Jamaica state of emergency

[Jess_S]

Can someone with a better knowledge of Jamaican geography help me understand the travel warning. From what I read, the US warning covers Montego Bay and Kingston. On that basis, it seems like it would be prudent to book an activity that takes us in the opposite direction. Instead of booking a resort day pass in Montego Bay, I was thinking of doing Runaway Bay -- which seems to be an hour east of Montego Bay. Does that put me outside the warning area? Does anyone have experience doing Runaway Bay through Resort for a Day and did you feel safe doing it? It looks like we can save $150 off the cost of the DCL excursion by booking resort for a day, but I don't want to save money at the expense of safety.

 

[grantclaire]

Hi again, I checked with my Travel Insurance company and the rep told me that if I was injured and required medical help in an area that the Government of Canada had issued a warning about, the company would review my claim and could deny it. Just a note, the insurance has a lot of exclusions ie drinking alcohol, taking drugs, para sailing, scuba diving etc! So who knows! We are not going to do an excursion in Jamaica now. Just going to do some shopping in the gated port area and then retreat to Satellite Falls.

 

[MUN]

Let's face it: Nassau is reasonably safe, but not worth getting off of the boat. Jamaica is probably best avoided for now. Disney has cancelled stops in Mazatlan in the past. Much of the Caribbean has been plagued by the Zika virus and/or dengue fever. Then, there is hurricane devastation in the Eastern Caribbean. The problems are really stacking up.

There are so many ships traveling to these destinations, it doesn't seem sustainable from a business standpoint.

I love cruise vacations, including to the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and Mexico. But, it is getting kinda dicey.

I think the cruise lines are going to have to be a lot more nimble, flexible, and creative, including developing entirely new markets/routes, and scuttling (again, sorry for the pun) the stops that unduly may put passengers in harm's way.

Boy, you're a real Debbie Downer.

Spent a day in Nassau recently, third cruise visit, and had a great time. We enjoyed Junkanoo Beach, John Watlings Rum Distillery, Pirate Republic Brewery, and walking around the shopping areas along Bay Street and beyond. It was a great time. I certainly think it was worth getting off the boat.

Perhaps you have just started to pay attention, but the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and Mexico have had challenges for decades. Hurricanes, violence, and illness are not new.

 

[jane01jp]

Boy, you're a real Debbie Downer.

Spent a day in Nassau recently, third cruise visit, and had a great time. We enjoyed Junkanoo Beach, John Watlings Rum Distillery, Pirate Republic Brewery, and walking around the shopping areas along Bay Street and beyond. It was a great time. I certainly think it was worth getting off the boat.

Perhaps you have just started to pay attention, but the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and Mexico have had challenges for decades. Hurricanes, violence, and illness are not new.

Not really trying to be a Debbie Downer. I've been on 17 DCL cruises, including the 4 day bahamas cruise December 18. We did get off in Nassau, primarily because one in our group had never been.

We also have taken a few land-based trips in the Caribbean, primarily to St. John. The first was in April of 1990, in the aftermath of the devestation of Hurricane Hugo.

We also did a land-based trip to Jamaica in 1991, and my sense then was that public order might not be sustainable. There were people swimming up to the resorts selling drugs from the water, and we took a bus trip from our resort in Montego Bay to Negril, during which we encountered children as young as 10-12 holding Thai stick and other drugs up to the windows of the bus for the purpose of selling them. I would not go to Jamaica at this point.

I have been to Mexico at least seven times, including Mexico City in the mid-90s for work, a land-based trip to Cancun in 1995, a cruise to the west coast of Mexico in 2012, and two western Caribbean itineraries that included stops in Cozumel. I would be willing so go to Cozumel again, and would love to go to Puerto Vallarta, but I would have to take the latter under advisement.

The hurricanes are nothing new, but the crime situations in Mexico and Jamaica are on a trajectory that does not seem to be episodic. Further, the Zika outbreak is more pervasive than most of the recent mosquito-borne disease problems that they have had down there.

My point was that the cruise industry seems too heavily concentrated there, and may need to consider some options, at least as contingencies.

 

[MUN]

My point was that the cruise industry seems too heavily concentrated there, and may need to consider some options, at least as contingencies.

You should point that out to them.

 

[cruiser21]

Not really trying to be a Debbie Downer. I've been on 17 DCL cruises, including the 4 day bahamas cruise December 18. We did get off in Nassau, primarily because one in our group had never been.

