It has been months since Royal Caribbean ships have visited Falmouth, Jamaica. Nonetheless, the port reopened and is welcoming cruise passengers as soon as once more.
Hurricane Melissa made landfall close to New Hope, Jamaica, on Tuesday, Oct. 28, because the strongest landfall the nation had ever recorded, inflicting catastrophic harm throughout the Caribbean nation.
Not solely that, however Melissa is without doubt one of the most intense landfalling Atlantic hurricanes on document (when it comes to lowest barometric stress), tied with the “Labor Day” storm of 1935.
The Class 5 storm was accountable for 32 deaths and as much as $4 billion in insured losses in Jamaica alone, NBC Information reported.
(Credit score: Port Authority of Jamaica/Fb)
As such, Royal Caribbean and different main cruise strains had been diverting ships away from the nation whereas it centered on essential aid efforts.
Nonetheless, in accordance with the Port Authority of Jamaica, Falmouth is formally open to cruise visitors. Princess Cruises’ Caribbean Princess was the primary vessel to name at Falmouth on Dec. 2, 2025. The three,140-passenger ship is at the moment on a 12-night Caribbean cruise from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
“This restart helps renewed exercise throughout the Falmouth group, stimulating enterprise alternatives for native retailers, transport operators, and repair suppliers,” Jamaica’s Port Authority shared on Fb.
(Credit score: Port Authority of Jamaica/Fb)
“The Port Authority of Jamaica stays dedicated to strengthening the communities by which we function and contributing meaningfully to native livelihoods as we return to normalcy and advance ongoing rebuilding efforts.”
A number of Royal Caribbean ships, together with Journey of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, and Independence of the Seas, are set to name at Falmouth within the coming weeks.
Different cruise strains, akin to Disney, Norwegian, MSC, and Holland America Line, are additionally scheduled to go to Falmouth in the course of the busy vacation season.
Jamaica goals to renew full tourism operations by Dec. 15
Falmouth was the final cruise port in Jamaica to reopen to cruise passengers.
Ocho Rios welcomed ships in mid-November, with friends aboard Holland America Line’s Zuiderdam visiting the island on Nov. 11. The next day, hundreds of passengers on the Carnival Dawn additionally received to name at Ocho Rios.
Likewise, Montego Bay welcomed practically 2,900 passengers from the Mein Schiff 1 cruise ship on Nov. 24.
Nonetheless, Falmouth’s infrastructure repairs took longer to finish. As such, the port remained closed into December.
After Melissa’s landfall, Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism. stated the nation was aiming to renew full tourism operations by Dec. 15.
“Tourism’s energy lies not simply in its product choices, however in its individuals and partnerships. The pace and synergy of our response present the trade’s resilience and our unwavering dedication to restoration with empathy, compassion, and innovation,” Bartlett defined.
Whereas tourism operations have been halted, many cruise strains pledged thousands and thousands to help the continued aid efforts. Cruise ships additionally delivered important provides, akin to water, bedding, clothes, mattresses, and extra.
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