Unsafest Ports?

[elainmir]

I'm thinking of booking the next cruise and realize things have gone downhill in some ports over the last few years..what in your opinion are the top 3 unsafest ports and why?

[cb at sea]

I don't think any are more "unsafe" than others....if they were truly unsafe, the ships wouldn't go there. Some are definitely more annoying than others, what with panhandlers and such....

[djcass4199]

I wouldn't go so far as to say that ports are "unsafe" but I wouldn't stray too far from port, unless on an excursion.

 

There are ports I don't feel comfortable in, namely Ocho Rios, but that is because of the people aggressively trying to sell goods, or in the case of Ochoa Rios, drugs.

[Sixtytwo]

The only port we have ever thought about our safety in was Montego Bay. Not at all what we expected!

[lunagirl]

I felt the same way in Ocho Rios. I wouldn't necessarily stay on the ship, but I would either have my husband with me or be on an excursion. People are very pushy and aggressive there.

 

In Belize, we had an amazing excursion that departed on a boat right from the port. We had an amazing day, but I wouldn't wonder around town unescorted there either.

[nwcruiselover]

I echo the previous poster's sentiments about Montego Bay. I no longer get off the ship in that port except for a short visit to the shops in the terminal. I have been there quite a few times and the last couple of times turned me off. Even on a Carnival excursion I was taken to an area I didn't consider safe.

[sail7seas]

I won't leave the ship in Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and now I hear reports of Nassau being less than the safest place to visit. There were times we were careful to not roam far from the ship in Guadeloupe.

[Tapi]

- Miami (and I'm not joking)

- Nassau's crime these days is pretty bad, to the point that travel alerts have been issued.

- and then we have the all time favorites of Jamaica and Honduras.

 

But I can't think of a single Caribbean port that I would avoid because of crime. Just like at home, be smart about where you go and how you get there. Don't be a tourist and don't make yourself an easy target. Crooks salivate over tourists in the wrong place at the wrong time with a dumb, clueless look on their face.

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

Edited January 10, 2015 by Tapi

[klfrodo]

Miami, NYC, Long Beach

 

Oh, you meant foreign ports? :eek:

 

I'll stick with my original 3

[fishywood]

There are many different implications when discussing whether or not a port is "unsafe" and how and when cruise lines decide to drop such ports from their itineraries.

 

There are currently US State Dept warnings for much of the Pacific ports in Mexico, as well as mainland Honduras (excluding Island of Roatan) yet after a few years' lull the number of calls there are back on the increase.

 

Civil unrest has of course ended virtually all cruises to Ukraine and all other Black Sea ports, as well as Thailand. Which begs the question as to when these calls are resumed in the future, are the first passengers guinea pigs testing the port's safety (see Mexico above)?

 

And with the expanded cruising in Asia there are now port call at places such as Myanmar and Brunei--countries that while not explicitly unsafe have rules and rulers not exactly friendly to Westerners. Plus the continued use of Singapore as a turnaround port, where a tourist caught chewing gum in public is subject to government-sanctioned corporal punishment. (I would certainly call that "unsafe" in my book)

 

But I guess the textbook definition of unsafe would apply to a port that I have enjoyed visiting several times on a land vacation: Lima, Peru where ships often call overnight but warn passengers not to leave the ship after dark unless in an organized tour group or with transportation to the city center pre-arranged. An unfortunately necessary warning for the neighborhood surrounding the port.

[larkz]

I would recommend keeping your wits about you in any country that you visit, and in most U.S. cities.

 

Given the news that I watched over the days before and after my most recent cruise from the Port of Miami -- shootings, murders, carjackings, and violence galore in the the Miami area -- I'd recommend caution in that city first and foremost.

 

Any of the Caribbean ports will have risky areas, but other than the random bad luck of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, lots of people tend to behave in such a way that they might as well be wearing a bulls-eye to get the attention of criminals. For example, it isn't safe to be blasted drunk anywhere, let alone on a cruise ship or in a foreign port. And if you're venturing out of a port's gated cruise paradise, then you need to do your research. I often set out on my own adventures, but I never go into anything blind, and I have a series of backup plans. I know where hospitals are, where police are, where airports and alternate transportation are located, and I know the areas where one doesn't go without a guide.

 

To be more specific, Belize, mainland Honduras, parts of Mexico, Jamaica, and St Kitts-Nevis seem to be at the higher end of reported murder, violent crimes, theft, and so on. I seem to recall talk about some of the ports in the Bahamas, having travel alerts as well (again, beyond the gated malls of the cruise companies).

[Flatbush Flyer]

There are many different implications when discussing whether or not a port is "unsafe" and how and when cruise lines decide to drop such ports from their itineraries.

 

 

 

There are currently US State Dept warnings for much of the Pacific ports in Mexico, as well as mainland Honduras (excluding Island of Roatan) yet after a few years' lull the number of calls there are back on the increase.

 

 

 

Civil unrest has of course ended virtually all cruises to Ukraine and all other Black Sea ports, as well as Thailand. Which begs the question as to when these calls are resumed in the future, are the first passengers guinea pigs testing the port's safety (see Mexico above)?

