single mother going to Jamaica

[emerson279]

I'm a single mom of 2 girls traveling with my 69 year old mom in a few weeks. We have been doing some research and have decided to just go on our own to Doctor's Cave for the day, and then to Margaritaville. We are going to use a shuttle service vs. a cab. Ask me again in August and I'll let you know how it went!

[ministerb]

Not 5 minutes after getting of the Mariner when we went to Ocho Rios we were approached by someone selling marijuana!! I was thinking to myself can you please let the people get off the dock first before trying to sell them drugs!!:mad: After Dunn River Falls when we thought we were being lead back to our shuttle bus, we all were herded to a market area filled with very pushy locals who wouldn't take no for an answer. I'm not sure if I would get off the ship if I had the option again.

[Coralc]

We wouldn't get off the ship in Jamaica again. Although we never felt unsafe when we were there.. It is the constant harassment, the pushiness, the in your face shopping experience with your own personal shopper and the beligerence and unfriendliness of some of the folks. It is a beautiful country, Montego Bay side, we were out about on a ships tour and did some exploring on our own. I just don't really want the constant/stressful interaction at a vacation port. It's our vacation, and we choose what want to do with our time....and Jamaica isn't it. :)

 

To the OP. There is a secured shopping area next to the ship. You might try that. Or take a ships tour. If you are a nervous sort, only you can decide if you want to venture out on your own.

[Travelgrrl]

I often take cruises with my kids (now teens) and/or women friends (so, no guy around to 'protect' us) and have never had a problem in Jamaica or anywhere else.

 

As others have said, keep your wits about you. An armed robbery could happen any day, any place, from little old Moose Lake Minnesota to Manhatten to Jamaica or wherever.

 

My favorite thing to do in Montego Bay is to take a cab to Doctor's Cave Beach, as Emerson suggested. This is a private beach and you pay a fee to enter and for your chair, umbrella, and so on. (Reasonable prices)

 

Wonderful service, no peddlers allowed on beach, food and drink available. Margaritaville (MUCH more touristy) is a short walk away. If you take the walk, you will have vendors asking you to buy, but a nice "no thank you" has always worked for me. (To me, Margaritaville - and Senor Frogs and Carlos and Charlie's offer a much worse environment for kids or teens to witness than anything else we have seen in Jamaica and elsewhere in the Caribbean!)

 

Here is an example of the warmth of the Jamaican people: on a previous cruise when we stopped in Montego Bay, they were selling wonderful exotic plants in the terminal for $10, but by the time I made it back from the beach I had spent all my money on other stuff so I couldn't buy them. (Since then, I often bring fresh flowers on the ship at departure or get them in ports - back then I was too dumb to do this!) So, a year or two later, I was back in Montego Bay, and I decided to see if they had similar flowers. There was a stand there, but only one arrangement (a HUGE one) not the cut flowers I was looking for. (Which were still priced at $10!) I asked a nearby vendor if there were any for sale and he said "No, Mon, she don come today" (because our ship was there on an unexpected stop due to Hurricane Rita), and when he saw I was sad, he said "You take those flowers, Mon.", indicating the huge arrangement. I started to protest that I couldn't possibly afford them, and a few other shopkeepers came around, both women and men, and pressed them into my hands, urging me to take and enjoy them. I mean, this was the type and size of bouquet you would see in an upscale hotel's foyer.

 

I finally did take them, and offered them all the money I had (about $20), but they said "You come back to Jamaica some day!", and gave them too me for free. There was also a band playing on the dock between the terminal and the ship, and it was softly raining, and my childhood friend and I danced around in the rain with the flowers.

 

The ship people laughed when they tried to fit the flower arrangement through security - it was way too huge!

 

It lasted all week (and it was a 7 day cruise turned into an 11 day one) and I ended up giving the ones still living to our cabin attendant at the end.

 

Yes, a lovely day in Jamaica!

[zantedeschia]

I want to post to this thread but rather than recap my experience, I'm going to excerpt the Jamaica part from my cruise write-up from last August. Things that stick in my mind are the interaction we had with a couple locals at the horse farm and how I turned around a pushy vendor into a personal shopping assistant. It was just me and my then 17-year-old daughter on the cruise:

 

Our excursion was the Original Canopy Tour. We got on a bus with another tour, some horseback riders. Stopped at the horse farm, dropped them off and continued on. We had 2 groups, 2 buses. We drove up a rickety little mountain road, a good portion of it single lane with steep drop offs on one side, no shoulder. Gee, don't even have to get on the zipline to get your adrenaline going. From the bus, we did a 15 minute-ish walk to the first platform, all downhill on a trail, 75% at least made up of crude steps. Don't do this excursion if your mobility is not good. Once there, it took quite a while for them to harness everyone up, about 30 minutes or longer and they suggested a cigarette break among other things. Alex and one other guy smoked and chatted, later we were like wasn't that the guy that gave you the lighter? Some people put on insect repellent but there really weren't any bugs. There wasn't much wildlife in evidence at all, it was quiet in the rain forest. Loud water noise from the river much further down below. (800 feet maybe?)

