Filthy Nassau

[lbgraves]

We went to Grand Bahama Island for our honeymoon seven years ago. We loved the inclusive resort we stayed at. The pool was right on the beach & it was beautiful. We rode bikes to the botanical gardens there & everyone we encountered was very nice. One day we decided to take a taxi to the downtown area & straw market. It was like we went to another planet!!! We expected pushy sales people but when we declined to accept a conch shell from one man he started shouting insults & obsenities at us. DH & I were both thrown by that & were afraid to stay there so went back to the resort. There were ships in the harbor & we commented that those poor people weren't seeing the best of the island when they got off the ship in that market.

 

[markey]

We had been there in 2000, and this year because we could not dock at GC we ended up there on the 7 day. Yes the Island is poor, yes the people are pushy. But I would not call it Filthy Nassau There were a lot of nice friendly people there, and some not so nice just like in the USA. There were some honest people there and some dishonest people there, just like in the USA. I walked back to the ship alone from the shopping district, and made it without being attacked or robbed. We went off on our own doing a cab tour of the town and to the zoo. One thing I found different then the USA, we were told that each day at school the children start with reading the bible and a prayer, the same with city meetings. When we told the women that in our Country some people even want the saying under God taken our of the pledge to our flag she almost fainted. So there are good and bad parts of every town. It is good to experience other cultures, and yes someone did try to sell my husband drugs but he just laughed with the guy and said no thanks.

 

[LUVTHEMAGIC]

You know, I have been reading a lot of threads in preparation of my first cruise and I have yet to read one nice comment about Nassau. All complaints or disappointing reviews. Most posters say they'd stay on the ship on subsequent cruises. Perhaps DCL should consider a different port for the Wonder.

My husband and I have been to Nassau on three different occasions. We spent a week each time. We actually staid on Paradise Island but would walk over the bridge or take a water taxi to Nassau. We even rented a scooter once and drove the whole way around the island of Nassau. Boy was that scary!LOL They are crazy drivers darting in and out and on the left of course. They also have lots of roundabouts. How that works is beyond me--I just held on for dear life. I wasn't on a cruise so I didn't feel the pushiness that is described by cruisers. When I was on the beach in front of Atalantis I was asked a couple of times if I wanted T-shirts or my hair braided. Everyone was very nice on PI. When we went around the island we saw where the locals live. It doesn't seem to be anywhere near where the cruise ships doc. They are very poor. I would get off the ship at Nassau and head over to PI. You will be pleasantly surprised. I thought the people in Cozumel were just as pushy. You just have to say no thank you and keep walking. By the way someone did try to sell my husband some pot on one of these three trips. I was shocked! Shows you how naive I am! I was just scared the police would come around right then cause the guy pushed it in his pocket. My husband also had a run in with a kidney stone down there. That was an adventure! Ambulance rides and Emergency Rooms. We have experience all of Nassau and would return if given the choice!

 

[ThreeSmiths]

I don't think that being dependent on tourism is an excuse for overly pushy natives. For example, compare Cozumel to Nassau. There is just as much poverty, and the people are just as dependent on tourism, but it is a whole different atmosphere. The people still do spirited bargaining and selling, but they do not approach like gangbusters. If the Wonder visited a port like that, I would disembark every time!
Barb

I had quite a different experience in Cozumel. I do not consider it a bad experience, but it was definitely very similar to Nassau. On several occasions we were approached by children selling bracelets and chewing gum. One little girl grabbed my arm and quickly tried to tie a string bracelet around my wrist. I gently pulled my arm away and said "no thank you" with a smile, and she left. Again, it was not a bad experience, just different than what we're used to in our day to day lives. I agree, anywhere you would dock a cruise ship would almost overnight become a magnet for street vendors and con men.

