Bahamas People to People Program

[interlake547]

We are in Freeport on the 5th. I will have wifi in my hotel in NOLA on the morning of the 2nd. That will be the last chance (as Canadian cell rates are $$$ for data outside the country) and I don't think I would pay to check email on the ship. Today is the 30th. It is very disappointing. I was so excited.

[Amy from Delaware]

I had also really been looking forward to People to People earlier this month. I did get an email from P2P with the name and contact info for my host, and they were also sent the same email. The host replied to the email saying they'd be in touch with me.

 

I googled the host, and found out that they were an extremely bad match for my friends and myself. I sent what I believe to be a very nice email to the host, saying that I looked forward to hearing from them and meeting them, but that due to a difference in our beliefs, I was hoping a particular thing would not become a topic of discussion during our visit. I asked that if that was a problem for them to please let me know and I would ask P2P to look for a different host instead.

 

I never heard from the host, even when I sent another follow-up. I then contacted P2P, and they replied that they'd spoken with the host, and the host would be contacting me.

 

Well, I never did hear from the host. I let P2P know that, and they never replied to me either.

 

This was the ONLY off-ship activity I had planned during my cruise, and I am extremely disappointed at how the whole thing was (not) handled. If I had been given enough notice, I would have made other plans for Nassau. But I kept hoping I'd hear something from someone.

 

I still think the program sounds like a great idea, but there seems to be some glitch in the system. I hope other people have better luck than I did.

[cumberlandga]

I received our hosts name on 1/28. Until reading Three Rings post above, I would have never thought to research our hosts name. If I'm correct our host is a police officer.

 

We will not be in port until 2/15 so I am waiting until closer to the time to contact and make arrangements for our meeting.

 

I really hopes it all works out and I will post an update.

[scubagirrl]

I received our hosts name on 1/28. Until reading Three Rings post above, I would have never thought to research our hosts name. If I'm correct our host is a police officer.

 

We will not be in port until 2/15 so I am waiting until closer to the time to contact and make arrangements for our meeting.

 

I really hopes it all works out and I will post an update.

 

I wouldn't wait too long. Communications can be a bit iffy in the bahamas. (we just had nearly a week of some areas not have services).

Get in touch as soon as you can.. and keep in touch.

[cumberlandga]

Will do! Thank you!

[Terpsfan1]

Just returned from Nassau and went to the People to People Tea Party at the Government House. They are held on the last Friday of the month and are very enjoyable. Had tea with the Governor's wife, saw a fashion show, musical entertainment, desserts and finger sandwiches....etc. Would highly recommend for a different Nassau experience. Call People to People office to reserve a spot.

 

Carol

[redsoxfan56]

Just received an email asking me to reconfirm my travel. We shall see if I get anything more.

 

 

Patti

 

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[cruisergal 1]

I got confirmation and the name of my Ambassador. I sent him an email introducing myself and DH, and within a day he got back to me via email as well. I was quite impressed with his quick reply. He told me if there is anything special we wanted to see to let him know and he will incorporate it with his ideas. So I am doing a bit of research into Nassau. I have his phone #, and will probably contact him next week before we leave on our cruise to confirm meeting location. Will report back here about the program, when I get home in March...

[redsoxfan56]

Cruiser

When is your cruise?

 

 

Patti

 

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[cruisergal 1]

Cruiser

When is your cruise?

 

 

Patti

 

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Our cruise is Feb 22 - Carnival Freedom

[cumberlandga]

:(

 

I have made attempts to contact our ambassador and have never received reply. Our cruise leaves Friday.

 

At this point, I just hope we make it to the boat. I'm in ATL & were expecting major ice event!

[redsoxfan56]

:(

 

 

 

I have made attempts to contact our ambassador and have never received reply. Our cruise leaves Friday.

 

 

 

At this point, I just hope we make it to the boat. I'm in ATL & were expecting major ice event!

 

 

It's the strangest thing. I have now had two emails asking me to confirm my travel plans so my request can be assigned! I suspect they don't have sufficient personnel to handle the requests? I am close to giving up on the idea at this point.

 

Good luck with the ice storm. Leaving from Providence a week from Friday and praying there are no weather issues.m another storm here on Cape Cod this week :-(

 

 

Patti

 

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[redsoxfan56]

Finally have the contact info for my Ambassador!!!!

 

 

 

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[redsoxfan56]

Got the contact info. Tried to reach her multiple times. Clearly this was not meant to be. Maybe another time.

Sounds like maybe the demand is more than they can handle?

 

 

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[CruiseControl_]

This program is heavily reliant on volunteers, however they don't turn anyone away, ever. Apparently its an underfunded government program and some have been rallying to get more resources for. The demand is not that great because it's underfunded. Try email Janet Johnson - jjohnson@bahamas.com. I met her at a tourism promotion the for the Bahamas in New York a few months back. She oversees a lot of those areas. It's worth a shot - I've heard nothing good things about the program.

 

 

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[wurm64]

Hey everyone. Just thought I would add that I am going on the Carnival Dream on March 22nd. I signed up for the program a couple months ago and about a month ago was set up with a host. His name is William Bethel. I can't find much about him when I google his name. I'm hoping this is a safe thing. I talked to him twice on the phone because he does not have email. Seems like a nice guy but he did not say anything about what he has set up for us to do. I'll try to let you guys know how it goes. I'm going off the fact that they say the volunteers are screened. I have read nothing but good reviews on the program so I'm hoping it all works out. If you don't hear back from me I got mugged lol.

[iheartbda]

After reading about this program and thinking it was quite interesting, I inquired about it. A poster or two said after emailing them, they heard nothing but I decided to give it a try anyway.

 

To my surprise, I got a response the very next morrning asking for all my information, I was so excited! I got another email the following day to confirm my information which I sent back immediatly once again.

 

Then it went down hill from there as I never heard from them again. I held out with hope up until the day we left on the cruise thinking that we still had a chance of getting an ambassador. No such luck.:( I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt that they couldn't find someone for us.

 

Since we had counted on that, we were left to wing it and hooked up with a cab driver, with his government ID, who said he would show us Paradise Island and Atlantis plus other sites and get us back into town for some shopping. He did take us to Atlantis and waited while we took a quick look through the casino. Just felt we were in Las Vegas.

 

He also took us to the Queen's staircase but the access to it was through a busy hospital parking lot so we opted not to get out of the cab. He then proceeded to take us through street after street of mid to lower class residential areas. :confused: We were quite happy to get back to the main shopping street and part ways with him. We did not tip over and above the price he quoted us after spending all that time going through those residential areas, which was quite bizarre.

 

The People to People program seems to be hit or miss but I guess it's worth a try as some have had success with it. Unfortunately, we did not.

[disneymarie]

Although I loved our tour for $20 each, I think some of the tour/taxi drivers at the port have the politics thought to show the poorest living conditions along with the best. They received their independance from England some time back and now our self reliant. The income is from tourism and I guess the casinos.

 

Our cab driver told us the protest going on were due to citizens not being allowed to gamble. We went through the streets past some shacks with lean roofs from storms along the way to the rum cake factory.

There were water faucets on the corners for families to obtain their water.

 

Then we were driven past a magnificent huge place building..it was a bank, owned by Miit Romney. I was shocked. Off shore place to park his cash. I'm not political driven, just mentioning. It's his money and can do with it as he is allowed.

 

I did enjoy the tour, except I could have missed Atlantis. This trip I think we will stick close to the port, eat, swim and drink rum.

Edited March 22, 2014 by disneymarie