melvinwiggles

I'm not gay, but all gay or straight business aside... just stay on ship. I just returned from a Celebrity cruise that stopped in Ocho Rios (January 25, 2010). This was my fourth cruise and I've been to many ports in the Eastern and Western Caribbean. Ocho Rios is a slum with predators waiting for you as soon as you step off ship, regardless of your sexual orientation. I was traveling with my wife and 2 year old daughter and by the time we made it three blocks away from port I put a stop to the hecklers that had surrounded us and said enough, turned around and led us back to port. I am not exaggerating, you can not breathe in that place. The second you are on shore you are red meat; they get in your face, they join you on your walk and will not get away from you no matter how many times you say no, they menace you and make it very clear they want your money. At the point we turned around we were walking while surrounded by three taxi drivers, a woman that wanted to braid my daughters hair, and a man trying to lead us to his wood carving shop who wouldn't stop trying to shake my hand and telling me he would take care of us. This is within five minutes of stepping off ship. Do yourself a favor, if you get off the ship... get a cup of the Jamaican Blue Thunder coffee at the little shop right at port, then go to the beach that is right there within view of the cruise ship. Other than that, take a shore excursion, but there were some others on my cruise who said that did not even make them feel safe.