Caribbean Princess Western Caribbean - Costa Maya or Montego Bay

[spongerob]

Would you be more likely to book a Western Caribbean cruise aboard the Caribbean Princess if the itinerary were changed to include Costa Maya instead of Montego Bay?

Completed:
Sea Princess, Royal Princess, Grand Princess (3X), Caribbean Princess, Golden Princess
Coming up:
Tahitian Princess Oct 14/04
Caribbean Princess redux 6/25/05

[Coral]

I voted. I will do anything to avoid any port in Jaimaca.

We have actually had some fun times in Costa Maya - the key is to do something other then go to the shopping area.

[jemingway]

I would prefer a sea day to either of those choices. If I had to pick between the 2 stops, it would be Jamaica over Mexico.

JV The 4 stages of cruising: planning, anticipation, experience and reflection.

[riverboatgambler]

I have been to Costa Maya....thought it was a bit of a joke, as they were trying to create a port of interest out of nothing.

I have not been to Jamica, but have seen comments of people not liking the ports but not much detail as to why the do not like the port.

Can someone please provide details of what you did not like or what you did like about Jaimica's ports.

Thanks

[S.S.Oceanlover]

I have been to Costa Maya and loved it. I have so far in 10 cruises avoided booking any cruise with a stop in Jamaica. I really can't deal well with people in my face trying to sell me drugs and prostitutes while i walk around with my family.

Bill

http://home.comcast.net/~w.coleman43/1a.jpg


Caribbean Princess Eastern Caribbean cruise page (http://home.comcast.net/~w.coleman43)

[jemingway]

SSO, I was going to post something saying what's wrong with drugs and prostitutes http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif, but I knew someone would take me seriously http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif. So, anyway, what is wrong...

JV The 4 stages of cruising: planning, anticipation, experience and reflection.

[Ghost]

We LOVE Jamaica so we vote for Montego Bay!

Kathy

[geoherb]

We did our second western Caribbean cruise last year. Our first one was in 1989. We skipped all the intervening years because we did not want to go back to Jamaica. After going to Costa Maya, however, I'd prefer another day at sea.

[brucejr]

Well we had a great time in Mahahual. I have the photos to prove it http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gifMahahaul (http://www.brobertson.org/costamayagallery/) DW and the kids liked it way better than Grand Cayman even. I personally wouldn't go on a cruise that stopped in Jamacia. The diving there is just poor, like the rest of the country.

<font color="FF6600">
if there's a way to construe my post as non-argumentative, please do so.</font>
Cruise photos on my Home page (http://www.brobertson.org/)<font color="990066">
Spring Break was on the Grand Princess </font>21, March 2004
So when is the next cruise?

[tadjr]

I've done Costa Maya and Ocho Rios and would prefer another sea day if theres a choice, but Costa Maya over Jamaica if there isnt one. I didnt really care for the "guys" coming to where we were at the picnic area and joining us unasked, doing the hard sell on their special aloe lotion, beer, etc and the couple making out while smoking behind us (why does this place remind me of junior high gym?) didnt help much with the ambiance either and the beach was nasty. At least in Costa Maya you could hang out on the beach and not be hassled by someone trying to sell you something. That was only done in the market area.
If there were really a choice, I'd take a day at a private island over any of them. (Did Celebritys island in the Dominican Republic and it was fantastic!)

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=191970&cdt=2004;5;3;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800
Ryndam Pacific Coastal May 3

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=191970&cdt=2004;5;17;21;30;00&timezone=GMT-1000
Dawn Princess Alaska May 17

[spongerob]

You stop at Princess Cays the first day out on the Western itinerary. I really, really, want to like Jamaica, but it's going to take some convincing to get me to go back there.

Completed:
Sea Princess, Royal Princess, Grand Princess (3X), Caribbean Princess, Golden Princess
Coming up:
Tahitian Princess Oct 14/04
Caribbean Princess redux 6/25/05

[Ghost]

I think the trick to enjoying Jamaica is to get out of town on an excursion, either through the ship or a private tour. It can get a bit overwhelming walking the streets but Jamaica is a beautiful island with, for the most part, very warm and friendly people. They depend on tourism for their livelihood so want you to leave with a good impression. We have always found taxi drivers, tour guides, etc. to very knowledgeable and proud of their island and they have provided us with extraordianry looks at their home country. They have always done everything to keep the pesky shopkeepers and vendors away from us and taken us to areas where we we never hassled. We stopped in Montego Bay on or 4/10 Carib. Princess cruise and it was another very enjoyable day for us. Booked a private tour and had a great time. Give Jamaica another chance, get out of the city and see the beautiful sites this island has to offer - it just may make you change your mind!

Kathy

[spongerob]

We did exactly as you recommend, and went with a private tour to get away from the port. Unfortunately, that plan didn't work out very well, either. The tour operator had good recommendations from others on these boards, so it was even more troubling that we had such a trying day. Now it's a case of once bitten, twice shy.

Completed:
Sea Princess, Royal Princess, Grand Princess (3X), Caribbean Princess, Golden Princess
Coming up:
Tahitian Princess Oct 14/04
Caribbean Princess redux 6/25/05

[intothesunset]

I had a great time in Mahajual. A friend and I rented a four-wheeler and drove along the beach road, stopping for drinks at a small inn. It was nice to get away from all the shopping and touristy spots at the other ports. I wouldn't recommend doing this alone- there were definitely some dubious-looking characters along the way. But I felt safe the entire time and it was nice to get away and enjoy nature.

