Safe/Unsafe ports?

[lhanson38]

I think you missed a real treat in Cartagena's old city and fort. Not sure what it would take to make the people you talked to say "spectacular" about a city because I'd rate the fort and old city in Cartagena, Columbia as one of the must sees in the Caribbean.

 

 

 

 

Totaly agree it is one of my DD and my fav places..I can not belive some one wouldn't get off the ship!!

[BEFdoc]

My daughter and I are looking at taking a cruise next May to celebrate her college graduation. We took one with DH last May when she finished the semester, and now she's hooked!

 

We prefer not to repeat the ports we did last time - Freeport and Nassau - but want to cruise out of Florida, because that's where we live. I've looked at a few cruises, but don't know anything about the ports.

 

We probably wouldn't do any excursions, because money's tight, but would like to get out and explore a little on our own.

 

Which ports do you recommend for 2 women, and which do you recommend we avoid?

 

 

Ditto on No Jamaica, only place my wife and I have been robbed at knife point. Common sense dictates you stay on the beaten path with a lot fellow travelers. My wife and I, the adventurous types at the time , failed to follow that rule that resulted in a $200 loss of vacation money. We arrived safely back to the ship without harm though.

[ab52]

My husband and I were chased and had rocks thrown at us in Ocho Rios. We were just walking back to the ship from town. We were thankfully near Port Authority as it's not a long walk. Plus, we're old folks! Needless to say, we've never been back. We've traveled the world and that's the only place we were threatened- make that attacked.

 

 

Well, this is scary. Earlier today I booked a cruise that goes to Ocho Rios, and now I'm thinking I should cancel it.

[broberts]

Well, this is scary. Earlier today I booked a cruise that goes to Ocho Rios, and now I'm thinking I should cancel it.

 

I know that anyone watching our local evening news might feel the same way.

 

It would be better to heed the advice. Stay in the tourist areas, especially those with lots of people around. Going off the beaten path, down an alley, into a truly run-down area with few pedestrians in any city is going to increase your risk.

[wwcruisers]

Can you be more explicit about Belize?

 

For some reason, I'm having trouble with the multi-quote function today. But, as another poster pointed out, a scheduled excursion in Belize is your best bet -- Belize City is no place to be wandering around on your own. We took the RC tour to the ruins at Lamanai, via the New River -- one of the best ship's tours we've ever taken. However, the tour operator dropped everyone off right outside the gated port area. We were all immediately mobbed by street vendors. It took us several minutes to make it 10 feet to the gated area! :eek:

[victoriouslady]

I really liked Grand Cayman. We did a private Stingray City tour, not too expensive and it was awesome. There are lots of shops to walk around. There is also 7-mile beach and probably there is some free beach access there if you are interested in that.

 

On Carnival, we went to Roatan, Honduras. The port that Carnival has built there has a really nice beach. It has "flying" beach chairs (transportation to the Mahogany Bay beach) for a nominal cost. That is very pleasant. The beach is nice, but is artificial. I mean it is a nice place to swim or lie in the sun, and it even has a bar. And there are things for kids to play on. But I had hoped to see some of the "real" Honduras, and this was not that! I heard snorkeling was good there, but I didn't find a single fish! The staff could not tell me where to go. I later found out that there was some OK snorkeling way over to the left of where I was, but nobody could tell me. The reason we stayed at the beach there is we could not find the gate to see what tours were being offered. Later, I saw the gate far in the distance in one of my photos. That was my biggest disappointment because I'd hoped to take a cab to a different side of the island where I'd heard snorkeling was extremely good.

 

I would not recommend Nassau unless you stay right near the port and stay together. There is the straw market and some shops and stuff. But my husband and I walked around a lot and went under the bridges where the fishermen sell their wares to the restaurants, etc. It was dirty and kind of nasty in some of the areas where we walked and took a bus. Personally, with the exception of touring Atlantis, I have no desire to go back to Nassau.

 

Belize City was interesting. There are lots of vendors at the port. Some ladies got really scared because of guys hanging over the tall fence to try to entice us out to take a tour. I thought about it (I was with another lady, and she was 63 years old but active). We asked the "guard" at the gate of the port if he knew the guy and he said he did. So we took a horse driven tour around Belize City. It looks scary at first, but I felt safe enough. We learned a lot about Belize City from him. I was surprised when he asked for a tip. I think he even suggested an amount. But apparently cruise ships come two or three days a week and those are the only days these folks get any income. I probably would not walk around Belize City by myself, but on a tour it was OK.

