18 cruise passengers robbed on Bahamas excursion

[insureman]

Crime is everywhere. EVERYWHERE. Its unreasonable to expect a cruise line to accept liability should something like this happen to passengers unless they are providing personal security escorts to every single person who gets off the ship.

As far as an 'increasingly dangerous pattern of crimes' I don't believe its any more prevalent than the past...only that all these incidents are now being reported more globally because of recent events.

Being in the insurance business I know from experience that anyone can sue anybody. It doesn't matter whether the cruise line "accepts liability', the judgment will either be for or against them. As a matter of fact it would never even reach the courts because a company such as Disney or RCL would do just about anything to prevent such a spectacle. On the matter of crime , I think the criminals in the Bahamas are getting more brazen once they cross the line rounding up groups of people with sawed off shotguns and rifles.That is an "increasingly dangerous pattern of crimes"!

 

[TravelGrl]

Here is the latest article I found on the robbery. It looks like they may have caught one of the people involved http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/fl-cruise-passengers-robbed-20091124,0,7379273.story?page=1

 

[CandyMandy]

Being in the insurance business I know from experience that anyone can sue anybody.

As someone married to a lawyer, you are absolutely correct. Anyone who thinks the generic Disney cruise contract disclaimer (e.g. paragraph 21) will protect DCL in the event that the are sued over the crime-related death or serious injury of a passenger on one of their shore excursions in the Bahamas (if they don't make significant related security upgrades after this kind of prior and serious "warning" event) is in dream land.

 

[Presentation]

By the way, I want to give everyone a virtual pat on the back for being so civil and respectful in all of the discussions on this thread. Something like this could so easily become an anger filled debate. It is so hard sometimes to keep calm while posting, so great job to everyone. True DISers.

I agree with you.

It’s a very serious matter and I’m glad we are openly exchanging ideas and such.

I really hope things calm down in Nassau and wishing for the best.

Wow am I glad the people were not harmed, I mean they are emotionally harmed but not physically hurt.

 

[Presentation]

As someone married to a lawyer, you are absolutely correct. Anyone who thinks the generic Disney cruise contract disclaimer (e.g. paragraph 21) will protect DCL in the event that the are sued over the crime-related death or serious injury of a passenger on one of their shore excursions in the Bahamas (if they don't make significant related security upgrades after this kind of prior and serious "warning" event) is in dream land.

I agree.

In a law class we discussed ‘disclaimers’ such as the noted one above.

The professor taught us that things often became clear when taken to extremes. This is the example he gave.

Say he put a sign on the top of his car that read “I’m not responsible if I run you over” then he drove down the sidewalk. Would the posted disclaimer protect him from liability? Of course not.

Disclaimers serve a purpose but the protection only goes so far.

 

[perdidobay]

Walking the gauntlet from the Nassau Festival Center at the cruise dock to the 10 minute walk to the Straw Market is like walking through the Tenderloin in San Francisco or Skid Row in L.A. or Vancouver.

Yup, that is the area where I'm always asked if I want to buy drugs.

 

[thejollyfinn]

I don't care anymore about the theft itself, we, the Disney 9, came out of it alive (most important).

BUT I do want justice.
As the days go by and I can't see that I will read the online Bahamian newspaper (The Tribune - http://www.tribune242.com) that the authorities have found the two gunmen.
One lady from the Navigator group said to us at the station that she saw them in the police mug shot book and it didn't take her long to point them out. They (the local authorities) never gave any of us contact information to find out the results of their investigation. During my time giving my statement I gave them my email address and stated I wanted to be updated.
I just want answers now.

 

[Alexander]

I didn't read all of the posts, so I apologize in advance if someone already posted what I'm about to....

Can we just get rid of the Nassau stop? There must be somewhere else the ships can go--safer, cleaner, etc. I'm sure they're under some length of contract with the port or something, but I really hate going to Nassau. We've been there three times, twice we did Atlantis (once was a disaster) and once we stayed onboard. It was amazing how many people do stay onboard. Seriously, DCL doesn't make any extra money by people staying onboard (except for drinks of course) because the shops aren't open. A day at sea would even be better.

 

[242]

I actually feel safer in O-town.

American prisons make the best criminals in the world. Just ask any of the Islands and third world countries who have had their citizens shipped back home.

jail in the U.S is so nice compared to even the innercity neighborhoods of the toughest U.S cities. the jail in the bahamas, some cells dont have windows/roofs/toilets. anything just and open cage with bars like an animal cage.

