Nassau Shooting - Should I cancel the Hilton daypass?

[hanscarlet]

Hi All, so we leave a week from today for our land and sea trip and we have daypasses with our little children booked for British Colonial Hilton and cruise law news is reporting that a shooting (of a Nassau native) took place today right near port in downtown Nassau - the photo where the shooting occurred, you can see the port in the background.

I normally don't freak out and like adventure but now I'm wondering about whether I should cancel my day pass? For those who had a daypass at the Hilton, did you feel safe?

I will be happy to link the cruise law news article here but wasn't sure if that was allowed or not?

Is Nassau getting worse safety wise lately?

 

[Dug720]

There was a shooting in Paris today.

There are shootings in NYC every day.

There are shootings we never hear about every day.

IMHO you can live your life - be aware of your surroundings of course, but don't obsess - and enjoy it. Or you can worry yourself to death and never go anywhere.

 

[bbel]

There was a shooting in Paris today too.
I go there on Monday (for work).
If anything I'm probably gonna be safer than if I went last week...

 

[wilkeliza]

I understand your concern OP especially with children.

With that said Cruise Law News is a fear mongering website. They have been reporting the "crime epidemic" in Nassua for at least 4 years now. You should still be perfectly fine going from the port to the hotel just don't go walking the streets of Nassau away from the port.

 

[hanscarlet]

Thanks guys, I looked at it says the walk is only 500M from port and the walk is along the water so it looks pretty safe, I just worry because I will have two little girls. I don't want to put them in danger but it looks like it's a short enough distance from the port that hopefully we'll be OK. It's scary to look at the shooting photo with the port in the background though, that kind of hits home. I think we're still going to proceed with the day pass.

 

[MamaBelle4]

In 2011 DH & I walked from the port to the Hilton. At the beach, a man with bloodshot eyes tried to sell us conch shells, we declined. Later we noticed him walking around pantsless.
On the walk back, another gentleman with bloodshot eyes asked me a question. I didn't hear him so I said, "I'm sorry, what?"
"Do you want to buy some crack?"



Honestly, if I took another cruise to the Bahamas & had the kids with me, I would either do an excursion to Atlantis or stay on the ship.

 

[bbel]

If there's any real danger or threat to tourists then Disney's not gonna dock/let you off anyway.
I mean, you could argue that there's threat and danger to everyone in every port, but that's another thread...

 

[PrincessShmoo]

With that said Cruise Law News is a fear mongering website.

 

[lspst8]

My husband and I went to the Hilton in March. We didn't have our kids with us, but I felt totally safe walking around the touristy areas of Nassau. I personally wouldn't think twice about taking the kids (who are 4 and 6) to the Hilton.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Thanks guys, I looked at it says the walk is only 500M from port and the walk is along the water so it looks pretty safe, I just worry because I will have two little girls. I don't want to put them in danger but it looks like it's a short enough distance from the port that hopefully we'll be OK. It's scary to look at the shooting photo with the port in the background though, that kind of hits home. I think we're still going to proceed with the day pass.

I was just in Nassau walking outside the port last month. On every corner there were white-uniformed law enforcement directing traffic. It was just 2 of us, both ladies. We went to Starbucks, popped into the straw market for a few minutes, then caught a cab to Sandals. Never felt unsafe.

 

[Krissy22222]

We did this, with our three kids. In the morning, the streets were quiet, walking there was quick and easy. Many people looked like they were just going to work. Felt totally safe. The British Hilton was very fancy inside, we practically had the beach to ourselves, and we felt safe the entire time while there. The food was good, we used the free lunch and drinks coupon that came with the deal. The waiters and other employees were a bit standoffish, but that didn't bother us. I guess we were just used to being treated like kings on the cruise! After our day, we headed to walk back. The streets were by this point crowded with people, some rowdy, some drinking, but no one bothered us and we kept the kids close. We would do it again, as we felt it was a good option for Nassau.

 

[JW9DVC]

Reallly....? Cancel? Why? Ugh.

 

[Shanti]

Hi All, so we leave a week from today for our land and sea trip and we have daypasses with our little children booked for British Colonial Hilton and cruise law news is reporting that a shooting (of a Nassau native) took place today right near port in downtown Nassau - the photo where the shooting occurred, you can see the port in the background.

I normally don't freak out and like adventure but now I'm wondering about whether I should cancel my day pass? For those who had a daypass at the Hilton, did you feel safe?