We also have taken a few land-based trips in the Caribbean, primarily to St. John. The first was in April of 1990, in the aftermath of the devestation of Hurricane Hugo.

We also did a land-based trip to Jamaica in 1991, and my sense then was that public order might not be sustainable. There were people swimming up to the resorts selling drugs from the water, and we took a bus trip from our resort in Montego Bay to Negril, during which we encountered children as young as 10-12 holding Thai stick and other drugs up to the windows of the bus for the purpose of selling them. I would not go to Jamaica at this point.

I have been to Mexico at least seven times, including Mexico City in the mid-90s for work, a land-based trip to Cancun in 1995, a cruise to the west coast of Mexico in 2012, and two western Caribbean itineraries that included stops in Cozumel. I would be willing so go to Cozumel again, and would love to go to Puerto Vallarta, but I would have to take the latter under advisement.

The hurricanes are nothing new, but the crime situations in Mexico and Jamaica are on a trajectory that does not seem to be episodic. Further, the Zika outbreak is more pervasive than most of the recent mosquito-borne disease problems that they have had down there.

My point was that the cruise industry seems too heavily concentrated there, and may need to consider some options, at least as contingencies.

I understood what you we're trying to say. Some people on here think sarcasm is a form of communication.

There are some decent Islands in the Caribbean there just not the popular ones because they are farther south. I loved our Southern Caribbean cruise. I agree though a lot of the islands leave a lot to be desired. I really hate being harassed constantly by the locals to buy stuff. It's not just the Caribbean. I think Italy is the worst for this.
We've done 18 cruises including Europe a couple of times. I've also traveled in South America, Canada, and I've spent a handful of Summers living in Baja. I love traveling, but more I travel the more I appreciate home.

 

[jane01jp]

I understood what you we're trying to say. Some people on here think sarcasm is a form of communication.

There are some decent Islands in the Caribbean there just not the popular ones because they are farther south. I loved our Southern Caribbean cruise. I agree though a lot of the islands leave a lot to be desired. I really hate being harassed constantly by the locals to buy stuff. It's not just the Caribbean. I think Italy is the worst for this.
We've done 18 cruises including Europe a couple of times. I've also traveled in South America, Canada, and I've spent a handful of Summers living in Baja. I love traveling, but more I travel the more I appreciate home.

We experienced a lot of opportunities to buy things from street salesmen in Italy as well. Denmark and Norway have been our most pester-fee experiences in Europe/Scandinavia.

 

[cruiser21]

We experienced a lot of opportunities to buy things from street salesmen in Italy as well. Denmark and Norway have been our most pester-fee experiences in Europe/Scandinavia.

Three times in Italy we dealt with them why we were eating in a restaurant. I don't know why businesses allow this. My experience in Northern Europe was the same as yours.

 

[jane01jp]

Three times in Italy we dealt with them why we were eating in a restaurant. I don't know why businesses allow this. My experience in Northern Europe was the same as yours.

Im not sure why they allow it. The Italian areas in major U.S. cities are usually very well-controlled.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I love traveling, but more I travel the more I appreciate home.

This. My DH says every time he leaves the USA he realizes how fortunate we are to call it home.


We did our 3rd western in OCt 2017 (thanks to rerouting from the hurricanes). We stayed onboard in Mexico, as I won't go there anymore. We did do an excursion as a date in Jamaica and left the kids onboard. I felt safe the whole time, but it was far from the ship and that made me nervous. I want to say a 45 min drive....over to where the other ships docked. It was a bobsled/zipline/chairlift combo. We really enjoyed it, other than the long drive. You go through some really sketchy areas. Would hate for the bus to break down. I can't imagine I'd ever consider a land vacation to Jamaica, which is unfortunate, because it has such potential if it were safer.

 

[cruiser21]

Im not sure why they allow it. The Italian areas in major U.S. cities are usually very well-controlled.

Anybody that did that in any US restaraunt would immieduately be thrown out by management or escorted by police. It's just not tolerated by business owners here. Thank goodness.

 

[phinz]

Anybody that did that in any US restaraunt would immieduately be thrown out by management or escorted by police. It's just not tolerated by business owners here. Thank goodness.

Except for the flower sellers that seem to wander into restaurants. I've always hated that. If I don't buy an overpriced flower for my wife but everybody else buys one for their date then I look like the jerk. I don't need any help in looking like a jerk.

