blue hole + tubing adventure through liberty tours...

Just wondering if any has done this tour and could offer their review/experience? Specifically the tubing portion of the tour. Thank you!

I just returned from a land based vacation in Jamaica. We did the Blue Hole and White River Tubing trip one day. We all agreed it was the highlight of our trip.

The Blue Hole is simply amazing. So beautiful. The guides do a fabulous job of keeping you safe and pushing you to jump. The walking uip and down is a bit strenuous (I am a big guy). You have plenty of places to jump into deep pools of water - ranging from 5 feet to 30 feet in height. Facilities here are very primitive. There is a ladies room, but men are encouraged to pick a tree.

A short drive away is the White River Tubing. You each get a tube and start out down the river. Again, the guides are fabulous and get you singing and laughing. The ride starts out with a few spots of fast running water. So nice and relaxing. They stop about 1/2 way down the river, for drinks and pictures. There is a place to jump into the water too. Then you resume the ride and your bus meets you at the bottom.

Please tip your guide(s) well. They work very hard and rely on the generosity of tourists.

I just returned from a land based vacation in Jamaica. We did the Blue Hole and White River Tubing trip one day. We all agreed it was the highlight of our trip.

 

The Blue Hole is simply amazing. So beautiful. The guides do a fabulous job of keeping you safe and pushing you to jump. The walking uip and down is a bit strenuous (I am a big guy). You have plenty of places to jump into deep pools of water - ranging from 5 feet to 30 feet in height. Facilities here are very primitive. There is a ladies room, but men are encouraged to pick a tree.

 

A short drive away is the White River Tubing. You each get a tube and start out down the river. Again, the guides are fabulous and get you singing and laughing. The ride starts out with a few spots of fast running water. So nice and relaxing. They stop about 1/2 way down the river, for drinks and pictures. There is a place to jump into the water too. Then you resume the ride and your bus meets you at the bottom.

 

Please tip your guide(s) well. They work very hard and rely on the generosity of tourists.

What percentage would you consider a great tip. We are doing the Blue Hole then lunch in April and would hate to under tip. We always give at least 20%

Thanks

The Blue Hole only costs $10 per person. We had 2 guides for the 7 of us. Like I said, the guides worked very hard because I am a big guy and my wife has knee issues. I gave them $17.50 each (Basically 50%). Many may think that is too much. But I consider how hard they worked, how cheap the attraction was, and how much fun they made it for us.

The cost of the White River Tubing was $25 per person. Again, we had 2 guides for the 7 of us. And again, I gave them $17.50 each (which worked out to 20% this time).

The Blue Hole only costs $10 per person. We had 2 guides for the 7 of us. Like I said, the guides worked very hard because I am a big guy and my wife has knee issues. I gave them $17.50 each (Basically 50%). Many may think that is too much. But I consider how hard they worked, how cheap the attraction was, and how much fun they made it for us.

 

The cost of the White River Tubing was $25 per person. Again, we had 2 guides for the 7 of us. And again, I gave them $17.50 each (which worked out to 20% this time).

Thanks ReggaeRoy, I was thinking 20% of the whole tour cost, so yeah it would be about the same. I haven't been yet, but looking at the videos, it looks like they earn every penny! :)

My husband and I are cruising for the first time and are considering this excursion. We have two concerns: 1) safety in Jamaica while traveling independently from Carnival 2) returning to the ship on time. Does anyone have any advice?

Is it possible to take a cab to the white river and just rent tubes without hiring a private tour guide?

My husband and I are cruising for the first time and are considering this excursion. We have two concerns: 1) safety in Jamaica while traveling independently from Carnival 2) returning to the ship on time. Does anyone have any advice?

I will offer two comments...both are intertwined.

The tour operators make their living off tourism. The internet makes to world a VERY small place. If you go with a reputable guide (research here or TripAdvisor) you will be fine. Safety is an issue no matter where you go, but a good guide will ensure your safety and the safety of your belongings.

They know that if someone was robbed/injured/felt unsafe or the guide allowed you to miss the ship.....you'll post it on the Internet which would ruin his reputation and hence his livelihood.

Be careful, but have fun.

I will offer two comments...both are intertwined.

 

The tour operators make their living off tourism. The internet makes to world a VERY small place. If you go with a reputable guide (research here or TripAdvisor) you will be fine. Safety is an issue no matter where you go, but a good guide will ensure your safety and the safety of your belongings.

 

They know that if someone was robbed/injured/felt unsafe or the guide allowed you to miss the ship.....you'll post it on the Internet which would ruin his reputation and hence his livelihood.

 

Be careful, but have fun.

I totally agree. We had a great driver that we chose based on reviews on the CC boards, trip advisor, and other cruise boards. He watched the time more than we did and made sure we were on track.

For Blue Hole, do the jumps you like multiple times. We're sorry we didn't.

We tipped the BH guide $10 per person. We felt it was easily worth $20 total per person and the guide was great. He made sure we had fun and kept us safe.

We also plan to tour Blue Hole and do a little tubing. We are looking at Sip N Tours with Mark Henry. Has anyone used this tour group and would like to share any information?

My husband and I are cruising for the first time and are considering this excursion. We have two concerns: 1) safety in Jamaica while traveling independently from Carnival 2) returning to the ship on time. Does anyone have any advice?

We used Liberty Tours Jamaica twice and are booked again this August while sailing on Independence of the Seas -stopping at Falmouth.

From beginning to end our group was very happy with the customer service provided from Liberty Tours. We even received 2 phone calls from Mr. Richmond, the owner before our arrival. He will answer any questions you have and put your mind at ease.

