What port have you felt the most uneasy??

My family was planning on going on the Magic next month beacuse we haven't been to GCI yet. We decided to go on the Miracle because we weren't sure about Jamaica...hmmm....now that I have been on these boards for a few months I get the feeling that it is just the wrong place at wrong time for some of the violent encounters vacationers have encountered. I am not here to bash any countries but now that I am a mother to a young child these kinds of things seem to matter a little more. Anyone have a port that stands out in your mind that you would NOT return to?

We've never been anywhere where we were "uncomfortable", but Ocho Rios was close...Luckily we had an AMAZING tour guide who knew local culture and was from there. We never felt unsafe or in any type of danger. I would however, avoid Mexico until things calm down, we have chosen cruises that do not go to Mexico the past few years for this reason.

Belize by far was horrible. I thought it was the armpit of the Caribbean. Some people from our group had a positive experience but they had excursions that wisked them away as soon as they stepped foot on land. Others of us will never step foot on that place again. I would rather stay on the ship.

Samana, Dominican Republic was the worst place I've been too. We tendered in and walked about an 1/8 of a mile before I felt like there was a risk to the safety of myself and family. It is a port that you are fine if you are on an excursion but should be leery of venturing out on your own.

Jamaica in general...Montego Bay worse than Ocho Rios.

jamaica and belize

Jamacia is the worst port IMHO --been to MO Bay and Ochos

Cab drivers outside the fenced in dock area are very aggressive!!!

We have seen all that is at both ports and do not leave ship.

Belize - had a tourguide that drove us aimlessly around the city. I was taking pictures out of the van window (even through the glass) at some of the sights and people and one young man standing next to a building gave me a very surprised and mean look and started walking toward the van. I was so glad the traffic moved fast enough to keep him from reaching the van....yipes, still get nervous when I remember that!

Jamaica in general...Montego Bay worse than Ocho Rios.

Anything Jamicia. Will never return.

With Belize, I am not sure I would hang around town, but out in the country with a good guide felt fine.

My family was planning on going on the Magic next month beacuse we haven't been to GCI yet. We decided to go on the Miracle because we weren't sure about Jamaica...hmmm....now that I have been on these boards for a few months I get the feeling that it is just the wrong place at wrong time for some of the violent encounters vacationers have encountered. I am not here to bash any countries but now that I am a mother to a young child these kinds of things seem to matter a little more. Anyone have a port that stands out in your mind that you would NOT return to?

The port that comes to my mind when you ask this question is Ocho Rios, the only port I have been to in Jamaica (three times). I've been on 19 cruises and this port stands out.

I agree with Jamaica. We took an excursion that got us back to port early and I just felt it was dingy and the shop owners were very aggressive. I didn't feel unsafe, per se, (though I was much younger and naive), just uncomfortable. If not taking an excursion, I wouldn't go beyond hanging out at Margaritaville.

My family was planning on going on the Magic next month beacuse we haven't been to GCI yet. We decided to go on the Miracle because we weren't sure about Jamaica...hmmm....now that I have been on these boards for a few months I get the feeling that it is just the wrong place at wrong time for some of the violent encounters vacationers have encountered. I am not here to bash any countries but now that I am a mother to a young child these kinds of things seem to matter a little more. Anyone have a port that stands out in your mind that you would NOT return to?

Carol & I never felt more uncomfortable than when we visited Ocho Rios, but this was one week after a major "robbery" incident involving a Carnival excursion bus. We were phyically and verbally threatened several times just walking from the pier to the Jimmy Buffets (may 300 yards).

However, our last cruise included Belize. We stayed within the gated area, but our son-in-law and daughter left the area in search of some shoes (he left his in a Tampa hotel). They told us that they were cursed at and approached by many people who were very forward and nasty. Ultimately, a man in his twenties approached them and "escorted" them to and from the area where there were some stores. They bought shoes and gave him a nice "thank you" tip.

Agree 100%.

Belize by far was horrible. I thought it was the armpit of the Caribbean. Some people from our group had a positive experience but they had excursions that wisked them away as soon as they stepped foot on land. Others of us will never step foot on that place again. I would rather stay on the ship.

There haven't been any ports that I've felt unsafe in. that said, for any port where I've read questionable things (Jamaica, Belize), I book excursions through the cruise ships. Yes, bad things can happen then but I figure it's less likely than a single girl wandering around on her own. That said, Jamaica, which I've been to twice, has been one of my favorite ports but both times i was on fantastic excursions.

