Royal Caribbean Issues Nassau Warning

[mevelandry]

I've seen warnings like this since I've started cruising in 2015.

In October, my husband and I walked in the town (near the port, on Bay Street) by ourselves. Nothing happened.

Right after we came back, as I was scrolling on a FB page regarding our next cruise, I've seen comments posts from people saying that while they were in Nassau, some people tried to isolate and "kidnap" family members on public beaches (Junkanoo and I believe the other was Cabbage Beach).

I'm posting very badly edited screenshots --in order to protect identities-- with extracts of one of the two stories I have found.

(P.s. My FB is in french. Sorry about that.)

I don't know how valid those stories are so you a free to take them with a grain of salt ... but it was enough to convince me and my family to completely avoid venturing in Nassau without an excursion --organixed by the cruise line -- from now on ... and staying on the ship when I cruise with my friends in 2020 (my husband would be way too worried).

Better be safe than sorry.

 

[Dug720]

So is there still speculation? Anyone read anything more on this?

Not after the initial announcement. At least not until this letter popped up. It could be, as a PP suggested, that something happened with someone on a previous sailing and they are doing CYA, or it could be that this is a first shot kind of thing where they put it out knowing word would get out online and people would start crying for the cruise lines to stop going and then they can use it as a bargaining chip with the Bahamian government - sort of like "See? You said that the increased fees were to help combat crime, but this happened and now our cruisers don't want to come. So your fee increase isn't working."

 

[Dug720]

I've seen warnings like this since I've started cruising in 2015.

In October, my husband and I walked in the town (near the port, on Bay Street) by ourselves. Nothing happened.

Right after we came back, as I was scrolling on a FB page regarding our next cruise, I've seen comments posts from people saying that while they were in Nassau, some people tried to isolate and "kidnap" family members on public beaches (Junkanoo and I believe the other was Cabbage Beach).

I'm posting very badly edited screenshots --in order to protect identities-- with extracts of one of the two stories I have found.

(P.s. My FB is in french. Sorry about that.)

I don't know how valid those stories are so you a free to take them with a grain of salt ... but it was enough to convince me and my family to completely avoid venturing in Nassau without an excursion --organixed by the cruise line -- from now on ... and staying on the ship when I cruise with my friends in 2020 (my husband would be way too worried).

Better be safe than sorry.

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To be fair, human traffickers operate all over the world. Up to and including the unlicensed (and horrid) street characters that operate in and around Times Square. (At least one "Elmo" who was arrested for beating up someone who didn't tip "enough" was found to operate a kiddie porn site out of Cambodia. That WAS documented by law enforcement and he was charged and punished to the full extent of the law. Yet people hand their kids off to these people who have had no screening every single day.)

 

[mevelandry]

To be fair, human traffickers operate all over the world. Up to and including the unlicensed (and horrid) street characters that operate in and around Times Square. (At least one "Elmo" who was arrested for beating up someone who didn't tip "enough" was found to operate a kiddie porn site out of Cambodia. That WAS documented by law enforcement and he was charged and punished to the full extent of the law. Yet people hand their kids off to these people who have had no screening every single day.)

I don't disagree with you but where I live (Canada), most cases of human trafficking happen when someone keeps bad company --example: gang members seducing young women for a certain amount of time, showering them with gifts and then after a while, the girls are "disappearing/running away"-- kidnappings remain extremely rare.

 

[jerseygal]

There are human traffic incidents in Myrtle Beach, SC and Palisades Mall by Tappan Zee Bridge in NY, it’s all over sadly. On line sickos, social media and these YOUNG kids middle school early high school even some 5th and 6th grade kid is out of control. Some of these kids have NO idea who they are communicating with very sadly

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

The Bahamas in general and Nassau in particular are badly exploited by cruise lines and resorts, and see little back in the way of meaningful employment for locals. Maybe if Club Med, to take one example, hired locals instead of flying in their own French staff to do everything in the Bahamian island of San Salvador, there would be less crime because people would have gainful employment. I won't even go into how much food they throw away while the local population is practically starving. And to add insult to injury, they whisper "crime" so people are afraid to leave the resort and spend any money elsewhere. One other European cruise line leases an island, Little San Salvador, that has a fake Bahamian village set up. When a ship docks they bring in some Bahamians to make it look like an island that people really live on. The tourists are oblivious as they line up for their buffet. Unfortunately the Bahamian government has been an ineffective advocate and these huge companies take advantage. I've been to Nassau many, many times, never as a cruise guest. It's no more or less dangerous than any other tourist destination if you avoid the bad areas, try not to look like an easy mark and keep your wits about you.

 

[T & R]

This could be a warning for any large city you visit, even here in the U.S. One thing I noticed is the warning refers to their cruise guests visiting specific areas after sunset. Are there any cruises that actually port late in the evening or even at night?

