe place. With many ships each day I think the numbers of folks in the downtown and the police evidence make it good, I might be concerned in walking around outside areas at night , but not in the day time.

i think the walk to the fort and anywhere else downtown is safe. IMO do not let the reports deter you from exploring the downtown area.

Glad that you have not experienced crime in Nassau on a first hand basis.

The majority of the crime that is being reported is opportunistic on cruising tourists and are happening in the daytime and concentrated in, and around, the port and major tourist areas.

Read the current United States and Canadian Embassy releases for it's citizens. There is a reason that you now see heavily armed police in the tourist areas.

The last time we were at port in Nassau (last month), the cruise line warned us, prior to getting off the ship, that we were entering a high crime area.

Here is a UTube video on what to do if you are being robbed:

In Nassau and Freeport, be safe, be aware of your surroundings, don't be flashy, and if robbed, cooperate.

"Here's the latest from the US Embassy. Why are cruise ships still going there?"

"but I am also not going to let a few bad incidents stop me from traveling or enjoying myself."

 

 

Sorry, but US Embassy notices are not just "a few bad incidents" they are very serious. These are targeted attacks and should not be taken lightly. These cautions and precautions are real and significant. They should not be ignored, down-played, or made insignificant.

 

If you are traveling to any of these ports, be acutely aware of your surroundings, and take precautions to avoid being the next American Cruising victim (s).

 

The last cruise we were on, June 2016, a crew member was robbed in Nassau just before he boarded the ship. He was getting money at an ATM machine and he was targeted. They took all his money and gifts he had bought to give to other crew members.

 

 

 

Here's the latest from the US Embassy.

Why are cruise ships still going there?

"U.S. EMBASSY, NASSAU, BAHAMAS

Security Message: Personal Security Awareness

July 12, 2016

This message is to remind U.S. Citizens resident and visiting New Providence Island (Nassau) and Paradise Island to be mindful of their surroundings at all times and employ practical personal security awareness when in public and at home to avoid being a victim of crime.

Over the course of the past six months, the U.S. Embassy has received reports of a significant increase in armed robberies throughout New Providence, specifically targeting patrons of ATM machines, parking venues at various retail locations, and armed car-jackings.

For your safety, you should:

• Avoid using ATM machines located in isolated areas and consider using ATM machines located in shopping centers that have security coverage. Use the buddy system when using ATM machines.

• Keep your car doors locked and your windows rolled up as you drive. Keep valuables out of sight in your vehicles when parked (cell phones, laptops, cash, GPS or other valuables).

Armed robberies and violent crimes continue to be the primary criminal threat in The Bahamas – which in many instances have occurred in areas frequented by tourists.

If you encounter a violent or threatening situation, try to remain calm and immediately get yourself out of harm’s way. Do not get directly involved in the situation. Once you have removed yourself from a threatening situation and your safety has been ensured, call the Royal Bahamas Police Force at 911 or 919 and inform them of the matter.

If you are being followed, DO NOT GO HOME. Call the police at 911 or 919. You should stay on the phone with the police and give them your location so they can provide assistance and drive to the nearest police station. If an attacker tries to box your vehicle in from the front and rear and you determine that you are under attack, you should take immediate evasive action to get out of . Please take a moment to consider the following security tips:

 We strongly encourage you to use home security systems and door locks at all times. Doors should not be opened for unknown or unidentified callers. If you sense someone is trying to gain access into your residence or hotel room, contact the police at 911 or 919 and hotel security. Perpetrators of these types of crimes typically conduct prior surveillance by watching the intended target property and the movement of the intended victims. This underscores the need for an increased awareness of common activities which can directly impact personal security.

 If confronted by armed criminals, remember your vehicle or valuables are not worth your life or anyone else’s life. If confronted, try to remain calm, clearly display your hands and do not make any sudden moves that could be interpreted as resistance.

 Always be vigilant – look for possible threats or what looks out of the norm in your surroundings - and vary your routes and times.

 Pay close attention to any unusual activity that may have occurred since leaving home and getting in and out of vehicles. Things like an open gate, unfamiliar vehicles parked nearby, house doors forced open, or shattered windows can be a sign of criminal interest or activity.

