Markanddonna Posted October 22, 2018 #1 Share Posted October 22, 2018 Here is an interesting article that verifies what many on Cruise Critic already knows: many seasoned cruisers don't get off the ship in the Bahamas. Passengers pay a port fee and exercise the right to enjoy the day onboard. https://cruiseradio.net/bahamas-cuts-off-cruise-line-cash-flow/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donaldsc Posted October 22, 2018 #2 Share Posted October 22, 2018 Nassau and Freeport are dump ports. Maybe that is the reason that people don't get off the ship. We got off at one port in the Caribbean once(I forget which one) and we were virtually attacked by people trying to sell us stuff or sell us tours. Once guy actually followed us for several blocks, At that point, we turned around and went back to the ship. I realize that they are trying to make a living and competition for cruise ship passengers is brutal but "no" means "no". DON 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted October 22, 2018 #3 Share Posted October 22, 2018 (edited) What you describe happened to us in Jamaica Edited October 22, 2018 by sail7seas 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkacruiser Posted October 22, 2018 #4 Share Posted October 22, 2018 2 hours ago, sail7seas said: What you describe happened to us in Jamaica Me too! I have endured offers of pot, etc., taxi drivers that "promise" to return to pick me up at a location and then fail to show, and having to decide whether or not I want to run a gauntlet of taxi drivers when leaving the pier to do some touring on my own. Jamaica is a beautiful island. But, I have seen what I want to see in their country. I won't be a visitor there again except as a guest on a cruise ship making a port call. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teknoge3k Posted October 22, 2018 #5 Share Posted October 22, 2018 We try to avoid Nassau & Freeport. Like anyone who has been there knows, they're a dump. We stay on the ship as well. We did book a short sailing next year that goes to Nassau & HMC. I am not the least bit excited about it but it was a perfect date that we could butt up to another vacation we had in Charleston so it extended that vacation for us. We'll enjoy HMC but will likely stay on the ship in Nassau. If we do get off, we'll go to the British Hilton. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted October 22, 2018 #6 Share Posted October 22, 2018 Only thing I like in Nassau is the Fendi Boutique. 🙂 Nice hand bags 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted October 22, 2018 #7 Share Posted October 22, 2018 Don't like Nassau, Jamaica or Acapulco. Nothing worth to get off the ship for in those ports. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navybankerteacher Posted October 22, 2018 #8 Share Posted October 22, 2018 I hope you realize that telling everybody how dreary Nassau and Freeport are will just mean that staying aboard in those ports won’t be as good - in stead of having the ship to ourselves, it will be just as crowded as on a sea day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marco Posted October 24, 2018 #9 Share Posted October 24, 2018 Hmmm....we pay port taxes to arrive in a port and the government pays the cruise line to bring us to the port? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evandbob Posted October 24, 2018 #10 Share Posted October 24, 2018 Yes, go back to the ship where you can get hounded by the CD trying to get you to attend worthless presentations or buy useless junk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warm Breezes Posted October 24, 2018 #11 Share Posted October 24, 2018 11 minutes ago, evandbob said: Yes, go back to the ship where you can get hounded by the CD trying to get you to attend worthless presentations or buy useless junk. Just got off a NCL Getaway last week where we stayed onboard in Nassau. I can't stand getting off in Nassau. Been there done that. Instead of be swamped by vendors, taxi and tour drivers, I enjoyed a relaxing day doing some mini golf, then going to Spice H20 in the jacuzzi drinking my UBP drinks and then returning to my Aft Balcony and enjoying a relaxing afternoon away from the crowds. I wasn't bothered once by a CD or pressured into seeing an presentations or buying useless junk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRF Posted October 24, 2018 #12 Share Posted October 24, 2018 Strange. I have never been hounded by anyone in Nassau. Maybe you all look like saps. 😄 Joking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacruise804 Posted October 24, 2018 #13 Share Posted October 24, 2018 On 10/22/2018 at 5:05 PM, teknoge3k said: We try to avoid Nassau & Freeport. Like anyone who has been there knows, they're a dump. We stay on the ship as well. We did book a short sailing next year that goes to Nassau & HMC. I am not the least bit excited about it but it was a perfect date that we could butt up to another vacation we had in Charleston so it extended that vacation for us. We'll enjoy HMC but will likely stay on the ship in Nassau. If we do get off, we'll go to the British Hilton. I've been to Nassau and Freeport each twice and disagree with them being dumps. Nassau does have a problem with pushy vendors, but there are several options for excursions. Many cruises from our local ports go to Nassau and if we go again we would probably get off the ship and enjoy a tour of something we haven't seen yet. Freeport doesn't have much right in the port area, but there is a lot to the island a reasonably short drive away. Most US ports probably seem like "dumps" too (Baltimore certainly doesn't have much right at the port), but the cities offer quite a bit if you are willing to explore a little. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkjretired Posted October 24, 2018 #14 Share Posted October 24, 2018 59 minutes ago, SRF said: Strange. I have never been hounded by anyone in Nassau. Maybe you all look like saps. 😄 Joking. Harder to believe you’venever Been hounded, that’s SOP in Nassau. