Best/Worst of Carnival's Ports

[LiLBxQt]

I know this is VERY subjective, but was wondering your thoughts on which ports you like most/least (and maybe a reason why) out of carnival's current itineraries. Trying to book a cruise and not sure where to go.

 

PS: I've sailed to Bermuda, Key West, Cozumel, St Thomas, Dominica, Barbados, St Lucia, and Antigua. And have sailed out of NY, FL, and PR.

 

Thanks!!!

[EastTex]

For me, the port I'd least like to return to is Progresso. Some ports I will gladly revisit time and time again. Progresso just doesn't fall into that category.

[shortstop95]

I'm not a big fan of Freeport. Seems the ship is never there long- port is unattractive and it generally feels like a throw away day. We've stayed on board the last couple times and haven't even gotten off the ship there.

[earlethepearl]

I agree on Progreso. I have been there several times and this is one port I could do without.

 

As far as a favorite port, I always enjoy St. Thomas we always take a ferry over to St. John for the day to escape the crowds of St. Thomas.

 

Also we always love HMC for a relaxing beach day.

[LiLBxQt]

For me, the port I'd least like to return to is Progresso. Some ports I will gladly revisit time and time again. Progresso just doesn't fall into that category.

 

That helps since I've never sailed there! Thank you!

[LiLBxQt]

I'm not a big fan of Freeport. Seems the ship is never there long- port is unattractive and it generally feels like a throw away day. We've stayed on board the last couple times and haven't even gotten off the ship there.

 

I agree... Forgot to add to my original post that Ive been to Freeport and Nassau and could do away with Bahamas completely. Didnt strike me as anything spectacular.

[LiLBxQt]

I agree on Progreso. I have been there several times and this is one port I could do without.

 

As far as a favorite port, I always enjoy St. Thomas we always take a ferry over to St. John for the day to escape the crowds of St. Thomas.

 

Also we always love HMC for a relaxing beach day.

 

Great idea! Thanks so much!!

[L_K]

Freeport, Ocho Rios

 

Favorite : HMC

[LiLBxQt]

Freeport, Ocho Rios

 

Favorite : HMC

 

Any explaination on Jamaica? Bc this was one I was considering since Ive never been to the island at all

[Flairy]

I've not been to Ocho Rios on a cruise ship, but I have been to Ocho Rios on a resort vacation, and I have seen the area that the ship docks/the area where most passengers go.

 

As a whole, I did not enjoy Jamaica at ALL. It is very scary, in the perspective of a young woman. I was constantly hounded by the locals to buy their stuff at exorbitant prices, to the point where I felt fearful of getting mugged. Mind you, this was in a shopping area that the resort bussed us to, it had nothing to do with Carnival.

 

The "popular" area for cruisers is the Margaritaville area, and a shopping district right next door. The shopping district may be owned by Carnival, I'm not sure, but it was very clean and people there were much more respectful. Still, the items in the shopping district weren't all that impressive, and the prices were pretty high. Margaritaville of course is expensive, but has some water activities, both in a pool and in the ocean. I have not heard very good things about this place.

 

If you consider Dunn's River Falls, DO NOT get the video. In order to get the video, they take you into this very run-down shopping village of make-shift tents. It's so low-rent and seedy that nobody was shopping there. The video tape place was all the way at the back and we had no escort. Every time we asked where the tape place was, the merchant would refuse to tell us and instead try to sell us something. We had zero help getting to the tape place or getting out of the village. It was terrifying and there was nobody around.

[tnincy]

my favs would have to be st thomas and tortola. unlike some of the others i loved freeport. not much to look at in the port, but if you get away from there, you can discover some really beautiful beaches. cozumel, i really can do without. the only thing i want from port is some mexican tequila. as far as jamaica, i loved ocho rios. we flew and stayed at a resort. however, i can relate to others and the constant sales pitch. but i have found it to be no different than places in mexico. the jamaicans i encountered were very nice and a simple no thank you was all it took for them to leave me alone. i also know there are issues with being offered drugs and again a simple not interested will take care of this.

[LHP]

My least favorite is Montego Bay, Jamaica....only because the vendors are so aggressive and have no respect for cruisers.

 

IF we have a cruise that stops there....I won't even get off the ship.

 

The last time we were in Ocho Rios (Jan 2008) it was MUCH better. We walked from the pier to The Island Village with little hassle. We never went further than that.

[BaconIsGood]

yikes, were going to Ocho Rios in October. I usually try to approach things with an open mind, but that port seems to have way more negative reviews from what ive seen. How is the Mystic Mountain (think thats is what it is called) area? we have a tour booked there

[tnincy]

yikes, were going to Ocho Rios in October. I usually try to approach things with an open mind, but that port seems to have way more negative reviews from what ive seen. How is the Mystic Mountain (think thats is what it is called) area? we have a tour booked there

 

i had a great time in ocho rios. don't know about your tour. there are some negatives about jamaica, but what place doesn't have bad things? i found the jamaicans to be quite friendly and a simple not interested or no thank you will keep most peddlers from bothering you. jamaica is an extremly poor country and most make a living off of tourist.

we did a zip line tour with chukka, dunns river falls and sorta of see the country tour. have a wonderful time.