 

[GrnMtnMan]

ve seen comments posts from people saying that while they were in Nassau, some people tried to isolate and "kidnap" family members on public beaches (Junkanoo and I believe the other was Cabbage Beach)

This doesn’t make sense in Nassau, particularly on Junaknoo beach…I think the poster might be jumping to conclusions.

from what I've read, human traffickers usually take someone from one city to another to isolate and disorient them. That’s kind of hard to do in Nassau, as its an island. A small island. And the only way off is by airplane (where ID is checked) or cruise ship (where ID is checked). And the only vacationers that use Junaknoo beach are cruise passengers.

And even if they’re somehow smuggled on private watercraft, a cruise ship would notice immediately that a passenger wasn’t back and so would family members. Yeah, someone cruising solo could be a target, but how many young women go to Junaknoo beach alone off of a cruise ship?

Which all just adds up to an attempted kidnapping being a bit far-fetched. More likely and aggressive taxi driver or jet ski operator was trying to take advantage of some drunk people. Give them a long ride and huge bill. There might be a few who are more nefarious, but again, thousands of people visit Nassau every day and awful crimes like this are quite rare.

 

[CamColt]

Since we had 2 threads on the exact same topic I have merged them. All replies on both threads should be posted here.

 

[Dug720]

This could be a warning for any large city you visit, even here in the U.S. One thing I noticed is the warning refers to their cruise guests visiting specific areas after sunset. Are there any cruises that actually port late in the evening or even at night?

Some are. Disney sometimes stays late for a crew reward if they have received a certain percentage on the comment cards - and guests would be allowed off the ship as well.

 

[mousefan73]

I've seen warnings like this since I've started cruising in 2015.

In October, my husband and I walked in the town (near the port, on Bay Street) by ourselves. Nothing happened.

Right after we came back, as I was scrolling on a FB page regarding our next cruise, I've seen comments posts from people saying that while they were in Nassau, some people tried to isolate and "kidnap" family members on public beaches (Junkanoo and I believe the other was Cabbage Beach).

I'm posting very badly edited screenshots --in order to protect identities-- with extracts of one of the two stories I have found.

(P.s. My FB is in french. Sorry about that.)

I don't know how valid those stories are so you a free to take them with a grain of salt ... but it was enough to convince me and my family to completely avoid venturing in Nassau without an excursion --organixed by the cruise line -- from now on ... and staying on the ship when I cruise with my friends in 2020 (my husband would be way too worried).

Better be safe than sorry.

View attachment 371909

View attachment 371911

I need more info to believe this. i have been to Junkanoo Beach, it is tiny and has a few bar/ restaurant huts. Ok beach. Nice view of ships. So did a black van drive on the beach and try to force these people in? And how did they escape? Or did locals try to sell them a bar package or private excursion and were being overly agressive in selling? And this was taken as trafficking.???? Human trafficking usually involves convincing a person to go with someone, being promised Something and then being stuck in a bad situation they cannot get out of. Not something that is done in five minutes on a beach. The above sounds more like an actual kidnapping. And here I am curious were these people as a group physically grabbed and forced into a vehicle ? How did they escape? Seeing how crowded the beach is and all the local businesses I kind of find this hard to believe. I’m pretty sure those locals don’t want to ruin their businesses. ????? I’m sorry but if this was the case I definitely would’ve given a lot more details to explain the situation and also have submitted a police report (Even if local Authorities “reportingly” never do anything at least I would’ve made the attempt to have something in writing

 

[jerseygal]

Some are. Disney sometimes stays late for a crew reward if they have received a certain percentage on the comment cards - and guests would be allowed off the ship as well.

We were on the Dream Aug of 2011. We left Nassau at midnight. After dinner we took a cab to Atlantis. Carnival was docked there and Royal Caribbean as well.

 

[mevelandry]

The Bahamas in general and Nassau in particular are badly exploited by cruise lines and resorts, and see little back in the way of meaningful employment for locals. Maybe if Club Med, to take one example, hired locals instead of flying in their own French staff to do everything in the Bahamian island of San Salvador, there would be less crime because people would have gainful employment. I won't even go into how much food they throw away while the local population is practically starving. And to add insult to injury, they whisper "crime" so people are afraid to leave the resort and spend any money elsewhere. One other European cruise line leases an island, Little San Salvador, that has a fake Bahamian village set up. When a ship docks they bring in some Bahamians to make it look like an island that people really live on. The tourists are oblivious as they line up for their buffet. Unfortunately the Bahamian government has been an ineffective advocate and these huge companies take advantage. I've been to Nassau many, many times, never as a cruise guest. It's no more or less dangerous than any other tourist destination if you avoid the bad areas, try not to look like an easy mark and keep your wits about you.

