i was wondering about a jam, cruise and to grand camyon ?
jam, is like getting dropped of in the hood right ? i seen on tv travel channel it looks rough there? i would like to do the vine lines there. are you protected all the time there.? or could you get mugged there?
grand cay. is alot better there ? thanks trying to plan ahead about 2 years for 15th annv.

Jamaica is a beautiful but poor island. As long as you stay in a group and do not stray from the tourist areas, you should be fine. Just use the same common sense you would in any of the rough areas of the United States. Don't flaunt cash, jewels, cameras, etc. Grand Cayman is a very safe island and very easy to get around. It doesn't have the mountainous terrain that Jamaica has, but it is a very clean island. Hope this helps.

quote:

Originally posted by penny3333:
Jamaica is a beautiful but poor island. As long as you stay in a group and do not stray from the tourist areas, you should be fine. Just use the same common sense you would in any of the rough areas of the United States. Don't flaunt cash, jewels, cameras, etc. Grand Cayman is a very safe island and very easy to get around. It doesn't have the mountainous terrain that Jamaica has, but it is a very clean island. Hope this helps.

in the U.S i would have my gun LOL.
thanks penny for the info
im about 40% and feeling better/ at times,
my wife just wants to go somewhere we havent already done.
we can leave from gal tx. on one i see , or drive or fly to fl. and leave?
or would the bahammas crusie be better , hows it over there ? as far as being a safer place? i forget all the stops they have..from fl. but alot like the eastern carr.whats the best stops so i can check around , planning a 7 day cruise at least

I personally enjoy the southern Caribbean. Since you're on Carnival, check into the itineraries out of San Juan, that way you might get to go to some of the more southern islands for a 7 day. The bahamas are nice, Freeport is a port that has been receiving a lot of bad reviews. I used to love Freeport, but haven't been there in years. Bermuda is another option. Grand Turk is a new port they've recently added. The snorkeling is really good there, nice beach right at the dock. If you're willing to try another line. Princess has some great 10 day itineraries, but Princess is not like Carnival at all. There are many wonderful ports in the Caribbean, some of my favorite are Tortola, Dominica, Grenada, Bonaire, Grand Turk, St. Lucia, St. John, St. Vincent, and the list could go on. It largely depends on what you and your wife enjoy doing.

Everyone has different experiences, but we loved Montego Bay. It was our favorite port on Radiance Of The Seas. But then again I've never had a problem in places like South Central Los Angeles or Harlem. If I get approached on the street I just tell them "no thanks". If they continue talking I just pretend I don't hear them. The island is too beautiful to allow a few pushy peddlers ruin your enjoyment. I personally think it's not nearly as bad as its reputation.

Grand Cayman is a great place, I would say very safe.

I would stay on the ship in Jamaica. They will constantly be pestering you to buy "something" legal or not. Some of the them can get rather physical when you say no. The last cruise to Jamaica one of my table mates at dinner almost got in a fight because he would not buy something from one of the vendors at Dunn's River Falls.

Watch out when they want to "give" you some beads or something for free. NOTHING is free.

Don't get me wrong it is a beautiful place it is just unpleasant to be harassed all the time.

I just returned from Jamaica & Grand Cayman(IMAGINATION), we were with a tour group and had NO probs what-so-ever.

The tour/bus drvr said he would NOT take us to "the hood" b/c the people there could/would get a bit unfriendly if we refused to buy anything from them.

We are cruising in April 08 on the Liberty to Grand Caymon and Ochio Rios....has anyone done the submarine tour in Caymon and the Horseback riding in Jamica? Those are the tours we are considering. Any help would be appreciated

As long as you are on a ship tour in Jamaica, you should be fine.

Dunn's River Falls is the "place to see" there but it has become so commercial that all the hawkers you have to run through to get out would now ruin the experience for me.