 Do not leave belongings unsecured outside your residence. Vehicles, bicycles, generators, and other property will attract criminals. If the items cannot be placed inside, then visibly secure them with a chain and lock as a deterrent.

 At night, park in lighted areas observable by shops, passersby, or attendants when possible. Avoid unlit areas where persons could hide and ambush. Use the buddy system and walk in groups.

 Avoid walking alone in dark, isolated areas such as parking lots.

 Keep your wallet or purse close to your body; never leave your purse or wallet unattended in a shopping cart or restaurant.

 Avoid carrying large amounts of cash – use an ATM/Credit Card when possible and check your credit card statements regularly for potential fraud or unauthorized charges.

 Avoid using ATM machines located in isolated areas and consider using ATM machines located in shopping centers that have security coverage. Use the buddy system when using ATM machines.

 Secure your home. Use your alarm system when at home and away and be familiar with the emergency panic alarm codes. Close and lock all windows and doors. Don’t forget to lock garage or gate doors. Have an escape plan for you and your family.

 Secure valuables at home in a locked safe that is not easily removed.

 Consider purchasing timers to turn on outside and inside lights automatically at various times throughout the night, especially if you are off island. Check outside lighting, replace light bulbs if necessary, and use exterior lighting at night.

 Unplug appliances such as televisions, stereos and personal computers.

 Arrange to have your lawn mowed periodically if you will be gone for an extended period of time.

 Arrange to have a friend or colleague check your home and pick up newspapers or other deliveries daily.

 Most crimes occur at night, so think prudently about night-time travel. Inform someone of your travel plans and when to expect you. Keep your car doors locked and your windows rolled up as you drive. Keep valuables out of sight in your vehicles when parked. (cell phones, laptops, cash, GPS or other valuables). Utilize a car alarm or steering wheel locking device.

 Do not display or wear expensive jewelry that may make you a target for criminals. Avoid wearing gold necklaces, bracelets, expensive watches, or other flashy jewelry.

 In traffic or in a stopped line of cars, leave at least a half a car length between your vehicle and the car in front of you to provide an escape path. This also prevents a chain reaction accident in the event that you get hit from behind and pushed into the car in front of you.

 If you believe you are being followed, drive immediately to a safe location such as a police station, a gas station, or a hotel and call the Police.

 Keep your cell phone charged and with you at all times and use a GPS system if you are traveling in unfamiliar areas.

 Notify the police (call 911 or 919) if you are in a vehicle accident or need assistance.

We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in The Bahamas enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates, and makes it easier for the U.S. embassy or nearest U.S. consulate to contact you in an emergency. If you don’t have Internet access, enroll directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

Regularly monitor the State Department’s website, where you can find current Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and the Worldwide Caution. Read the Country Specific Information for The Bahamas. For additional information, refer to the Department’s “Traveler’s Checklist”.

Contact the U.S. embassy or consulate for up-to-date information on travel restrictions. You can also call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries.

These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. In The Bahamas, the Embassy is located at 42 Queen Street in downtown Nassau, and can be reached at 242-322-1181."

As long as I am not out trying to buy drugs in a back alley at 2:00 AM, I am probably safe. The same thing goes in Ports - just use common sense.

Probably great advice where you live, however in Nassau the crime reported is to Cruisers during the times that the cruise ships are at the port, in the day.

A lot, if not the majority, of the rapes and sexual assaults are at the beaches and the water activities at Pleasure Island during the day. This is one of the reasons why, prior to getting off the ship at Nassau, we had a disclaimer warning notice from the ship about the high crime in the area.

Also the American and Canadian embassies have issued warnings to tourists and cruisers.

It's great advice not to wear expensive jewelry and items, but when your camera and/or iPhone is worth more than an annual salary there, you are a target.

There is a reason that, more and more, you will see heavily armed police watching over the tourist/cruiser areas.

The advice from the authorities is, if you are robbed, cooperate. No item or amount of money is worth your life or the life of whom you are with.

Be safe.

