Are We There Yet?

The best part about the actual cruise itself (after relaxing and chocolate molten cake) are the shore excursions. 

You either have two options: 
-Sign up for a shore excursion either online or directly when you get on the cruise. They usually fill up quickly, and the lines to book them are always long. 
-Wait until you actually get to your destination, and book with the people on the island itself for sometimes a fraction of the price. It is a risky operation, just in case the tour or excursion has booked up, but the people at these destination points are generally always trying to recruit people for their excursions the second you get off the cruise, and sometimes they drop the price very low to get you to do it. I personally do not like to wait until the last minute.

Ocho Rios, Jamaica was the first destination on Cruise:1 

Here are a couple photographs upon arrival into Jamaica. I thought the "offense of illegal drugs" was pretty ironic, considering the natives did not stop trying to sell us "Ganja" the whole time we were there. 


Here is a photograph from the cruise, as we were pulling into the port. Suggestion: Try to wake up early enough to watch the ship pulling into a port. After being in the middle of nowhere for sometimes over a couple of days, pulling into exotic ports is such a refreshing sight to see. It is definitely worth setting your alarm clock earlier, and sometimes if you are lucky, you can get a table near the window for breakfast and it makes a nice view while you eat.

Another view on zoom.



This is one of my favorite pictures that I have ever taken on vacation. Here are Andres and I waiting for our excursion. Sometimes, the ship is positioned just right, off into the distance from the shore. It always makes a great photo-opt.


For our shore excursion, we chose Dunn's River Falls by Catamaran Party Cruise. A mini-ship picks us up at our designated time and sails us over to one of the most famous tourist locations in Jamaica-- Dunn's River Waterfall. The ship transforms into a party deck offering Beer, Rum, Punch, soda and water aboard. Here is a photograph of one of the tour guides dancing to "Cha Cha Slide" while balancing a tray full of beverages on top of her head. Everyone aboard the ship is so friendly and they always encourage you to get up and dance. 


Another shot.



After about a fifteen-twenty minute boat-ride, we arrived at Dunn's River Falls. Over 1,000 feet high, Dunn's River is actually one of the few waterfalls that actually empties out into the sea. Tip: Do not forget a water camera. They are available to purchase on the ship, but for double the price. Lockers are not provided, so leave all personal belongings on the cruise ship.



Suggestion: Bring water shoes! Did I mention that you will climbing the 1,000 foot waterfall? Everyone on the tour will be assigned to hold hands and walk up the waterfall in a single-file line. I personally did not understand this concept-- if one were to fall, others would be dragged down with them. However, it is very safe. Although there are a lot of tricky spots requiring you to maneuver your way around, there are plenty of guides that are there to help you along the way. The people are very friendly; they always offer to take pictures with your camera. At the end of your climb, a video of your climb is offered for purchase. 

Make sure to plan out your excursions wisely; many tours can take up the entire stay at one particular destination. You are only at a certain location for approximately 10 hours, and many of the tours are scheduled halfway during the day. If you are planning on touring the islands, you first should always check how long your excursion will be for. Dunn's River Falls should be approximately 3-4 hours long. 

Before purchasing your excursion, it is best to always find out what each destination is known for. Some other cool excursions for Ocho Rios are river rafting, tubing, and bobsledding. I would not consider horseback riding or snorkeling here.



Here is an image of Jamaican natives. We fortunately had enough time to wander off into the city for a little, to check out some of the different stores. They have really nice hand-made craft jewelry. Just be careful and always watch your surroundings. Tip: Never purchase any hand-made craft from the people selling directly outside the cruise ship. They are tripled-the-price and you can find much better deals once you head into the city. (They were charging tourists to take a photograph with one of the cruise directors dressed up with a Rastafarian wig and bright-colored clothes, when we could just head into the city and take a picture with a real Jamaican.)



Here are Andres and I heading back over to the cruise ship. We really enjoyed our time here in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, however, if you are expecting clear waters and white sand, this is not the destination for you. 

Clear waters and white sand up ahead-- stay tuned.