[Vale]

Been to Jamaica at least three times and would avoid it again if possible. This time we read on the boards that we could go out to the Ritz for about a $5 cab ride. Not so!!! It would cost us $30 pp. Then they came down to $50 per couple and wouldn't go any lower. I'm not sure if this was round trip or one way. When you get off the ship you are enclosed within this fence and are warned not to venture out on your own. So we just turned around and got back on the ship again!!

Caribbean Princess, Carnival Spirit, HAL Zuiderdam,Carnival Spirit, Amsterdam, Alaska, Grand Princess, HAL Valendam, Nordic Empress, Enchantment of the Seas, Celebrity Century, HAL Ryndam, Seawind Crown,Dawn Princess, Island Breeze.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> When you get off the ship you are enclosed within this fence and are warned not to venture out on your own. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

My question is.......
Why stop at a place where they have to warn you not to venture out alone?
I'd rather have another sea day.

Bill

http://home.comcast.net/~w.coleman43/1a.jpg


Caribbean Princess Eastern Caribbean cruise page (http://home.comcast.net/~w.coleman43)

[Mandee]

Not a big Jamaica fan...

Getting hassled to buy weed from some man while I tried to walk down the street was not exactly my idea of a great time. The hassling for cabs and hair braiding was a lot worse than anywhere else I have been.

I've never been to Costa Maya, but I would prefer another at sea day.

**Mandee**

2/03 Golden Princess
4/04 Caribbean Princess

[MiamiNicole]

Costa Maya hand down. Jamaica is a hassle, dirty very yuck!!! It was real nice about 15 years ago when i was a kid, but now I prefer Costa Maya!

[TIN CUP]

Wont go to Montego Bay for the stated reasons been there three times we were at Costa Maya last April went to Urvero Beach with the 10 of us and had a great time the best time was the next stop in Cozamel at Pardise Beach

[spongerob]

Thanks for the comments, everyone!

Completed:
Sea Princess, Royal Princess, Grand Princess (3X), Caribbean Princess, Golden Princess
Coming up:
Tahitian Princess Oct 14/04
Caribbean Princess redux 6/25/05

[gvre]

Bruce,
How bad is the diving in Jamaica? We were planning to dive there in December but were not sure.
thanks,
Richard

Norwegian Dream Mediterranean/Holy Lands 10/99
Carnival Holiday Ensenada 1/00
Renaissance R4 Tahiti 10/00
Renaissance R4 Tahiti 4/01
Windspirit Costa Rica 1/02
Windsurf Southern Caribbean 1/03
Tahitian Princess Tahiti 10/03
Dawn Princess Southern Caribbean 4/04

10/14/04 Tahitian Princess Polynesia/Cook Islands
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2004;10;14;18;00;00&timezone=GMT-1000

12/23/04 Dawn Princess Western Caribbean Cruise
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2004;12;23;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500

[daWoods]

I've done both. Unless it's changed drastically since I was there, Costa Maya is a joke. Jamaica is a beautiful island, with desparately poor people and some serious political and social problems. However, given the choice I would pick Jamaica every time. The key is to hire a very good local tour operator to show you the island properly.

Island Princess Feb. 2004
Grand Princess Feb. 2002
Norwegian Sky Feb. 2001

[brucejr]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by gvre:
Bruce,
How bad is the diving in Jamaica? We were planning to dive there in December but were not sure.
thanks,
Richard
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Richard, I haven't been there, but from the posts I have read on the scubadiving.com message board, the diving in Jamaica is as poor as the islands standard of living. No large fish at all. For me, there are so many premier dive destinations in the Caribbean, not to mention the Pacific, that I have absolutely no interest in going to Jamaica to dive. You might like to read this guys trip report on his stop in Jamaica. <a href=http://dive.scubadiving.com/talk/read.php?f=1&i=821287&t=821287>Jamaica stop </a>

While there are enough people that have written that they enjoyed their stop in Jamaica, that are also too many that have written negative things about going there. I would rather go to Cayman Brac, Tortola, Cozumel or Fiji.

[MQU]

We have been to Jamaica twice and would go back again. Like said before take a ship or private tour. You need to get away from town, the Island is very beautiful but has alot of poverty. It makes you appreciate what we have at home. We tried to spend alittle more in some of the shops for that reason.
Mary

[THT]

We rode the ATV's up Mt. Zion in Jamaica.
It was invigorating. The shuttle driver and ATV guides were very cool and let us get crazy on the trail.

Just be adventurous and happy and Jamaica is a blast!

[gvre]

Thanks Bruce for the information. I think we may try the tube rafting, but we will dive GC and Coz.
Richard

Norwegian Dream Mediterranean/Holy Lands 10/99
Carnival Holiday Ensenada 1/00
Renaissance R4 Tahiti 10/00
Renaissance R4 Tahiti 4/01
Windspirit Costa Rica 1/02
Windsurf Southern Caribbean 1/03
Tahitian Princess Tahiti 10/03
Dawn Princess Southern Caribbean 4/04

10/14/04 Tahitian Princess Polynesia/Cook Islands
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2004;10;14;18;00;00&timezone=GMT-1000

12/23/04 Dawn Princess Western Caribbean Cruise
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2004;12;23;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500

4/08/05 Sun Princess Eastern Caribbean

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2005;04;08;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500

[suekay]

One of the pursers arranged for her taxidriver brother to meet us and take us on a tour of the island - the highlight of which was a visit to Rose Hall plantation house. We even stopped for a drink in a local bar in the hills above Montego Bay and never felt at all unsafe (and we were 3 ladies and a couple we linked up with)
I wish I'd kept his contact details as we had a lovely day
So my vote is for Montego Bay - I'd love my husband to see this beautiful island