Freeport Cruise Port — Local services in City of Freeport

WARNING: READ SECOND PARAGRAPH

We arrived here with Norwegian Cruise Lines, The ship The Bliss. There were a few other large ships docked here although it was relatively uncrowded. We certainly had the crowds who were disembarking for the day for their excursions from NCL(Norwegian Cruiselines), yet they maintain excellent timing of disembarking at Freeport so that the port was not overwhelmed. Everyone's identification is quite thoroughly checked. Have all identification/Cruise cards/monies well protected(no lanyard, fannypack, backpack etc). Try to carry your valuables on your body, including medication. Do not have a drink made without watching it being prepared. Be alert! Many will try to sell you, "Party Favors." These are drugs, such as MDMA. Most are very open and unabashedly approach you. Granted, the situation was much worse in Miami(in the clubs/beach), and truly terrible directly outside of the Port at Nassau, Bahamas. We also found individuals, supposedly, collecting money for children's charities; although all of the information was vague. The shops directly by the port were relatively decent, price wise for any souvenir shop located in a high traffic area. A few of the shop owners were simply delighted to be able to be earning money(due to Covid), and were very friendly and attentive. A few were rude and treated Westerners as if we all had endless cash supplies. Granted, I saw numerous young women highly intoxicated, and they were bartering with the shopkeepers in a manner that embarrassed me. They went beyond being rude and were drunk, and criticizing the shop's numerous knock-off products(glasses, handbags etc.). Please, remember that you are on British territory. Follow the laws! If you rent a vehicle, be prepared to drive as The English do. Unless you have experience with international driving, it is best to avoid. Stick to excursions which you can arrange with your Cruiselines, as it is safer and provides you with latitude in an emergency. Bring your own towel, hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.I always bring my own water bottle, so I don't have to concern myself with drinks being doped. If you plan to enter the water, please use reef friendly sunscreen! Be alert, use common sense, be polite, follow the laws of their...

I know they are recovering from a horrible disaster, and I support that. Food was really good and music was fun. But the taxi service here upset us. We hopped in a van with another family to go to downtown. He said okay, and nothing more. Half way into the drive, he decided to inform us that downtown was closed for repairs and we were going to a beach where the vendors reopened, almost 30 minutes away. So we get there and he tried to charge us 7 per person, when the taxi fare at the harbour said 5. He took the 5 after we argued with him. He said he would come back at 3 but there was nothing to do at that beach other then pay to use it . Same stores with the same stuff. We were there for an hour, and decided to leave. Found another taxi that could take us. He asked for a ticket. we said we never got one. Apparently, they do a thing at the harbour that if you pay 10 per person upfront, that's a round trip. Plus these guys had nicer vans that didn't sound like their transmission was about to fall off. They were nice, took us back, payed them 5 per person when we got back to the port. Though it's mostly the same stores with the same stuff, you're almost better off just hanging out at the port rather than going anywhere. Wish we were rerouted to a better port...

The view here is ok but honestly i do not get the port. Now we did not go on any excursions and did not take a cab to the beach which i guess you have to do to really enjoy Freeport and although i understand your gonna pay a higher price if you shop right off the pier, THIS PLACE IS WAYYYYY OVERPRICED ON T SHIRTS AND SOUVENIRS AND EVEN FOOD. ALASKA IS CHEAPER AND THAT IS JUST FLAT OUT RIDICULOUS. If i wont buy a tshirt or souvenir because the price will leave a nasty taste in my mouth then you can bet it probably needs to stay on the shelf. This is what you do. "Leave it there, hold your phone, go to Ebay, find your souvenir from Freeport there, order it and by the time you get home, it ll be waiting for your or almost there. Lastly, i know its just the nature of the people and certainly not all but we ve been twice now and 90% of the locals just dont really smile. "Its a business transaction" and we just dont care for that. (I do not like giving bad reviews but this is what we took away from two visits to Freeport. If you plan on going, "look up excursions, TAKE A TAXI ANYWHERE DOWNTOWN "AWAY FROM THE PIER", WHICH IS PROBABLY WHY WE DIDNT CARE FOR IT". NEXT TIME, WE WILL SEE IF ITS DIFFERENT AWAY...