Beware Straw Market at Queen's Staircase in Nassau

[wolfcathorse]

Last week my ex boss and I were in Nassau on Mariner of the Seas. It was her first cruise. We did the taxi tour of the town (they're all $30 pp) that stopped at The Queen's Staircase. My ex boss saw a train toy carved out of wood that she wanted to get for her 3 yr old. The taxi driver had encouraged all of us to negotiate with the vendors. So instead of paying $15 for it, she and the vendor agreed on $11. Then the vendor says she's going to wrap it for us. She had her back turned to us while she wrapped it. We returned to the ship and later that night as we were packing up we unwrapped it to discover why she had her back to us. She had ripped off all the wheels on one side of the toy train. She was upset to say the least. Fortunately, I picked up a few supplies at Hobby Lobby and my husband fixed it for her.

 

Shame on her actions on a Sunday, and shame on her period.:mad::mad:

[voyager70]

That's really disgusting. I hate that straw market, been there a few times but stopped going years ago. Glad you were able to help your friend out. Thanks for warning others.

[HOSKI]

That was just mean. There really was no real reason to do that except to give people a bad impression of the island and straw market. She could not really have increased her earnings by stealing wheels.

[Langley Cruisers]

How awful. I'm sorry to hear this, and glad you mentioned it here. That's really despicable and she knew you'd be long gone once discovered. :(

[DandDM]

Wonder if the vendor actually substituted the intact toy train for a broken one...still really crummy

 

 

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[CruisingNole]

$11 is your gripe? Understandable, no one likes to get ripped off. But for future knowledge, know that all of the items in that tourist trap are overpriced and made in China.

[Merion_Mom]

$11 is your gripe? Understandable, no one likes to get ripped off. But for future knowledge, know that all of the items in that tourist trap are overpriced and made in China.

Do you think that a 3 year old cares?

[CruisingNole]

Do you think that a 3 year old cares?

 

Nope.

[ZoeyVictoria]

It sounds like a way for the vendor to demonstrate that she is selling $11 worth of a $15 toy. She shouldn’t have accepted the $11 if she felt that way about it.

[zebra36]

I learned my lesson a good while back re: vendors wrapping purchase on St Maarten. I purchased a delft(?) flower holder and clerk wrapped up one that was smaller than the one I paid for. Just need to keep an eye on the item you buy.

[StolidCruiser]

How awful. I'm sorry to hear this, and glad you mentioned it here. That's really despicable and she knew you'd be long gone once discovered. :(

 

Same theory applies to those last-day DSC removers who "tip in cash".

[Peewee14]

Where the wheels actually missing or broken off. Just wondering if it was damaged in transit

 

 

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[Vlgg731]

The quality of the vendors in Nassau declined drastically after the first years ago. Before the fire I bought lovely rectangle baskets that have lasted for years. I purchased another one a few years ago and it already looks ragged. And the vendors are rude now.

[mom2tcdx2]

I hate those markets, the vendors are pushy and just overall nasty. I don't even bother getting off a ship in Nassau anymore. Too bad they have to ruin their own island.

[gerif]

Where the wheels actually missing or broken off. Just wondering if it was damaged in transit

 

 

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If they broke off in transit, wouldn’t they be in the package?

[deepcman]

Just another port where we don't get off the ship. Nassau has gotten as bad as Jamaica.

[vacationlover_mn]

We are planning on skipping Nassau and staying on Symphony for our next trip. A couple of times at Nassau is enough :)

 

 

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[sail7seas]

It annoys me they make you walk through that whole temrinal to get from The docks to the street . . they close the gaTes and divert us to the 'shopping' to try and make us spend on their tRINKETS. That about gurantees, i'll not buy a thing. ;EEK;

[sfaaa]

Never like the straw market in Nassau. Dark, dingy and full of pushy vendors. Most of the stuff in there are junks. Worse than a bad local flee market stateside.

[sail7seas]

I'd worry maybe a bug or some bugs are living in those straw bags I'm surprised Agriculture allows us t o bring the straw bags home..

[sfaaa]

I'd worry maybe a bug or some bugs are living in those straw bags I'm surprised Agriculture allows us t o bring the straw bags home..

 

Very good point. I once bought a nice souvenir from a street vendor in Costa Rica. She wrapped it with layers of old newspapers. When I opened the package back in my cabin, a big, ugly and very alive bug of unknown species fell out of the wrapping paper. Good thing it didn't make it into my belongings without me noticing it.

[voyager70]

Very good point. I once bought a nice souvenir from a street vendor in Costa Rica. She wrapped it with layers of old newspapers. When I opened the package back in my cabin, a big, ugly and very alive bug of unknown species fell out of the wrapping paper. Good thing it didn't make it into my belongings without me noticing it.

 

Yuck!

[Giantfan13]

I have posted this many times, Stay away from the Straw market in Nassau. As has been said many time, just an entire block of pushy, not nice people, all selling the same exact junk that they get from the ship that arrives from China.

But why just stop at Nassau, the same applies to many of the islands in the Caribbean. All selling the exact same stuff, all made in China. I know they try to make a living, but they could be polite about it.

If you want authentic anything in Nassau, you have to find some small shop that sells authentic wares made in Nassau.

 

Cheers

Len

[sail7seas]

I have posted this many times, Stay away from the Straw market in Nassau. As has been said many time, just an entire block of pushy, not nice people, all selling the same exact junk that they get from the ship that arrives from China.

But why just stop at Nassau, the same applies to many of the islands in the Caribbean. All selling the exact same stuff, all made in China. I know they try to make a living, but they could be polite about it.

If you want authentic anything in Nassau, you have to find some small shop that sells authentic wares made in Nassau.

 

 

Cheers

Len

 

 

Some here who have cruised for years may remember when ships hardly stopped in Nassau. Crime had gotten too high, locals were treating tourists poorly and the cruse lines listened to guests' complaints and limited visits . Things got some better when they had empty cruise ships docks but seems to be sliding back to old patterns .They may have short memory ab out when the ships and tourists limited their visits.

[sail7seas]

I have posted this many times, Stay away from the Straw market in Nassau. As has been said many time, just an entire block of pushy, not nice people, all selling the same exact junk that they get from the ship that arrives from China. But why just stop at Nassau, the same applies to many of the islands in the Caribbean. All selling the exact same stuff, all made in China. I know they try to make a living, but they could be polite about it. If you want authentic anything in Nassau, you have to find some small shop that sells authentic wares made in Nassau. Cheers Len

Some here who have cruised for years may remember when ships hardly stopped in Nassau. Crime had gotten too high, locals were treating tourists poorly and the crujse lines listened to guess' complaints and limited visits . Things got some better when they had empty cruise ship docks but seems to be sliding back to old patterns .They may have short memory ab out when the ships and tourists limited their visits.