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klfrodo Posted October 24, 2018 #15 Share Posted October 24, 2018 I've been approached in Jamaica and in Nassau both. Hounded? That's a bit harsh in my opinion. For a land vacation, Jamaica is one of my favorite Caribbean destinations. Better than Hawaii by a long shot. As a cruise stop?? eh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvetwater Posted October 24, 2018 #16 Share Posted October 24, 2018 I think the term to best use is 'seasoned East Coast crusiers' as European et al cruisers often get off as its so far away (P&O particularly) I don't have an interest to visit various ports that side of the Atlantic and the Bahamas is one but I would get off as I may not get another chance to see it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zach1213 Posted October 26, 2018 #17 Share Posted October 26, 2018 On 10/24/2018 at 9:09 AM, SRF said: Strange. I have never been hounded by anyone in Nassau. Maybe you all look like saps. 😄 Joking. Yeah same here, haven't been hounded in Nassau or Jamaica. But I...uh...tend to blend in a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MicCanberra Posted October 27, 2018 #18 Share Posted October 27, 2018 I have been looking forward to cruising the Caribbean but maybe I shouldn't be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Extra Kim Posted October 27, 2018 #19 Share Posted October 27, 2018 3 hours ago, MicCanberra said: I have been looking forward to cruising the Caribbean but maybe I shouldn't be. You SHOULD be. I would take the Caribbean over the west Med anyday of the week. I don't need to return to Nassau, Falmouth or St Kitts but for the rest I wouldn't mind going back. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teknoge3k Posted October 27, 2018 #20 Share Posted October 27, 2018 5 hours ago, MicCanberra said: I have been looking forward to cruising the Caribbean but maybe I shouldn't be. The Bahamas aren't in the Caribbean. The Caribbean is wonderful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PROCRUISE Posted October 27, 2018 #21 Share Posted October 27, 2018 On 10/22/2018 at 1:54 PM, sail7seas said: What you describe happened to us in Jamaica Exactly - will never go to Jamaica again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkacruiser Posted October 27, 2018 #22 Share Posted October 27, 2018 (edited) 12 hours ago, MicCanberra said: I have been looking forward to cruising the Caribbean but maybe I shouldn't be. The Bahamas and Jamaica are atypical of what I have experienced in the Caribbean. St. Lucia, St. Maarten/St.Martin, both of the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, Barbados, Curacao, Aruba, Bonaire, Martinique, Puerto Rico, St. Barts, St. Kitts, Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, and Grand Cayman are all islands that I have enjoyed and enjoy visiting again, although admittedly, I enjoy repeat visits to some more than others. I am not a fan of the Mexican Caribbean ports. I find some of the cruise company-developed ports to be more interesting than others. I have only visited Princess Cays, Half Moon Cay, and the NCL-developed Bahamas private island (whose name escapes me) in the Private Island category. I look forward to return visits to the first two; but my experience on the NCL island has memories of Sand Fleas, but that was many years ago and the experience would now be improved. Since you have never visited the Caribbean, carefully choose a cruise that goes to islands/ports that match your interests. Be prepared for much commercialization in the larger islands/ports, such as St. Thomas. But, the true Caribbean "vibe" can be found even on those islands as well. Edited October 27, 2018 by rkacruiser Edited for a couple of more thoughts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MicCanberra Posted October 27, 2018 #23 Share Posted October 27, 2018 8 hours ago, Extra Kim said: You SHOULD be. I would take the Caribbean over the west Med anyday of the week. I don't need to return to Nassau, Falmouth or St Kitts but for the rest I wouldn't mind going back. Thanks 6 hours ago, teknoge3k said: The Bahamas aren't in the Caribbean. The Caribbean is wonderful! Okay, thanks for the clarification, it just seems that so many of the cruises that leave Fort Lauderdale or Miami have stops at the Bahamas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MicCanberra Posted October 27, 2018 #24 Share Posted October 27, 2018 17 minutes ago, rkacruiser said: The Bahamas and Jamaica are atypical of what I have experienced in the Caribbean. St. Lucia, St. Maarten/St.Martin, both of the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, Barbados, Curacao, Aruba, Bonaire, Martinique, Puerto Rico, St. Barts, St. Kitts, Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, and Grand Cayman are all islands that I have enjoyed and enjoy visiting again, although admittedly, I enjoy repeat visits to some more than others. I am not a fan of the Mexican Caribbean ports. I find some of the cruise company-developed ports to be more interesting than others. I have only visited Princess Cays, Half Moon Cay, and the NCL-developed Bahamas private island (whose name escapes me) in the Private Island category. I look forward to return visits to the first two; but my experience on the NCL island has memories of Sand Fleas, but that was many years ago and the experience would now be improved. Since you have never visited the Caribbean, carefully choose a cruise that goes to islands/ports that match your interests. Be prepared for much commercialization in the larger islands/ports, such as St. Thomas. But, the true Caribbean "vibe" can be found even on those islands as well. Thanks very much, the information is greatly appreciated. It will help us decide which ports we would want to go to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teknoge3k Posted October 27, 2018 #25 Share Posted October 27, 2018 1 minute ago, MicCanberra said: Thanks Okay, thanks for the clarification, it just seems that so many of the cruises that leave Fort Lauderdale or Miami have stops at the Bahamas. A lot of them do, yea. I am still perplexed at the comment above yours about the "Mexican Caribbean ports". Now that's a new one on me. Maybe people just don't understand where the Caribbean actually is... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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