The same cruise port can have both adoring fans and disgruntled passengers. After all, many aspects of cruising are subjective, and the topic of cruise ports is no exception. So, what cruise ports in the Caribbean are getting the least amount of love online?
A social media post with over 200 comments opened up a can of worms to reveal some destinations that were not well received by a group of cruisers. The question in the title asked, “What is the most overrated cruise ship port in the Caribbean?”
When people on a Reddit post started talking about the most overrated or disappointing ports in the Caribbean, a few places kept coming up. While everyone’s trip is different, many felt these ports fell short, often due to pushy salespeople, feeling fake, or just not having much excitement right near the ship.
Based on their comments and the ports most often mentioned, here are 5 Caribbean cruise ports that some cruisers believe are overrated:
1. Nassau, Bahamas
Nassau was the port mentioned most often as a disappointment in the comments. Many cruisers found it hard to relax near the port, with several complaining that “locals harass and haggle way too much.”
Others were unhappy with excursions, including pricey resort day passes or animal encounters that didn’t meet expectations, feeling like “$500 down the tubes” for their family. For a lot of people, the feeling was clear: “Any stop in Nassau is a quiet day on the ship for us.”
Read more: 5 times you should stay on the cruise ship when in port
Nassau recently underwent a $300 million renovation project and has greatly improved since then. Some cruisers may not have been there recently, but even for the ones that were there recently, apparently the port still has some work to do.
2. Cozumel, Mexico
Cruisers had mixed feelings about Cozumel. While many agreed that the underwater world is fantastic – with one saying, “Get underwater in Cozumel, the reef and sea life are incredible” – the land experience didn’t impress everyone. Some found the area near the port “pretty boring” compared to what they expected and felt that “The port is great to avoid,” meaning you often need to travel away from the ship to find the best experiences.
Personally, Cozumel is one of my favorite ports in the Caribbean and I love to snorkel there and often visit Chankanaab Park when I’m there. There’s a ton to do in Cozumel, but perhaps it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
3. Jamaica (Ocho Rios / Falmouth)
Jamaican ports like Ocho Rios and Falmouth made some cruisers feel uncomfortable. They mentioned feeling unsafe or overwhelmed by constant pressure from vendors.
One commenter simply stated they avoid “Any in Jamaica,” while another shared the intensity of their negative gut feeling by saying, “That place scared…me, we got off, the ship and got right back on.”
4. Freeport, Bahamas
Freeport was often called a “throw away port” in the comment section of the post. Cruisers widely felt there wasn’t much interesting or easy to get to near the ship. The port area itself was seen as unappealing, leading one user to jokingly compare the view upon arrival to having “rolled into town to get an oil change!”
Admittedly, the port does have a strong industrial feel, and it takes a good bit of driving to find the hot spots to enjoy when in port.
5. Costa Maya, Mexico / Belize City, Belize
Though located in different countries, Costa Maya and Belize City were often mentioned together in the Reddit thread. This is because many cruisers felt they shared a similar issue: the immediate port or city area is often disappointing or feels a bit fake, like it lacks authenticity.
As one cruiser warned about visiting them, it “It’ll ruin your day!” The common feeling was that the port area itself, or the city center in Belize City (which some found “awful”), wasn’t the main draw. Instead, cruisers felt “the thing to do is get out to the cays [or take other excursions],” meaning the best experiences – like visiting ancient ruins or natural sites – require traveling a distance away from the port area.
Bottom Line
This list is really all based on opinion, and you might have a completely different point of view of these ports.
What one cruiser finds disappointing, another might absolutely love. It really just goes to show that your experience at any cruise port can be very different depending on what you’re looking for and what you choose to do.
Don’t let this list completely decide your plans but maybe use it as a heads-up to do a little extra research on these ports if they’re on your itinerary.