The Bahamas has a small population 350,000 or so and it seems to me that the $$$$$ received to allow cruise ships to dock should be more than enuf to have plenty and credible police. I think every ship that docks pays per head of each passenger whether they get off or not. Makes you wonder for sure!!

the Bahamas government doesnt tax its citizens. they only make money of of imports and car related stuff. and the government is very corrupt.

 

[tink_lover]

Wow, first, I'm so glad the people involved in the robbery were not seriously harmed. Jollyfinn - do you think that the tour guide was involved? The more I read about how corrupt things are (the moped story was one), it really makes me wonder.

I didn't read all of the posts, so I apologize in advance if someone already posted what I'm about to....

Can we just get rid of the Nassau stop? There must be somewhere else the ships can go--safer, cleaner, etc. I'm sure they're under some length of contract with the port or something, but I really hate going to Nassau. We've been there three times, twice we did Atlantis (once was a disaster) and once we stayed onboard. It was amazing how many people do stay onboard. Seriously, DCL doesn't make any extra money by people staying onboard (except for drinks of course) because the shops aren't open. A day at sea would even be better.

What was the disaster at the Atlantis? Dh and I were there years ago and I have 2 CS rooms booked for our March cruise. Talked to my mom today and her preference is now to stay on the boat.

 

[hgon76]

We went to Atlantis in 2005 with our 2 kids and LOVED it. We will definitely go back at some point. It is on it's own little island. Paradise Island. Literally you have to cross a HUGE bridge to get there. And once over there you are surrounded by Yachts and wealth. Now on the other side of the bridge (Nassau), it's like your in a different world. We took a day trip over to the straw market. VERY SHADY! Now, after reading this, I would NEVER do that again. But, Atlantis is truly luxorious. It's actually a big destination for the wealthy and famous. The only true way to see Atlantis is to stay there. Anyone who hasn't been to Atlantis, I do recommend it, just maybe not when you have to get off the cruise ship and travel through the shady part of town to get there. If you do STAY there, it's big enough that you really don't need to leave.

 

[plyeng2ff]

what a shame

 

[ronniech]

I'd like to clarify that I along with my parents were among the
robbery victims on the Royal Caribbean segway tour.

Yes, we had excess cash, valuables, cell phones, and credit cards
that were taken. But we hardly care at all about what was taken
in comparison to the terror we endured during the violent robbery.
We were lying on the ground when the shot was fired. Thanks for
any tips about shedding valuables and wallets before disembarking
from a ship in a third world country, but it completely missed the point of this crime. How many
of us and the Disney group thought someone had been shot?

Yes, we did not properly review the crime situation in Nassau
before disembarking on our RCL approved, sold, and ticketed tour.
Were we foolish in trusting RCL to provide a safe tour? Should
all cruise passengers hire private security consultants to review
shore excursions in various jurisdictions? Uhh.. live and learn.

Hindsight is 20/20: The segway site there is an obvious robbery
target. 160 acres of wooded wilderness with groups of a dozen or
so ripe naive tourists where no one would even hear them yell.
Furthermore, the site "HQ" near the road also houses an adult
male substance abuse rehabilitation center. Between their associates
and the tour operator's associates, and passersby, how many hundreds
of Bahamians would have been aware of these clusters of vulnerable
tourists? If I was an aspiring robber casing Nassau sites, this
would have been at the top of my list.

Finally about the matter of our respective ships' "representatives".
Yes, RCL had a "shore excursion agent" at the police station who
announced that RCL had "no jurisdiction" over tours operating on Bahamian
soil and will not be sending a representative from the ship Uhh.. that's a "representative"? You decide.

the other Disney victims might want to read this page
heres a quote about BASH from this blog
bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2009/11/nassau-street-crime/

# bahama boy
first i’ll like too say that i’m a bahamian who lived in the chippingham community for over 25yrs.1 block from where(BASH) is located or the so call earth-villaged or nature trails where the tourist got rob last friday. i want the pubil to know what the BAHAMAS GOVERMENT is not telling the cruise ship industry.that is BASH is a half way house that is used to host EX-CON’S AND RECOVERING DRUGS ADDICTS.MOST PEOPLE WHO LIVES IN THE EARTH VILLAGE ARE CRACK HEADS.WHAT WAS THE GOVERMENT THINKING WHEN THEY ALLOWED BASH A PLACE THAT HOST EX-CON’S WHO ARE JUST RELEASE FROM PRISON TO TAKE TOURIST ON NATURE TOURS.THOSE TOURIST WERE NOTTING BUT SITTING DUCKS.I KNOW WHAT I’M SAYING I LIVED THERE FOR OVER 25YRS. IF YOU DONT BELIVED WHAT I’M SAYING GO ON COLUMBUS AVE EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT PLACE IS RUN NY CRACK HEADS.

