Join us as we share our cruise experience and unveil why we decided to remain on the ship.
We took the advice of the US Department of State and our own government not to leave the ship in this port. They advise avoiding travel because of violent crimes, such as home invasions, armed robberies, assaults, and homicides. Assaults occur frequently, including at all-inclusive resorts.
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00:00 Intro
00:35 Why Did We Not Get Off At This Port?
01:00 The Name of the Port
01:14 Royal Palooza Parade
02:10 Main Dining Room Lunch on Royal Caribbean
03:30 Sea Day Activities on Royal Caribbean
04:47 Our Experience at the Port of Falmouth, Jamaica
07:00 Jamaica is not safe for tourists
08:23 U.S. State Department Warning
09:03 How to stay safe in Jamaica
11:00 Sea Day on Explorer of the Seas
12:12 Shops on Explorer of the Seas
12:58 Bad Internet on Explorer of the Seas
14:00 Giovanni’s Table Review
16:45 Arriving in Georgetown, Grand Cayman
18:25 Buffet Lunch in the Windjammer Marketplace
22:13 Tendering to Grand Cayman
23:30 Visiting Hell in Grand Cayman
26:14 What to do in Grand Cayman
27:00 Playing Mini Golf
29:13 Has the Main Dining Room Improved? Our Review.
29:50 Ice Skating Show
39 Comments
I also of Jamaican parentage and go back to see family and visit my Father grave in Negril. I do understand what you re saying and am sad that you encountered such a horrible experience. However, I would like to stress that I have been on a Royal Car Cruise where the visiting port was Ocho Rios (OR) in which you would get a better experience of visiting Jamaica via a cruise. My other half is white and we went on a excursion to Dunns River in which he was accosted by some fools selling the same thing and trying to make him feel uncomfortable by calling him names and threatening him until they saw me and I made sure that I cuss them back and told them about themselves and they ran off. When I told the excursion company who I booked via directly with the tour operator what had happened, they could not be more apologetic. I have noticed now that RC do not go to OR anymore but to Falmouth which I have been to with RC and did not like the port, it was rough man !!. I do hope that this has not distracted both yourselves in visiting JA on a cruise again. It would be expensive to go with the Cruise instead of a 3rd Party but you would be more safer. JA unfortunately is going thru a major unrest with the people there and am unfortunately taking it out on visitors wherever you come from because they feel that this is the way to be- nasty and hateful. As reggaeprincess rightly stated you did the right thing , but don't let this visit not make you want to visit. I think you guys are so good in being honest about everything and please carrying with that.- Bless + One Love
I was extorted in Ocho rios trying to make it to the free beach on my carnival cruise stay in the tourist area while you’re there
I love you two and your videos. I’ve been to Falmouth and took the long ride to Dunns River Falls. It was so sketchy. But my uncle left his phone on the van and it was actually returned!!
Mixed marriages are so difficult! A meat-eater and a vegetarian? At least the two of you have managed to overcome that difference. 😛
About six years ago we did get off there. We experienced verbal abuse from the locals (bar owner or employee) so we would not get off there ourselves if we were on a ship going there again.
I avoid cruises that stop in Jamaica if possible. Several years ago, I made the mistake of getting off the ship there and was continuously offered drugs. Some of the drug sellers were just steps from the security checkpoint. Going back through Jamaican security, they took my bag completely apart, even opening a lip balm to see what was inside. If they wanted to stop drug sales, they could walk just a few feet from the checkpoint and stop the sellers. However, their intention was clearly to catch unsuspecting tourists in a trap.
Cruise operators have the responsibility to adequately protect their customers and refuse to sail to Jamaica. The government will then be forced to take affirmative action.
We visited Kingston on our cruise and the poverty was horrible, the kids sitting on roofs begging for us to throw food or clothes etc was really upsetting. They see us arriving and walking about in nice fenced off areas where they are locked out of in their own country… I'm not making excuses for the robberies but I'm not surprised. We declined to disembark in Mexico
My husband and I are going to stop there in December… thanks for the tips!! I’m so sorry that you had that homophobic experience. ❤
We were in Jamaica in 2017. Even though we booked an excursion through the ship, we felt we were being forced to buy food from our guide’s friend. I have no desire to return.
Izumi all the way
Yeahhh I'm from a carribbean background and can say I'm not surprised. My sister went on a RC cruise some years back with family friends (they were from Jamaica) and my sister who was probably 15 at the time was approached by a grown man who said he wanted to have sex with her. So disgusting, luckily, the adult who was with her heard and told him off harshly.