Canada just re-issued its June travel warning to it's citizens about Nassau & Freeport for the high levels of crime to tourists

"The Canadian government said that "crime occurs mainly in Nassau and Freeport. There has been an increase in armed robberies targeting tourists in Nassau. Incidents take place in populated and isolated areas, and even in daylight hours. Do not carry large sums of cash or wear expensive jewelry. Ensure that your personal belongings, passports and other travel documents are secure Canasa Warning about Crime in the Bahamas at ail times. If you are threatened by robbers, stay calm and do not resist. Home invasions are also of concern in Nassau."

The government also warned that "sexual assaults are on the rise in Nassau." Canada specifically warned that "there have been reports of jet-ski operators assaulting their clients in New Providence and Paradise Islands".

Nassau and Freeport are DANGEROUS, be very careful.

https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/bahamas

If she is psychic, she should be able to guess them.:p

Not psychic, DH is a retired (tired) Psychologist.

Thank you for the menus they are GREAT

You're welcome.

 

Still wondering if Psych Cruiser ever was able to see the menus.

Finally was able to open them. Was having an issue with Adobe PDF program.

Thank you,

Lisa

Just checked and it's working for me. Try downloading them to your desktop first and then open the PDF file.

Still can't get it to work :confused:

20 blank pages. The frame is there, just not the content.

What is a girl going to do?

Lisa

Dining room menus:

 

http://www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com/download-press-kit/7/

Bob

Thank you for the menus however, I got 20 blank pages. Nothing on them.

Can you send them differently, or ?

Thank you,

Lisa

Sorry, we didn't make it once to the MDR over two weeks.

Drat.

Thanks for all your posts. We have enjoyed all of them.

Dave & Lisa

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

Hi A&L

Were you able to get the main dining daily dinner menus?

Thank you,

Dave & Lisa

A “different take” on a skit on Saturday Night Live.

Please excuse this Hyperbole. It is not meant to offend, it is only meant to be funny.

I take the violence in Nassau very seriously and so should you.

Chevy Chase: Here with an editorial reply is Miss Emily Lattella.

Emily Lattella: What's all this fuss I keep hearing about violins in Nassau? Why don't you want to see violins in Nassau? I thought the Leonardo Bernstein concerts were just lovely, now, if they only had more violins in Nassau, people would learn music appreciation. They'll learn to play guitars, and bongo drums and go to Africa and join these rock'n roll outfits and they won't drink milk! I think there should be more violins in Nassau and less game shows, it's terrible the way...

Chevy Chase: Um, Littella, that's Violence in Nassau. Not violins.

Emily Lattella: Oh, well that's diffrent. Never mind!

Love the Labadee history.

After reviewing this, we have decided to stay on the ship as well. With two women and two female teenagers, we're just not going to chance it.

GREAT decision to not get off the ship.

What are these cruise companies thinking?

Now the bigger ships are only going to 2 ports and their private island. When you can not get off the ship because of all the dangers, that only leaves one port and their private island. Not much of a choice.

Seems the Caribbean is getting more and more dangerous for Americans. If these areas want our tourist dollars they need to clean up their act. Get the message out.

Wow. Assuming these stats are correct, and I have no reason to believe they are not, I repeat my earlier question - why are ships still calling here?

 

I'm looking at a cruise later in the year which stops here and this makes me hesitate as to whether I want to get off the ship.

The saying: "Better to be Safe than Sorry" applies here. We are staying on the ship.

You are right with your question. Why are cruise companies going to a safety :CRITICAL port?

Thanks everyone for the great comments.

We received a report from the United States Department of States – Security. It states that the crime and safety rating is now CRITICAL in Nassau, Bahamas.

We will be there May 9th and my wife wants to cancel our off-ship excursion there and not get off the ship. After reading the report in its entirety I am tending to agree with her.

Below is the link to the, 03/01/2016, OSAC, Crime and Safety report:

https://www.osac.gov/pages/ContentRe...aspx?cid=19192

Not only do we have to worry about the Zika Virus, Dengue Virus, and Norovirus, but also our safety, at our 1st port of call, rated CRITICAL.

Drat.

