Will DCL follow suit???

[Club Disney Chandler]

RCCL is suspending docking in Falmouth. https://www.cruisehive.com/cruise-lines-pulling-out-falmouth-jamaica/17730

 

[quickcat]

Confusing article because it sounds as though only two Royal Caribbean ships (names Allure and then says one other ship from RC) are going to actually stop docking there and the rest will continue? Maybe it's just bad writing because if they were going to pull out a few ships why not pull them all out? It is interesting since royal built that port I thought?
Yes will be interesting to see what Disney does that's for sure.

 

[cruiser21]

It's a beautiful port, but outside the port is awful. It's probably the only place I've been to I wouldn't feel safe. It's sad for the people that work in the shops there. I can't imagine jobs are plentiful in Jamaica.

 

[FigmentSpark]

That may be why RCCL is pulling out?

 

[NewsMom]

I'd fire any of my reporters that turned in an article with that little actual information or attribution.

 

[Bonnie1222]

RCCL built the port, and now they are not going to dock there? I have been the last 3 years on DCL and have been told by numerous people not to go passed the gates unless it was on a cruise line sponsored excursion.. However the port is a nice place to walk around and I have found a local jeweler there that is a pleasure to visit. I think they could add a few more stores family friendly stores that don't sell Bob Marley and their favorite local "plant" t-shirts and shot glasses. Although we have never ventured outside the port, we have been on excursions with another cruise line out of another port. Here is another article my husband found on the cruise attorney's site.

http://www.cruiselawnews.com/

 

[PrincessShmoo]

RCCL built the port, and now they are not going to dock there? I have been the last 3 years on DCL and have been told by numerous people not to go passed the gates unless it was on a cruise line sponsored excursion.. However the port is a nice place to walk around and I have found a local jeweler there that is a pleasure to visit. I think they could add a few more stores family friendly stores that don't sell Bob Marley and their favorite local "plant" t-shirts and shot glasses. Although we have never ventured outside the port, we have been on excursions with another cruise line out of another port. Here is another article my husband found on the cruise attorney's site.

http://www.cruiselawnews.com/

Just a note - that lawyer is pretty much considered a less than reliable source.

 

[TestingH2O]

First, yes, RCCL built the port as PP said. Not docking there seems very odd.

Second, the port is nice and very sanitary. Almost to a point of being fake. We took an excursion with a local company around Falmouth and had a lovely time. The area is certainly poor and not developed, but we never felt unsafe with our guides. In fact, I was bothered more by vendors in Ketchikan today than I was by anyone in Falmouth.

 

[cruiser21]

I'd fire any of my reporters that turned in an article with that little actual information or attribution.

You are a rare editor in this day and age. Props to you. I guess you don't work for CNN.

 

[cheermom2four]

We just went this past september and I loved walking around that port area. It was so clean and never once was harrassed by anyone. We even did some shopping (mainly the blue mountain coffee).

 

[cmwade77]

I would imagine that if RCC is going to stop docking there when they built the port that things are really bad and as such other lines, especially Disney will follow suit unless the issues can be fixed.

 

[dclpluto]

Hope DCL stays with Jamaica. Jamaica has some really good excursions.

 

[girlbomb]

When we docked at Ocho Rios in July of 2015, we did an excursion, then decided to see some of the town. Bad move. I mean, I get it -- here comes this ship full of tourists with money, which is in short supply in Jamaica, and the Jamaicans are supposed to scramble around to please us -- I think some of the locals' resentment of tourists is understandable. As a New Yorker, I get frustrated with tourists clogging the sidewalks. But I have never felt more loathed and unwelcome in another city than I did walking around Ocho Rios. I didn't feel unsafe, just really really REALLY unwanted. We're never going back to Jamaica.

 

[mevelandry]

You are a rare editor in this day and age. Props to you. I guess you don't work for CNN.

Or FOX news. (Sorry, FOX lied about the terror attack in Quebec --our PM had to intervene-- and I still hold a grudge).