Our driver was waiting at the designated area inside the pier with a sign and our names on it. We were then escorted to his air conditioned van and given the history of Jamaica and pointed out a few historical spots along the way, which made for an interesting ride, until we reached the Blue Hole. At no time did we ever feel unsafe. Our belongings were kept safe locked in the van.

Personally I felt we were shielded from the street vendors by booking this

independent tour. This above poster is correct. This is their lively hood, they will keep you safe.

In the past in Montego Bay, I bought the hop on hop off

shuttle pass for the day and I felt horribly harassed and constantly

asked to buy. You will NOT have that on this tour! Instead, you have a personal driver for the day that will take great care of you! On my last tour to the Blue Hole, our ship left at 7pm and all aboard was 6pm. We were back by 5:15 pm with plenty of time to shop at the pier for last minute gifts.

IMO this tour with LIBERTY TOURS JAMAICA is a MUST do!!!

The Blue Hole only costs $10 per person. We had 2 guides for the 7 of us. Like I said, the guides worked very hard because I am a big guy and my wife has knee issues. I gave them $17.50 each (Basically 50%). Many may think that is too much. But I consider how hard they worked, how cheap the attraction was, and how much fun they made it for us.

 

The cost of the White River Tubing was $25 per person. Again, we had 2 guides for the 7 of us. And again, I gave them $17.50 each (which worked out to 20% this time).

I just asked for a quote and we are docking in Ocho Rios - they said $70 per person for Blue Hole and Tubing? Did you go on your own or arrange the tour through them?

I just asked for a quote and we are docking in Ocho Rios - they said $70 per person for Blue Hole and Tubing? Did you go on your own or arrange the tour through them?

Yes, we were on a land based vacation and went on our own (we had a van and driver through our villa provider). The $10 and $25 that I mention are the entrance fees to the attractions themselves.

I am looking at an excursion that includes the blue hole...but one question....do you have to jump in? I am not a swimmer and do not mind just hanging out but if being the deeper water is a must then I can't book this tour for the group.

Thanks

I seriously doubt they will make you jump in if you don't want to.

Book the excursion, but only do those things you want to. I've read many times that they do not push you to do anything you don't want to.

Enjoy!

You can do as many of the jumps as you feel safe doing... My brother in law just stayed up at the very top and watched us all. I did 3 of the 5 jumps (2 were a little beyond my comfort zone). The guides will encourage you, but will never force you to jump.

Is the Blue hole/river tubing available for porting in Montego Bay or only in Ocho Rios?

Is the Blue hole/river tubing available for porting in Montego Bay or only in Ocho Rios?

It's a longer drive from Montego Bay to BH than it is from Ocho, but it's doable depending on your time in port.

It's about a 2 hour drive each way, so that would eat up a big part of your day.

I'd say you need no less than an hour to do BH. I've not done the tubing, so I can't comment on the amount of time needed.

We plan on doing it from Falmouth. I've read BH is about an hours drive into Ocho Rios. I am not sure where the tubing is, but I have seen one that is about halfway between Falmouth and Ocho Rios. That makes it easier on us....go to BH in the morning and do the rafting on the way back to the ship.

Hopefully we won't miss the ship! :eek: (doubt it, but my sister is WAAAY too concerned about it at this point!)

The Blue Hole and the Tubing are both on the White River and are only 10 minutes apart. You will go by the tubing on the way to the Blue Hole.

We did Blue Hole first. Then the driver dropped us off at the entrance to the tubing and picked us up down river a bit.

We plan on doing it from Falmouth. I've read BH is about an hours drive into Ocho Rios. I am not sure where the tubing is, but I have seen one that is about halfway between Falmouth and Ocho Rios. That makes it easier on us....go to BH in the morning and do the rafting on the way back to the ship.

 

Hopefully we won't miss the ship! :eek: (doubt it, but my sister is WAAAY too concerned about it at this point!)

Its actually pretty quick! it takes a little over an hour to actually get to the blue hole from the port but the blue hole and the tubing is 10 minutes apart and the tubing doesn't take very long. my group was worried about time as well. we originally weren't going to stop for jerk chicken for lunch just because of being worried about getting back to the ship but we had way more than enough time and stopped. it was definitely worth it! trust me its so much fun. i don't even think i can describe just how much fun this excursion was.

would the tubing be good for older teens, or is it pretty low key. We are doing the Blue Hole for sure, but just wondered what else to include in our tour???

we were quoted for 5 people ( is this a good price ):

Cost of Excursion/Tour

$430.00 total includes Roundtrip Transportation + entrance fees to both venue.

$430 total is a good price. We booked as a family of 4 and it was 80 a person I believe and if we were in a bigger group it'd be 70 but it ended up being 80 i believe. We gave them a big tip since the excursion was definitely worth the money that we paid.

The tubing is a bit laid back but there are some fun rapids in the first half of it. There's a place to stop halfway through if you want (we didn't, we wanted to make sure to get lunch in and ended up getting back to the ship 2 hours early) but I would recommend doing it. its beautiful and the whole time we were doing it we were like "is this real?" "are we really floating through the jamaican jungle right now?" There was a mom with an 8-9 year old and he was entertained during it.

I am looking at an excursion that includes the blue hole...but one question....do you have to jump in? I am not a swimmer and do not mind just hanging out but if being the deeper water is a must then I can't book this tour for the group.

Thanks

I went on this tour with my son-in-law and 3 grandchildren. They all jumped in all the places and had a great time. I did not jump and had a great time watching them have a great time!