Which port is the worst?

[capriccio]

6 minutes ago, snaebyllej said:

Some years ago a guy on our roll call said that he wouldn't go ashore at Santo Domingo or at Willemstad, Curaçao because they were dirty.

 

'Some years ago" doesn't mean that the situation is the same now and isn't really helpful.

 

We were in Curacao in December 2018.  The cruise terminals are well laid out and within a short and interesting walk into the downtown area (Punda).  We did a self guided walking tour of the beautiful and historic town.  This website (https://www.iqcruising.com/ports/caribbean/curacao/overview-curacao-willemstad-cruise-port.html) has information and pictures of the two cruise terminals (we docked at the Mega Pier terminal).

[navybankerteacher]

20 minutes ago, snaebyllej said:

Some years ago a guy on our roll call said that he wouldn't go ashore at Santo Domingo or at Willemstad, Curaçao because they were dirty.

 

If Willemstad was too “dirty” for him to consider going ashore, I would be interested in hearing what Caribbean ports cleared his cleanliness threshold.

[SelectSys]

I don't believe my least favorite "port" hasn't been mentioned yet - Mahahual/Costa Maya.  The port itself is basically a walled off tourist garden.  In addition to the port, the town of Mahahual and its beaches aren't the best in my opinion relative to other Mexican locations.   The Mayan themed water park may be a good option for families, but everything else is pretty weak.  I guess you can go see some ruins if you like, but I prefer to do this type of touring on my own.

 

Falmouth in Jamaica gets my runner up award.

[donaldsc]

Any port in Florida.  For obvious reasons - the state in which it is located.

 

DON

[snaebyllej]

6 hours ago, capriccio said:

'Some years ago" doesn't mean that the situation is the same now and isn't really helpful.

 

Actually, I wasn't trying to be.

[MBP&O2/O]

“ Next worst - Khorramshahr. Ridiculous heat and humidity, especially in August. Temp over 50 C and 100% humidity.“

 

some wag once said the Shatt Al Arab river was the a***hole of the world and that Khorramshar was thiry miles up it 😆

 

Worst port I ever visited was Jeddah .... no one allowed of the ship ... it was public execution day in the market place and westerners were not allowed 😳

[Hlitner]

On 5/27/2021 at 1:44 PM, SelectSys said:

I don't believe my least favorite "port" hasn't been mentioned yet - Mahahual/Costa Maya.  The port itself is basically a walled off tourist garden.  In addition to the port, the town of Mahahual and its beaches aren't the best in my opinion relative to other Mexican locations.   The Mayan themed water park may be a good option for families, but everything else is pretty weak.  I guess you can go see some ruins if you like, but I prefer to do this type of touring on my own.

 

Falmouth in Jamaica gets my runner up award.

If I was limiting the world to the Caribbean I would agree that Costa Maya is among the worst.  But keep in mind that this part of Mexico is a work in progress (similar to what happened in places like Playa del Carmen over the years) and will likely improve with time.   DW and I do not even bother to get off the ship if we are in any of the Jamaican ports, but we are "old as dirt" and have been there done that :).  Jamaica is actually an island with amazing natural beauty, but dealing with the locals is just more hassle then we want at this time of life.

 

But I am noticing the usual CC trend in this thread where many folks think the cruise world begins and ends in the Caribbean.  When we talk about "worst ports" my thoughts quickly move to places we have been in Africa, South America and a few parts of Europe.  And then there is the issue of the really awful/dangerous ports that are located near some wonderful places.  Kind of like eating a durian...you have to get past the outside and stink before you get to the good part.

 

Hank

[lisajm]

On 5/23/2021 at 10:57 PM, IntrepidFromDC said:

I think all the ports are worth visiting as long as you're willing to pay for an excursion.  If no excursion, and you're just talking about walking around the area where you get off the ship, I never want to visit Freeport or Belize again.

Same. Freeport is too industrial and Belize is outright scary. The 30 minute tender and soldiers walking around with assault weapons left a bad taste for Belize. 

[Hlitner]

2 hours ago, lisajm said:

Same. Freeport is too industrial and Belize is outright scary. The 30 minute tender and soldiers walking around with assault weapons left a bad taste for Belize. 

