ReggaeRoy

Scotchie's. Hands down the best jerk in Ocho Rios.

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.

There were very few children on the first cruise. Most of them were toddlers in carriages. It was a friendly atmosphere overall. Everyone just seemed to get along great. Very little smoke to deal with. That was usually at night - during the performances.

We are booked for cruise 2 this year. I hope you decide to go.

My wife and I did exactly what your are thinking of doing...

We took the shuttle bus from the pier to Doctor's Cave Beach Club. I think it was $5 per person. We spent several hours there. Then we walked the hip-strip to Margarittaville. It is a short walk with many gift shops along the way. The locals can be a bit pushy to come inside their stores, but we never felt unsafe. Margarittaville was way too crowded, so we grabbed a taxi back to the ship. There are lots of cabs along the street. Just make sure it has a red license plate.

the Blue Hole is at least a 2 hour drive from Montego Bay. I would only do that excursion from Ocho Rios or Falmouth.

The bobsleds are one person to a car. But they can tether two of them together. The person in front controls the speed. We like to do this, so the person in the back can video tape the ride.

They are pretty easy to operate... Push the handles forward to go faster and pull them back to slow down.

The ride is a lot of fun. They take your picture on the way down (offered for sale). The ride brings you right back to the top of the hill. So you can go again, go on the zip line, go into the gift shop, get a meal, etc.

I am not sure of this, but I think the only restaurant inside the Falmouth pier is Margarittaville.

Glistening Waters is just a short drive away and has excellent local food. We have always enjoyed it there.

Absolutely. Many people think Silver Sands is the nicest beach in Jamaica. Only three more weeks until our fifth stay there. :)

They have a bar and grill and a small market/gift shop. Ping pong table and a tennis court. Plus several water sports - kayaks, body boards, windsurfing, and decent snorkeling. You can rent all the gear there too. Lots of shade under the almond trees and thatch umbrellas. The food is very good and reasonably priced.

Check out some of the villas. You just may return as a guest! :D

Wow, what a great voyage. Thanks for bringing us along with you.

The Jacob Taylor beach is in the town of Duncans (maybe a 10 minute drive from the Falmouth pier). It is right next to the Silver Sands villa complex (where we always stay).

It is a nice beach, but small. There are a few craft vendors there (not too pushy). Also Leroy's Bar is right by the water. I believe he also has food.

Not a lot of activites there and no lounge chairs (that I remember).

The beach at Silver Sands is spectacular, but I believe it is limited to guests there.

Yes, that cruise was a blast. We are already booked for the 2015 cruise!

This is a tough call because they are both so good! I like Scotchie's jerk chicken a little better than the Pork Pit. But I prefer the jerk pork at Pork Pit.

I would give an ever so slight advantage to Pork Pit - only because you can easily walk there from Doctor's Cave Beach. Scotchie's is about 3-4 miles from Doctor's Cave.

My wife and I did the Bamboo Beach VIP excursion through Norwegian in October of 2014. We had a blast. Great staff, food, drinks, beach, etc.

Here is the link to my full cruise report. Bamboo Beach starts at post #13.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2142968

I have done the Appleton Rum Factory tour twice during land based vacations. It is close to a 2-hour drive (each way) from Montego Bay to the factory.

It is quite a nice tour. You immediatley get a glass of rum punch. Then your guide will take you on the tour. The tour probably lasts 45 minutes or so (depending on how crowded it is and how many questions people ask). The guide will show the entire rum making process from start to finish. Lots of old memorabilia there too.

After the tour, the guide will take you to a tasting room. He/she will describe each of the rums and then leave you to sample as much as you want. They have a small gift shop, bar, and restaurant too.

If you go, see if your driver will stop in Middle Quarters so you can try some of those delicious mountain pepper shrimp!!!

Depending on time, you might also be able to make a stop at YS Falls too. That might be cutting it close to get back to the ship on time.

Hello all,

I hope some of you can help me a bit...

I will be doing a land based vacation to Jamaica next month. We have a villa just outside of Falmouth with a group of 11. One of my crew is a 14 year old boy who will be in a walking cast. I understand that he will be able to swim and get wet.

I wanted to ask the experts what activities/excursions he could still do?

* I think he be fine at Mystic Mountain.

* Dunn's River Falls might be too much for him?

* We have been planning on doing the Blue Hole and White River tubing one day. Not so sure about that one anymore.

* Green Grotto Caves?

* Bamboo rafting on the Martha Brae River? Might be boring for a teenager though?

Thanks in advance. I am looking forward to hearing from you.

That place looks awesome. I'd like Earl!!!

Is the shuttle in the port area? Will we have trouble finding it?

Yes, shuttle buses and taxis are readily available as soon as you leave the pier building.

There is a shopping area called Blue Diamond a few miles east of Montego Bay. We've never had issues there. You could aslo combine it with a trip to the Rose Hall Great House (old sugar plantation). Fun.

1) Doctor's Cave is about 2 miles from the pier. Maybe 2 1/2.

2) We took the shuttle there and it was $5.00 each.

3) I believe it was $6.00 to get in. Plus we got two chairs and an umbrella for another $15 or so.

4) Yes, there will be plenty of taxis waiting to take you back. Make sure it has a red license plate. I think it was $7.00 each.

5) It is very safe there.

6) I do remember a couple of beach vendors, but they were not pushy at all. I bought a coconut from one of them.

7) Yes, there are showers, foot washes, and changing rooms.

8) They have bar and food as well. Prices were "reasonable".

9) You can snorkel out by the buoys.

10) I am not sure if you can see the ship from the beach.

Hello,

We have an aft facing mini-suite (cabin 11656) booked for our next cruise. I am wondering what anyone can tell me about it? Especially the bathroom (I felt cramped in our ba balcony cabin last cruise).

Thanks!

We were in Montego Bay in October. Some friends of ours did walk from the ship to Doctor's Cave. They said they'd never do it again. Too hectic with traffic.

Thanks for the link to your review Roy. I have never been on a theme cruise but it looked fun. I wonder how many Red Stripe beers were consumed in that cruise....probably more that week than any other week

Funny you should mention that. The ship ran out of Red Stripe on the last night. I had to switch to Bud Light!

It was quite amazing to be on a ship loaded with people who share the same passion as you.

This should take you right to it.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2142968

My wife and I were on the first annual Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise in October of 2014. Please check out my full review with lots of pictures from Montego Bay and Ocho Rios on the Norwegian forum titled "Pearl - Reggae Cruise - Roy's Review". Thanks.

Thank you for posting. Always wondered what a music cruise would be like but why so short?

I would have preferred an extra day or two myself. But it was fine. In 2015, they are doing two 5-day cruises back-to-back.

Embarkation was an absolute nightmare. We stood in line for over 3 1/2 hours just to get off the ship.

We got a day room at the Miami Hilton Hotel. That was a very nice end to our trip. We relaxed, napped, and got a bite to eat before the flight home.

The flight home was dreadful. Nearly constant turbulence the entire flight.

We got back home around midnight.

Be it ever so humble, there is no place like home. Especially when you have these two wonderful boys to come home to.

This is Marley.

And this is Cooper.

They are both Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

We are so happy you are home mommy!

Phew. That's my cruise report. I hope you all enjoyed tagging along with me. Next December is the second annual Welcoem to Jamrock Reggae Cruise. We are already booked!