LittleMissMagic
Victoria on Vacation
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- Dec 24, 2008
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May 14, 2014 - Falmouth, Jamaica
This was the first time that the Disney Fantasy had ever visited Falmouth, Jamaica. The Disney Magic had visited before, and we were told that passengers had rated Falmouth 3rd place as overall cruise port. The Fantasy had been visiting Costa Maya, Mexico, which passengers had only ranked 10th.
Falmouth, Jamaica was a first for us, as well. I had been to Jamaica once before with my family, visiting Ocho Rios on Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas in 2008, years before the port of Falmouth had opened.
Max has always wanted to visit Jamaica. In fact, I learned years ago that it was his number one place to visit because Jamaicans have dreads, and Jamaica just sounds awesome.
When we had visited Ocho Rios, Royal Caribbean instructed us not to take any cabs outside of the cruise port and encouraged us to take their excursions. This was a warning that we remembered when going to Falmouth and assumed it to be the same (note: we received no warnings on the Disney Fantasy about crime in Falmouth, so I think I assumed wrong). Therefore, this was the one day that we actually booked an excursion in advance. We selected Chukka Beach Express for $32 per person which included transportation to and from a nearby beach, as well as beach chairs.
Chukka Beach Express
The downside to booking a beach excursion through Disney Cruise Line was that we had to get off the ship early in the morning and returned to the ship in the early afternoon, while on our own, we would leave the ship around 10 or 11 AM and return later in the afternoon.
We met at 8:45 AM in the Buena Vista Theater which is where first-run movies are shown throughout the cruise. This was actually the only time that we went in that theater. It seemed that Disney had given us an early meeting time so that everyone would be there on time. Because when it was our scheduled time to meet, there were 20 guests still missing! When our excursion was called to leave the ship (about 15 minutes after our scheduled meeting in the theater), there were still guests who hadn't checked in, yet. We ended up on the last bus to leave which ended up waiting for the late guests.
Falmouth, Jamaica by vshingl, on Flickr
Falmouth, Jamaica by vshingl, on Flickr
When our bus finally got moving, our bus driver took us through downtown Falmouth while our tour guide told us a bit of history. I think the bus driver might have been new on the job because there were a few times when our tour guide had to turn around and quickly tell him which way to go. After we went downtown, we ended up.... back at the cruise terminal. We had just taken a loop of the city. Then we went on towards the beach.
Falmouth, Jamaica by vshingl, on Flickr
This was taken from the bridge that James Bond drives across in Dr. No (1962). Also, Usain Bolt is from Falmouth. His family still lives there. We were told that we would see Usain Bolt today, and if we didn't... it's because he's just too fast.
The actual name of the beach is not listed in the shore excursion description. It just says "nearby beach". The sign in front of the beach said "Good Hope Beach", however, we were at a private portion which was only for Chukka guests.
Chukka Beach Break by vshingl, on Flickr
Chukka Beach Break by vshingl, on Flickr
When we got off the bus, we received complimentary punch. I was disappointed to discover that this was not rum punch, but just normal punch. Yuck.
We learned that a bus would come to take guests back to the ship every hour, starting at 1 PM. So the excursion could actually be extended past the three hours listed on the description.
This was the first time that the Disney Fantasy had ever visited Falmouth, Jamaica. The Disney Magic had visited before, and we were told that passengers had rated Falmouth 3rd place as overall cruise port. The Fantasy had been visiting Costa Maya, Mexico, which passengers had only ranked 10th.
Falmouth, Jamaica was a first for us, as well. I had been to Jamaica once before with my family, visiting Ocho Rios on Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas in 2008, years before the port of Falmouth had opened.
Max has always wanted to visit Jamaica. In fact, I learned years ago that it was his number one place to visit because Jamaicans have dreads, and Jamaica just sounds awesome.
When we had visited Ocho Rios, Royal Caribbean instructed us not to take any cabs outside of the cruise port and encouraged us to take their excursions. This was a warning that we remembered when going to Falmouth and assumed it to be the same (note: we received no warnings on the Disney Fantasy about crime in Falmouth, so I think I assumed wrong). Therefore, this was the one day that we actually booked an excursion in advance. We selected Chukka Beach Express for $32 per person which included transportation to and from a nearby beach, as well as beach chairs.
Chukka Beach Express
The downside to booking a beach excursion through Disney Cruise Line was that we had to get off the ship early in the morning and returned to the ship in the early afternoon, while on our own, we would leave the ship around 10 or 11 AM and return later in the afternoon.
We met at 8:45 AM in the Buena Vista Theater which is where first-run movies are shown throughout the cruise. This was actually the only time that we went in that theater. It seemed that Disney had given us an early meeting time so that everyone would be there on time. Because when it was our scheduled time to meet, there were 20 guests still missing! When our excursion was called to leave the ship (about 15 minutes after our scheduled meeting in the theater), there were still guests who hadn't checked in, yet. We ended up on the last bus to leave which ended up waiting for the late guests.
Falmouth, Jamaica by vshingl, on Flickr
Falmouth, Jamaica by vshingl, on Flickr
When our bus finally got moving, our bus driver took us through downtown Falmouth while our tour guide told us a bit of history. I think the bus driver might have been new on the job because there were a few times when our tour guide had to turn around and quickly tell him which way to go. After we went downtown, we ended up.... back at the cruise terminal. We had just taken a loop of the city. Then we went on towards the beach.
Falmouth, Jamaica by vshingl, on Flickr
This was taken from the bridge that James Bond drives across in Dr. No (1962). Also, Usain Bolt is from Falmouth. His family still lives there. We were told that we would see Usain Bolt today, and if we didn't... it's because he's just too fast.
The actual name of the beach is not listed in the shore excursion description. It just says "nearby beach". The sign in front of the beach said "Good Hope Beach", however, we were at a private portion which was only for Chukka guests.
Chukka Beach Break by vshingl, on Flickr
Chukka Beach Break by vshingl, on Flickr
When we got off the bus, we received complimentary punch. I was disappointed to discover that this was not rum punch, but just normal punch. Yuck.
We learned that a bus would come to take guests back to the ship every hour, starting at 1 PM. So the excursion could actually be extended past the three hours listed on the description.
It sounds as though you had a "dud" waiter. 