Amusing story.  A few years ago, DW and I were in Tel Aviv Israel on a port day.  We were with a small private group (about 10 of us) and stopped at a roadside McDonalds to get some drinks and use the "facilities."  4 Israeli soldiers walked into McDonalds with 3 of them carrying M4 Assault Weapons and the 4th carrying a Grenade Launcher.   Some of the ladies (including DW) were obviously not happy with this situation while a couple of we guys (vets) started chatting with the soldiers.  They did notice the discomfort of the ladies and thought it was amusing.  The Israeli customers didn't even pay any attention as they are used to seeing armed soldiers.    I was just happy we were on the same side :).

 

Hank

[slidergirl]

On 5/24/2021 at 2:23 AM, Illbcruzn4life said:

Oh great. Now I read this,after we just booked a week in Montego Bay for later this year.

Sounds like you are stayintg a week at a resort.  You'll be OK.  

[slidergirl]

1 hour ago, Hlitner said:

Amusing story.  A few years ago, DW and I were in Tel Aviv Israel on a port day.  We were with a small private group (about 10 of us) and stopped at a roadside McDonalds to get some drinks and use the "facilities."  4 Israeli soldiers walked into McDonalds with 3 of them carrying M4 Assault Weapons and the 4th carrying a Grenade Launcher.   Some of the ladies (including DW) were obviously not happy with this situation while a couple of we guys (vets) started chatting with the soldiers.  They did notice the discomfort of the ladies and thought it was amusing.  The Israeli customers didn't even pay any attention as they are used to seeing armed soldiers.    I was just happy we were on the same side :).

 

Hank

The soldiers are always carrying their arms.  I've been walking down the Promende in Tel Aviv and seeing boyfriend & girlfriend walking hand-in-hand with their rifles on their shoulders.  You just get used to it.   When checking in at the Dan Tel Aviv in 1998 when Saddam was lobbing SCUDs, part of the check in process was telling us where the safe room was in the hotel and that we could pick up gas masks down the street at the Embassy as they didn't provide them for non-Israelis...

[zekekelso]

Semi-side note: Since I’ve done a fair amount of world travel, I’m often asked where’s the best place to go. My answer is always Israel. A lot of people won’t go there because they are worried about safety. But it’s really extremely safe. Even when under rocket attack I’d feel safer in Israel than many places. Go for a land visit, go for a cruise port, but go. 
 

The difference between Israel and Belize: The soldiers in Belize are there with their guns because they are needed to protect tourists The soldiers in McDonald’s were there for food and had their guns on them because they are required to. 
 

Side note to the side note: I will admit that Israel is a poor choice if you are really into McDonalds. Israeli McDonalds kinda suck. 

[Lois R]

2 hours ago, slidergirl said:

The soldiers are always carrying their arms.  I've been walking down the Promende in Tel Aviv and seeing boyfriend & girlfriend walking hand-in-hand with their rifles on their shoulders.  You just get used to it.   When checking in at the Dan Tel Aviv in 1998 when Saddam was lobbing SCUDs, part of the check in process was telling us where the safe room was in the hotel and that we could pick up gas masks down the street at the Embassy as they didn't provide them for non-Israelis...

Carrying arms since long before then.........I lived in Israel back in the late 70s......soldiers and their guns are part of daily life---going back to the beginning, 1948 when Israel was actually established.

[Covepointcruiser]

I have always skipped any port where I saw an armed soldier by the gangway.   When I see that I know the port, area, country is not safe.   I stay on the ship I. Those cases.   When we visited Israel we did not see the guns until we were far from the ship.   Very unfriendly atmosphere and the tour we took (to Christian biblical sites) had a guide who dismissed the entire New Testament as a myth.

[ontheweb]

2 hours ago, zekekelso said:

Semi-side note: Since I’ve done a fair amount of world travel, I’m often asked where’s the best place to go. My answer is always Israel. A lot of people won’t go there because they are worried about safety. But it’s really extremely safe. Even when under rocket attack I’d feel safer in Israel than many places. Go for a land visit, go for a cruise port, but go. 
 

The difference between Israel and Belize: The soldiers in Belize are there with their guns because they are needed to protect tourists The soldiers in McDonald’s were there for food and had their guns on them because they are required to. 
 

Side note to the side note: I will admit that Israel is a poor choice if you are really into McDonalds. Israeli McDonalds kinda suck. 

Are the McDonalds in Israel kosher?

[zekekelso]

2 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

Are the McDonalds in Israel kosher?

Yep. They actually sell “cheese” burgers. And no, I don’t want to know what they make the cheese out of. 

[ontheweb]

Just now, zekekelso said:

Yep. They actually sell “cheese” burgers. And no, I don’t want to know what they make the cheese out of. 