Belize, hands down.

Never felt uneasy in Jamaica maybe because I used to work with Jamaicans and understand them.

Belize .. took a city tour .. all buildings including the governors have bars on the windows .. says to me lots of theft.

Next time to Belize in the port .. I went to look out across the street and to this day I see all these arms stuck thru the fence waving madly .. a sea of arms stretching toward me.

LaRamona, Dominican Republic, March 6 2012. Never going back there again.

Was also in Ocho Rios the week before this....Took a Carnival Excursion direct from Port to Mystic Mountain and back, never encountered any rude or pushy locals. Others on board same sailing that went into shopping area said locals in Ocho Rios were very very pushy and constant agrivation.

Samana, Dominican Republic was the worst place I've been too. We tendered in and walked about an 1/8 of a mile before I felt like there was a risk to the safety of myself and family. It is a port that you are fine if you are on an excursion but should be leery of venturing out on your own.

I agree. We knew it was not going to be good by all the garbage floating by the tender. My DH wanted a t-shirt. We got it then got the heck out of there.

We did go back (same cruise), as we had a beach excursion booked. We were immediately put on a boat and taken to a beautiful beach. Night and day.

#1...Belize!

#2...Progresso!

#3...Panama!

Never felt unsafe but felt uncomfortable.

I cannot speak as to feeling "unsafe" in Belize because we did a ship tour to Bannister island, I can say that was less than...shell infested beach and jellyfish everywhere. :(

I did not feel unsafe in Montego Bay, Jamaica. I did think people were rude though. We took (or got shuffled into) a van (had to wait 20 plus minutes for it to fill up) over to doctors cave. There were hustlers outside we just said no thanks and went in. We were offered weed which isn't a big deal to us but just we declined, he wasn't pushy. MoBay is just poor...so it's unappealing. Not scary but not great. Although the water was breathtaking!!

Jamaica in general...Montego Bay worse than Ocho Rios.

Agreed! I would never want to cruise to Montego Bay again... we went in 2003 and it was sad , impoverished, and depressing. I felt sad sad and a little scared because of the desperation in the locals faces. I wished I could help make them smile... :(

I HATE Jamaica.

But...our last cruise to Jamaica I talked DH into going to Mystic Mountain. Oh my word, I think that is one of the most wonderful days I've had on any cruise. It was not crowded at.all. We hopped in a van going to Dunns Falls right at the immigration building (or whatever it's called) and was dropped off at MM. It is so beautiful and serene. We took a 15-minute (maybe longer) ski lift ride to the top of the mountain and through the forests. It was breath-taking.

Once at the top, we did the bobsled runs. It was an absolute blast! They also have an infinity pool and slide there that is included with your admission. There is a small Jamaican bobsled "museum", native dancers and a few vendors but nothing like you would encounter around the port.

We called the van and he picked us back up in about 10 minutes. Easy-peasy and was a wonderful, wonderful day. I would highly recommend it.

Samana, Dominican Republic was the worst place I've been too. We tendered in and walked about an 1/8 of a mile before I felt like there was a risk to the safety of myself and family. It is a port that you are fine if you are on an excursion but should be leery of venturing out on your own.

Not on a Carnival, but on Royal Caribbean years ago, Puerta Plata Dominican Republic.

You had to have a guide to keep people off you , I mean physically.

And a guy offered to sell us a baby.

I think it was a joke but I never have been sure...

My son did not like Nassau at all.

We were walking to the Queen's Staircase and he was worried that we might be jumped.

Jamaica. We didn't feel unsafe, just uncomfortable.

I probably wouldn't venture outside the port area of Belize City and that would probably my first thought when I think of uneasy feeling in the Caribbean. BUT I do HIGHLY recommend a tour that takes you into the countryside and out of Belize City. I've been there 4 times (twice not on cruises on mission trips for a week) and inland is beautiful and the people are great. They actually have two different cultures in Belize and names for each and they will tell you all about it if you ask. We didn't book an excursion in Belize on our last cruise and instead spent most of the day on the ship enjoying the quiet....

Haven't been to Jamaica and have actually avoided it because of what I heard here and other places. Maybe one day if it's mixed with ports we actually really want to go too....

We are going to La Romana in May.. thinking of another "ship" day...