 

[thejollyfinn]

I'd like to clarify that I along with my parents were among the
robbery victims on the Royal Caribbean segway tour.

Yes, we had excess cash, valuables, cell phones, and credit cards
that were taken. But we hardly care at all about what was taken
in comparison to the terror we endured during the violent robbery.
We were lying on the ground when the shot was fired. Thanks for
any tips about shedding valuables and wallets before disembarking
from a ship in a third world country, but it completely missed the point of this crime. How many
of us and the Disney group thought someone had been shot?

Yes, we did not properly review the crime situation in Nassau
before disembarking on our RCL approved, sold, and ticketed tour.
Were we foolish in trusting RCL to provide a safe tour? Should
all cruise passengers hire private security consultants to review
shore excursions in various jurisdictions? Uhh.. live and learn.

Hindsight is 20/20: The segway site there is an obvious robbery
target. 160 acres of wooded wilderness with groups of a dozen or
so ripe naive tourists where no one would even hear them yell.
Furthermore, the site "HQ" near the road also houses an adult
male substance abuse rehabilitation center. Between their associates
and the tour operator's associates, and passersby, how many hundreds
of Bahamians would have been aware of these clusters of vulnerable
tourists? If I was an aspiring robber casing Nassau sites, this
would have been at the top of my list.

Finally about the matter of our respective ships' "representatives".
Yes, RCL had a "shore excursion agent" at the police station who
announced that RCL had "no jurisdiction" over tours operating on Bahamian
soil and will not be sending a representative from the ship Uhh.. that's a "representative"? You decide.

the other Disney victims might want to read this page
heres a quote about BASH from this blog
bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2009/11/nassau-street-crime/

Thanks for the input ronniech. I just wish one of us could have be able to do something rather than listen to your group come in from the service road. It was a sick feeling listening to the whole ordeal all over again after we got robbed.

There are a few of us from the Disney 9 that believe our guide might have been in on it. Just a gut feeling...

I hope you and yours can get through this. I don't know. I went back to work today and it was hard trying to not say anything at first. Everybody wanted to know how our trip was. It is said that time heals all wounds.

 

[ronniech]

Thanks for the input ronniech. I just wish one of us could have be able to do something rather than listen to your group come in from the service road. It was a sick feeling listening to the whole ordeal all over again after we got robbed.

There are a few of us from the Disney 9 that believe our guide might have been in on it. Just a gut feeling...

I hope you and yours can get through this. I don't know. I went back to work today and it was hard trying to not say anything at first. Everybody wanted to know how our trip was. It is said that time heals all wounds.

thanks, we are all safe. my parents are still in shock.
some of us had the same feeling that our guide could have been involved especially seeing her quite daring challenging the robbers and i was asked by the police if i suspected it was the tour guide. the guide had us in a resting area for a short segway ride that we did not even have to walk, do we need a break for 15 to 20mins.

 

[insureman]

thanks, we are all safe. my parents are still in shock.
some of us had the same feeling that our guide could have been involved especially seeing her quite daring challenging the robbers and i was asked by the police if i suspected it was the tour guide. the guide had us in a resting area for a short segway ride that we did not even have to walk, do we need a break for 15 to 20mins.

Glad to see everyone is OK. I agree with you from what I've read the tour guide looks very suspicious.

 

[insureman]

I didn't read all of the posts, so I apologize in advance if someone already posted what I'm about to....

Can we just get rid of the Nassau stop? There must be somewhere else the ships can go--safer, cleaner, etc. I'm sure they're under some length of contract with the port or something, but I really hate going to Nassau. We've been there three times, twice we did Atlantis (once was a disaster) and once we stayed onboard. It was amazing how many people do stay onboard. Seriously, DCL doesn't make any extra money by people staying onboard (except for drinks of course) because the shops aren't open. A day at sea would even be better.

