Thread: Help! Need to choose a beach - got no idea about Ocho Rios

Well, going to a beach is sort of predetermined....but which one? We are in Ocho Rios on Christmas Day and want to have a relaxing day at the beach. Suggestions on where to go and where to avoid are a huge help!

Hi, Beth;

There's not too many beaches I would recommend in Ocho Rios.

But what I would recommend is for you to contact some of the all-inclusive resorts and find out how much they will charge you for a one-day pass. There are several to choose from and prices differ between them, but the price includes all the activities including water sports (sometimes even scuba diving), plus all the alcohol you can drink and all the food you can eat. When you figure that the price is about $55-$75 per person and includes all that, it's about the same price as a shore excursion only much better.

We do this every time we visit Ocho Rios and can think of no other way to enjoy a nice day at a great beach without worry about all the hassles and problems associated with Jamaica.

Pete

Hi Pete,

I'm really glad I came across your post. My bf and I are going on our forst cruise this November/December and one of our stops is Ocho Rios. That is the only port that I haven't really found an excursion that I feel that we would want to go on. I was thinking about just making it a "beach day" and being a slug that just soaked up the sun and not really do anything.

But after reading your post, I have a couple questions....

1. You said you really wouldn't recommend any of the beaches. Why is that? (I'm not trying to be rude, but since this is our first time crusing, I'm just trying to figure out the pros/cons of places).

2. What makes you guys feel "unsafe" in Ocho Rios?

Like I said, I'm not trying to be rude, it's our first cruise and I'm just trying to figure things out about the places we are going.

Thank you for answers and or input.....

Hi Beth and Mel,

What did you guys decide to do in Ocho Rios ? My family and I are going there soon and have no idea what to do. So far I haven't seen anything too positive about people experiences in Jamaica. Please let me know. Thanks.

Hey Pinky! Welcome to our friendly cruise community!

Hopefully, we'll get some responses now that this thread has been resurrected.

In the meantime, come on over to our Introduce Yourself forum and let's get acquainted. Here is the link--> Introduce Yourself!

First, I apologize to Mel for not responding to her post earlier - I must have missed it. Wish you would have sent me an email and I would have been happy to respond.

As for Ocho Rios, there is a Jimmy Buffet's Margaritville right at the pier - this is a nice place to just go to the beach, grab a bite or a drink, and not venture too far inland.

As for what makes Jamaica a bit unsafe is just the nature of the situation. It's a relatively poor area and you'll come across alot of begging. Plus, crime in the area is fairly high because of the employment rate.

With that said, as long as you stay on the beaten path, you'll be fine. Overall, the people are very nice and accommodating and you'll not have any problems. But if you go away from the normal areas, you may find problems. The same can be said with any big city in America for that matter.

But for families, the usual shore excursions are relatively short, leaving time for other things to do. This is why i personally prefer to go to an all-inclusive resort for the day. You get great food, free watersports, and a wonderful day at the beach without any worries. There are couples' resorts and family resorts, so there's something for everyone.

And if you're not interested in spending a day at a resort, then there is a long list of shore excursions offered by the cruise line as well as independent companies that are safe and will keep you busy.

And, worse case scenario, you can always just do a little bit in the port and spend the rest of the day enjoying the ship.

Pete

When we went to Ocho Rios, we used Pete Taylor Tours and were thrilled with the level of service, what we got to see, and how safe we felt. I would highly recommend them!

Included in our tour was a stop at a small beach areas that is apparently not used by many people... I don't remember the name of it. But seemed like there were mostly locals, and not many of them. I don't think we would have found it without Taylor Tours.

Pete's son, O'Neil, was our guide.

Also - Mystic Mountain is something new there, that is opening the end of this month.

Here's a link to a thread about it:

http://www.cruiselinefans.com/showthread.php?t=33102 (Mystic Mountain at Ocho Rios - NEW)

Originally Posted by Cruise Planner

As for Ocho Rios, there is a Jimmy Buffet's Margaritville right at the pier - this is a nice place to just go to the beach, grab a bite or a drink, and not venture too far inland. Pete

We ALWAYS have Margaritaville as our Plan B in Ocho Rios. We needed to us it in January and really had a great time!