 

[cruiser21]

Except for the flower sellers that seem to wander into restaurants. I've always hated that. If I don't buy an overpriced flower for my wife but everybody else buys one for their date then I look like the jerk. I don't need any help in looking like a jerk.

I can honestly say I've never seen anyone selling flowers in any restaurant.

 

[phinz]

I can honestly say I've never seen anyone selling flowers in any restaurant.

You've been lucky. I've seen it in many cities. The last place was in Key West last week. It's not as common as it used to be, but they're out there.

 

[DLgal]

Except for the flower sellers that seem to wander into restaurants. I've always hated that. If I don't buy an overpriced flower for my wife but everybody else buys one for their date then I look like the jerk. I don't need any help in looking like a jerk.

And the balloon artists. And the "professional photographers."

These people hang out at most of the restaurants at Downtown Disney here at Disneyland. It is so annoying.

 

[JP350Z]

Can someone with a better knowledge of Jamaican geography help me understand the travel warning. From what I read, the US warning covers Montego Bay and Kingston. On that basis, it seems like it would be prudent to book an activity that takes us in the opposite direction. Instead of booking a resort day pass in Montego Bay, I was thinking of doing Runaway Bay -- which seems to be an hour east of Montego Bay. Does that put me outside the warning area? Does anyone have experience doing Runaway Bay through Resort for a Day and did you feel safe doing it? It looks like we can save $150 off the cost of the DCL excursion by booking resort for a day, but I don't want to save money at the expense of safety.

You are correct. The cruise port of Falmouth is in Trewlany and Runaway bay is very near Ochos Rios so you are a good 1hr and 30 min east of Mobay at the Jewel. I stayed at Jewel Runaway Bay with my family last summer. Beautiful waterpark, awesome beach, good snorkeling and lots of food options. Given the current situation I would still go there off a cruise but would gladly pay the extra $150 just for peace of mind. It's not a short ride to the Jewel so a larger Disney sponsored tour would be my preference right now. In past I would have just done my own transportation. I was not harassed by locals or even offered weed during a week stay at this resort so feel safe there.

 

[2boysmommy]

LOL! No, after second thought, I don't regret it. My DS10 will actually be thrilled that we will be getting off the boat less! We'll have a blast. We have beach days at Grand Cayman and CC, a pirate night and a Star Wars day. It will be awesome!

This!! My two boys (10 & 12) have begged that on our next Disney cruise that we NOT get off the ship, except for Castaway. Its actually one reason we didn't book an Alaskan cruise this year...we were worried they would be disappointed when we got off in every port! Cruising DCL, for us, has become a "resort vacation" where the resort just happens to move. We are considering a Transatlantic for that reason...school just gets in the way. Dang education!

 

[Jess_S]

You are correct. The cruise port of Falmouth is in Trewlany and Runaway bay is very near Ochos Rios so you are a good 1hr and 30 min east of Mobay at the Jewel. I stayed at Jewel Runaway Bay with my family last summer. Beautiful waterpark, awesome beach, good snorkeling and lots of food options. Given the current situation I would still go there off a cruise but would gladly pay the extra $150 just for peace of mind. It's not a short ride to the Jewel so a larger Disney sponsored tour would be my preference right now. In past I would have just done my own transportation. I was not harassed by locals or even offered weed during a week stay at this resort so feel safe there.

Thank you! I appreciate your thoughts on this. I normally don't see the value in paying more for a ship tour, but I think you are right about the value of peace of mind given the state of emergency.

 

[jane01jp]

Anybody that did that in any US restaraunt would immieduately be thrown out by management or escorted by police. It's just not tolerated by business owners here. Thank goodness.

I hope you are correct, but I encountered a habitual panhandler today at lunch who has now taken to hitting up people while they are in line.

 

[ToInfinityAndBeyond.....]

As has been mentioned, gotta always keep an "eye" on the current conditions no matter where you go. Having said that, we also prefer to stay on the boat, especially if we've previously visited the port of call. Can't imagine going to Jamaica; had a friend that was born and raised there and he would always tell me that Jamaica was no place to be lolly-gagging around. He remembers locals stealing another local's suit right off him in broad daylight. Basically just walked up to him and demanded it while waiving a machete. That was like over 20 years ago. Not trying to scare anyone, but that story always stuck in my mind. As a tourist, I'd feel a little more concerned venturing into any other place other than a well guarded area.

Personally, I wish we had more say in choosing/influencing ports of call when the mouse is planning where to go in the future. Or I'd be good with a 2nd Castaway island initially themed to Moana, and go there.