 

The tour was fun but tamer than I thought it would be. Only glitch was there was a bit of time spent waiting on platforms for the first group to go on ahead and the guides to leapfrog ahead of us to set up. We did 2 lines, wait wait wait, 2 more lines, wait wait wait, then 3 in a row no stopping. Last zipline was 600 feet long they said, whee. When we got to the bottom I started overheating and took off my shoes to cool off. Guide told me to put them back on, I requested water which he found for me. When asked and I responded no I'm not okay, he took my gear and carried it for me (the water cooled me off sufficiently to carry on). We stopped for refreshments, they had ice cold water, fruit punch and rum punch. The fruit juice was thick and the rum punch strong. Alex did not like it, I found it improved upon watering down. Walked back to the buses, got on, drivers counted and our count was one person too many. When they identified the person who was supposed to be on the other bus ("oh I don't remember who my bus driver was") she refused to move cause "our bus was more comfortable." I mean that's why they told us about 7 times "your bus driver is Lucky, remember that." *sigh*

 

We went back to the horse farm, they gave us about 10 minutes or so to look at the pictures. Too many people crowding around so I went and got some jerk chicken and a Red Stripe. Guy went "she can't have any" pointing to Alex. In an aside I told her I'd give it to her on the bus. People think Alex is 14 or 15 cause she's short, unless they talk to her first, then they think she's around 20. Then the dude start raving about her clunky metal necklaces, where did you get them, tell me about them, where can I get one? I said you want one? He was like what do I have do to get one? I jerked my head toward Alex: "Give her a beer." Without hesitation he pulls one out of the cooler, goes "4 dollars" (but holds the opener over the cap and doesn't pop it until I hand him the money). When Alex started to take the necklace off, he insisted she didn't have to give it to him, and she started to put it back on. I was no, we made a deal, give it to him. He put it on and was ecstatic. Other guy behind the counter asked how we like Jamaica, I repeated a comment Alex had made earlier, said "she thinks the women are beautiful." Both of them in unison go "You should be looking at the men!" About this time the bus driver came back and made us get back on the bus. Aw, we were having too much fun. The jerk chicken was *good*. The beer so-so (I prefer Corona - Alex didn't like the Red Stripe that much either).

 

Got back to the pier, went to the shopping area. Alex was like if you're not going to let me buy any ganja then buy me a t-shirt with ganja on it. I wanted some Jamaica Blue Mountain. Ran into this woman and her companion, a scruffy looking man. I don't recall if they accosted us or not but somehow we got to talking. I remember, she asked us if we wanted our hair braided. Gave them both a cigarette, Alex missing the significance of this gesture. I gave the women (Janet was her name) my last 6 dollars, asked her if she had a phone I could call the US on. Turned out one of the things they sold were phone cards but the one she tried didn't work on her phone (apparently a lot of Jamaican phones only work in Jamaica). So she trotted off, borrowed some cop's (!) phone, I had her call my bf at work (direct dial to the US worked on it). Find out bf had taken the day off, he never takes the day off! So I asked her please call his cell. I get him but he hangs up on me (!!!). I apologetically ask her to call him a third time! I promise not to stay on too long, this time I talk to him for about 5 minutes. Scruffy companion offers to sell us some weed, Alex perks up, I say no, Janet tells him to leave us alone. At least 2 cops are hanging around observing us. We try to get some cash from an ATM, wander around, try 3 ATMs, they're all down (Janet led us to all the ATMs). It's like the entire network is down. This takes pressure off me cause Alex keeps asking Janet about ganja, how much, but I don't have any cash with which to purchase any. Janet latched onto me which was just fine, I was happy to have a personal guide (I had done this before in Antigua). Take me to a t-shirt shop, she does. Take me to get some Blue Mountain, she does (3 pounds at $25 per). Then we got Alex's hair braided. Oh, I want some cigars, back to the coffee shop. Woman making hand-rolled Jamaican cigars only takes cash so I go look at the (ahem) cigars from the country the US is too anal to have a trade agreement with. At times Janet would launch into Jamaica-speak with one of her friends, I'd turn to Alex and go "Do you understand that?" Janet was like "The language is called English, mon." If I listened real close I could catch most of it, the slang included.

