Excursions....independent or RCL in Falmouth?

Zipitidoda

Best Day Ever!
Joined
Apr 6, 2017
Hello! I'm cruising in a little over a month and one of our ports is Falmouth. The Blue Hole sounds very interesting but it's far from the port and not offered by RCL. Has anyone done this? Would you use an independent? What else is a good excursion for two adults and two teens in Falmouth?
 
I'd be ok with an independent if the operator is well regarded/reviewed. You should be able to work with them to coordinate return times.

The only port where I'm likely to go with the cruise line is Cozumel, where if you are planning to hop over to the mainland you have to take the ferry in addition to a bus.
 
I would recommend Dunns River Falls. It is a Cascading water fall that you walk up. I am not sure about excursions from Falmouth because it did not exist the last time we visited the island.
 
We chose to spend the day at a resort with a poolside cabana (the cabana was an additional charge). Included were:

Transportation
Food and beverage (including alcohol)
Pool access
Lazy River access
Waterslide access
Beach access

The cabana was amazing. We had a "home base" so we could explore the resort, and we had an attendant who would bring us anything we wanted including all food and drinks that were included, which was just about everything. We had kids with us and they enjoyed the Lazy River, and waterslide because they got to go around and enjoy themselves and they always passed by the cabana so we could check in on them.

The beach:

457446

The swim-up bar that is connected to the Lazy River, at the exit of the waterslide:

457447

The view from our cabana:

457448

We would go back there in a heartbeat! Can't imagine doing anything else in Jamaica.
 


We chose to spend the day at a resort with a poolside cabana (the cabana was an additional charge). Included were:

Transportation
Food and beverage (including alcohol)
Pool access
Lazy River access
Waterslide access
Beach access

The cabana was amazing. We had a "home base" so we could explore the resort, and we had an attendant who would bring us anything we wanted including all food and drinks that were included, which was just about everything. We had kids with us and they enjoyed the Lazy River, and waterslide because they got to go around and enjoy themselves and they always passed by the cabana so we could check in on them.

The beach:

View attachment 457446

The swim-up bar that is connected to the Lazy River, at the exit of the waterslide:

View attachment 457447

The view from our cabana:

View attachment 457448

We would go back there in a heartbeat! Can't imagine doing anything else in Jamaica.
What resort did you go to, it looks amazing?
 
What resort did you go to, it looks amazing?

Hilton Rose Hall. It was great! We booked the cabana directly through the resort, and bought the day pass through a website that I probably cannot mention here. I do not work for them. Google some of the key words and it should be there.
 


Hilton Rose Hall. It was great! We booked the cabana directly through the resort, and bought the day pass through a website that I probably cannot mention here. I do not work for them. Google some of the key words and it should be there.
Thanks!! I think I found it.

I've done independent from Ochos Rios. I used http://www.jamaicaphil.com/?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1. He also does excursions from Falmouth.
The Blue hole is still our number one choice. I need to get it figured out quick! Thanks for the link
 
We went to Blue Hole with Jamaica Phil from Falmouth a little over a year ago--loved it and he was great to work with. All of his guides were wonderful to us. I definitely recommend him!
 
If you have not prebooked a tour through a vendor you can do it dockside. Walking towards the exit of Falmouth, across from the flea market building, there is a taxi info booth. If you book a tour, make sure you do it INSIDE the port gates. The taxi drivers and tour guides allowed in the port are regulated. Do not book a tour with a local OUTSIDE the port area.

For my family and I we just walk around the town and have lunch. Our favorite is Tastee Patties about 10 min walk outside the port gates.
 
If you have not prebooked a tour through a vendor you can do it dockside. Walking towards the exit of Falmouth, across from the flea market building, there is a taxi info booth. If you book a tour, make sure you do it INSIDE the port gates. The taxi drivers and tour guides allowed in the port are regulated. Do not book a tour with a local OUTSIDE the port area.

For my family and I we just walk around the town and have lunch. Our favorite is Tastee Patties about 10 min walk outside the port gates.
Thank you for the tip. This is our first cruise so I can use all the information that I can get!
 
We went to Blue Hole with Jamaica Phil from Falmouth a little over a year ago--loved it and he was great to work with. All of his guides were wonderful to us. I definitely recommend him!
My son really wants to do this. How is the car ride? Did you need water shoes?
 
My son really wants to do this. How is the car ride? Did you need water shoes?

The ride was a little long (this will be the case to any of the big sights in Jamaica from Falmouth, though), but in a decent, air conditioned van, so I didn't mind it. He talked about what we were passing and gave us information about the area, island, etc so it was interesting the whole way. As far as shoes, you walk up some trails that will have sticks, rocks, etc. and you'll need "grip" to do well. Any shoes that will stay on well and you don't mind getting wet will do, but we used water shoes. Flip flops wouldn't work--you'd lose them when jumping off of the rocks, but good sandals that strap on (like Teva-type) would probably be fine. My two teen boys absolutely loved it--they did all of the rock jumping (I did two of them but chickened out at the third, highest one) and some we had time for them to do several times.

I wear glasses and had to take those off to jump so I wouldn't lose them in the water--there was always a guide who could hold them and got them right back to me afterward. We felt well taken care of the whole time.
 
The ride was a little long (this will be the case to any of the big sights in Jamaica from Falmouth, though), but in a decent, air conditioned van, so I didn't mind it. He talked about what we were passing and gave us information about the area, island, etc so it was interesting the whole way. As far as shoes, you walk up some trails that will have sticks, rocks, etc. and you'll need "grip" to do well. Any shoes that will stay on well and you don't mind getting wet will do, but we used water shoes. Flip flops wouldn't work--you'd lose them when jumping off of the rocks, but good sandals that strap on (like Teva-type) would probably be fine. My two teen boys absolutely loved it--they did all of the rock jumping (I did two of them but chickened out at the third, highest one) and some we had time for them to do several times.

I wear glasses and had to take those off to jump so I wouldn't lose them in the water--there was always a guide who could hold them and got them right back to me afterward. We felt well taken care of the whole time.
Thank you so much. This helps me quite a bit. I was a little unsure but now know the boys would love it.
 
Hilton Rose Hall. It was great! We booked the cabana directly through the resort, and bought the day pass through a website that I probably cannot mention here. I do not work for them. Google some of the key words and it should be there.
How far away from the Royal Caribbean Port was your resort and how did you get there, please?
 

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