Falmouth, Jamaica

[grad201182]

I am looking at this excursion Falmouth Heritage Walking Tour.

 

My question is, is it worth the money or can we see the sites on our own. First time to Falmouth and first time on RCL.

 

Thank you

[Love the beach]

I would not venture out of the port gates on my own in Falmouth.....better off with a tour.

[british lady]

I would not venture out of the port gates on my own in Falmouth.....better off with a tour.

 

Very good advice.

Never again would I go out of the gates!.

Love Jamaica, but not Falmouth.

[Retired LEO]

Ahhh yes the black gates of doom.

[14Terry]

On our last cruise about 16 of us who met on a roll call prior to the cruise, did a self-guided tour. Never felt threatened and there were uniformed police around. Had a great time exploring Falmouth.

 

If you do decide to venture out be aware of your surroundings as you would visiting any unknown place. Happy cruising!

 

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[loupana]

Ah yes the beautiful port of Falmouth, we also walked out the gates took this photo then went back in and spent some time in Margaritaville for a bit then right back on the ship...

 

[roseshayit]

Very good advice.

Never again would I go out of the gates!.

Love Jamaica, but not Falmouth.

 

As someone who is looking to go to Falmouth with my family (2 LOs included), can you clarify this for me? What does it mean you wouldn't leave the gates, but you don't love Falmouth? Is what's within the gates different than Falmouth?

 

I cruised to Montego Bay over a decade ago and don't really remember getting off and on the ship then, so any information is greatly appreciated!

[Robinola]

Hilton rose hall resort is an awesome way to spend the day.:)

[dacsmom]

As someone who is looking to go to Falmouth with my family (2 LOs included), can you clarify this for me? What does it mean you wouldn't leave the gates, but you don't love Falmouth? Is what's within the gates different than Falmouth?

 

I cruised to Montego Bay over a decade ago and don't really remember getting off and on the ship then, so any information is greatly appreciated!

 

Inside the gates is the port, safe and full of shopping. Outside the gates not so much. I am another one who would not venture into Falmouth on my own. I get off the ship, wander around a bit, eat one of those tasty meat patties and get right back on the ship.

[roseshayit]

Inside the gates is the port, safe and full of shopping. Outside the gates not so much. I am another one who would not venture into Falmouth on my own. I get off the ship, wander around a bit, eat one of those tasty meat patties and get right back on the ship.

 

Got it. What excursions go outside the gates that people would consider safe? Anything?

[grad201182]

Has anyone done the Falmouth Tours by trolley.

 

 

and should we do the Falmouth Heritage Walking Tour

[Mnamom1105]

Hubby and I did the Trolley tour - I found it to be very informative. I felt safe on it.

[trnsfrguy]

Hilton rose hall resort is an awesome way to spend the day.:)

 

I agree !

Went there last October and going back next month.

[sailor05]

Hubby and I did the Trolley tour - I found it to be very informative. I felt safe on it.

 

 

Did you book this through the ship or on your own. I'd like to do some sort of tour as there's nothing else that interests us there.

[Markmom18]

We are going to Falmouth, Jamaica for the first time on Royal in August. In the photo posted I saw 3 uniformed Tourist or Regular Police. I also saw goods that looked for sale. I'm not a big adventurer...however, I'm going to book a tour to the Rose Hilton ( can't remember the exact name). Boy, I just don't want to go traveling to different ports and then hang in Margaritaville. JMHO.

:). Bobni

[FluffsMom]

We took a taxi from Falmouth to over near Montego Bay and had a wonderful day at the beach. Never felt afraid or threatened in any way.

[FlaGirl13]

In Falmouth last week. Did the Good Hope Estate and High Tea tour. It was beautiful and you are on a bus through the rough part of town. Amazing views and great food.

[pspercy]

Just do it, you'll be fine, use common sense as usual, this applies just about anywhere in the world a cruise ship stops.

[Mnamom1105]

Did you book this through the ship or on your own. I'd like to do some sort of tour as there's nothing else that interests us there.

 

 

 

booked through ship!

[DragonOfTheSeas]

I am looking at this excursion Falmouth Heritage Walking Tour.

 

My question is, is it worth the money or can we see the sites on our own. First time to Falmouth and first time on RCL.

 

Thank you

 

DH and I visited Falmouth a couple of months ago. We had visited there before and taken the Dunn's River tour. so, this time we wanted to see some of Falmouth--but did nit want to go on our own. [Had visited Montego Bay for a week in a Sandals resort and went to town several times on our own and felt safe]. But, Falmouth has such a bad rap.