I totally agree, that Jamaica is not a safe port…, but we have also found other ports, such as Bahamas, Mexico, and when we did a black sea cruise, we were harassed in Romania, and the 2 guys actually tried to pick pocket my Husband but I turned around and gave them a foot, you know where! When we got back to the ship, we were told that many people by themselfs and on a paid thru ship excursion, were threatened! After having taken 66 large cruise ships, many different
Ines, and 15 River cruises, all rivers in Europe, States and the Yangtze in Asia and the Nile Egypt….also, I must say, the police at the pyramids, were holding out their hands for tips, and I finally went back pn the bus, and vendors were trying to come in the windows shoving items at me to by….I had , had enough. These countries want us to visit their countries and buy their souvenirs , but dont treat us nicely at all. And not being that young , we are seniors, we should be treated with more respect, and not be taken advantage off. Thank you for giving this info to travelers who might not know. Vickie from SE Pa USA
I have gone on shore excursions on all three of my trips to jamaica and had a very nice time and didn't have any problems with the locals or anyone else.
You guys are Hilarious .
I went on a cruise 30 years ago that stopped in Jamaica. Getting off the ship then was a huge mistake, especially walking from the port. I was offered drugs, black market money, and prostitution within a few moments of leaving the dock. Sales people were pushy and rude, trying to get me to take things I didn’t want. And even the excursions through the cruise line were crap; the snorkeling is horrible as the reef is dead, and Dunn’s River Falls is a tourist trap. The “rocks” at the falls are man made concrete, sculpted for climbing them, and a bit dangerous. And when you get to the top you are hounded by people trying to sell stuff. I don’t know anyone who has had a good experience in Jamaica. 20 years later, one of my employees went there on his honeymoon. He and his wife were robbed in the elevator of their resort hotel.
Our ship stopped in Jamaica last year and after reading the reviews, I decided not to book any excursions before hand. I figure we could just relax on the ship, but my wife wanted to see the island so I booked a last minute excursion to tour the city. It was an experience, observing the gap between the rich and poor, the poverty and the traffic, was such a sad state of affair. I remember going through a rich neighborhood and just seeing fenced off areas and bars on windows in all the houses and then going through an area where you saw people struggling to eke out a living. I really felt guilty, and it left an impression with me.
I had a port visit in Jamaica years ago. Glad I got to see their beautiful scenery but said I would never get off the ship there again! It's a shame because it really is beautiful there.
My cousin and his partner were told that couples like them are against the law. Also, never wear camouflage clothing.
Tanks for a good video. You guys are so lovely! I look forward to the next video.
I agree. I was harassed in the port with my mother and we felt extremely unsafe. We decided to go right back to the ship.
You guys are great. Ben lovable pompous queen and David the world's little brother. Your content is entertaining thanks guys.
Another wonderful vlog! Regarding Jamaica. It is a beautiful place! Yes, we were accosted by drug dealers as soon as we got off the ship. We took a taxi to the beach (Taxi was a decrepit Russian car with no carpets and holes in the floorboards but it made it) . Police stopped the taxi and that was a bad moment. our driver talked the police out of searching us for drugs (oxymoron?) . We had a lovely day otherwise.
Not friendly to gays. Stay away! Nothing is missed. Their problem!
Skip Jamaica and the Cayman Islands all entitled people. They hate hate gays! You are missing nothing!
I meant enlightened people!
I think that the hell tourist place was an old lava field? And speaking of hell, good choice to miss Jamaica. Keep travelling !
Take a look at the skin colour of people in Jamaica and that tells you everything
I kust happened along and really enjoyed your video. Subbing!
What an incredibly well edited video. Very good advice too.
I blame Royal Caribbean
In my opinion getting off work Carnival gets off seems a little more easier where you get off we're Royal Caribbean gets off soon as you get out of that mean area you get approached and almost robbed for some reason the real Caribbean area is worse I think they think it is a richer cruise line so that's why they attacked these people more
Thank you guys for all your videos. So helpful and you are both so lovely xx
Got off Explorer of the seas this morning in Ravenna… the choice of free drink in the Windjammer is fantastic.. the soups are cream and the Italian chocolate hazelnut cake WOW ! Best dessert I’ve Ever had!! MDR food was amazing… just stead clear of the jumbo shrimp in the MDR !!!
I agree, went there twice and only went on one excursion one time. My wife had her credit card compromised and only spent in the visitors center in Falmouth.
Yeah, I went to Falmouth & I was nervous when I saw 👀 the military cops 👮♀️ w/ M-16’s. I’m like wow. Then grandmas was trying to get me to go into alleys where their stores were & out of site of the cops 👮♀️ w/ weird guys watching me.
The ppl were very aggressive to buy 4 yrs ago.
I’m like Nah, I don’t need anything that badly, so I returned back to the ship.
I am very grateful for your safety information about Jamaica. I think this safety information is an excellent addition to all the fantastic work you're doing. Thank you!
I can understand both your concern and experience. I’m asked all the time about drugs and prostitution when sitting on the beach in Riviera Maya. Use precautions everywhere you go or live.
Jamaica is such a beautiful island nation with incredible history, cuisine. It’s a shame this has happened.
Remember this obviously tourists have created this issue in part by buying drugs.
Either way it’s a shame.
After my first visit to Jamaica many years ago I knew I would never go back. It is the port that I felt the least safe on all of my travels in the Caribbean. It truly is sad since the island is so beautiful.