What port have you felt the most uneasy??

[crewsweeper]

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...

 

 

Well, guess what! Carnival is building a whole new port, Amber Cove, at Puerta Plata! (techinically ,next door in Maimon Bay). Gonna be open in 2014. Enjoy!

 

As far as detractor to Belize City go, please don't let the aggressive vendors just outside the gates scare you. They are trying to make their living. And yes some will follow you a block or so but hen leave you alone. Most stop with a polite "No Thank You". Those "nice" young men escorting you are also in it for the money, just taking a different approach. None are out to rob you.

 

Belize City is a working port, not a resort port. There's a nice promenade to the right of the tender piers and beyond the lighthouse. No vendors there, higher priced hotels and embassies are in that area. Across the swing bridge and down Regents Street you'll find working Belizeans, stores, cultural attractions, restaurants, etc. A little slice of everyday life in Belize City. And yes to get out of town, tour buses have to pass through the poorer sections, but don't buses and taxis do this in some of our major cities gettiing to the airports? Spend a little time learning about a different culture/way of life instead of expecting every port to cater to your whims at cookie cutter places by charging you $$$ for watered down drinks and imitations of Americanized food. BTW, I'm not a "multi-culturist, diversify, love-is-all-you-need, Prius driving wing-nut.

[squirt7135]

We've only been on one cruise, but I felt a little shaky in Nassau when we ventured up one block "too far" I guess. Two cars actually slowed down to ask if we were "okay" or if we were "lost" and then we were warned to go back toward the ship.... We didn't see anything that made me uncomfortable, but once we got home from the cruise I read that there have been a lot of robberies/muggings up that way.

[Blizzardlane]

Montego Bay scared me. Half-finished concrete shells of houses, full of squatters, all around this natural beauty and grinding poverty and a sense that just about anything could set it off.

 

Oddly, the only time I've been in a war zone was in Roatan. Honduras was in the middle of a low-key civil war. We left the port because I was intent on buying a pair of sandals for formal night. Our cab driver spoke terrific English; turns out his parents had moved back to Roatan from Ohio. There were soldiers with machine guns and bandoliers on the road; they just waved us by.

 

I found some sandals at a store in a brand-new little strip mall that our driver was proud to show us had a Ruby Tuesday. I still have the shoes in their box. It reads $435. That's in lempira; it's about $22 US.

[wrigley80]

Belize..........without a doubt. I went to Belize the first time in 2004 and within minutes of getting off the tender boat I was ready to get back on the ship. I went back again in December 2011 and we went to The Wet Lizard.

Belize is the only port where I have ever felt uncomfortable

[crusinfamof4]

We didn't care for Belize too much, didn't care for the tender process. Our tour bus, the emergency door flew open twice, I thought it was going to swing back and bust the window out where I was sitting. They took us way deep down into the middle of no where. On the Alta Hu excursion, there were some suspect people walking around. I was excited to go, initially, even after the bad reviews, but once we got there, I was already ready to go back.

 

Oh one scary place to me, after the ruins tour, they drove us to the Black Orchard Inn, for "lunch". They told us we could explore the property. When I did that, this man kept following me around. He initially started running at me and scared me to death.

 

Any other ports, I was cool with. I did not see the machine guns in Belize like I read I would see, saw those in Costa Maya, but that didn't bother me.

[crusinfamof4]

We've only been on one cruise, but I felt a little shaky in Nassau when we ventured up one block "too far" I guess. Two cars actually slowed down to ask if we were "okay" or if we were "lost" and then we were warned to go back toward the ship.... We didn't see anything that made me uncomfortable, but once we got home from the cruise I read that there have been a lot of robberies/muggings up that way.

 

I love the Bahamas. I have been to Nassau and to a resort on Freeport. We did walk several blocks as well in Nassau. At a certain point, my DH said, uh I think we have walked too far, and we turned around. We then took a taxi to Atlantis. While he felt uncomfortable, it didn't bother me too much. Can't wait to go back in November!

[missdebi]

We felt uneasy in Belize~but from reading these boards for years I have learned to always be aware of the areas we visit and do my research, check out tour operators and on occasion we will just stay on the ship. Crime happens everywhere we can't let that stop us from enjoying life we just need to be aware and try to made educated decisions!

[ready2cruzagain]

I felt very unsafe in Limon, Colon. I was with dh and there were prostitutes trying to pick him up :eek::eek:. Have never seen anything like it before. We quickly left and went back to the ship. I have no desire to go back there.

 

As others have said...I did not feel safe in Belize either. Once you walk outside of the gated area it is a different world. Very unsafe IMHO.

