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Question about safety.


zoryana
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Hubby and I are looking to cruise to the Caribbean. However we wanted to go exploring by ourselves. We know there are taxis at the ports, but we keep getting warned about safety. Have you guys ever had a problem trusting anyone on the islands? Taxi drivers, bars, excursions when you decided to do something that wasn’t from the cruise line?

 

 

Zoryana ❤️

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Overall we find most ports in the Caribbean to be safe.

 

There are some places I don't care for notably Jamaica.

 

We wil do things mainly on our own.

 

Keith

 

Same. I don't care for Jamaica either. I find Tijuana similar, but still not near as bad with the aggressive peddlers/beggars/rip off artists, etc.

 

All other ports have been fine, even the Mexican ones (because I mentioned Tijuana). Puerta Vallarta, Cabo, Cozumel... all have been totally fine.

 

I'm particularly fond of the Grand Cayman Island. Every local I encountered there was pretty friendly to super nice. Had a bus driver chat with us, and instead of taking us back to the designated drop off/pickup spot, drove us to a store we said we were going to walk to. Did it before we tipped or anything. He then had to go back to that drop off/pickup spot so he kind of went out of his way for us. Saved us a 15 minute walk in the heat with tired kids.

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The Caribbean is the easiest place in the world to tour DIY on-the-fly. You're safe with taxi & van drivers at the port, either inside the port or at the port gates.:)

They're known to the port authorities and to each-other. They're trustworthy, friendly, they know their island & they know the importance of "back on-board time". Local ne'er-do-wells tend not to trouble folk who're accompanied by a tour driver, even in places like Jamaica. Drivers can replicate ship-sponsored tours at around 25% to 33% of ship's prices (though not including any food, drink or the occasional entry fee), or they can vary it or suggest somewhere different, or take you to a beach. Mostly it's in vans, sharing with other folk from your ship who are milling about on the pier.

Agree itinerary, price (USD) and approx. time-scale before you board, pay in cash when you get back - it's the norm., unless it's simply a transfer to beach or shops etc.

Get out onto the pier around 9am to 9.30 for best choice & to avoid a long delay while the driver rounds-up folk to share.

 

Take your beach gear with you - at the end of your tour the driver will probably suggest that he can drop you either back at the ship or a beach, shops, market, whatever, near the ship. If that's not walkable to the ship he'll come back for you at an agreed time or tell you your other options (taxi, water-taxi, bus, etc) to return to the ship.

 

Be a little wary further from the port, where you might be approached in the street by van/taxi drivers. They may be legit. or they may be unlicenced / uninsured.

 

That's for simple road tours.

Group activities like zip-lining or river-tubing, or specialised transport like 4x4 or boats, can't always be replicated on the fly & best to pre-book with a well-recommended local operator or thro the ship.

 

All first cruises are great - have a good one

 

JB :)

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The 1st thing you need to do is RESEARCH your ports! Get a guidebook!!! Libraries have them, or buy one. That way, you'll have some idea of what you want to do in each place. If you show up at port with NO idea of what there is to do or see, it's a crapshoot if you'll have a good day or not.

Guidebooks tell you pretty much EVERYTHING about your ports...about public transportation, cabs, points of interest and where they are...beaches, shopping, food/drink, safety.....the more you know, the more successful your DIY day will be! And, DIY is almost always a cost saver!

So...read up on your ports, and go and have fun!

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The 1st thing you need to do is RESEARCH your ports! Get a guidebook!!! Libraries have them, or buy one. That way, you'll have some idea of what you want to do in each place. If you show up at port with NO idea of what there is to do or see, it's a crapshoot if you'll have a good day or not.

Guidebooks tell you pretty much EVERYTHING about your ports...about public transportation, cabs, points of interest and where they are...beaches, shopping, food/drink, safety.....the more you know, the more successful your DIY day will be! And, DIY is almost always a cost saver!

So...read up on your ports, and go and have fun!

 

Just go online and type in your port of interest. You will get more info than any guidebook could even think of printing, and you don't have to make a trip to your library or the bookstore. CB does love her guidebooks, but there are far more expansive and practical ways of researching the places you will visit. Hope you have a great cruise!:)

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Check the state department's website for advisories in the ports you plan to visit. Stay aware of your surroundings the same as you would when traveling anywhere. Do your research on what you would like to see and do, and then research tour operators if you don't want to do ship's excursions. And always follow your gut instincts. If something doesn't feel right, there is probably a reason.

 

I do have to say that Jamaica has been my favorite port day. We used a private tour company and had the most amazing day ever. It was a small group of women, and we did a lot of research before booking. We gave our guide a list of our 'must see & do' things, and then told him "show us your Jamaica!" and it was an incredible day. I loved it so much that I used that same company when DH and I had a port day there a few years later. Are there areas of Jamaica I wouldn't go alone? Yes. Are there areas I wouldn't go to at all? Yes. But ditto here in my home metropolitan area and many other places, too.

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The main difference between cruise ports of call and generally staying in the country as a general tourist is that you are usually only in the place during daylight hours. People staying in the country for a week or so are a bit stuck for entertainment and might go out drinking in bars late at night. This is where a lot of bad reputations originate in my opinion as this is going to be far more risky.

 

Regards John

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Just go online and type in your port of interest. You will get more info than any guidebook could even think of printing, and you don't have to make a trip to your library or the bookstore. CB does love her guidebooks, but there are far more expansive and practical ways of researching the places you will visit. Hope you have a great cruise!:)

 

Exactly. Although the guidebook comments always make us laugh a little. TripAdvisor is your friend.

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