Falmouth, Jamaica

[croschek05]

I book my excursions this Sunday and this is one of the stops. I remember reading a few threads that the safety level is high and people don't get off here. Is this true? Also any recommendations on what excursions to do here with 12 year olds? Also any advice on Cozumel and Grand Cayman? Thanks for the future responses!

 

[SleepyDeb]

I have been to Jamaica before on a land based group trip and will never go again because of the crime quite a few members of our group experienced. We went on a cruise on January and did not get off in Jamaica.

We felt safe in Cozumel and Grand Cayman. We're a couple in our 60's so we can't really comment on excursions for 12 year olds, but we did have a 12 yr old 30 yrs ago. I think the Sting Ray thing on Grand Cayman would be enjoyable for them.

 

[Kwami]

If you're on an excursion, or if you're in the port area, then you're very unlikely to be a victim to any crime. It's unlikely anyway, but it's even more unlikely in those situations.

I don't know what kids like. Last time we were there, we took a tour of the Good Hope sugar plantation and had some Jamaican food for lunch. It was a nice tour. The food was pretty good, too, though not nearly as spicy as I was hoping for.

 

[Girl of the South]

Didn’t take an excursion, but there is a secure fenced in Port area that has some shops and food, coffee drinks, rum cakes, Duty Free. Furthest from the ship is a big gate with security and I would not venture out of the secure area. But I liked walking around, trying some local food, supporting a struggling economy. I felt very safe there. Friendly vendors. No hard sell when I last visited.

 

[Girl of the South]

 

[Kwami]

And there's sometimes live music in the port area, too. I remember sitting out on the verandah and listening to Bob Marley covers while reading one morning.

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

We did Dunn River Falls + Rafting and lunch combo. It was really awesome. Our kids were 9 & 11. The only part I didn't enjoy was at the top of Dunn River Falls when you have to walk through the vendor area and they are so pushy. Everything else was great. The rafting was mild but fun, and it emptied out into a bay where we enjoyed the beach and food and drinks for a little while before returning to port.

 

[Skippyboo]

In Cozumel, my friend and I did Isla Passion by Catamaran. My friend and her family did Salsa and Salsa one on her previous DCL cruise- they teach you to make salsa and then learn salsa dancing. Her 10 year old son is a theater/dance kid so he liked it very much.

 

[enzy65]

We were in Falmouth last month, the port area was safe, clean and not very busy. Our veranda overlooked the shopping area and we could hear the music and see all the comings and goings. There were alot of excursion groups leaving the ship. We are older and had no issues, we just walked around a couple hours.

 

[TXDCLfan]

Jamaica has always been a dump I went there as a child in the 60's and went back in 1997 and it was still a dump, The people there were trying to sell weed to my 12-year-old daughter. Try to avoid this port!

 

[Girl of the South]

Again, the protected Port area is quite nice.

1997 is nearly 30 years ago.

 

[5Texans]

We did a DCL excursion to Dunn River Falls and a dolphin experience. My kids were 5, 3 and 18 mo at the time. We felt safe, however, employees and vendors at the falls and the dolphin experience were VERY pushy and asking for tips/trying to upsell us constantly. We've stuck to Eastern cruises since then.

 

[5Texans]

I booked a private charter in Cayman and it was worth every penny. We were able to play with stingrays, go to the starfish beach and visit some less crowded beaches as well as the Mangroves- all with zero crowds.

In cozumel, we went on our own to Chankanaab (sp?) It was great for small kids. the family beach had chairs and umbrellas for rent and servers brought food and drinks. There was a sea lion show that was fun and some ruins (replicas).

If I was going now that I have a 4, 8, 10, 12 and 14 yr old. I'd probably do the same thing in Jamaica and Cayman, but do a beach break with some inflatables and a pool in Cozumel.

 

[LoveDaisy]

I have never felt unsafe there but the locals are really pushy and I don’t find the experience enjoyable. Last time we were there we went to Dunn River which I hadn’t done in 20 years, it was a crazy tourist trap and packed. we also did a Bob Marley tour (I have friends who live there so this was not an official tour) and loved it. It was fun to see the real island but again with locals so we were mostly left alone. Some of the all inclusives are beautiful too.

 

[croschek05]

I have never felt unsafe there but the locals are really pushy and I don’t find the experience enjoyable. Last time we were there we went to Dunn River which I hadn’t done in 20 years, it was a crazy tourist trap and packed. we also did a Bob Marley tour (I have friends who live there so this was not an official tour) and loved it. It was fun to see the real island but again with locals so we were mostly left alone. Some of the all inclusives are beautiful too.

I think we are going to do the Royalton with the water park. It's very pricey but it's close to the port and I think my kids will have a blast.

 

[Sakura1017]

I booked a private charter in Cayman and it was worth every penny. We were able to play with stingrays, go to the starfish beach and visit some less crowded beaches as well as the Mangroves- all with zero crowds.

In cozumel, we went on our own to Chankanaab (sp?) It was great for small kids. the family beach had chairs and umbrellas for rent and servers brought food and drinks. There was a sea lion show that was fun and some ruins (replicas).

If I was going now that I have a 4, 8, 10, 12 and 14 yr old. I'd probably do the same thing in Jamaica and Cayman, but do a beach break with some inflatables and a pool in Cozumel.

What company did you book with private charter in cayman?