The problem is the ships are registered in the Bahamas. I don't know the specifics but they have to stop in Nassau a certain number of times because of being flagged in the Bahamas.

 

[DCL Repeaters]

The problem is the ships are registered in the Bahamas. I don't know the specifics but they have to stop in Nassau a certain number of times because of being flagged in the Bahamas.

Castaway Cay is in the Bahamas. Why wouldn't that count?

 

[sayhello]

OMG. I just heard about this! I hope everyone who was affected by this robbery is OK, and doing better...

I was in Nassau a little over a year & a half ago with Royal Caribbean, and we did the Segway tour. I don't recall what the area was called (BASH does not sound familiar, but who knows? It could have been that). The guides took us to an area that used to be a Botanical Garden, which is now closed due to hurricane damage. It was "riding" distance from the fort, but I'm not sure where that placed us. I really wonder if it was this same tour. That's pretty scary. I have to say, I was not impressed with Nassau, and really didn't like the feel of the town, and have no desire to go back. It's one of the things that has kept me from signing up for one of the shorter DCL cruises...

Sayhello

 

["Got Disney"]

I'm certainly not going to think less of anyone taking precautions to make their family safe, however why would I wall myself off from enjoyable activities because of an incident?, certainly an infrequent incident and maybe completly random. I have visited Nassau multiple times and have never felt unsafe. I would suppose that if events like this continue to happen then I would think differently but I still enjoy Atlantis, the pirate musem, straw market and Senior Frogs enough to take the very minor risk of walking down town, especially when large cruise ships are in town. It will indeed be sad if this type of criminal behavior continues because it would spell the end of Nassau and we have met no one but good people on that island. Criminal activity ocures everywhere, taking effective precautions still are the best way to defend against such activity.......think about it, if we simply stopped going to areas because of crime where would we go then? We would just wall off our property and stand behind closed doors with guns.......look I'm not trying to critisize you for taking precautions for defending your family and if that means staying on the ship then that is whats right for you and your family..........If this criminal activity happens on a more frequent basis then I will take up a spot near the pool with you.....but for right now i'm not making any plans to change our trip to Atlantis on Our DCL cruise in Feb 2010

Would you like sun or shade?

18 tourists in shotgun terror
Published On:Saturday, November 21, 2009
http://www.tribune242.com/news/11202009_TOURISTSROBBED_news_pg1

Three accused of armed robbery of eight tourists
Published On:Wednesday, October 28, 2009
http://www.tribune242.com/searchresults/10282009_touristrobbery_news_pg1


11 tourists in robbery terror
Published On:Wednesday, October 14, 2009
http://www.tribune242.com/sports/10142009_touristsrobbed_news_pg1

Tourist criticises police handling of armed robbery
Published On:Monday, October 19, 2009
http://www.tribune242.com/searchresults/191009_alholdup_news_pg1

American Embassy monitoring robbery of tourists investigation
Published On:Thursday, October 15, 2009
http://www.tribune242.com/searchresults/10152009_update_news_pg3

Armed robberies spree continues
Published On:Tuesday, November 10, 2009
http://www.tribune242.com/searchresults/11102009_crime-report_news_pg3


Three more armed robberies bring week's total to 14
Published On:Saturday, November 14, 2009
http://www.tribune242.com/searchresults/11142009_armedrobberies_news_pg1

Three in hospital after weekend armed robberies
Published On:Monday, November 16, 2009
http://www.tribune242.com/searchresults/11162009_armedrobberies_news_pg1

Soldier Road nightclub robbed at gunpoint
Published On:Tuesday, November 17, 2009
http://www.tribune242.com/searchresults/11172009_armedrobbery_news_pg5

Five armed robberies in one day
Published On:Friday, November 20, 2009
http://www.tribune242.com/searchresults/11202009_tt-robberies_news_pg1

Police rapped for excluding robbery of tourists from daily crime report
Published On:Friday, October 16, 2009
http://www.tribune242.com/searchresults/10142009_poll_news_pg7


Note this list was put together by ronniech at cruise cretic.

Crime like this happens everywhere....look at Vegas ....articles can be pulled up from everywhere on bad crimes. No doubt can pull them up from all ports.....This however is scarry and I could not imagine what the people involved endured....an incident like that would make me not want to get off a cruise ship ever again.