 

[taeja71]

My family were in a local shop looking around and a "native" dressed in costume w/ feathers and dreds came up to us. He didn't say any thing (kind of like a Disney character only worse). He wanted to hold our youngest daughter. I was really leary, but let him. He then persisted to pointing at our camera. So, my husband/ or I (I can't remember which) took a picture. Here's the disgust. He started giving the cash sign -rubbing his fingers together while still holding my DD. Not that he would've taken my kid, but I guess the transaction wouldn't have been considered done until we gave him money. I looked at my husband like and felt pressured. I hate feeling pressured! Well, my generous DH gave the guy a couple bucks (I talked him down from giving the native $5.00!). UGH. I guess I should note the native was drunk as well. UGH! Walking around Nassau I thought was worse than Tiajuana although the two cities are pretty close in competition.

Yes, experience it if you have to. Maybe your used to the filth, knocked up cars, the pollutants in the air, the mobs of people pushing their taxis and such. I was very happy to get back to the ship! If you feel bad about not getting off the ship. I'm sure DCL pays some thing to Nassau or docking. Gross!!! I don't even want to think about Nassau any more, but at least I'm not thinking about how cold I am here in INdy.

 

[LuvThatMouse]

Okay, first of all, The Bahamas is a 3rd world country. We cannot expect Nassau to look like Disneyland. It is not a theme park there for our enjoyment. It is another country and people live there, work there and raise families there. I'm not certain but I suspect their chief industry is tourism and a great many people are employed by the tourist industry on the islands. However, look at it from the Bahamians point of view. These seemingly well-to-do Americans get off their lovely cruise ship on our island. They want to walk around our streets, go to our restaurants, pillage through our shops, etc. yet when we try to make a little money on the side by doing some hair braiding, they walk past us and ignore us. How would you feel? They may seem pushy but it's likely that it's because they are competing with the person standing next to them who also wants to braid your hair or sell you something.
Now, I know that these people can be pushy but I think that as one other poster said, a simply "no thank you" would be all that is required.

 

[rejobako]

LUVthatmouse: great post. And I would add that what we perceive as "pushiness" is more of a cultural thing; those people are just as pushy among themselves. Haggling isn't considered cheap or rude -- it's the way things are done down there.

And as you pointed out, the locals there are going to do whatever they can to earn a living in what is a relatively depressed economic state. That doesn't excuse outright criminal activity, but if a little street urchin is a bit pushy in trying to con me into buying a bracelet so her family has something to eat that night, I may not fall for the ruse, but either way I'm not going to hold it against her.

 

[dwkwootton]

Have to agree with LuvThatMouse here. If you look at it from the Bahamian's point of view, it may lend to a wider perspective. Plus there's not alot going on in Nassau that isn't going on in a city in the US.

 

[LuvThatMouse]

taeja,
I would not let someone who was drunk hold my daughter in the first place.

 

[plutojudy]

I would not let a stranger hold my child.

 

[taeja71]

I don't think that being dependent on tourism is an excuse for overly pushy natives. For example, compare Cozumel to Nassau. There is just as much poverty, and the people are just as dependent on tourism, but it is a whole different atmosphere. The people still do spirited bargaining and selling, but they do not approach like gangbusters. If the Wonder visited a port like that, I would disembark every time!
Barb

DItto to the above quote.

rejobako wrote,

the locals there are going to do whatever they can to earn a living in what is a relatively depressed economic state.

Guess what, I guess we fell into the whatever catagory. I didn't look into the guy's eyes until I handed him my DD. Luckily, the store was packed and there would've been a slim chance of the guy getting away w/ my kid.

Obviously there's die hard Nassau fans out there. So, happy posting.

I hope I don't become a posting victim for whatever reason by other posters.
I'm outta here.

 

[rejobako]

Obviously there's die hard Nassau fans out there. So, happy posting.

I hope I don't become a posting victim for whatever reason by other posters.
I'm outta here.

Not trying to argue with you; just pointing out that in my opinion, how much one enjoys Nassau is directly related to your attitude and expectations when disembarking -- and it definitely doesn't hurt to err on the side of caution when dealing with the locals -- but that advice goes for any tourist destination.

