THIS IS FOR NEWBIES....

[Kapeluza]

Ok,, If you have never been to Jamaica or Mexico or anywhere away from you town or city one word of advice from my OWN experience...

I have done lots of traveling but I had never visited Jamaica before and I went there a few weeks ago. Before hand I came to the boards and I heard awful things about people in Jamaica... I am serious just ugly things!!
When I went there... it was AWESOME... people were sooo kind.. So experience things first hand. Just because you read that someone had a bad experience... maybe it was because they had a nasty attitude...
Don't decide not to go to Jamaica just because of what you read here... if you stay on the ship you are missing out on some fun but if you stay.. make sure it is because you had a bad experience!!



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[DedeM]

Jamaica is one of my favorite places, so I couldn't agree with you more!

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Navigator of the Seas 5/1/04
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[bplazo]

I also thought Jamaica was my faforite port. We had very friendly tour guides. I wish that was one of our stops this trip. I would never miss a port. Always something interesting at every stop.

[dlbaqua]

Always take everything posted with a grain of salt. One person's worst nightmare can (and frequently is) another's favorite cruise/port/meal/cabin/ship of all time.

[DMorris]

Great post, I totally agree with you. I thought it was a great port to visit.

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RCCL Voyager of the Seas 10/26/03
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[bld24]

Add me to the list. Jamaica is my favorite port. I find the people to be really friendly and fun. I've never felt unsafe there. Hounded occasionally, but I just say no thank you.

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Pending: Fantasy(5/4),Mariner(9/04),Splendour(2/05

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[beachbabe246]

Jamiaca is definitely my favorite port. I have been there twice and will be going agian next june. Yes, you do have to be careful in some areas but it is no where near as bad as any crime would be any big city in the US. Of all the islands in the caribbean, Jamaica seems to have the most truly caribbean feel and I love that.

[LLM]

I agree. When we stopped in Jamaica we had a great time. We did the Peat Taylor tour and our expectations were surpassed!

Lisa

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Until Mariner of the Seas


Voyager of the Seas - Oct. 2003

[Kapeluza]

great to here this!!!



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[AQHAFAN]

The only negative reviews I have ever read about Jamacia have been about the very obvious drug pushing issue.That is a problem,and discouraging to many.I have been there only once,and enjoyed the people (vendors and such)
but there were some issues.
Never had a problem with locals anywhere in Mexico.

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[LaSailor]

Jamaica is beautiful!
I had a pretty good time when I was there but I did encounter some rude folks as well as some very nice folks. I was also approached by the drug pushers but they were not the rude ones.
I don't think that if you have a bad experience you must have a "nasty attitude" sometimes these things happen. But I do agree with the OP about experiencing things for your self...everyone has there own opinion.

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Grandeur 2004
Conquest 2003
Fantasy 2001

[raytownlady]

I agree with what the others have said about Jamaica it was just beautiful, our group really enjoyed our day there.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> </pre>

Until we're on the Explorer of the Seas !

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[kcsmom2]

I always read other postings, but make my own judgements. I'm glad so many people here have enjoyed Jamaica. We're leaving on NOS 5/15, and Ocho Rios is one of our stops. I've read about Peat Taylor and other tour guides, but we decided to do the Enchanted Gardens/Dunn's River Falls excursion through RCCL. I posted a message on the Ports of Call board asking for anyone who has been there, but no responses so far. Have any of you done that tour? It sounds beautiful, but I get leery when no one has mentioned it on a board!

[girlzillla]

We stopped in Jamaica in February and I had read all the warnings on these boards about not being safe and the people being pushy. I've read enough on these boards on other subjects to know that some people are very hard to please. So I went with an open mind.

I have to say that this was one of the most stressful places I've ever been to. It was dirty and there was trash everywhere. We were never threatened or offered any drugs, but it was just stressful. We walked from the pier to the Island Village shopping center. People were asking if you wanted to take a taxi and asking to have your hair braided. The people in the shops were so pushy. I thought the people in Labadee were pushy, they were nice and easy going compared to the people in Jamaica. I didn't enjoy shopping there. I was very glad we did a tour with the ship, I would have hated to do it on my own.

Now the real question, would I get off the ship again? Probably. The falls were wonderful and I would love to see them again. I would also like to buy more coffee, but other than that, I would probably stay on the ship.

I think anyone who has never been there should go and try it. They might like it. Just be careful and cautious.

Mariner of the Seas 02/08/04
Navigator of the Seas 01-2003

[SCGirl]

Glad you posted this- As my family has not been there and we have heard the bad info as well.
We are going in May..
However, I have booked with Belinda @ A-Z Tours and wish everyone could be as kind and wonderful as this lady has been to us..
Curious as to what you like to do in OR? I have no clue and am worried that the Falls would be really over rated. We are going to the Ruins to eat and do sightseing and Margarittaville. Would love to hear from those who have something to add that shouldn't be missed.

[AprilRN]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by kcsmom2:
but we decided to do the Enchanted Gardens/Dunn's River Falls excursion through RCCL. I posted a message on the Ports of Call board asking for anyone who has been there, but no responses so far. Have any of you done that tour? It sounds beautiful, but I get leery when no one has mentioned it on a board!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

kcsmom2 & SCGirl,

I say don't miss it!

Hubby and I took the RCCL Dunn's River Falls on the "Cool Runnings" catamaran on our honeymoon (catamaran to falls and falls to private beach break and back to ship). It was a wonderful excursion and we count it as our second favorite after Aruba. Climbing/seeing the falls was an experience not to be missed. It can be challenging, but it's breathtaking. The guides take pics of you at certain spots in the falls. Some of our favorites are from there.

Looking forward to margaritas and Coronas.........

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Grandeur 03/04/02
Majesty 08/16/02
Monarch 02/27/03
Sovereign 11/28/03

[2VaCruzers]

We went to the falls a few weeks ago and loved the experience. Our guide said that the waters were especially rough since they'd had lots of rain in the past weeks. Our friends had been up the falls 3 years ago and said that this time it was a lot more difficult. Needless to say, knowing that made it even more exhiliarating that we made it to the top. Not bad for nearly 50 years old.

Til we sail the Explorer to the Eastern Caribbean
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Disney Wonder 2/03
Navigator 4/04

[TerriDHair]

I have been to Jamaica five times on cruise stops and I still love it. The scenery is beautiful, the people are friendly, and we've never had a bad visit. The first time we had to be quite adamant when saying "no" to prospective taxi drivers and we've learned over time to just politely say no to them or prospective hair braiders, etc. Somehow we've never encountered the drug pushers there.

When I read the Jamaica-bashing threads I feel sad that someone who has never been there may take those comments to heart and stay on the ship that day. They'd be missing out, IMHO.

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[mariapd719]

Kap

Hey heres a link from way back in Oct - makes for some interesting read maybe for you. I tried to make the same point your making now but some didnt seem to like it

[url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?q=Y&a=tpc&s=927093444&f=408097554&m=1523064257&p=1"]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?q=Y&a=tpc&s=927093444&f=408097554&m=1523064257&p=1[/url]

Enchantment Feb,2002; Monarch Nov,2002; Radiance Nov,2003; Golden Princess Feb 28,2004
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