The Caribbean’s Most Dangerous Cruise Stops Will Surprise You

Related: The Worst Caribbean Ports of Call for Cruises

In addition to the Bahamas, Saint Lucia and Roatan, Walker also points to destinations like Antigua, St. Kitts and Guatemala as problematic for cruise ship passengers. “I don’t think the cruise industry does a very good job of warning passengers about the realities in these ports,” says Walker. “Most people don’t know what they’re getting into. They think it’s better in the Bahamas. They think they’re going on a tropical getaway and they get themselves into real danger.”

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Is the Caribbean crime hype overblown?

As even a noted cruising skeptic like Walker must (and does) admit, the vast majority of cruise passengers who visit the Caribbean do have a good time — one reason the region remains, by far, the world’s most popular cruise destination. Visits to the Caribbean and the Bahamas account for more than a third of the 22-million-passenger industry’s global deployment capacity. Most of those Caribbean cruise passengers have fun, incident-free vacations. And the cruise industry points to passenger satisfaction ratings that approach 90 percent. As a former president of the cruise industry trade group Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) said during a congressional hearing on cruise ship crimes: “We must be doing some things right to have these types of ratings.”

“People are going to be able to go to any of the ports of call in the Caribbean, whether it’s Nassau or Roatan or the U.S. Virgin Islands or St. Thomas, and chances are you’re not going to be killed or robbed or anything,” Walker says. In fact, while Nassau has a relatively high murder overall murder rate — 30 per 100,000 people (the U.S. homicide rate is around five per 100,000 people) — it is comparable to or better than a few U.S. cities, including Miami and Baltimore, the home ports of numerous Caribbean-bound cruises. 

“Like any big city, there are issues,” cruise industry expert Stewart Chiron, a.k.a. “The Cruise Guy,” tells Yahoo Travel about crime in the Caribbean. But he accuses critics of playing up years-old and isolated, horror stories. And he disagrees with claims that cruise lines aren’t doing enough to warn passengers of the potential dangers  that do exist. “Cruise lines do everything possible to ensure passenger ship safety and make adjustments where necessary,” he says. “Cruise lines like Carnival do inform passengers, in writing, to be vigilant while visiting Nassau.”

Cruise lines agree. “The safety and security of passengers is the top priority for cruise lines,” CLIA  said in a statement to Yahoo Travel. “All cruise lines are in regular contact with local and international authorities regarding security in the areas in which they sail. As appropriate, itineraries can be adjusted to avoid potential areas of risk.”

How can I protect myself?

A moonlit stroll on the beach might seem enticing, but walking alone at night in an isolated area could be dangerous. (Photo: Macduff Everton/Corbis)

While chances are that you’ll have a crime-free trip to the Caribbean, there are still things you can do to protect yourself when you cruise to this or any other region. U.S. officials recommend exercising caution when discussing travel plans in public. Don’t walk on isolated beaches and areas, especially at night, and book excursions only with reputable tour companies. Don’t let your guard down or drink too much; criminals tend to target those who appear drunk or unaware.

Walkers recommends cruisers read up on crime reports for the cruise destinations, either by searching advisories by the State Department or even reading their destinations’ local newspapers online. Once your cruise vacation begins, keep an eye on your children (especially young teenagers). “Don’t leave the tourist areas,” he says. “Don’t go sightseeing by yourself or anything like that. If it looks dangerous, it’s probably more dangerous than you think. You can always go back to the ship.”

Should I go?

St. Maarten, Cayman Islands, and Barbados are all beautiful and safe cruising destinations. (Photo: Getty Images)

The fact is, with its blue waters, sunny beaches, and well-earned reputation for relaxation, the Caribbean remains the most popular cruising spot for a reason: the vast majority of people who visit there have a great time. Walker concedes that while he personally would tell people to avoid Nassau, there are some Caribbean locations — specifically the Cayman Islands, St. Maarten, and Barbados — that he likes. “I wouldn’t write off all of the Caribbean,” he says. “But I would be very selective and I would certainly make a point of not just reading the cruise ship advertisements or the tourism images and really read about where I want to go.”

So is a Caribbean cruise safe? It’s a classic risk/reward scenario: the risk of becoming one of the few horror stories, versus the reward of being one of the millions of happy cruisers who safely, and repeatedly, go to the Caribbean. “I’m aware that most people are going to have a good time [on their Caribbean cruises],” Walker says. “I’ve just met too many people who haven’t.”

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