Does it get uncomfortable at the ports of poor countries?

[adSimba]

My family is looking to book our first cruise, and it seems that, logically, the less expensive cruises go to poor-er countries. I'm concerned that we might be really uncomfortable from scammers/beggars/drug pushers etc. do these things really happen or am I crazy? (or both)

 

[MunFam]

They really do happen. I work in the travel industry and I have been all over the world, so the beggers, hecklers, make you uncomfortable with their in your face pushy presence, etc. does not bother me any more. I have encountered prostitutes and drug dealers and it does not bother me. I was followed in Costa Rica for a few hours by a local, heckling me and asking for money. It is what it is. We have traveled a lot through South America and the tent cities and the filth are real. I do like taking our small child there. It gives her great perspective on how great she has it at home in San Diego. I think a lot of it will have to do with how comfortable YOU are in situations like that.

People post about how terrible Nassau and Cartagena are. Many people stay on the ship out of fear. We explored those areas on our own without a tour group and felt perfectly safe. We travel smart and have never had any issues.

 

[T1nkerBell]

Yes, it happens. Yes, you might be uncomfortable. But that's the real world, most people are not as affluent as Americans, or in my case, Norwegians are. I think we're supposed to be a bit uncomfortable, after all we just won the global lottery of birth place. But if you behave decent, not bratty, most of the world is safe and interesting. We took you dd on a self guided tour of Nassau, I've traveled in Kenya as a lone female. Just use your sense and grace and yoy'll be fine.

Best of luck,

 

[AquaDame]

Yes and no... it comes down to how sensitive you are. Depending on where you are going you may encounter aggressive vendors (very common) and sights of abject poverty (less common). Are you the sort that will be OK if you have to tell people no firmly again and again as you leave the port area? If you DO see hungry people, houses that are falling part or get overly uncomfortable from glaring what will you do? Will that really ruin it for you? If all you are worried about is being scammed or being hit up to buy drugs that has not once come up with us and we have been a TON of places. Every vendor eventually accepts NO but telling them you already have plans helps if you want them gone quicker (they will try to get you to tell them with whom though - don't tell them anything more).

For what it is worth I /am/ a sensitive person and I still would not trade getting out there and seeing the world for anything. I have seen some things that still make me tear up to think about but in all honesty it's exactly what you think of when you think of poverty in the end. It is probably not as bad as you see in your head but yes, these things are out there.

 

[com_op_2000]

On multiple stops in Jamacia I have been offered ganja by the locals.

 

[MSPeeler]

Just don't make eye contact, LOL

 

[AquaDame]

On multiple stops in Jamacia I have been offered ganja by the locals.

Still feels wild it's legal in my state...! ^^;

 

[Dug720]

Just don't make eye contact, LOL

This. No eye contact, NO slowing your pace, and a nice firm "No." This is one case where it's perfectly acceptable to skip the "Thank you."

But if you make eye contact, slow down, or even worse stop, they will persist because they think you are considering it.

And if you've got kids, it's best to coach them on what to do - like NO looking and for the love of all that is holy NO TOUCHING anything out on offer.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

IMHO, this is one of the reasons people book excursions as opposed to just wandering around the ports. The only time we've wandered around ports were on our Norwegian/Scotland/Iceland and our Alaska cruises. We just did a Western Carib. cruise and Falmouth, Jamaica was a real eye-opener. They have a gigantic, gated and highly secured port area with shops and restaurants. If you wander beyond that, which we had to do to get our transportation for a private excursion we booked, security at the gate made darn sure we were meeting someone at that gate to accompany us in the town. I got the feeling security at the Falmouth port did not think we would be safe outside those gates. We did wander a little in Grand Cayman, however, and felt fine. We've never wandered in Nassau or Cozumel, so can't really comment on those ports. Honestly, I wouldn't do a Western Carib. cruise again. We've been to other Caribbean islands (St. Lucia, Nevis, etc.) and never felt the way we did in Falmouth. Was it educational to drive through the town and get a sense of how people live there, yes, of course. But I didn't like the fact that even the security guards didn't think we would be safe there.