[cupcake26]

we'll never go back to ochos rios again, we got followed for miles and were expected to give the man money because he claimed he gave us a "tour"

 

and we were hounded the worse we'd ever been. It was scary. We walked a few blocks and then spent the rest of the day in margaritaville. On the way back, a man in front of us was sifting through every trash can on the way picking up food and bits of items people had thrown away to eat. I have been to quite a few areas, but thats the only area i've ever felt completely unsafe walking around.

[gtalum]

In the Bahamas, one needs to get away from the port to have a good time. I haven't been to Freeport but Nassau is actually a very cool place to wander and explore.

 

I haven't been to Jamaica, but I'd like to go.

 

My favorite Carnival port thus far is Belize. St. Maarten was probably my least favorite, but we still enjoyed it.

 

When you go to a much poorer area, like Jamaica, you have to go into it with an open mind, but stay wary. My favorite port ever on a cruise (but not a Carnival port) is Samaná, Dominican Republic. It's undeveloped and very poor, but the scenery is absolutely amazing and the people are truly friendly and welcoming. Many people on our cruise went in with seriously negative preconceived notions and found their preconceptions confirmed. Thats' what happens when you go in expecting the negative.

[webzila]

I don't like Cozumel. I dont know why and a lot of people may not agree with me. Maybe its because I have been there so many times (not by choice...I hate going to the same ports).

 

Also, as others have said, Freeport is OK but not great.

 

I liked Roatan, Honduras and Nassau.

[Upandadam]

i had a great time in ocho rios. don't know about your tour. there are some negatives about jamaica, but what place doesn't have bad things? i found the jamaicans to be quite friendly and a simple not interested or no thank you will keep most peddlers from bothering you. jamaica is an extremly poor country and most make a living off of tourist.

we did a zip line tour with chukka, dunns river falls and sorta of see the country tour. have a wonderful time.

 

We've been to Jamaica on cruises and land based vacations and have always had a great time there. The people are very friendly and fun to talk with. I don't understand why people call it scary. It's much more scary in many US cities.

 

Just be a traveler and not a tourist and you'll enjoy the experience much more.

[gtalum]

Just be a traveler and not a tourist and you'll enjoy the experience much more.

 

Bingo. This is the key. People can tell the difference between "tourists" and "travelers". It's much harder to be a good traveler instead of a tourist on a cruise than on a land-based vacation, but it can be done, and it's very rewarding.

[myers0214]

Loved Roatan. Like Cayman. Hated Ocho Rios.

[rjpolly]

we'll never go back to ochos rios again, we got followed for miles and were expected to give the man money because he claimed he gave us a "tour"

 

and we were hounded the worse we'd ever been. It was scary. We walked a few blocks and then spent the rest of the day in margaritaville. On the way back, a man in front of us was sifting through every trash can on the way picking up food and bits of items people had thrown away to eat. I have been to quite a few areas, but thats the only area i've ever felt completely unsafe walking around.

 

Yeah, Ocho Rios is quite the place. We had several of us walking around, and we all felt a little uneasy. Every two steps you take someone wants to get you in a car for a "private tour" and then they follow behind you when you decline. And then you have the people hiding in bushes offering you the best Jamaican weed, its all too much.

 

We walked the long way around to the Island Village and Margaritaville, nothing much was opened as it was too early in the morning, not much to see. We wont be booking any cruises which stop in Ocho Rios any longer.

 

We did do a party boat tour to Dunns River Falls which was a good time with lots of alcohol, but once back in the town, that wasnt any fun.

[Stallion]

The Calica Mine Pit is the worst port ever. I dare anyone to find a worse port than docking at a commercial gravel mine pit

[frawgdawg26]

Favs:

1- Grand Cayman

2- St. Thomas

3- Cozumel

 

Least Favs:

1- Progresso [reminds me of a border town]

2- Montego Bay [aggressive locals and over priced everything]

3- to be named later but I imagine it's going to be Free Port after what I have read. We are headed there in January but booked a catamaran excursion to a "deserted" island with Pat and Diane's.

[gtalum]

The Calica Mine Pit is the worst port ever. I dare anyone to find a worse port than docking at a commercial mine pit

 

The port itself is unsightly, but PdC is a fantastic beach town and is just a quick taxi ride away.

[tkportersat]

Agreed! I have been to Montego Bay 3 times and have always had a blast. From what I hear this is not the place to "linger" but to have a plan. Twice I have planned a day at Sunset Beach; the third we did an all inclusive Catamaran snorkel. I have NEVER been bothered by anyone for drugs and I was never scared.

 

My parents love Ocho Rios and going to Dunn's River Falls. They too have never complained about Jamaica.

 

My fav port would be Jamaica/Cozumel

My least fav would be any I have to ride a tender to get to.

The one that got away from me is Key West....the one time that I was supposed to go there RC cancelled it due to a Tropical Depression :( Still would love to try to get there sometime.

 

We've been to Jamaica on cruises and land based vacations and have always had a great time there. The people are very friendly and fun to talk with. I don't understand why people call it scary. It's much more scary in many US cities.

 

Just be a traveler and not a tourist and you'll enjoy the experience much more.