Essential cruise port and travel warning safety advice
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Safety matters when you take a cruise.
Even when visiting relatively safe countries, it's still important to remember that you are no longer in the United States (not that the U.S. is universally safe). Tourists face dangers wherever they go and it's important to be vigilant.
in reality, many cruise ports have a closed area that is as safe as safe can be. You may have to deal with pushy vendors but those areas have security and the only locals are vendors.
Once you venture outside those areas, it's important to make smart choices. Even safe ports have dangers and it's vital for you to be aware.
Related: Royal Caribbean cruisers demand key ban extend to all cruise lines
In most cases, you can stay safe by using common sense. Stick to busy areas and try to avoid being alone.
Book excursions from the cruise line or from vetted, credible operators.
it's not hard to stay safe, but it's important to remain aware.
Come Cruise With Me Executive Editor Dan Kline and PostCard Travel Planning's Dennis Post share some safety tips from downtown In Aruba.
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How to stay safe in cruise ports
Transcript:
Dan Kline: Hello there,cruisers. I am Dan Kline, Executive Editor of Come Cruise With Me. He is Dennis Post, co-owner of our travel agent partner, Postcard Travel Planning.
Dennis, you've heard a lot about parts of the Bahamas being dangerous. Now Aruba, where we are now, is famously pretty safe, but you walked up earlier today and got us a cab.
How do you know when you're in Nassau, when you're in Cozumel, when you're in Aruba, how do you know what a safe cab is?
You know, you're ex-military, you could take anybody. I'm not. I could easily be taken prisoner and raffled off in pieces back to my family.
How do you make a good choice about what a safe cab is and what isn't?
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Dennis Post: So most of the ports, all the ports that we go to normally, they're going to have a cab system there that's controlled by the government. That's what's the first thing you want to do. You don't want to go off on a beaten path down a side road and get a cab.
So that's the first thing.
The second thing is they all usually have licenses and stickers and we were, we had somebody fall prey to somebody that didn't have a license cab and a cabbie and I think that was in, I forget what port that was.
Kline: It can happen anywhere. Yeah. And I'm going to say the other issue is don't be alone.
Now unless you're someone who's way too tough to trifle with, don't be alone and ask the price. Say, hey, I want to go to this beach. Roughly what's the price?
I'm in Cozumel. I want to go to Mr. Sancho's. I want to go to Paradise Island and they'll come back and they'll say it's X per person or it's X per distance.
Correct. It can vary by market, but don't get in a cab. It's like going to a restaurant.
They just have the question marks on the prices or it says market price. The market price on the lobster is more. If you don't ask before, know where you're going and use common sense.
Aruba is not dangerous and it's a safe place. That doesn't mean you should flash money. That doesn't mean you should talk about the diamonds you just bought.
Don't wear your gold tiara. Whatever it is, be smart, be careful. I am Dan Kline. He is Dennis Post. Come cruise with us soon.
(The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.)
Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me's Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@postcardtravelplanning.com or call or text her at 386-383-2472.
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