 

[deanimal]

When we visited San Francisco last summer we stayed at a nice hotel right next to the cable car turnaround in the touristy part of town. When we left to walk to a nearby children's museum the hotel guard asked where we were headed and made a point of showing us where we were on a map and telling us to be sure not to go north or west of the hotel because it wasn't safe. We later took a taxi ride that went right through that part of town and I was absolutely shocked at the scale of the homelessness, mental illness and abject poverty and misery on the city streets around the city hall area.
My own closest city, Vancouver, is really no better. If a cruise ship passenger was to turn left instead of right when exiting the ship and find themselves wandering down East Hastings street, it would seem like a different world. I know that most of these people are more desperate than dangerous, but I still can't help but checking to make sure the car doors are locked every time I drive there.

I guess what I'm saying is that Americans and Canadians can't really be smug about how much better off we are in our own countries. The difference is that we know better how to avoid the dodgy areas at home than in a new place. Someone wealthy enough to come from a cruise ship is sort of a "sitting duck" for beggars, con artists and vendors in many poor areas so it can be hard to avoid unwanted attention. It really all comes down to your comfort levels. If you really feel that encountering beggars or wondering about your safety will ruin your trip then go with your gut. What is an adventure or an interesting cultural experience for one person may be scary to others. What we've done in a few places is have one parent get off the boat in the morning to check a place out and if it seems okay then we go out as a family for the afternoon. And if not, there's nothing wrong with a day on the boat!

 

[tlprice]

My daughter was a bit uncomfortable in both Nassau and Falmouth when people tried to pressure us to buy things. I used it as a teaching moment though. I think it is important for her to grow up understanding that the world is a very diverse place and it is important to understand and respect other cultures. I never felt unsafe in either of these ports or in Cozumel. It was just different than what we experience at home although we are used to a pretty large homeless population due to our legalization of marijuana in Colorado.

 

[Saimaeve]

I think being uncomfortable is a good thing. It will make you more aware of your privilege and appreciative of your position in life.

Are they bad? Eh. The peddlers can be persistent, but it isn't Dickensian.

And drug pushers? How far inland are you planning on going? They're not openly trying to sell you crack or heroin dressed in a trench coat.

Be aware of your surroundings. Don't be rude but don't be overly solicitous.

 

[RPK89]

My family is looking to book our first cruise, and it seems that, logically, the less expensive cruises go to poor-er countries. I'm concerned that we might be really uncomfortable from scammers/beggars/drug pushers etc. do these things really happen or am I crazy? (or both)

I shouldn't laugh but perhaps a little crazy!?! The ports in which the cruises dock as generally amazing and offer a wide variety of everything. Do your research prior to visiting said port and see if it appeals. If not, stay on board and enjoy the incredible offerings the ship has. We got off in Nassau, and we didn't really care for it, so we got back on and enjoyed ourselves with a half empty ship. Bliss!

 

[Uncleromulus]

As DisneyWishes 14 said, Falmouth was an eye opener to us as well. We did take a tour outside the secure area and if I had a dollar for every hostile glance cast our way while we were in the van, I'd be a rich man. VERY uncomfortable to say the least.

Meanwhile we walked all around Grand Cayman and felt just fine. St Thomas was ok as well.