 

Anyhow. I wanted some more jerk to eat. Couldn't go to the place that had the great jerk fish cause once again they only take cash so we ended up at another cafe. I offered to buy Janet lunch, she accepted. The service was very slow but we really didn't mind, tho the jerk here was nowhere as good as the jerk from the horse farm. She suggested some juice which was pretty tasty, I forgot what it was, something plum. June plum? Somewhere in there we got free shot coupons and she took us to Margaritaville where we redeemed them. She refused to partake but the shots were weak, couldn't taste any rum at all. After all this she took us back to the entrance and bid us farewell, telling us many times to come back to Jamaica and visit her, stay with her. It was a very productive session.

 

 

Later at dinner, we had this exchange with our table mates:

 

Simon and Jette complained about the pushy Jamaican vendors, I was like we didn't have any problem at all. Jette spouted, "I knew we should have taken Stephanie with us, she would have protected us!"

[superjerryw]

Are police and security officers offering drugs to people? No way. Did someone offer you something? I don't know. I am not calling anyone a liar, but I have a really hard time believing this.

 

This has nothing to do with Jamaica, but it's not that hard to believe. There are corrupt law enforcement officials in every country including our own. It's sad when someone abuses the public's trust but it does happen.

[Nliedel]

This has nothing to do with Jamaica, but it's not that hard to believe. There are corrupt law enforcement officials in every country including our own. It's sad when someone abuses the public's trust but it does happen.

 

Yes, there are corrupt police everywhere. Someone who is linked with a local police department in the Detroit area, was just arrested yesterday, for porn related things. However, he was not using it in an area filled with armed guards and drug sniffing dogs while he was into it. The terminal's in Jamaica are filled with officers. Every single one of them would have to be corrupt, and that has not been my experience, nor the experience of anyone that I've ever met who has been to Jamaica. Are some police corrupt? You betcha. Are the Jamaican secuirty officers carrying pot in the terminals? Just can't believe it.

[scubapuss]

I went to Mo BAy with my three daughters by myself. I had a taxi take us shopping then to an all inclusive hotel It was the Rose Hall Hotel (or something like that) It was $80.00 ea. We made tie die shirts, ate and jumped waves for hours. It was the most fun we had on our cruise and my girls always talk about it. Jamaica is beautiful. You need to do your own planning and go somewhere safe. This all inclusive we went to was gated and out taxi waited right outside for us.

[DivineDivia]

I just came back from a land vacation in Montego Bay. From the moment we stepped out of the airport until the moment we stepped back in, it was some form of harrassment or an other. Not necessarily that I felt unsafe, but it does put a damper on your vacation being constantly bothered. Even at our property where the "hustlers" aren't allowed, the staff are soliciting you. "Can I get an extra tip" (and we were at an all-inclusive) or if you ask what a building is you see on a cliff instead of telling you, its "I can take you there cheap."

It is a beautiful place, though, but bring lots of Off!!!

[Nliedel]

Slaps forehead, DUH! Rose Hall does day passes. Rose Hall is an old plantaition and stunning. It's a great day thing in Mo Bay and you will not be harrassed at all.

[Jeanie821]

I'm starting to get very nervous about getting off the ship in Montego Bay. One of my friends wants to take a horseback riding excursion, while I (if I get off the ship at all) would rather go to Rose Hall or one of the beach resorts. Should our group (two-thirds women) reconsider getting off at this port?

[Nliedel]

I'm starting to get very nervous about getting off the ship in Montego Bay. One of my friends wants to take a horseback riding excursion, while I (if I get off the ship at all) would rather go to Rose Hall or one of the beach resorts. Should our group (two-thirds women) reconsider getting off at this port?

 

Jeanie, you're going to get conflicting answers. Some people are vehement that you not get off in Jamaica. Most have a good time. I think you would be perfectly safe going to Rose Hall and have a wonderful and safe day. I love Jamaica, but I know it's not for everyone. I think I'm balanced in my thinking, but some would say I'm too pro Jamaica. So, it's really up to you. You're going to get answers all over the map.

 

I would, without hesitation, take all of my boys to Rose Hall. I have four children and I'm an over-protective mother hen. Two of my kids have special needs (Adopted one has Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and a birth child has Autism). I think if you take a JUTA cab you'll be fine. However, I'm just one voice and there are a lot of people who are truly afraid of that port.

