paasangers from Conquest robbed

[joy cruiser]

I have been to Jamaica a few times, once a land vacation(hated it, couldn't wait to leave) and a couple times on cruises. Out of 30+ cruises That is the worst island "people wise" that I have ever seen. Sure it is a beautiful island, but the people are so pushy and I don't care to have drugs planted on me and then get arrested and yes they do this. Enjoy and be aware of your surroundings at all times.

[momanme]

What is really scary is the crime rate of the port cities you leave from. But it does not stop you from cruising. Where ever you go, be careful, stay alert.

[thoneycu]

I have been to Jamaica a few times, once a land vacation(hated it, couldn't wait to leave) and a couple times on cruises. Out of 30+ cruises That is the worst island "people wise" that I have ever seen. Sure it is a beautiful island, but the people are so pushy and I don't care to have drugs planted on me and then get arrested and yes they do this. Enjoy and be aware of your surroundings at all times.

 

Enjoy?????:confused: You post something like that and then say "Enjoy." I am sure that the thousands of cruisers, including myself are not thrilled with posts like yours, however; as it has been stated many times on these boards, it is what you make of it. There are many, many good post about Jamaica and great tips on how to stay safe, that is what I will take with me.

 

What is really scary is the crime rate of the port cities you leave from. But it does not stop you from cruising. Where ever you go, be careful, stay alert.

 

Exactly. Very well said ;)

[Lashlock]

sorry I just hear about it in jamaica more so than any other place. even if I dont personally experience it doesnt mean it isnt happening all the time. It doesnt stop me from cruising, but its reputation certainly precedes it more than any other port IMO

[Kieferbell]

"thoneycu" I just want to say to you that your post replies are very reassuring and appreciated. You speak logic and I am quite certain I am not the only one who appreciate your positive outlook.

[crystalblue0610]

Those cabbies ARE pushy the minute you step out of the terminal:eek:

 

If we ever go bad we're definitely just going to Sunset....a nice...security/gated resort:D

 

After we left Sunset the only cabbie that was there was a Maxie one:eek: I don't know why their so bad but I've just heard DON'T ride with them. I put up a good fight with that guy...my parents had to take over but thankfully we got to the ship. (maybe because my dad was like twice as big as the guy:p )

[Imalismom]

Wow - my neighbor is on that same cruise - I believe she was doing Dunns River Falls for their excursion, so I'm sure she was not in that group of 17.

Hope this did not ruin the cruise for the rest of the passengers.

[Texas_Diver]

Cruise lines will continue to go to Jamaica as long as cruisers continue to book on the ships with Jamaica listed on the itinerary.

 

If we really don't want to have MoBay and/or Ocho Rios as stops, the best way to say it is with our almighty dollars!

 

D.

[treats7985]

We have been going to Jamaica since 2000. We have been about 8 times now land trips. We went twice this year. I took my one and two year olds. And also did a girls trip in August. One of my friends is going back in July solo. We stayed three weeks in 2003. This will be our first time going to Mobay. We usally stay in Ochi or Negril. We are not doing any side trips this time ( Mobay). Our plan is to find a local spot, relax and experience the culture. We don't smoke and rarely drink like twice a year. We plan on staying in Mobay August for a weekend getaway. Crime happens everywhere. Twice we did feel discomfort in a certain local. We removed ourselves in Negril. One envolved someone selling products in front of us, and another was renting scooters and a guide not having a current license and the police was trying to get money of of the guy with us. They asked what we did for a living etc. Late we found out he was hiding out. It's amazing me how people draw conclusions without first experiencing the people/culture first hand. I try to see the good in all. And try to balance the good with the bad. The people of Jamaica make their living from tourism. Just say no frimly. I just usually tell them this isn't my first time here. When it gets to the put of me feeling threating I will stop going there.

[Kittybork]

Your are entitled to your opinion, I have memories of Jamaica and the beauty I would not trade for gold.

 

I am looking at a week at Sandals after being there last fall.

 

A week at Sandals is very different from being out and about in Jamaica. If you're at an all-inclusive, you're probably VERY safe. You just see nothing of the culture of the people.

[travmagic]

A week at Sandals is very different from being out and about in Jamaica. If you're at an all-inclusive, you're probably VERY safe. You just see nothing of the culture of the people.

I stay at AI's as well. And we ALWAYS leave the resort to experience some of the Jamaican culture, which there is much of. As I said before, we don't just go off on our own but we still like to stop and meet the people.