Or they could make the burger part out of soy.😉

[Hlitner]

41 minutes ago, zekekelso said:

Yep. They actually sell “cheese” burgers. And no, I don’t want to know what they make the cheese out of. 

Lets be fair. Some of the McDonalds in Israel are Kosher (and under rabbinical supervision) and other McDonalds (about 2/3 of the ones in the country) are not under Kosher supervision.  I think many think that just about every food establishment in Israel is Kosher but the country has a real mix of Kosher and non-Kosher.  Some say about 1/3 of the eating establishments in the country are not Kosher but I have no clue as to the truth.  But if they do have a Kosher Certificate (for which they pay) you can be pretty sure they do not cheat :).

 

Hank

[zekekelso]

24 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

Lets be fair. Some of the McDonalds in Israel are Kosher (and under rabbinical supervision) and other McDonalds (about 2/3 of the ones in the country) are not under Kosher supervision.  I think many think that just about every food establishment in Israel is Kosher but the country has a real mix of Kosher and non-Kosher.  Some say about 1/3 of the eating establishments in the country are not Kosher but I have no clue as to the truth.  But if they do have a Kosher Certificate (for which they pay) you can be pretty sure they do not cheat :).

 

Hank

 Whoops, my bad. Thanks for the correction. And to be clear, there’s a ton of wonderful Kosher food out there. And I bet somebody makes a great fast food kosher hamburger. But McDonalds is not that somebody. 

[pris993]

1 hour ago, zekekelso said:

Yep. They actually sell “cheese” burgers. And no, I don’t want to know what they make the cheese out of. 

Not every one in Israel keeps Kosher.  My DH lived in Israel for 12 years before immigrating to USA.  I have been there many times.  

[pris993]

37 minutes ago, zekekelso said:

 Whoops, my bad. Thanks for the correction. And to be clear, there’s a ton of wonderful Kosher food out there. And I bet somebody makes a great fast food kosher hamburger. But McDonalds is not that somebody. 

My favorite fast food in Israel is falafel, far better than McDonalds.  

[ilikeanswers]

6 hours ago, zekekelso said:

The difference between Israel and Belize: The soldiers in Belize are there with their guns because they are needed to protect tourists 

 

Is the Belize soldier escorts for cruises an old thing or a recent thing? I visited Belize about five years ago and the only time we saw soldiers was when they escorted us to the ruins of Caracol because of issues with Guatemalan gangs who illegally log the forest around that area. Never saw them in Belize City or anywhere around that area. 

[sfaaa]

9 hours ago, Covepointcruiser said:

I have always skipped any port where I saw an armed soldier by the gangway.   When I see that I know the port, area, country is not safe.   I stay on the ship I. Those cases.   When we visited Israel we did not see the guns until we were far from the ship.   Very unfriendly atmosphere and the tour we took (to Christian biblical sites) had a guide who dismissed the entire New Testament as a myth.

There are armed soldiers and police with assault carbines patrolling at some major US airports and high profile places like NY Time Square. Cruise ships departing US cruise ports are routinely being escorted by USCG patrol boats mounting M240 GPMG.  Do you have issue with that too? 

[ontheweb]

11 hours ago, Hlitner said:

Lets be fair. Some of the McDonalds in Israel are Kosher (and under rabbinical supervision) and other McDonalds (about 2/3 of the ones in the country) are not under Kosher supervision.  I think many think that just about every food establishment in Israel is Kosher but the country has a real mix of Kosher and non-Kosher.  Some say about 1/3 of the eating establishments in the country are not Kosher but I have no clue as to the truth.  But if they do have a Kosher Certificate (for which they pay) you can be pretty sure they do not cheat :).

 

Hank

We thought all McDonalds were the same until we found out differently.

 

In Paris (and yes you do not go to Paris to go to McDonalds) DW needed her coffee fix. She only drinks decaf as caffeine is contraindicated with a medication she takes. (And don't ask me how you can be addicted to decaf when caffeine is the addicting ingredient.) We had been having trouble finding decaf coffee, and said aha McDonalds they are the same world over. And when she tried to order decaf, the young French woman behind the counter said, "Only Normal".😢

[ontheweb]

10 hours ago, pris993 said:

My favorite fast food in Israel is falafel, far better than McDonalds.  

Have not been to Israel, but in Amsterdam we found one of our favorites to go to eat were the falafel shops.