 

I think if you read through the negative posts you will be hard pressed to find any about Rose Hall. It's very protected and you're not going to have an issue getting to a cab. Again, that's my opinion. Listen to the posters, look for balanced posts that are realistic. No place on earth is perfect. Everything has a downside. Look for people who write about the good and the bad and listen most closely to them. I think that's a good way not to be led astray.

[gojojo]

I have been to Jamaica both as a married and as a single Mom. Yes the people can be pushy - they are trying to make a living and are fighting for your business with all the other vendors. I just tell them no and walk away. Never had a problem. I don't let their pushiness bother me, I just understand that they are trying to feed their families.

 

Definitely don't flash cash, jewelry or expensive electronics. Their are bad people out there no matter where you go and they will take advantage of the situation.

 

I have done the horseback riding deal in Ocho Rios with my daughter and we both loved it. You will get "personalized" service because they are hoping for an extra tip. Just like the stewards on the ships, the tips are what helps them take care of their families.

 

I have seen equal amount of pushiness in areas of Mexico. The poorer the country, things like this will be evident.

[Cruisedeacon]

Is that because of reading stories of warning, or have you been harrassed in some way? Just curious. I've only been to Jamaica once on a cruise. I didn't really notice that much difference from other ports in terms of how "safe" I felt, but maybe I just didn't know any better. And most of the first-hand stories I've heard from friends who have been to Jamaica have not really been any worse that stories of too many people trying to sell them something at every turn.

 

 

 

 

we have been harrassed on three occassions... Once were I was just taking pictures of the area and a Jamaican women said I owed here 20 dollars because she was in the picture.. I refused and she came running after us.... another time in the market area downtown were we were lead into a dead end alley for our change for a purchase and we were told they there was no change and to get out quickly... and the last I was approached to carry drugs back to the states...

 

So I have had enough of the island... others may be okay with it... no problem mon...:p

[Macfans]

Stick with ship cruises. You can venture out into town just past the pier but I wouldn't go much further. We ventured out for some Sprite and it was an expirience. I proposed to my wife on the Majesty in Ocho Rios 11 years ago. How bad can it be Right? Use your intuition. Enjoy!!! Bon Voyage :D

[Cruising89143]

Looks like the OP has plenty of different opinions on this subject. :)

[Coralc]

Nliedel, Rose Hall doesn't have day passes that I know of. Rose Hall has tours like a little mini Hearst Castle, with stories about Annie. The tour is interesting, but it doesn't take all day. I guess I am a little confused unless you might be referring to a nearby resort or a resort of the same name? :)

[BearySweet2Cruise]

I was quite saddened to read about the 19 held at gun point from the conquest. I have been to Jamaica once, and yes the peddlers are pushy and aggressive, but over all we had a great day in Jamaica. Our taxi driver who took us to dunn's falls prewarned us to by pass the market, There is a gate off to the side to do so... we listened and thanked him tremendously for saving us from that experience when he returned to get us. He drove us to get fresh hot homemade jamacian beef patties. YUMMY

 

I would return again,and yes I would be very cautious when there.

[ministerb]

I definately understand being cautious no matter which port I go to, but if I have to look over my shoulder and check for my wallet every 5 to 10 minutes I'm not sure if that is a place where I want to take my family.

[daisysheridan]

Personally, I wouldn't go off on my own. We were there in Sept 06 and it made be nervous and I was with my husband. We couldn't walk 20 ft without someone asking him if he wanted some 'marley'.

[paytongirls]

so im just wondering how old is your "young" child? If he or she is old enough to stay at the adventure club alone while at port while you take a quick tour? As another single mother there have been a few places that i have wanted to go that i knew my daughter would just be bored or at risk on. so i left her on the ship for the 3 hours i was gone. but then i also have taken her in to "risky" areas and made sure that i carried money in my pockets (remember a wallet in a pants pocket is easily noticed vs using the small 5th pocket and front pockets) wore only a basic watch and at all times kept my hands on my child. Once we got back from the trips safe an sound no worse for ware i realized that going to a "risky" place was no worse then taking my daughter to the local flea market, farmers market or even busy park. the dangers are always there just be smart about it. Shoot your a single mom, that means youve got the brains and strength to handle what may come your way.

Dont let others fear overwhelm you. Most of them would be terrified of being a single mom

[emerson279]

I'll be with my 10 year old, 16 year old and 69 year old mom, so we won't be going anywhere "too risky" and never alone when off the boat. We plan to have plenty of time to do stuff on our own while on the ship. How old is your daughter? I was hoping to talk my 10 year old into doing some of the kid club stuff, but wasn't sure if it would be exciting enough to keep her from getting bored, since in her mind she's already 14!!!!