HAL - St Lucia?

[Seavoyage]

Hello All -

Read an article on the St. Lucia board (link below) that NCL is excluding St. Lucia from port stops due to passenger attacks on the island - anyone have info that HAL may follow?
St. Lucia appeared safe to us last time we visited...:confused:

http://www.stlucianewsonline.com/?p=1945

[Krazy Kruizers]

Haven't heard anything that HAL will stop going to St Lucia.

[SwissMyst]

Hello All -

Read an article on the St. Lucia board (link below) that NCL is excluding St. Lucia from port stops due to passenger attacks on the island - anyone have info that HAL may follow?
St. Lucia appeared safe to us last time we visited...:confused:

http://www.stlucianewsonline.com/?p=1945

This is a sad statement for a country that produced two Nobel Prize winners. There is so much trouble in the Caribbean. Prior problems with St Croix USVI, Antigua, Guadalupe. Drugs and corruption. Not a proud history of self-governance.

Best to stick to ship excursions because many of these islands do have a lot of offer in both natural beauty and history. We walked around on our own in Santa Lucia, but later got robbed in Antigua and I think in retrospect we were foolish to have done anything on our own at any Caribbean port stop.

I read where Barbados was the least corrupt Caribbean country - perhaps because of it ties with enlightened British rule. It would be good to sort out the respective "safety" in all the Caribbean islands.

Doing a prior search of their local newspapers online is a help to get past the tourism info which usually skirts around these issues of local crime. Had we done that, we would have easily learned Antigua is the new stopover spot for all the South American drug traffic heading into the US.

[Krazy Kruizers]

This is a sad statement for a country that produced two Nobel Prize winners. There is so much trouble in the Caribbean. Prior problems with St Croix USVI, Antigua, Guadalupe. Drugs and corruption. Not a proud history of self-governance.

Best to stick to ship excursions because many of these islands do have a lot of offer in both natural beauty and history. We walked around on our own in Santa Lucia, but later got robbed in Antigua and I think in retrospect we were foolish to have done anything on our own at any Caribbean port stop.

I read where Barbados was the least corrupt Caribbean country - perhaps because of it ties with enlightened British rule. It would be good to sort out the respective "safety" in all the Caribbean islands.

Doing a prior search of their local newspapers online is a help to get past the tourism info which usually skirts around these issues of local crime. Had we done that, we would have easily learned Antigua is the new stopover spot for all the South American drug traffic heading into the US.

Barbados also has its own problems. A couple of years ago we were there on a Sunday. Passengers were warned not to walk to town. One couple did. A couple of thieves jumped them wanting the woman's purse -- her husband trying to defend his wife was slashed on the arm helping her. The thieves still got her purse.

[Koshlong]

I believe St. Lucia is British, too! We liked it; but we were on a ship's tour. I don't think HAL is considering dropping it. It probably would be pretty hard to find a port where you couldn't get in trouble if you were careless. I'm not saying anyone was careless in this case, but I think you know what I mean.

[SarasMommy]

This is a sad statement for a country that produced two Nobel Prize winners.

One of our travel companions on our recent Caribbean cruise is the nephew of one of the Nobel Prize winners.

We loved St. Lucia - it was our favourite port in the Caribbean. I didn't feel unsafe at all. Unfortunately, as the saying goes, a few bad apples can spoil the bushel.

[Willsot]

I was just in St. Lucia two weeks ago on the Caribbean Princess and loved it. We took a 7-hr. ship excursion all around the island and it was beautiful. I would consider returning for a destination vacation.

[innlady1]

We've done the Caribbean for the last five February's, and I've learned it's best to stick to ship excursions on some of the islands (USVI and BVI OK for independent tours, IMHO).

Last year, we did a ship excursion in St. Lucia and it was fine. This year, just decided to browse around the port area, and it was pretty scary. People with their hand out at ever turn. We docked last year at the newer dock; this year, in the downtown area (can't remember the name of either...sorry!).

Same for Dominica...last year, we did a ship excursioin to the rain forest and it was enjoyable. This year, on a Sunday, we just got off the ship for a bit, same thing...people with their hands out at every corner, so we boarded the ship very quickly.

[smslms]

I believe St. Lucia is British, too! We liked it; but we were on a ship's tour. I don't think HAL is considering dropping it. It probably would be pretty hard to find a port where you couldn't get in trouble if you were careless. I'm not saying anyone was careless in this case, but I think you know what I mean.


You don't have to be careless in the Caribbean, you just have to be there. Due to the economics i.e. poverty, corrupt governments, how tourists are perceived to be wealthy, as well as the cause of all their problems, and dare let me say it, but if you're white there are many people in the islands who just don't like you, then you can end up in trouble very easily.

[benny salami]

:cool: Do not venture around Castries on your own. We have been to St Lucia several times and see how cruisers are hounded in that port. The island is beautiful but go only on a HAL tour. This is not true for every island. St Martin and USVI are very safe in comparison.

Many people stayed on the ship during our last HAL cruise. HAL also tendered further out then any other line.

[mermaid72]

:cool: Do not venture around Castries on your own. We have been to St Lucia several times and see how cruisers are hounded in that port. The island is beautiful but go only on a HAL tour. This is not true for every island. St Martin and USVI are very safe in comparison.

Many people stayed on the ship during our last HAL cruise. HAL also tendered further out then any other line.

Our HAL cruise there in Feb. was fine, no problems, no hassles from the St. Lucian people. In fact, they went out of their way to befriend us & make us feel welcome in their local market in Castries.
We also went on a tour & at no time did we feel afraid, unwelcome or ill at ease. Quite a beautiful island with friendly people.