 

Now Ochos Rios, I liked. We walked through town and had no problems. People did approach us like crazy wanting us to buy something but we kindly said no thank you and went on our way. I never felt unsafe.

 

[elcuchio24]

Well, I don't want people to go places that they feel uncomfortable. But if the sight of guns, poverty, being offered drugs, or being sold stuff by pushy locals scares you, you are going to be very limited on where you will feel comfortable going in the world. If cruiseship stops make you feel uncomfortable, you might want to avoid--all of central/south america, most of the carribean islands, asia, most of the middle east, all of africa, easter europe, parts of wester europe.......Actually you might just want to stick with Midwest America and Canada;):)

[bythehex]

I'm sure many people have had a wonderful time in Jamaica, but there's a reason that hands down it seems that most people dislike that port.

 

The first time we visited Jamaica was off a cruise and we had a great time taking the famous Peat Taylor tour. We thought it was beautiful and decided to go back the following year for our vacation, to a gated resort.

 

If you think the people are aggressive and pushy when a ship is in port, you should see how ugly they become when the ships leave! By far it was the worst place we've ever been too. Imagine being at a gated resort, wanting to walk to some shops, and having the guard at the gate warn you not to go outside the gate that day because it was too dangerous! Imagine seeing people urinate and defecate in the streets right in front of you. We went into the Burger King in Ocho Rios to get sodas and were physically accosted, I had my hair pulled and my husband had his arm scratched. We found even the shop keepers were aggressive and unpleasant.

 

We've been there after that off of cruises, and decided to give it a chance, but after our last time stopping there we decided it was THE last time we would get off the ship in Jamaica. In all of our travels to various ports, Jamaica is the one port we can actually say we hate.

 

For all the people who had great times there, wonderful for you. It's not a place we ever want to visit again.

[Roxy30]

My hubby and I stayed at The Jewel in Ocho Rios in April 2011. We hired a local guy to take us to climb the falls and go water rafting down a river. We were off the beaten path with no other tourists around, and not once did I not feel safe. The people were very friendly and interesting to talk to. yes there were the pushy people asking if we wanted to buy "smoke", but hubby figured out if he asked them first, they just looked at us like we were crazy and walked away :D

[MamaParrotHead]

IMO I wouldn't get off the ship with kids in Jamaica. I also wasn't real impressed with Belize and it's sense of safety. If you do anything in these ports, IMO, it should be with a ship excursion. Although as history has shown (IN Jamaica and now Mexico) even THAT doesn't stop some of the crazies from robbing Carnival pax at machete and gun point. People who have cahones THAT size have to have a few screws loose and I wouldn't want to be mixing it up with them. No way, Jose. ESPECIALLY with kids.

[RWolver672]

I'd have to say St. Croix. Creepy Rastafarians doped up begging for money.

 

As for departure ports that had me looking over my shoulder, NOLA at 6am when I went for a walk by myself. The walk from the Sheraton on Biscayne Bay to Bayside in Miami can be a little frightening at night too.

[Lady Arwen]

Jamaica is by far our least favorite port. We don't book cruises that stop there anymore. Too many other wonderful islands to visit that are safe.

[grozas]

After traveling all over south America and Mexico, I have never had any problems with any ports or towns. It is pretty obvious from this thread that Americans are pretty naive when it comes to 3rd world countries. This is the way most human beings on this earth live. Us Americans are very spoiled

[IResQU]

Jamaica! (ocho rios) we have been on numerous cruises to lots of ports, and have all agreed that we would never even get off the ship! although disclaimer, we did go on an excursion in Belize.

While in Jamaica we had drugs offered to us, while in a car, and they were climbing in the windows. The Taxi driver drove us down a back road until we bought their merchandise, and had their friends come and offer their junk too. My kids were little (3 and 7) and were terrified.

I grew up in Miami, so I am very comfortable around all waks of life, but would avoid Jamaica if ever there again.

[lizjoemom]

You will be fine. I think what freaks a lot of Americans out is the level of poverty in Belize City. The area outside the cruise dock is run down and doesn't look cookie-cutter perfect, someplace like Cozumel does. .

 

So funny that you say Cozumel is cookie cutter perfect! LOL. The last time that DH and I were in Cozumel was almost 24 years ago and it was one of the WORST ports! Poverty stricken and dirty, no real "port" to speak of, everything was covered in blue tarps and we were harrassed, swindled by a cab driver and had a camera stolen! My DH swore to never go back.