The last ship tour we took was floating down "The Great River" (just a wide stream and not deep) on bamboo rafts for two. It was a slow, gentle float...we did not get wet. The guide used a pole to push us down the river and he was very informative. There was rum tasting at the end of the tour.

We usually can't do tours because we have a special needs son...but we took the chance on this one because we would not do Jamaica on our own (which is what we usually do in ports).

We are headed back this month and will indeed stay on the ship ~~only because we have seen all we want to see of Jamaica. If you have never been, do a ship tour!!

Yes, the vendor gauntlet one must endure when exiting Dunn's River Falls is a blight on this otherwise great place.

The only way I'd do a private tour in Ocho is if it were arranged by a friend of mine who lives there part of each year. He owns a couple condos and said he'd have a friend of his take us around next time we were in port. But beyond that - I'd stick with a ship's tour.

Crazy, Jamaica is not my favorite Island but as has been said, using common sense and staying in tourist areas can allow you time to venture out. I rode what we called the "chicken bus" all over and loved that part but we were cautious initially. Fun tourist waterfall there btw.

quote:

Originally posted by Larry in Miami:
Grand Cayman is a great place, I would say very safe.

I would stay on the ship in Jamaica. They will constantly be pestering you to buy "something" legal or not. Some of the them can get rather physical when you say no. The last cruise to Jamaica one of my table mates at dinner almost got in a fight because he would not buy something from one of the vendors at Dunn's River Falls.

Watch out when they want to "give" you some beads or something for free. NOTHING is free.

Jamacia is beautiful but I never felt comfortable. My wife and I were comped by Carnival for an excursion that included Dunn River Falls. To begin with we were treated with disdain because we had comp tickets. Then when we got to Dunn River Falls the guide insisted that our comp did not include the price for the falls and we either had to pay or not go in. When climbing the falls I could not help think that if we did not get to the bus on time they would have left us in a second. Trying to get to the bus on time we still had to run the gauntlet leaving the falls of all the pushy sellers. I was never so glad to get back to the ship. I would not return to Jamacia again and if it was part of my cruise I would stay on board.

WOW, Thanks for all the info.... We will definately book our excursion on the ship.

My husband is from Jamaica born and raised. You have to keep in mined this is a tourist part of the country everyone will try to sell you everything, but as another person has advised you-if you tell them your not interested and keep going you will be fine. I've had to do this at the beach in the states with time shares. The biggest thing is use common sense don't go anywhere you want when ever you want. The ports are not bad the outskirts can be as with anywhere. This is one of the most beautiful countries.

the only thing I want to do in Jamica is stay on the ship. no way would i get off the ship...Jamica is on the US travel warnings. they warn us for a reason...

woooooooowwwww... I am not JAMAICAN or from GRAND CAYMAN and I am offended by some of the remarks in this post.

If you are disturbed by how someplace is depicted on television - DON'T GO THERE

If you feel the need to take a gun with you somewhere (which would not be allowed anyway) - DON'T GO THERE

There are plenty of other places you can cruise to that are "safe". On the other hand, who says you have to get off of the ship? There are cruises to NOWHERE now. How much safer could that be?

quote:

Originally posted by tekdiva:
woooooooowwwww... I am not JAMAICAN or from GRAND CAYMAN and I am offended by some of the remarks in this post.

If you are disturbed by how someplace is depicted on television - DON'T GO THERE

Truly sorry if some of the remarks are found to be offensive. I have to point out though that the replies were from members who have been there. I will inform the other staff members of your concern regarding this thread.

Dwayne

I've been to Jamaica several times and never had a problem except for the panhandling. Just don't make eye contact with any of them. Staying on the ship is poor advice if you've never been there. I've read all the posts in this thread and don't know why anyone would be offended … and I kind of like Jamaica.

Sonny

we stay on the ship because of safety reasons. I cruise with my sister. we are not spring chickens...we did get off once and were not comfortable. wont do it again. But I would never want to tell people go ahead and take an excursion when we didnt feel safe.