[pink roses]

Hi Marie...I have been thinking obout Sunset Beach in Jamaica as well. Maybe we could get a lot of our group to go. I have had trouble finding how to book it on line, any suggestions? Will check with you on our forum. Char

I hope this helps.

You do not pay ahead or reserve ahead at Sunset Beach Resort, that I know of. It is a beautiful all inclusive gated resort. It is very close to the terminal we paid $2 pp to get there. Once we got to the resort gates we were escorted by security and taken to the front desk. We paid $40 pp and $20 for our 10 year old. They do keep you sail and sign cards, luckily I knew this because of CC or I would have been upset.

There are 3 pools,a small water park,a beach and all the food and drinks for that price. We are not alcohol drinkers and we still felt we got our money's worth. It is a large area, not small like some others we have been to. It was so worth the price. I did not want to leave.

When we were ready to go we were given our cards back, there were bus/cabs waiting to take us back, $2 pp.

Please see my other post concerning getting back on the boat.

[okgirl]

You can get Blue Mountain coffee right in the cruise terminal and never be out of sight of security. That's the only reason I get off the ship in that port and I never go beyond the terminal

[nybumpkin]

Hi,

Was this a ship excursion?

The clippings I've read didn't say whether it was a ship's excursion, but it sure sounds like this one from Carnival's website:

 

Discover the natural beauty of Jamaica at the traditional Jamaican country village of Lethe.

On this wonderful excursion you will:

• Take a short drive to Lethe, located in the cool hills of rural Hanover, 9-miles from Montego Bay.
  
• Board a tractor-drawn jitney that will take you around the village.
  
• Stop at the kindergarten school, Rhea’s World and at a private garden with beautiful exotic flowers in bloom.
  
• Taste Jamaica’s seasonal fruits before the tour continues through the beautiful mountains to the plantation.
  
• Learn about the cultivation of bananas.
  
• Move on to the “Green” and learn how to make Pina Coladas right from the coconut.
  
• Check out the gift shop located on the property before heading back to Montego Bay.

We thought about this tour when we sailed on Conquest two years ago, but ended up going with the "Overland Tour and Black River Safari" through Carnival. It certainly was a learning experience, if you want to see the island. We never felt unsafe on the tour, and since Black River is not a major tourist destination there were no pushy vendors.

 

BTW, we were on the Liberty sailing with the folks who were involved in the attempted hold-up in Costa Rica. That one was not a ship-sponsored excursion.

[makeda]

i like jamaica and will continue to visit there

[southbayer]

Wow, that is terrible. I was there about 7 weeks ago! I did that tour, and Lethe is a jungle village and is a pretty isolated place. Although its very beautiful and green, very tropical area, you would surely have to wait awhile for any type of emergency services... I'm glad they got the goons who did that.

just saw this in a roll call board wow http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20070613T230000-0500_124318_OBS_POLICE_KILL_SUSPECT_IN_TOURIST_ROBBERY.asp

[Bassic]

If it's not crime like this all I hear is...."keep your wrists in your pockets otherwise someone will grab it and put a weed bracelet on it and they expect you to pay them":eek:

 

Anyone grabs my wrist, or my honey's, is going DOWN. Period. I don't care if they were trying to "make a sale" or what, I'm taking them down if they assault me.

 

Americans are becoming known throughout the world as a country of "sheeple". Easy pickings, because they know we are all scared, and won't fight back.

 

I know one couple who was scheduled for the Conquest in August, they are getting a refund and cancelling their trip. Probably will go on a different cruise line as well. Love to be a fly on the wall at the reservation center...

[stonefemme]

I am sad for the victims... I could not imagine this happening to me ANYWHERE!!

[bluebonnet]

nybumpkin............Yes the tour was booked through Carnival. Not an outside source. Being one of the 17 robbed that day I can say for most all of us we felt like we would have been perfectly safe but I guess you never know where the thugs and druggies are going to hide.

[karenh1127]

According to today's local news (Houston), the Jamacain police have apprehended one suspect and recovered most all of the stolen items. They were interviewing pax as they got off yesterday morning and some were crying. We go next Mar and my kids are scared of that port but I assured them things would be better and if they werent we would stay on the ship.

[PSSCruise]

I was on the ship, but not on the excursion, THANK GOD!

We only had contact with ones of the families, and they were so afraid!!

[TCF]

Been to Jamaica twice.

 

First time was a terrible experience on a Carnival Excursion, (although not nearly as terrible as what the 17 peole went through last Wednesday).