The story about that stranger and your child is an unnerving one for any parent -- again, I'm not trying to lecture, but you learned a great lesson, and I'll bet you if you returned to Nassau you wouldn't have any problems, because you'd be naturally attuned to those attempting to gain that kind of advantage.

Happy cruising.

 

[chrisn]

I believe that MOST (not all) people who end up really hating some of the Caribbean Islands are experiencing their ways for the first time and it comes to them as culture shock. People who get off the ships in Jamaica and walk over to the shopping bazzar just outside of the dock often feel the same way about that island. I feel I've been a little more educated in having the priviledge of traveling and visiting some of these beautiful and fascinating Caribbean Islands and let me tell ya, Jamaica is absolutely beautiful. You really need to "see" an island and not just place judgement from one trip to the local tourist trap market. I couldn't believe that people hated Jamaica after visiting there. We saw the mountains and rain forrests, beautiful rolling hills, we learned of their culture, their schools and their money. $1 American is worth like $40 Jamaican. They are making a living the best way they know how. I believe a lot of islanders have come to the conclusion that most tourists are spoilt well off people who don't have any real idea about what goes on in the rest of the world and I believe this is the reason for some of the attitude. There are so many though that are wonderful and gracious. Call me phycho but I'm kind of anxious to see for myself how "agressive" the Bahamians are. We've been through so much of that stuff that it doesn't even phase us anymore and knowing that this is how most of these people feed their families at night, it doesn't bother me to give a little girl singing me a song a dollar or two for her efforts in trying please a vacationing foreigner. I'm hard pressed to think that the agressive behavior of the people of the Bahamas is going to ruin the day for me or that it will even come close to agressiveness of the people of Haiti. I'm sure it will be like child's play. Can't wait to "see" for myself.

 

[rejobako]

Chris: loved your post. I agree. When we first went to Jamaica we allowed ourselves to be bullied by a local in Ocho Rios, who scammed us out of a couple of J. That happened exactly once. Since then, we've learned that most of those people are harmless and easy to deflect if you're firm with them, and the truly obnoxious ones are just blowing smoke. (Once a group of local toughies in Negril attempted to extort money from us when we refused to pay for their services for "watching over" our rented scooters, the implication being that if we didn't pay, they'd trash them. I laughed and told them they were insured, so go fly a kite (actually, I may have used earthier language. ) We got the expected glares and stares and threats; when we returned half a day later, those scooters hadn't been touched. Actually, I find that the locals in such places tend to respect you for not acting like a mark.

Anyway, I think I can verify in advance that your suspicions regarding Bahamanians are correct. Compared to some of the inland characters you'd meet in Jamaica, even the most frightening Bahamanian isn't very formidable. The islanders are typically laid back and friendly at heart, and the manic frenzy with which they accost the cruisers is just a way to make a living. Treat them with firmness but respect, and they become as amiable and friendly a people as anywhere else.

 

[babsnabbs]

This has been very informative. Here's what I've learned so far:
1) Rejobako is the mayor of Nassau
2) If I disembark, I should leave my kids on the boat
3) Get off the boat, take my chances on finding an honest taxi and head directly to Paradise Island or cough up some cash and go to Atlantis.

Probably what I'll do is get off the ship, take ten minutes to walk around the block just to say I was there, and head back aboard to the buffet.

 

[ToriGirl]

Hey, you're going on a cruise, right? And part of the pleasure of cruising is going somewhere different than what you're used to, IMO. Bahamanians are an interesting people, and Nassau is a fascinating, fun place if you don't get off the ship expecting to be in Disney World. If you don't care for the haggling, then by all means stay the heck away from the straw market and head for the shops just west of there on the main drag, where you'll encounter more of what you're used to.
And if you have the time, by all means head over to Paradise Island and check out the Atlantis; in my opinion, however, you'll be missing a unique experience if you don't take a walk off-site and have a grouper sandwich at the Green Parrot under the bridge, where you can wander down the docks and see the charters come in with their fresh catches, or stop at the News Cafe and meet some expatriots over an egg/cheese croissant and excellent coffee . . .
Go with the flow and relax, and what you first perceive as "filthy Nassau" might start resembling something fun and funky.