 

 

 

And with the expanded cruising in Asia there are now port call at places such as Myanmar and Brunei--countries that while not explicitly unsafe have rules and rulers not exactly friendly to Westerners. Plus the continued use of Singapore as a turnaround port, where a tourist caught chewing gum in public is subject to government-sanctioned corporal punishment. (I would certainly call that "unsafe" in my book)

 

 

 

But I guess the textbook definition of unsafe would apply to a port that I have enjoyed visiting several times on a land vacation: Lima, Peru where ships often call overnight but warn passengers not to leave the ship after dark unless in an organized tour group or with transportation to the city center pre-arranged. An unfortunately necessary warning for the neighborhood surrounding the port.

 

 

There's property crime and violent crime. It's a safe bet that most ports will have will have more than their fair share of the former and different amounts of the latter..

As to Lima: it was a quite a few years back when I sailed into Lima's port on the TS Golden Bear (California Maritime Academy). Though not requested, two of us expected by the ambassador ended up being chauffeured around by an armed USMC officer in a bulletproof Landcruiser. "Over the top" in security? I thought so until I saw the shot out rear window of a sedan parked at the US embassy.. Bottom line: heed those US State Dept. Traveler advisories!

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Edited January 10, 2015 by Flatbush Flyer

[elainmir]

I can tell you I didn't feel uncomfortable in Nassau other than pushy people but in Belize we didn't venture beyond the port as there were people hanging on the fence. It had a mob/riot feel. I'm still feeling the port situation out ...I've looked at Bermuda, St. Kitts,etc.. I thank you for your input on this...

[MCC retired]

Miami, NYC, Long Beach

 

 

 

Oh, you meant foreign ports? :eek:

 

 

 

I'll stick with my original 3

 

 

Agreed !

No port that the cruise lines use are as unsafe as those departure ports .

Travel is not for the worry warts .

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[mr green]

Strange, we enjoyed Montego Bay, however Acapulco, is the port where we stay on board.

 

john

[Eileenfa1]

Me and my husband decided to stay on the breeze last ur because of the panhandling in Dominic rep. Went there 2 years ago- had went on a excursion from carnival- 20 or more Dominic people went with us( only 10 of us). We all were uncomfortable with the asking for money most of the time

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[cruisemom42]

Civil unrest has of course ended virtually all cruises to Ukraine and all other Black Sea ports, as well as Thailand. Which begs the question as to when these calls are resumed in the future, are the first passengers guinea pigs testing the port's safety (see Mexico above)?

 

 

The above is news to me. I am currently booked on a cruise departing in February from Bangkok, Thailand, and a quick look at a search engine shows ships from Celebrity, HAL, Azamara, RCI, Princess, P&O, Seabourne and Cunard are also calling into Thailand between February and April of this year....

 

There are also still Black Sea ports on various cruises, including Constanta, Nessebur, Sinop, Trabzon, Batumi, etc. I count not less than 19 cruises that are categorized as 'Black Sea' cruises on a well-known cruise discounter site. Which isn't bad, considering only ships of a certain size do that cruise and there were never tons of voyages in a given year.

[Krissica]

Miami, NYC, Long Beach

 

Oh, you meant foreign ports? :eek:

 

I'll stick with my original 3

 

 

My thoughts exactly! I can't like this comment enough.

I'm not taking away the fact that some ports may have a higher crime rate than others or area may be dangerous if you stray away from the touristy locations...but that is anywhere!! Use common sense and you'll be fine. Don't use it and you could be a victim - just like in your hometown.

[StaceySteveDMB]

No problems in any port we have been too. Ocho Rios is our favorite port and we always do our own thing there and get taxi cabs and walk around town. Nassau is s great town to walk around from port to Queens Staircase and Fort Fincastle to Fort Charlotte and the fish fry we walk or take the public bus system.

 

As with any where you are that has s lot of people just keep your wits about you and don't act like a victim.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[loubetti]

I would not put NYC on any list of unsafe ports!

[hubofhockey]

http://www.cruiselawnews.com/2014/04/articles/crime/top-10-most-dangerous-cruise-destinations-in-the-world/

 

Here's a good list.

[hubofhockey]

I would not put NYC on any list of unsafe ports!

 

Not many would.

[smeyer418]

Cartegena, Barcelona are on my list. some people remember NYC from thirty years ago and remain afraid of the big apple-and its traffic, its no longer true and hasn't been that way for a while.

[pris993]

We have traveled far and wide, more so than most, but not as far as some. Over past 30+ years, only felt uncomfortable in Acapulco when we took a taxi out of the main port area shopping for a specific item, my DH speaks spanish, plus many languages, so handled the situation well, regardless itou

[nybumpkin]

I wouldn't necessarily list any of the ports we've visited as "dangerous," but there are several where I wouldn't venture beyond the port area without a plan for the day. Belize comes to mind - we've done some wonderful tours. However, it's not a place where you're going to leave the port area and wander around Belize City unless you really know what you're doing. Same with Montego Bay.