 

We are however taking a Carnival cruise this summer that goes to Belize and Cozumel. So it seems that Belize has now taken the place of Cozumel? I am starting to get worried that my DH will not get off the ship!:p Please someone give me the good word about Belize!

[sonicbuffalo]

No contest!

 

Ft. Lauderdale:D

[lizjoemom]

Offered Drugs: Jamaica (by the cab driver)

Dirtiest/Poorest: Martinique (got right back on ship)

Something Stolen right out of bag: Cozumel

Swindled by cab drivers: Cozumel (really the worst since he wouldnt take us back to the ship if we didnt pay double) and various other ports they try but we learned our lesson.

Stopped with guns drawn by Policia: San Juan PR

Harrassed by Hair braiders and merchants: EVERYWHERE!

Beggars in the street: Venice

 

 

but I must say that by far out of all the places that I have ever been, the only place that I have ever been "SCARED" was Washington DC early on a Sunday morning, walking to church from our hotel, so bad that we had to turn back. That's right, right here in the good ole USA in our nation's capitol!

 

Lesson: Use common sense, if it doesnt feel right it probably isnt. Dont go anywhere alone and dont assume that everyone will do what's right and good. Dont flash money, wear a money belt when necessary. If you are wearing a pocketbook make sure it is over your head across your chest. Dont wear jewelry and dont act like an idiot. Pay attention to what they tell you on the ship in those port talks, especially if you are new to cruising, they really do know what they are talking about.

 

HAVE FUN! and dont worry so much....:D

[kiraryker]

You're all freaking me out here! I am getting scared. We are going on a Carnival day tour when we are in Belize. :(

 

We were just there in Jan 2012 - and we loved it! We took a private tour with cavetubing.bz and had a wonderful experience so don't worry the people were so hospitable! The cave tubing was the best experience and my kids still talk about it even more than swimming with dolphins and manatees! Everyone had a blast - while we were cavetubing one of the guides took my father around to show him the vegitation and even prepared him a lunch - he said it was a good tour for him also.

 

We had kids with us and my father is in a wheel chair and they made sure he was comfortable at all times - it was the best tour/port of our trip - well other than buying jewelry in Cozumel!! I enjoyed that HA HA

[elcuchio24]

After traveling all over south America and Mexico, I have never had any problems with any ports or towns. It is pretty obvious from this thread that Americans are pretty naive when it comes to 3rd world countries. This is the way most human beings on this earth live. Us Americans are very spoiled

 

You’re absolutely right, unfortunately.

[missdebi]

So funny that you say Cozumel is cookie cutter perfect! LOL. The last time that DH and I were in Cozumel was almost 24 years ago and it was one of the WORST ports! Poverty stricken and dirty, no real "port" to speak of, everything was covered in blue tarps and we were harrassed, swindled by a cab driver and had a camera stolen! My DH swore to never go back.

 

We are however taking a Carnival cruise this summer that goes to Belize and Cozumel. So it seems that Belize has now taken the place of Cozumel? I am starting to get worried that my DH will not get off the ship!:p Please someone give me the good word about Belize!

 

We had a friend who did an excursion(cave tubing) through the ship in Belize and love it:)

[happy to be sailing]

Our worst stop was Margarita Is.this is the garbage dump of the caribbean.

[lizjoemom]

Oh, I must add one more to my list:

 

tied for Dirtiest/Poorest: Curacao (another one of those, got right back on the ship, deals).

 

Prev. poster: Where is Margarita Island? Never heard of it.

[crewsweeper]

So funny that you say Cozumel is cookie cutter perfect! LOL. The last time that DH and I were in Cozumel was almost 24 years ago and it was one of the WORST ports! Poverty stricken and dirty, no real "port" to speak of, everything was covered in blue tarps and we were harrassed, swindled by a cab driver and had a camera stolen! My DH swore to never go back.

 

We are however taking a Carnival cruise this summer that goes to Belize and Cozumel. So it seems that Belize has now taken the place of Cozumel? I am starting to get worried that my DH will not get off the ship!:p Please someone give me the good word about Belize!

See my post #101 above about Belize. Do an excursion to one of the Maya ruins or snorkeling. What I think many people miss in Belize is that there's no Margaritaville type place (places) right off the tender pier. That unfortunately is becoming the expectation for every port for many cruisers. Also, I think you'll find Coz dramatically changed after 24 years. Do an island tour. Downtown, San Miguel, still has somewhat aggressive vendors, especially on days of few ships in port, but it's very clean and safe to walk in other areas not jus taround the Plaza. Rogue taxi horror stories, like one poster above, are few and far between as most taxis are regulated and prices are zoned and listed.