[kingoftheicedragons]

I would definitely NOT AVOID Jamaica. We did Jamaica (Ocho Rios) on our first cruise, and did our own excursion, and other than at one point thinking that our tour operator abandoned us, never really felt unsafe. You just need to be smart, be aware of your surroundings, and remember that you're not in the US. I'm sure there may be scam artists and pickpockets and the like, but you will find that in any US city as well.

 

The only port we've done so far in the Caribbean that gave me pause was Colon, Panama. And then only because there was a notice in Carnival's Fun Times daily warning people in that port to either stay in the port area or go on official Carnival excursions. That's the only port I've seen that particular piece of advice, leading me to believe that Colon isn't the safest place to be.

[CruiseLuvver]

Ocho Rios was uncomfortable, for the reasons given above - wouldn't have liked to be there on my own. However, we felt more unsafe in Martinique - drug dealers everywhere, and the botanical gardens we really wanted to visit were overgrown, with smashed glass in every greenhouse. Only port we've been in that we returned to the ship before lunchtime.

[cruzeluver]

The only port we've done so far in the Caribbean that gave me pause was Colon, Panama. And then only because there was a notice in Carnival's Fun Times daily warning people in that port to either stay in the port area or go on official Carnival excursions. That's the only port I've seen that particular piece of advice, leading me to believe that Colon isn't the safest place to be.

 

Carnival has used the same scare tactic in Belize to convince people to book only Carnival's excursions.

[broberts]

Carnival has used the same scare tactic in Belize to convince people to book only Carnival's excursions.

 

I doubt that it's a "scare tactic" designed to drum up business. We got a similar warning on Jewel of the Seas when stopping at Colon.

[LadyTenorJD]

My husband's family is Jamaican. Have no fear traveling to Jamaica on cruises, but, according to them, it is not a good idea to travel outside of tourist traps. Book excursions and have fun. Jamaica's ports are not safe to "explore" on one's own.

 

I've never been, so I'm going on what my inlaws say. They lived there and now when they travel there, stay out of certain areas.

[pakarinen]

Just a side note:

 

I've lived and worked in Chicago most of my life. There are plenty of areas in the city and suburbs that have a high crime rate and people get hassled by druggies and homeless people downtown in the middle of the day. I also would hesitate to walk from the lakefront to Union Station later at night when I taught night classes downtown - cabbed it usually.

 

So, as others have pointed out, one really has to be streetsmart no matter where you are. And I'd not avoid visiting Chicago on vacation.

[kathybmomof3]

OK, This is our first cruise and its on RC Western Carribean. We are cruising with others who have done the Eastern.

One port of call is Falmouth Jamaica. Now what? Am I going to have to stay on the ship at these ports? I'm getting kinda nervous about what to do when we get there. I have not booked excursions yet.

Thanks

Patty

We were in Falmouth in Aug 2011. I would only book an excursion through the cruise line here. We went to Ocho Rios... Dunns River Falls. I sat alone while my family climbed the falls, and not once did I feel uncomfortable, they leave tourists alone knowing they are their bread and butter. But don't stray off on your own. Our guides knew where to take us, and they kept the people that attempted to panhandle / approach us at bay.

I vacationed in Jamaica for a week 28 years ago... we ventured out on our own during our entire vacation, and met so many local people.... we had the time of our lives! The Jamaica we saw in 2011 is a much poorer, and more dangerous environment. Extreme poverty causes people to do whatever it takes to get money.

[pjtmay]

We were there in Falmouth October 2011. As long as you are inside the 'gate' area you are ok. We did venture outside the area and there were security close by the gate. We were a group of 8 (1 women 1 teen female). There was a 'guard' walking around a lady who was shopping. We moved down the street and saw all the young men in their 'white shirts...looking like a wall. The guard said they are the ones you don't want to mess with....they try to get you to go somewhere. Not a good idea if you want to keep whats yours. One of the men in our group was being pulled kinda aggressively to come into a building. He was the leader of our group! He turned around and said...we gotta get back inside the gate! He felt for sure that they were trying to get him in there to 'roll' him. Other members booked two different excursion thru the ship and had a blast! That is the only way I would go. After we went back inside the gate we had a great time! Drinking and shopping! It was one of our favorite memories! You can always have fun!!! Just gotta be smart about it sometimes.