You know, I have read many nasty things about Nassau here on this board and I was starting to think like everyone else, just get over to Atlantis.
But before I started reading the posts, not just this thread, I wanted to take that historic tour and walk around and check things out. There's a lot of history in the Bahamas.
After reading your post, I'm back to my original thought. My DH thinks the same way. Being born and raised in The Bronx and traveling around Manhattan often, I don't think Nassau is gonna "shock" me any more than I have already been shocked. In fact, I kinda miss being shocked! Where's the flashers when you're looking for a little excitement?
Thanks for shaking some sense into me, rejobako!

 

[Corryn]

Sorry, I posted under my daughter's tag, but it's me!
by Taeja71:
My family were in a local shop looking around and a "native" dressed in costume w/ feathers and dreds came up to us. He didn't say any thing (kind of like a Disney character only worse). He wanted to hold our youngest daughter. I was really leary, but let him. He then persisted to pointing at our camera. So, my husband/ or I (I can't remember which) took a picture. Here's the disgust. He started giving the cash sign -rubbing his fingers together while still holding my DD. Not that he would've taken my kid, but I guess the transaction wouldn't have been considered done until we gave him money."

How many times have you gone someplace and asked a "native" if you could take a picture with him/her? "Oh, Honey, go stand by the man with the dreadlocks so I can take your picture...." When you go certain places, you take pictures of the natives: ex. India: ladies in sari's....England: the royal palace guards.....NYC: A NYC Police Officer.....Caribbean: A man with dreadlocks.
I know Taeja71 didn't ask for it, but maybe he's been approached and people gave him money for it in the past and it's a "deal" that has worked out for him.

Also, when something happens that is surreal, we, as humans, tend to go along with the person who has "control" until we figure out in our own minds what is actually going on, and then we react and we take control.

That man was taking "control" looking for a way to make a fast dollar off a tourist. He probably figures he can be like the Bahama's "Santa Claus" and take money from people while they pose with the native.

I'm not passing judgement at all, I'm just saying when you're in a situation and the unexpected happens, you never know how you're gonna react.

 

[becobscot]

I was worried about all I had read about Nassau before our recent cruise. In all honesty, I don't think it was bad at all. Going through that tourist area that you have to go through to get to the town yes we were confronted but if you politely say "no thank you" the people move on to try and earn some money. We took a snorkeling tour and rode to the opposite side of the island so we got a look at how the people there live. The conditions are poor and the people there are trying to make a living. I honestly felt more harassed (and unsafe) on Bourbon St. in New Orleans than I did in Nassau. Once past the tourism building, we found the Bahamians we encountered in the shops in town to be very courteous and friendly. I found the natives in Cozumel to be equally assertive but more enterprising( my DH husband was given a shot of tequila in a jewelry store!LOL). Americans who can afford to visit these islands are attracted by their natural beauty but for the people who live there the cliche"you can't eat scenery" is a reality. If you don't want to experience this either stay on the ship or take an excursion offered by the cruise line. If you have the desire to experience other cultures, visit these places with an open mind and you may be pleasantly surprised!

 

[dwkwootton]

This has been very informative. Here's what I've learned so far:
1) Rejobako is the mayor of Nassau
2) If I disembark, I should leave my kids on the boat
3) Get off the boat, take my chances on finding an honest taxi and head directly to Paradise Island or cough up some cash and go to Atlantis.

Probably what I'll do is get off the ship, take ten minutes to walk around the block just to say I was there, and head back aboard to the buffet.

The thread has been informative but it sounds like you might have missed the point. Besides, you and your children will be safer in Nassau than you'll be heading back to the buffet to participate in the leading cause of sickness and death in the US.

 

[rejobako]

This has been very informative. Here's what I've learned so far:
1) Rejobako is the mayor of Nassau

And the director of the chamber of commerce.

Actually, I'm just someone who's decided it's not my place to judge the standard of living in other countries simply because I live in the greatest one of all. And with that realization in mind, traveling abroad is a great experience.