 

[Uncleromulus]

IMHO, this is one of the reasons people book excursions as opposed to just wandering around the ports. The only time we've wandered around ports were on our Norwegian/Scotland/Iceland and our Alaska cruises. We just did a Western Carib. cruise and Falmouth, Jamaica was a real eye-opener. They have a gigantic, gated and highly secured port area with shops and restaurants. If you wander beyond that, which we had to do to get our transportation for a private excursion we booked, security at the gate made darn sure we were meeting someone at that gate to accompany us in the town. I got the feeling security at the Falmouth port did not think we would be safe outside those gates. We did wander a little in Grand Cayman, however, and felt fine. We've never wandered in Nassau or Cozumel, so can't really comment on those ports. Honestly, I wouldn't do a Western Carib. cruise again. We've been to other Caribbean islands (St. Lucia, Nevis, etc.) and never felt the way we did in Falmouth. Was it educational to drive through the town and get a sense of how people live there, yes, of course. But I didn't like the fact that even the security guards didn't think we would be safe there.

And "educational" aside, we are there on vacation to ENJOY ourselves. It's not supposed to be a mission to help a Third World area.

 

[Dug720]

And "educational" aside, we are there on vacation to ENJOY ourselves. It's not supposed to be a mission to help a Third World area.

And for those who WANT more of a mission experience, there is fathom to the Dominican Republic! (Cuba is cultural exchange.)

 

[rcchello]

I have stayed in some of the richest cities in the world and have been offered drugs, walked by prostitutes, had street vendors try to sell me knockoff high-end merchandise and poor people begging. In fact, some of these "sights" are considered tourist spots, the red light district of Amsterdam, Itaewan in Seoul, Christiana in Copenhagen.

The poor street people in most US cities and towns are just hidden or ignored, but they are there if you look around you. The drug sales are available around you no matter where you live, just serve on a Grand Jury in almost any jurisdiction, we just tend to ignore it. Just check the amount of hunger in the USA.

Also, most of the places the cruise ships go are post colonial or still ruled but UK, France or the Dutch. We just left Tortola, still ruled by the UK, still with colonial Era building you can see as museums, such as the old Governor Mansion, slept in by Queen Elizabeth II.

 

[Julylady]

I had one bad experience in Cozumel. I left the ship alone with my 5 year old niece. Almost immediately a vendor came and grabbed her by the hand I wasn't holding. He pulled her into his shop. I did not let go of her and screamed at him to stop. I realize now he was just trying to get me to come into his shop. But in the heat of the moment I thought he was trying to take her. I freaked out, which freaked out my niece. From then on, we only walk off the ship with two adults per kid, one holding each hand. And we tend to stick with Disney excursions. But, on another Jamacian bus tour our bus was stopped by some men who appeared to be police officers. Right outside my window I watched as the tour bus driver handed them a wad of cash.

We also did an excursion in Falmouth which was very unsettling. We took a horse and buggy tour through very, very poor neighborhoods. We had a very big strong "extra tour guide" who stood at the back of our buggy in addition to our driver and smaller female guide. The looks from the locals were fierce, and yes I was uncomfortable. We stopped at a church where some women had set up craft booths. No one in our group wanted to leave our carriage, so some of the women started bringing them over to us. Almost everyone ended up buying something including myself. I was afraid we weren't going to leave until we did.

We also had an incident on a tour in Acapulco, but that's another ocean.

 

[squirk]

I will echo the sentiment that no one can tell you if you will be "uncomfortable". Yes, the poverty is visible. Yes, the drug dealers and insistent street vendors are there. But your own background, upbringing and life experiences will inform how you react to experiencing that stuff.

The fact that you are asking the question suggests that you are already apprehensive about it. If that is the case, stay in the safe areas, do a group excursion, or find a reputable driver. You should not spend one of your precious port days constantly feeling "on guard".

Also bear in mind that the authorities and businesses around the ports don't want people afraid or freaked out, lest the cruise lines pull the port from their itineraries and all those tourist dollars vanish. Remember what they did with Acapulco?

I hope you have a great time.

 

[MelInAZ]

I just experienced most of that in Paris, including our taxi cab driver trying to scam us when he dropped us off at our hotel (he failed because I'd done my homework and knew it might happen). So like rcchello alluded to, it can and does happen in any tourist destination, just be aware of your surroundings. If you decide to go, enjoy your cruise!