[Quasar1011]

I think you missed a real treat in Cartagena's old city and fort. Not sure what it would take to make the people you talked to say "spectacular" about a city because I'd rate the fort and old city in Cartagena, Columbia as one of the must sees in the Caribbean.

 

Nice photos, broberts!

 

I'll be in Cartagena next month, and have no qualms about exploring the city. 10 years ago, I dated a lady from Colombia (she was from Bogotá),

who wanted to get married, and eventually retire with me in Colombia. That didn't happen. But she assured me that most of Colombia was safe-

there were areas controlled by the FARC rebels, but you knew to stay out of them. But the larger cities were not anymore dangerous than any big American cities, she said.

 

Ever since then, I've wanted to visit Colombia.

[BruceMuzz]

Looking at statistics, the Caribbean ports where my crew have the most trouble with robberies, assaults, muggings, etc are San Juan, St Thomas, and Miami.

[LynnTTT]

I'l be going on a cruise in December, I was planning on walking to the Ardastra Gardens/zoo, and maybe go to the beach that is near by. And in St. Thomas I was gona take a taxi to Magans Bay Beach on my own. I am a 34 year old female and traveling solo. Would you say its safe for me to do the things that I mentioned by myself?

 

In St Thomas, you can take a taxi or one of the buses at the end of the pier. It's fine, very safe. People need to get a grip. Use common sense. I wouldn't go down a dark alley where there are no shops and no tourists here or there.

[divngmedic]

My daughter and I are looking at taking a cruise next May to celebrate her college graduation. We took one with DH last May when she finished the semester, and now she's hooked!

 

We prefer not to repeat the ports we did last time - Freeport and Nassau - but want to cruise out of Florida, because that's where we live. I've looked at a few cruises, but don't know anything about the ports.

 

We probably wouldn't do any excursions, because money's tight, but would like to get out and explore a little on our own.

 

Which ports do you recommend for 2 women, and which do you recommend we avoid?

If you spend a little time and do some research on your ports you can find and book excursions on your own that will cost a lot less than booking through your cruise line. As a few other have said, I would avoid Jamaica. We have been there on a cruise and land vacation and we did not find it to our liking. Cruise ships do not go in to ports that are not safe. Again as other have said, you must keep your wits about you.

[Hlitner]

In St Thomas, you can take a taxi or one of the buses at the end of the pier. It's fine, very safe. People need to get a grip. Use common sense. I wouldn't go down a dark alley where there are no shops and no tourists here or there.

 

Perhaps this article will be somewhat enlightening.

http://travel.usatoday.com/cruises/post/2010/07/shooting-death-of-cruiser-in-st-thomas-comes-as-killings-on-island-soar/99978/1

 

The cruise lines seem to have their own agendas when it comes to ports and port safety. When there is even a hint of a problem in some places they quickly cancel or change ports. But when its a place like St Thomas, Jamaica or some other Caribbean Island they ignore reality. Several years ago we, ourselves, experienced first hand the gang problems on St Thomas when a member of our party was threatened in the men's room by at Magen's Bay)Beach by two islanders. Our friend decided to ignore this incident until we were approached by the police and Park Service while on the beach. We were told that these guys were dangerous and that they would provide us with an escort to our vehicle when we were ready to leave the beach. During a recent visit to St Thomas we had an interesting discussion with a hotel employee on Morningstar Beach (a favorite place of ours) who told us that the situation on the island was getting worse (major gang and drug related issues) but the government did their best to keep everything quiet.

 

Hank

P.S. A personal irony is that we live in Puerto Vallarta Mexico for several months a year where we have no fear and routinely walk around the streets at night. We would never do this in St Thomas or most parts of Jamaica.

[kingoftheicedragons]

I would have to say that Colon, Panama, would be a port to avoid. It's the only port I've been to (including Ensenada, Mexico) that Carnival had a warning in the Fun Times telling people that it's not advised to leave the port area unless you have a Carnival-sponsored excursion. That was a real eye-opener.

 

(Limon, Costa Rica, can also be dangerous, according to a person I know who is from Costa Rica. However, I think that most of the problems in Limon would be more if you were in port after dark).