Dunn's River Falls

Just be careful the rocks can be very slippery

(.a cruise lover.)

Never did,and never will like JAMAICA,when we were there they kept
trying to get us to go to the back of the stores,some of the passengers
said they were trying to sell drugs

(.a cruise lover.)

"Jim Giblin" wrote in message
news:GgZMf.311$ZL1.26@trndny09...
I was in Jamaica last week on the NCL Jewel. We had been there several
times before on cruises and I was not impressed with Jamaica based on these
earlier experiences. I had never been accosted but had similar negative
experiences.

We were there last week also on the Star Princess & walked the falls. We
arrived there by catamaran & entered the fall area from the bottom. After
finishing the climb the guides were collecting tips of course & I only had a
20. He indicated he wanted $10 but unwillingly settled for $5. Had we exited
toward the bus area I suppose we might have encountered some resistance but
we went back down to the beach & didn't have any problems. It wouldn't
bother me if the ships bypassed Jamaica altogether & unless there are more
people who fill out the comment cards with negative opinions they'll
continue to stop there.

I have been to Jamaica 17 times and have only 1 or 2 times been bothered.
Majority of my experience have been positive. The Jamaicans as a whole are
genuine, good people - it is the hagglers and aggressive ones that give the
island a black eye. I love everything about Jamaica and have made many
friends there. I was also fortunate to have visited a local school there;
it was a great experience. I choose the cruise itinerary for this based on
it stopping in Jamaica. I was disappointed that it changed from Ochie to
Mobay but we made the best out of and it came out for the better for us.

Many cruisers experience Jamaica from their cruiseship experience. You need
to stay on the island to fully appreciate it's beauty, people and everything
else about Jamaica. It poverty and aggressive behavior bothers you (and
does happen on other islands to, by the way), then Jamaica is not for you.


"RichC" wrote in message
news

"Jim Giblin" wrote in message
news:GgZMf.311$ZL1.26@trndny09...
I was in Jamaica last week on the NCL Jewel. We had been there several
times before on cruises and I was not impressed with Jamaica based on
these earlier experiences. I had never been accosted but had similar
negative experiences.

We were there last week also on the Star Princess & walked the falls. We
arrived there by catamaran & entered the fall area from the bottom. After
finishing the climb the guides were collecting tips of course & I only had
a 20. He indicated he wanted $10 but unwillingly settled for $5. Had we
exited toward the bus area I suppose we might have encountered some
resistance but we went back down to the beach & didn't have any problems.
It wouldn't bother me if the ships bypassed Jamaica altogether & unless
there are more people who fill out the comment cards with negative
opinions they'll continue to stop there.

Some of them "darkiies" came on to us, and the cow leveled one of the skinny
"boonies" and we were never botherd agin! (Make an ugly woman your
wife-Jammes Brown)
"RichC" wrote in message
news

"Jim Giblin" wrote in message
news:GgZMf.311$ZL1.26@trndny09...
I was in Jamaica last week on the NCL Jewel. We had been there several
times before on cruises and I was not impressed with Jamaica based on
these earlier experiences. I had never been accosted but had similar
negative experiences.

We were there last week also on the Star Princess & walked the falls. We
arrived there by catamaran & entered the fall area from the bottom. After
finishing the climb the guides were collecting tips of course & I only had
a 20. He indicated he wanted $10 but unwillingly settled for $5. Had we
exited toward the bus area I suppose we might have encountered some
resistance but we went back down to the beach & didn't have any problems.
It wouldn't bother me if the ships bypassed Jamaica altogether & unless
there are more people who fill out the comment cards with negative
opinions they'll continue to stop there.

Thus spake "LeeNY" :

wrote:
We had a 60
year old in the group with us and no problems whatsoever.

60 is not that old. Why would a 60 year old have a problem?

Lee

If you're 30, 60 is like forever. I'm (almost) 50. 60 is just a few
years away.

When I was 23 I dated an older woman. She was 30.
--
dillon

Could have been is in the past
Could be is in the future
There is only the now

It's unfortunate you had a bad experience in Ocho Rios.
As I said, we always enjoy it there and have had nothing but positive
experiences.
There is even a great little bar/liquor store just before you make your
final approach to the pier called Ocean's Eleven. They always have music
on their deck and great coconut Jamaican Rum for sale in the liquor
store. The best part is that they will DELIVER it to your ship so you
don't have to tote it around.
If you didn't like Ocho Rios then you should never think of going to
Belize!

"DaFlaBear" wrote in message
...
It's unfortunate you had a bad experience in Ocho Rios.
As I said, we always enjoy it there and have had nothing but positive
experiences.
There is even a great little bar/liquor store just before you make your
final approach to the pier called Ocean's Eleven. They always have music
on their deck and great coconut Jamaican Rum for sale in the liquor
store. The best part is that they will DELIVER it to your ship so you
don't have to tote it around.
If you didn't like Ocho Rios then you should never think of going to
Belize!

I'll let you know about Belize. We'll be there in 3 weeks. It should prove
to be at least interesting. Other than the ships tours, what suggestions do
you have for the stop? I've heard that you shouldn't venture off on your
own.

Dillon Pyron wrote:

If you're 30, 60 is like forever. I'm (almost) 50. 60 is just a few
years away.

When I was 23 I dated an older woman. She was 30.

At about the time my first born daughter turned 13 ... 20 year olds
went from being luscious babes ... to ... well ... babies ...

We were last in Belize on February 2nd.
You are tendered in on quick tenders to the shopping area that is
surrounded by a huge but decorative fence.
Inside the fenced in 'port"/shopping area it is just your typical
Caribbean shopping mall. There will be an ARMY of tour operators
soliciting you immediately after you walk off the tender and I do mean
an ARMY of them.
To take a carriage tour of the City go to the exit right outside the art
gallery. There will be a number of horse and buggy operations there.
The streets just outside the "port" are VERY much like that of Ocho Rios
in that there are multitudes of aggressive street vendors.
Hence my comment about Ocho Rios/Belize.
These people are harmless but just trying to make a living. But they are
a pain or scary for the green horn tourist.
We like to hop a taxi (about $5 US) and go to one of the most beautiful
restaurants in South America "The Smokey Mermaid".
Your cruise ship will never tell you about it.
It's across the street from the Radisson.
It is part of a guest house and is in the middle of a courtyard. Go sit
at the outside bar for lunch and be served by Patricia one of the nicest
people you will ever meet. GREAT seafood (and believe it or not, Pizza).
We then went by taxi (another $5 US) to the Princess resort to gamble at
the Casino. It's a bit run down but a real slice of local flavor. We
spent a couple of hours there on the quarter slots (you have to get
Belize coins at the cashier) and only blew $20 the whole time playing
max coin.
We then went back to the street area outside the "port" and walked
around a while.
If you had more than a few hours then you could fly over to San Pedro
which is really a cool place but you really have too little time on
shore.
Most of the Cruise excursions require quite a bit of physical ability.
If you're in shape taking a hiking tubing tour would be fun. Just
remember out in the hinterlands it's hot, muggy, and buggy. But it is
very beautiful.
As far as bad rep, it's not Belize City in daytime you need to worry
about. As anywhere you need to keep your wits about you. The REAL
trouble and danger is when you get over near the Belize/Guatemalan
border. Drug running is rampant and Guatemala still believes Belize
should be part of their territory.
Oh, and the exchange rate is pretty simple $1 US = $2 Belize.