Isn't Little San Salvador "Half Moon Cay"?

 

[mevelandry]

This doesn’t make sense in Nassau, particularly on Junaknoo beach…I think the poster might be jumping to conclusions.

from what I've read, human traffickers usually take someone from one city to another to isolate and disorient them. That’s kind of hard to do in Nassau, as its an island. A small island. And the only way off is by airplane (where ID is checked) or cruise ship (where ID is checked). And the only vacationers that use Junaknoo beach are cruise passengers.

And even if they’re somehow smuggled on private watercraft, a cruise ship would notice immediately that a passenger wasn’t back and so would family members. Yeah, someone cruising solo could be a target, but how many young women go to Junaknoo beach alone off of a cruise ship?

Which all just adds up to an attempted kidnapping being a bit far-fetched. More likely and aggressive taxi driver or jet ski operator was trying to take advantage of some drunk people. Give them a long ride and huge bill. There might be a few who are more nefarious, but again, thousands of people visit Nassau every day and awful crimes like this are quite rare.

I'm not sure what word could be used other than "kidnapping attempt" when someone tries to grab you and forcefully bring you with them ?

I don't know for sure about human trafficking in the Bahamas (and I could mention other alternatives where they don't "move" people but thst would be too heavy for this thread) but the high risk of sexual assault is listed among the dangers of Nassau on our Advisory page... So, there's that.

You ask how many young women would go by themselves... Let me tell you that I have some friends and family that are a reckless and would not hesitate one bit to go to the beach by themselves or walk alone in the middle of the night in Nassau... Probably due to the fact that they have been raised in extremely secure areas of Canada so they were never really exposed to that kind of dangers and lack awareness.

 

[mevelandry]

I need more info to believe this. i have been to Junkanoo Beach, it is tiny and has a few bar/ restaurant huts. Ok beach. Nice view of ships. So did a black van drive on the beach and try to force these people in? And how did they escape? Or did locals try to sell them a bar package or private excursion and were being overly agressive in selling? And this was taken as trafficking.???? Human trafficking usually involves convincing a person to go with someone, being promised Something and then being stuck in a bad situation they cannot get out of. Not something that is done in five minutes on a beach. The above sounds more like an actual kidnapping. And here I am curious were these people as a group physically grabbed and forced into a vehicle ? How did they escape? Seeing how crowded the beach is and all the local businesses I kind of find this hard to believe. I’m pretty sure those locals don’t want to ruin their businesses. ????? I’m sorry but if this was the case I definitely would’ve given a lot more details to explain the situation and also have submitted a police report (Even if local Authorities “reportingly” never do anything at least I would’ve made the attempt to have something in writing

As you can see, I posted "I don't know how valid those stories are so you are free to take them with a grain of salt."... I cannot answer any of your questions.

If you wanna ask him... Feel free to join the "Carnival Liberty Cruisers" group on FB and "search" that subject. You'll easily find the guy who told his story. The post is still up there.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

Isn't Little San Salvador "Half Moon Cay"?

Yes I think that's what the cruise ships call it. It's effectively owned by Holland America and Carnival although I think legally it's something like a 100 year lease that they have. And they put a fake Bahamian village to make it look like it's populated but it's empty whenever the ships aren't there.

 

[mevelandry]

Yes I think that's what the cruise ships call it. It's effectively owned by Holland America and Carnival although I think legally it's something like a 100 year lease that they have. And they put a fake Bahamian village to make it look like it's populated but it's empty whenever the ships aren't there.

Where is the fake Bahamian village? I haven't seen anything there outside of the cabanas, 2 or 3 small huts (shops) and the BBQ.

Also, the island being inhabited ... It's pretty much the same with most cruise lines private islands, no?

 

[Dug720]

Where is the fake Bahamian village? I haven't seen anything there outside of the cabanas, 2 or 3 small huts (shops) and the BBQ.

Also, the island being inhabited ... It's pretty much the same with most cruise lines private islands, no?

Castaway is only inhabited by the crew who are there full-time.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

Where is the fake Bahamian village? I haven't seen anything there outside of the cabanas, 2 or 3 small huts (shops) and the BBQ.

Also, the island being inhabited ... It's pretty much the same with most cruise lines private islands, no?

Maybe they changed it. They used to have a fake Bahamian village with a market, church chapel, in addition to the restaurants and shops, and they would ferry in locals to make it feel authentic. It was like Epcot Bahamas. But when you get to an island actually populated by locals, they try to scare you out of going ashore.

 

[mevelandry]

Castaway is only inhabited by the crew who are there full-time.

I actually meant unhinabited ("Inhabité" in french means that nobody is living there so I mixed up the terms.)