Getting ready to do a carnival 7 night with our first port in Montego Bay. Seeing lots of scary reports almost to the point of staying on board that day. Are these reports being blown out of proportion? Is it safe to go on excursions in Jamaica?

quote:

Is it safe to go on excursions in Jamaica?

I guess I have thrown fuel on the fire over this.

Excursions are fine in Jamaica - Mo Bay, Ocho, wherever. I'd strongly urge you to take tours through the cruise line, and those should be perfectly fine.

The big issues some of us have is with wandering off the beaten trail on your own. A friend of mine lives in Jamaica part of the year and he knows the "lay of the land". What is comfortable to him is not the same for me.

Welcome to Cruise Chat, CrusinwithJen. Scroll up to the help tabs located at the top of the original post and click on the "Find" tab. Enter something like "safety in Jamaica" or something similar and you will be privy to a plethora of previous posts regarding your question.

In February I went on a wonderful excursion to Dunn Falls. Our excursion stopped at a restaurant for some local flavor food. I never once felt unsafe.

My first cruise years ago stopped at Mo Bay & I ventured off to rent a motorbike by myself. Although nothing bad happened except having drugs pushed on me it wasn't the smartest thing to do alone. Whatever you do- do it as a group & as Dave said you'd be better off doing a ships tour even if it does cost a little more rather than trying to negotiate a deal on you own.

I too am guilty of adding to the Jamacia bashing. Let me say that I never fealt un-safe while there. What we don't like is the constant sales pitch for crap. Braiding your hair, buying some tinket, buy a braclet... on and on. By the time you get back to the ship you fell like screaming at any one coming near you to "just leave me alone"

If its your first time their, DON'T be afraid to get off the ship. DO go with a ship excursion. You can have a good time there, but be warned about the conditions. Its a poor island. They will be trying EVERYTHING to get your money (legally) and they have learned never to take four or five firm "no thank you" responses as a sign that you won't break down and buy their stuff.

It is important to note that the people of Jamaica are not a bunch of outlaws waiting to rob tourists. They are just very persistent and it gets annoying after a while. I can understand it since the island is so poor and they are doing whatever they can to make a dollar - but it has a tendency to feed on itself and be counter-productive.

My daughter and I had the best time in Jamaica -
We did the Dunn's River Fall, tour the Island and went white water tubing. We were never offered drugs or never felt unsafe.

I think cozumel is a little more scary - The guys are always trying to see if my daughter wants a husband and trying to hold her hand.

I hear you about Cozumel, but you really are very safe there. You just have to understand a Latino/machismo society.

As for Jamaica, I am one of the few posters who really like it there. I like the people, the countryside is beautiful. Unfortunately they have 30%+ unemployment, half of those employed are not what we consider full time--this is a third world country. They will do everything in their power to get your money (including offering drugs or "women"). If you are with a tour group you will probably not be bothered for illegal stuff, just harassed over hair braiding, beads, etc. I have not felt unsafe with a group other than wondering at how these people drive! I would not under any circumstances go off alone, or even as a couple or small group, without some sort of guide. Like any other port in the Caribbean leave your jewelry on the ship and don't carry a bunch of cash, and for the love of Mike be back to the ship on time.

NO, Jamaica and Cozumel both are very safe and great places to visit. you just have to use common sense just like you do anywhere here in the states. i have been to both several times and never had a problem. we didnt venture of into neighborhoods and places that were on the main streets unless we were on a rccl tour but as far as the pushy sales people --- that is everywhere. just smile, nod and keep walking. You will miss alot of beautiful sights if you dont get off the ship. Enjoy!

I spend 8 days last year on my honeymoon in Jamaica and loved it. Never felt unsafe or hassled. We hired a driver through our hotel to take us to the Waterfall-excellent tour by the way. Wouldnt have any problems going back.

Jamaica is beautiful, don't stay on board but don't try and do it on your own. It is one port that I highly recommend doing a ship's tour. Mo Bay is great, Ocho as well, it's just a few that give the island a bad reputation. Stay with a group and you'll be fine. It is a really gorgeous island, with lots to offer. It is a foreign country, so just use good sense.

We went to Mo Bay last month and we had the most fantastic time. What we did was go to the doors through the shopping area where a security guard got us a cab. We went to Sunset Beach Resort, not far from the port. We could still see the ships while enjoying the beach. The resort was secured and was an ALL INCLUSIVE. $40 pp for all day. You just give them your sea pass so that they know when you leave the area. Security guards were also on the beach. I tell you it is safe and secure. We had so much fun and no worries. By the way...the jerk chicken was great and we found a nice reef not far from the beach area. We already plan to go back when we get to visit again. Hope this helped.

I would not be willing to give anyone my seapass card. If they loose it you are not getting back on the ship without a major hassle. Too many possiblities for fraud exist too. The seapass card gets you in the port area and onto the ship...

Maybe I'm too cautious but I wouldn't be willing to part with the seapass.

quote:

Maybe I'm too cautious but I wouldn't be willing to part with the seapass.

Me too. I've never heard of having to surrender a cruise card to use a facility. Security in Jamaica at the pier is bad enough (as in tough). I can't imagine the hassles involved if I showed up without my cruise card.

You should have said something to the cruise line about that practice.

I suspect this was not a cruise-line sponsored outing.

I have never heard of that either. And I wouldn't do it.

Dwayne

This is something all inclusive resorts do to try to convert cruisers over to land vacations. It gives cruisers a taste of what a land vacation would be like. I'm sure they ask for the cruise card to verify you're on a cruise and not from one of the other land resorts. Why they have to keep it, I don't know; they could just simply write down your name and the ship your on. If they are holding it to make sure you turn in towels etc, they could ask for a different form of ID such as your DL. But then a lot of people might not be carrying that off the ship either. So I think the ship ID is easiest. While it might make some people feel uneasy handing that over, I don't believe there is anything to be concerned about. It can't be used anywhere but on the ship, and if someone tried to get on the ship with it they would be stopped by security. If by some chance the hotel would lose the card, which isn't likely, then I'm sure you will get back on the ship. It may be a hassle and delay, but it wouldn't be the first time a card was lost in port, and the ship has ways to deal with it.

Feb 05 we went to Sunset beach. There were 13 of us. At that time enterance was only $20.00pp and $10.00 for kids but since they put in the waterslides I heard it doubled. The security guard collected the money and all our sign and sail cards. We were told we would get them back when we left and we did. Walked up to the guard gate and asked for them back and they were given back immediately.

My grandaughter left hers in the taxi. Another taxi driver offered to drive them to catch up to the taxi for $25.00. They told them all they had left was $12.00 and he took it. The taxi was not 2 blocks away. Talk about applying the pressure! I did not find out about this till much later. We were told thought that another one have been issued with not much problem. Seems it happens on every cruise. Not this incident but just losing it in general. Go to Sunset Beach. You will have a blast. All your drinks (alchohol included) and food are included. What a great day we had!