 

The tour was not bad. [DH felt it was a little long] The most interesting stops were the school and a historical house. the house is owned by one of the part owners of the tour company. We got to see the main rooms on the first floor. the owner gave some history, but, she talked WAY too long

 

Next time we visit we will go on our own to the center of town [by the fountain] to do a little shopping.

 

Also, there is a small area of temporary stalls just outside the gate if you want to shop there.

 

Beware of traffic. The streets are not all that busy--but, cars will not stop/slow down for a pedestrian. [Our guide was careful to keep us off the roads when a car went by]

 

There were lots of police around the areas near the port and the fountain shopping area. I would feel very safe there.

Edited June 7, 2015 by DragonOfTheSeas

[Markmom18]

Thanks everybody who posted about seeing Falmouth beyond the fence. I agree that common sense, awareness of your surrounding,and going to another Country showing respect & kindness will usually make for a pleasant visit.

:). Bobbi

Edited June 8, 2015 by Markmom18

[CCC3]

We just returned, and did the Hilton Rose Hall resort. We booked through resortforaday.com, and they provided transportation in a reliable bus to / from the resort. We felt very safe! The area inside the gated port was very safe, IMO, and when I asked about the tents set up outside the port gates & shopping there, I was told in a resounding chorus, "NO!"

[sauvichick]

I am looking at this excursion Falmouth Heritage Walking Tour.

 

My question is, is it worth the money or can we see the sites on our own. First time to Falmouth and first time on RCL.

 

Thank you

 

We booked http://jamaicaculinarytours.com/tours/view/falmouth_food_tour_868291713#.VXW0M45VhHw and really enjoyed it. Never felt unsafe. The tour guide "protected" us from the kids trying to sell us things:D! Same site you're looking on.

[tserface]

We walked around the town just outside of Falmouth and didn't have any problems at all. The people were very nice. We saw a great old church and walked along the beach.

 

I feel like I could be in as little or as much danger walking around many cities in the U.S.

 

You're likely safer to stay inside of the cruise bubble, but you miss out on seeing and experiencing the "real" place.

 

If there is a walking tour that will take you in a group you may feel safer. I've never felt like I was in any danger anywhere in Jamaica. They are people there just like anywhere else.

 

We've also hired taxis to take us around and that's worked out really well too. They'll usually wait for you at stores. We don't do the "drop us off and pick us up later" deal unless it's a ship tour. We don't want to take the chance that we won't make it back to the ship on time.

 

Tom

[Beachcampin]

Has anyone done the Falmouth Tours by trolley.

 

 

and should we do the Falmouth Heritage Walking Tour

 

You've already made the first step, considering how you want to go out into the great unknown despite the nervous Nellies on these boards. We've done the trolley tour, the walking tour, and gone out on our own. All three were great. If you do the walking tour, the twenty year old girls escorting you through town will protect you from the the people who dare to ask you to buy something from them.

 

I described our experience walking through town on our own in my review here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2182750

 

Jamaica is on about page 6.

 

If you do the walking tour or the trolly tour, you will not really be able to stop and grab some of the pastries, patties or jerk chicken from the many restaurants and shops that you will see along the way. This was the only negative for us about the tour. After the tour, and after you have a feel for the town, there will be enough time for you to head back out again and hit someplace that looked interesting to you. None of it is really that far from port so it is doable.

 

If you want to do a walking tour with a culinary aspect to it, then do google Falmouth Culinary Walking Tour. It's done by the same people who do the regular walking tour through the ship, except this one is not offered through the ship I believe.

 

Here's a review of the walking tour: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1953290&highlight=falmouth+%26+culinary&page=4

 

We hit some of the same stops as listed in her review, just on our own. In the Disney area of the port, the information booth has maps, or you could print a google map before you go and take it with you.

 

Just something to keep in mind is that Falmouth is essentially a very small poor town. The vendors, some of whom can be aggressive, are mostly not from Falmouth, but from Montego Bay or Ocho Rios, they come into town when a ship is there and mostly stay close to the port. The Falmouth residents that we've met and talked to in the restaurants and churches have all been very friendly, proud of their town and loved talking to us about their little town.

 

 

Here's one more look, Jamaica starts on about page three:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2025410

Edited June 8, 2015 by Beachcampin