 

And, from what I have been hearing, we can now add to the list that some cruise lines are no longer providing "free condoms and 2nd day pills" from the medical center to staff and cruisers.

I used to give out a few $2 bills to stand out and be remembered by the wait staff.

Now I guess the new stand out and be remembered tip will be, condoms and morning after pills :)

What a thought :eek:

What do you mean by "thin" passengers?

Hi Susieq0102

I didn’t post “thin passengers”, Jim Gallup did.

I thought Jim Gallup's post was different, original, and funny.

Along with posting free items no longer free, he posted other things he noticed that had changed.

A little different twist to what others were posting.

And, from what I have been hearing, we can now add to the list that some cruise lines are no longer providing "free condoms and 2nd day pills" from the medical center to staff and cruisers.

Below is the post that you were referring to (thin passengers).

Discontinued freebies on cruise lines:

 

Refrigerated closets for the ladies' furs - About 1968.

 

Complimentary streamers to throw at sailaway - About 1970

 

Brass Band on embarkation day - About 1975.

 

Endless complimentary Beluga Caviar on embarkation day - 1988.

 

Midnight Buffets - 1995

 

Free sodas - April 2003

 

 

Discontinued items on cruise lines:

 

Thin Passengers - 1995

 

Well Dressed Passengers - 1998

 

Well Behaved Passengers - -1999

Hi Dave & Lisa

 

Yes we are still loving it, it's a great piece of kit.

 

The internal mic is rubbish so we had previously bought an external lapel mic and am about to buy a Rode videomicro for it as well. I think the microphone you get with it is the fleximic, which I haven't used but I imagine will be a vast improvement on the internal mic.

 

If you do get one, I would recommend at least another couple of spare batteries as they realistically only last around 40 minutes each. I bought a small Peli case which is ideal for the spare batteries and memory cards.

 

A couple of other bits which are handy are the car mount which allowed us to get a couple of great time lapses, the straight extension mount and the universal mount.

 

There are a few videos I have uploaded to YouTube, the one from Leicester Square was the first time I used it and you can see how smooth it is.

 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDDAdNp6royMlzwDZ6H4DZw

GREAT. That was amazing. Thank you for all the advice. We are going on the Allure of the Seas for 5 weeks and then the Oasis of the Seas for 2 weeks. I want to practice with the video before we go.

Hi Psych Cruiser

 

Yes we managed to get one about a week after we got back. It's a DJI Osmo, I've not had chance to test it out properly but it seems great. The stabilised camera is brilliant as you can walk along, even up stairs and still get a perfectly smooth shot. The internal microphone is poor though so have a purchased a lapel mic which improves the audio significantly. We are also going to get another external mic for wide shots.

 

We're off to London next weekend so will be able to test it out fully then including in Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Are you still loving the DJI Osmo? Getting ready to purchase one.

They are now offering a free external mic with the purchase.

Thank you,

Dave & Lisa

We were on the Jewel September of this year and the last few days of the Cruise there was a contractor on board and they were running cable at that time. I didn't ask but my guess would be it was for the new pervasive wireless.

We were on her in Aug and Sept. The ship had wifi antennas in the stateroom hallways, but it was not hooked up. We still had to go where they had computers set up to get the wireless to work.

"pervasive wireless", don't you mean evasive wireless? Ha.

Thanks. We will see when we get there before we purchase!

If you purchase and you are not satisfied with the internet connection. Just go to Guest Services and they will take it off your bill.

I also hope they improved the internet too.

For all those following and aware of next cruise on Harmony of the Seas, based on withdrawals from being on the ship, we have now made what was a 4 day cruise into a 7 by also adding the next 3 night cruise on :)

 

At least it will give us much more time to sample all of the restaurants. The only thing what worries is we have set standards high so far with Anthem and hopefully Harmony so if we do book another cruise, as we are planning to later in the year but to somewhere warmer, we hope we haven't set ourselves up for disappointment.

Did you get the new 4K video camera? Am interested in how you like it.

If anyone would like to sell their crystal blocks or doubles, I would be extremely interested.

Contact me at stopsmoke at aol (dot) com

Thank you.