There is a co-worker of mine that has been on a Bahamas cruise before and suggests that no one ever goes on a Bahamas cruise b/c of panhandling.

He said a lady came up to him and put a bracelet on his wrist before he knew what she was doing and wanted him to pay for it.

He says that he has seen more panhandlers while off the ship in the Bahamas than ever before.

I am excited b/c I want to check out Atlantis and have heard so many good things about it.

This happened to us in Nassau. We took the bracelets right back off of our arms and gave them back. the woman got angry and said that we were horrible people because we didn't want to help poor children with their education. They needed to educate her on how to ask and treat people. You just have to know how to say no.

That happened to me in Jamiaca.  I just had the guy take it off my wrist and I walked off.  I never saw a panhandler in the Bahamas though.  I guess I was lucky.  Don't worry about it to much.  Ignore them and when they see you are serious and they are not going to get any money from you they will go on to the next person.

They have come up to me in the Bahamas,but I just say "no thank you" and walk away.

Yeah, this can happen pretty much anywhere. Just be polite, yet firm by saying No Thank you, and walk away...

bravesguy9:

There is a co-worker of mine that has been on a Bahamas cruise before and suggests that no one ever goes on a Bahamas cruise b/c of panhandling.

He said a lady came up to him and put a bracelet on his wrist before he knew what she was doing and wanted him to pay for it.

He says that he has seen more panhandlers while off the ship in the Bahamas than ever before.

I am excited b/c I want to check out Atlantis and have heard so many good things about it.

I would have to agree with others here. Panhandling does happen just about everywhere, but the trick is to keep moving. Don't give them a chance to put anything around your neck or on your arm. Most of them will ask as you walk towards them and if you slow down or stop even to say no, they will move in to try to get the sale.

If asked, just say no and KEEP MOVING! Hope you don't have long hair. They love to braid!

 

cricket:

This happened to us in Nassau. We took the bracelets right back off of our arms and gave them back. the woman got angry and said that we were horrible people because we didn't want to help poor children with their education. They needed to educate her on how to ask and treat people. You just have to know how to say no.

Same here-just last month!  My brother kept his and paid.  I took mine right back off.  That's just dirty!

-Stephanie

 

LovNLife:

Hope you don't have long hair. They love to braid!

 

last cruise, i had long PINK hair. it was a nightmare lol. this year, i have much much shorter pink hair, i'm hoping for a bit less shouting. 'hey, pinky, braid your hair?'

Happened to me in Puerto Vallarta.  I'm guessing it's a world-wide scam. I certainly wouldn't let it make me stay home.  I have NO problem walking by those type of people and not letting what they say bother me.

Happened to me in Milan Two guys put dried corn in our hands grabbed my camera then took pix while pigeons swarmed all over us. then wanted 40 euro and I gave him 10 he tried to open my purse to get more.

LovNLife:

Hope you don't have long hair. They love to braid!

Hmmmm, I think that I will just put my hair in a French braid for Nassau, THAT way I can just say I've already braided it. 

same story when in Rome....only they sent the kids out to beg money ....of course there were others that tried to "give" you something...then ask an outragous price

Cruise to Canada instead. 

They hand you a Moosehead, and offer to buy you a bracelet.  

They offered to braid my boyfriend's hair. He kindly took off his hat, revealed his BALD head, and told them good luck. Someone also pulled the necklace thing on us. They get mad if you don't give them the right amount of money for them either (I wastedly handed the guy a dollar). My boyfriend bought them though because we actually liked the necklaces, lol. But, we could have easily just handed them back and said no. I think they targeted us because we'd just gotten off the Yellow Bird Party Boat (which is a booze cruise) so most everyone getting off that boat was wasted. We had some friends who went to Atlantis wasted and got into some issues with phony wristbands that they bought off the street and stuff. If you keep on walking they just ask the next person. Don't let them take advantage of you or go into bad neighborhoods or put yourself into those situations... Don't pay them any attention and you'll be fine.

 

Beware of the vendors. While in St. Maarten this past Feb. my friend and I were at the beach on an excursion. A number of women kept going by trying to sell jewelry and we kept saying no. One took her handful of necklaces and dropped them on my chair and sait that it does not cost anything to look. So my friend started looking. WE both ended up buying two necklaces at $20.00. That was a very reasonable price. However, after she got us with the jewelry she started on braiding our hair. My friend wanted hers done and talked me into doing it too. We both said not to go over $20.00. At the end, while the bus was waiting on just us because everyone else was on the bus, we were told $60.00 for her and $90.00 for me. We tried to argue it out with her to no end and our travel guide was not there so we ended up having to pay the price. Please take our bad example and a learning lesson here. They do not listen to what you say for price. So, even if you like that necklace, SAY NO over and over and over again until they are tired of dealing with you. Good luck and have a great trip.