 

[mevelandry]

When we docked at Ocho Rios in July of 2015, we did an excursion, then decided to see some of the town. Bad move. I mean, I get it -- here comes this ship full of tourists with money, which is in short supply in Jamaica, and the Jamaicans are supposed to scramble around to please us -- I think some of the locals' resentment of tourists is understandable. As a New Yorker, I get frustrated with tourists clogging the sidewalks. But I have never felt more loathed and unwelcome in another city than I did walking around Ocho Rios. I didn't feel unsafe, just really really REALLY unwanted. We're never going back to Jamaica.

Would you say it's safer to go in an excursion? Supposed to go there in October... Have an excursion booked but not sure if we're gonna keep it.

Update: I made a little research and sounds like Jamaica is worst than Nassau when it comes to pushy vendors. We decided to cancel. We were not very interested with that port anyway.

 

[BCV23]

Although the immediate port area is attractive and seems clean, we won't be shopping there again. My daughter's credit card was compromised at Diamonds International in September and mine at one of two shops on our April cruise.

 

[Tractortom]

We were there two seasons ago on a 5 day cruise with RCCL. Some of the buildings were still under construction, as I recall. We walked around the port, and then past the armed guard and into the 'civilian' straw market that is just down the street from the port entrance. WE HAD NO TROUBLE. Everyone was polite and asked us to look at their things, we did, or politely declined. At no time did I feel unsafe, as there was a policeman or policewoman on every corner, keeping an eye on things. My wife went into a local drugstore for something small, and then we walked back to the ship. Granted, I'm 6'-3" tall and weigh (at the time) about 275 lbs., but I have found that if you treat people with respect, they will do the same for you. I have had similar experiences with Nassau, too.

Tom in Okeechobee, FL

 

[cruiser21]

We were there two seasons ago on a 5 day cruise with RCCL. Some of the buildings were still under construction, as I recall. We walked around the port, and then past the armed guard and into the 'civilian' straw market that is just down the street from the port entrance. WE HAD NO TROUBLE. Everyone was polite and asked us to look at their things, we did, or politely declined. At no time did I feel unsafe, as there was a policeman or policewoman on every corner, keeping an eye on things. My wife went into a local drugstore for something small, and then we walked back to the ship. Granted, I'm 6'-3" tall and weigh (at the time) about 275 lbs., but I have found that if you treat people with respect, they will do the same for you. I have had similar experiences with Nassau, too.

Tom in Okeechobee, FL

There was a father on our cruise who went outside the gates with his very pretty 18 year old daughter. They were cornered and harassed by a group of men. He was a pretty shaken up about it. He told us the story when we were at the hot tub that night. I'm not sure treating people with respect works in all situations especially if you're a women.

 

[GPaLarry]

We were on the Magic in 2008 when they docked in Cartagena. DCL was one of the first lines to stop there after a long time of rejection by all lines. Our DCL excursion tour of the fort and old town was fine until we stopped at a local market. The shop-less vendors came out of the woodwork hawking jewelry, t-shirts and bad (I had to get one bag...after all we were in Columbia) coffee. We got on our bus and they pounded on the windows. Yikes! After many years of DCL continually stopping at that port, which I never want to see again, I would hope they have cleaned up their act.
A few years ago we took a DCL Caribbean cruise to Jamaica and never felt threatened...after our excursion we had to, I mean had to stop at Margaretville, which is right on the dock. Aside from not seeing Jimmy Buffett, we were not disappointed.

 

[KashasMom]

RCI is not canceling Falmouth. The information which started with a politician (think it was a mayor) was incorrect. RCI is repositioning Allure for a few months when it moves to Miami to make room in FLL for Symphony.

By the was Falmouth is fine if you go on a ship's excursion. We've also done the Heritage Walk on our own (which was excellent). The guide came into the port area to pick us up. We were perfectly safe/fine. It isn't unusual to be offered drugs/pot - just say no and keep on going...just like in Nassau!