Many countries have rules that Americans may never think about.
For example, in some Caribbean countries, it is illegal to wear camouflage clothing, and cruise ship passengers may be detained if caught wearing illegal gear. Mexico has very strict rules about carrying e-cigarettes, and violating these rules can result in a short jail sentence.
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In most cases, cruise lines will try to inform passengers of any special rules before the ship docks at its destination. The Captain will make announcements which will also be printed on the daily schedule.
Crew members working at the exits will also keep an eye out, but cruise lines can only go so far.
Passengers should be prepared that the rules of any country they visit may differ from those in the United States. The penalties for being caught buying or using drugs can be much more severe. In some countries, regulations are enforced to charge fines to passengers who don’t want to miss their ship.
However, there is a rule in Jamaica that a group of cruisers may not know is important for them to realize.
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Jamaica has a surprising ban
The cruise line is incredibly accommodating and accommodating. Passengers may have their own biases and stereotypes, but they often don’t make them public.
Cruise travel is a very cozy vacation, and you will see members of the LQBTQ+ community on every cruise. According to Human Rights Watch, this is not a problem in most countries that cruise lines typically visit, but Jamaica has some very strict laws.
“Jamaica’s criminalization of homosexuality dates back to the Offenses Against the Person Act of 1864, which requires imprisonment for up to 10 years and hard labor for those found guilty of the “abominable crime of ‘sodomy’. Members of the LGBT community in Jamaica are denied basic rights and services, resulting in alarming rates of homelessness and HIV,” the organization shared.
The Canadian government has warned that LGBTQ+ people “experience harassment, verbal or physical abuse” in Jamaica. It also warned members of these communities to “avoid public displays of emotion”.
In most cases, anti-gay laws are not enforced against tourists, but they are on the books. The Jamaican police are not allowed to intervene against LGBTQ people.
“Jamaica’s LGBT community faces intolerable violence and cannot rely on the police,” said Graeme Reid, LGBT rights director at Human Rights Watch. “Authorities starting with the prime minister need to stop violence and discrimination, prosecute anyone responsible, and repeal homophobic laws. ”
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U.S. State Department issues Level 3 warning for Jamaica
The U.S. State Department has classified Jamaica as Level 3: Reconsidering travel warning. It made no specific mention of LGBTQ+ bias and laws in the country.
“Violent crime occurs throughout Jamaica. Violent crime rates in tourist areas are generally lower than in other areas of the country. The Government of Jamaica reports one of the highest homicide rates in the Western Hemisphere. Armed robberies and sexual assaults are common,” the State Department shared.
Just because tourist areas are safer doesn’t mean they are safe.
“The U.S. Embassy frequently receives reports of sexual assaults, including from U.S. citizen tourists at resorts. U.S. citizens report slow or unsatisfactory responses to serious criminal incidents. There are few cases following arrests will be prosecuted until final judgment and sentencing,” the statement added. .
royal caribbean (RCL) carnival (copper clad laminate) norwegian (NCLH) nearly all major cruise lines still call in Falmouth, Jamaica.
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