I will be happy to link the cruise law news article here but wasn't sure if that was allowed or not?

Is Nassau getting worse safety wise lately?

I personally wouldn't choose to take my son into Nassau, & the reason is not limited to this incident, but to the island's overall high level of crime, which is currently described as "critical" by the U.S. State Department. Nassau's crime rate goes way beyond crime rates of large American or European cities. There is a reason they keep uniformed cops on so many street corners there.

Being cavalier about my own safety is one thing, but my son's safety...Cops can't catch bullets.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

Nassau's crime rate goes way beyond crime rates of large American or European cities.

Can you point me to a source for this statement? I was under the impression that Nassau was pretty much equivalent to Chicago or Baltimore.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

I personally wouldn't think twice about taking the kids (who are 4 and 6) to the Hilton.

I took my kids (6 and 9) through the British Colonial Hilton this past Tuesday to get to a snorkeling excursion.

Thanks guys, I looked at it says the walk is only 500M from port and the walk is along the water so it looks pretty safe, I just worry because I will have two little girls. I don't want to put them in danger but it looks like it's a short enough distance from the port that hopefully we'll be OK. It's scary to look at the shooting photo with the port in the background though, that kind of hits home. I think we're still going to proceed with the day pass.

If it helps, it looks like this crime was not random, but a targeted retaliation. It is quite unusual that it happened near the tourist areas. But crimes like these happen every day in U.S cities, they're just usually in the impoverished areas. Same goes for Nassau. This one was unusual.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

With that said Cruise Law News is a fear mongering website.

That site is sooooooo uplifting!!!! Orca slaughters, bomb scares, and lots of people falling overboard. Such fun!!!

 

[adisneyaunt]

OP: everyone's feelings/perceptions/opinions will differ based on their acceptance/tolerance, even lifestyle when it comes to your question. Perhaps somewhere you'd visit you'd be a bit more cautious or tolerant, but with your children, you'd second guess. Which seems to be your current situation.

Imho, I like to feel relaxed, comfortable and not encumbered with extra thoughts of worry or concern when traveling alone, never mind with young ones. In the past, I've stopped at ports that I purposely did not leave the ship and had a wonderful day... rather than dismissing an entire cruise, for example. Would I do that now, nope.. I'd skip that cruise entirely and choose elsewhere.
Its your Own comfort level..
whatever you decide, happy and Safe travels to you/yours!
(And we check the govt travel alerts/warnings site)

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

Based on our experience visiting Nassau after any higher profile crime (like when the Segway tour got robbed), the Bahamian government will take steps to try and alleviate fears. We were there not too long after that and the Bahamian Military or Police (not sure which as I didn't get close enough to check insignia but they were in fatigue uniforms and under arms) were everywhere in Nassau.

 

[MUN]

Hi All, so we leave a week from today for our land and sea trip and we have daypasses with our little children booked for British Colonial Hilton and cruise law news is reporting that a shooting (of a Nassau native) took place today right near port in downtown Nassau - the photo where the shooting occurred, you can see the port in the background.

I normally don't freak out and like adventure but now I'm wondering about whether I should cancel my day pass? For those who had a daypass at the Hilton, did you feel safe?

I will be happy to link the cruise law news article here but wasn't sure if that was allowed or not?

Is Nassau getting worse safety wise lately?

This is just my opinion, but I suggest you don't live your life in fear. Bad things happen everyday across the world. Go on your cruise and enjoy the British Colonial Hilton in Nassau. It's a beautiful property that is mere steps from the ship.

MUN

 

[PAGA2003]

I personally wouldn't choose to take my son into Nassau, & the reason is not limited to this incident, but to the island's overall high level of crime, which is currently described as "critical" by the U.S. State Department. Nassau's crime rate goes way beyond crime rates of large American or European cities. There is a reason they keep uniformed cops on so many street corners there.

Being cavalier about my own safety is one thing, but my son's safety...Cops can't catch bullets.

Do you mind citing your source? Truly curious as there are currently no active travel alerts or warnings for the Bahamas right now.

And OP, I personally think you should go to the Hilton and enjoy your day! We were just in Nassau in March and did much more walking than what you will be doing and felt extremely safe. We walked with our 5 year old son from the port to the Pirate Museum, then headed over to the Queen's Staircase and Fort Fincastle, finally heading back to the ship. There were many other tourists out as well as locals going about their day. The Bahamas is far from my favorite island destination but I will never miss a chance to experience and share another culture with my children when given the opportunity