 

Second time with Princess, we stayed on board along with about half the passengers. We learned our lesson the first time and ignored the obnoxious Princess "shopping expert"!

 

Things have to change with ALL the cruise lines.

 

Here are the problems as I see them:

 

1. The cruise lines all make "huge" money from Ocho Rios and Montego Bay. Every shop in the malls recommended by the obnoxious "shopping experts" on the ship pays the cruise line a substanial commission on their sales. (Has no one ever questioned why you never see locals shopping in those malls?)

 

2. All the cruise lines make "huge" money from the excursions they sell. (Has no one ever questioned why the same excursions are 30% - 40% cheaper when you book them directly with the excursion provider?! So much for the cruise line's mantra that thier excursions are safer!)

 

3. The cruise lines do not provide any warnings regarding safety or even honest commentary on what passengers will face in Ocho Rios. (In Ocho Rios, Princess calls the "over flow" pier the "James Bond Pier"! Has a nice romantic ring to it doesn't it? Hell...it's the old bauxite bulk loading pier they used to load freighters with until the mine dried up. It was never designed to be a passenger pier...the short walk to the closest mall that the obnoxious, "shopping expert", tells Princess passengers about is in fact at least a 15 minute walk in hot, humid weather along the edge of a narrow busy highway with no side-walks!)

 

I am not saying the cruise lines are entirely responsible for the crime in Ocho Rios and Montego Bay...and these communities are factually the worst crime areas for cruise passengers in the Caribbean....what I am saying is that we are all adults...we pay good money for these cruises...so give us the facts...the truth about the places you are taking us and let us make up our own minds whether or not we are safe getting off the ship! The cruise lines...all of them, not just Carnival...are going to have to put the safety of their passengers ahead of their bottom lines!

 

Most of the children and many of the adults are going to require substanial counselling for a long time to recover from the terror of that day. It will cost...at the least...hundreds of thousands of dollars when it is all over with.

 

I suspect that the lawyers were waiting at the gangway when these people returned home yesterday ...and... the cost/benefit accountants at Carnival were already working out how much the stop at Montego Bay will untimately cost the company...and at what point they have to settle out of court!

 

Take Jamaica off the itinerary for a couple of years and just watch how quick the Jamaican politicians and the locals clean up their own mess!!

 

Just my thoughts.

 

Tom

[tinkr2]

I hate to hear this,we have been to Mobay probably 10-12 times and never had a problem. It is actually our favorite port and we have done practically every excursion offered by Carnival. Guess I will think long and hard before doing another one. We will probably just stay on ship,maybe get off long enough to shop at the little center at the pier. Really hate it for the small kids,they will probably never want to cruise again.

 

How crazy.You have loved it previously and felt safe. Why would you let a bad incident ruin your view of the island?

[M&M Mousers]

We've been twice, going again next year.

 

There are criminals everywhere. I am saddened that people are missing out on Ocho Rios falls or Shaw Park Gardens, or tubing on the White River because some criminals robbed some passengers. That is like saying that because there is gang violence or crime in East LA, you shouldn't visit Hollywood, or see the Watts Towers. Just because some very bad people did a very bad thing does not make everyone in Jamaica a criminal. If you really want to be safe, you must bar all your windows and doors and stay home. It's not safe to walk down the street in most USA cities at night. (Boston being an exception.) People get robbed at Disneyland.

 

Be smart. Be aware of your surroundings. Travel in groups. Hire a guide, don't go it on your own. But that's not just in Jamaica, that's anywhere.

 

You might be offered drugs, we were offered a huge bong in Hawaii last month, and that's supposed to be a safe harbor. But I've never heard of someone holding a tourist down and forcing them to smoke weed.

 

The vendors might be pushy. I ran into a pushy vendor at the falls, but there were security guards plainly visible and when I felt uncomfortable I simply walked to the guard and asked for an escort. I've been followed by pushy vendors in many Mexican ports, and it's never stopped me from shopping. I've been acosted by street people and weirdos at many intersections here at home. You pull up to a red light and suddenly they appear, trying to wash your windshield, or pan handle, or touch you.

 

How many thousands of tourists visit Jamaica and other ports every year? How many get robbed? Are the odds so bad we, who enjoy these ports, have to cowtow to a few bad guys? John Wayne help us.

[tinkr2]

M&M Mousers, that is exactly what I was trying to say. Jamaica is great, just like Miami, or Chicago, but there are dangerous people there. Just be careful.