86 The Jamaican experience begins as soon as cruise guests disembark with welcome performances by local cultural dancers CARIBBEAN: INTERVIEW Creating a ‘must-do’ cruise call As cruise arrivals increase, Joy Roberts explains to Laura Hyde how Jamaica Vacations is focusing on authentic shore experiences, strengthening its partnerships and supporting sustainable tourism development The Caribbean remains the world’s leading cruise region, attracting more than 1.25 million additional cruise visitors in 2025 compared with 2024, according to Cruise Lines International Association’s 2026 State of the Cruise Industry report. Jamaica continues to be one of the region’s most popular ports of call, thanks to its natural beauty, vibrant culture and welcoming residents. From August 2025 to August 2026, Jamaica welcomed more than 1.1 million cruise passengers across five ports: Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, Falmouth, Port Antonio and Port Royal (Kingston). There were 347 cruise calls during the period, which also included a brief closure following Hurricane Melissa. The strongest hurricane ever recorded to hit Jamaica struck the island on 28 October 2025, causing billions of dollars of damage. But the island has quickly rebounded from the disaster to bring cruise ships and their guests back to its ports. “Jamaica is open, our ports are ready and we are working with our cruise partners to grow arrivals while encouraging more passengers to explore beyond the port,” says Joy Roberts, executive director at Jamaica Vacations. “We are also extremely pleased the cruise berth in Ocho Rios, which had been damaged for some time, was repaired following Hurricane Melissa and is fully operational. Ocho Rios remains one of our major cruise destinations, welcoming 348,752 passengers from 121 calls – it is ready to welcome even more passengers over the next 12 months. “Falmouth recorded the highest passenger arrivals, welcoming 484,024 passengers from 126 calls; it continues to be an important cruise destination, offering passengers access to a wide range of attractions and experiences along Jamaica’s north coast.” The range of shore excursions available to cruise passengers is varied, enabling guests to choose the Jamaica they want to discover, according to Roberts. “There is a certain magic to Jamaica,” she says. “Our aim is to give cruise passengers more ways to discover it, while continuing to diversify our shore experiences and encourage visitors to explore more of the island.” Among the attractions driving demand for Jamaica’s shore excursions are Mystic Mountain and the recently launched floating bar Poco Loko in Ocho Rios, as well as Dolphin Cove in Ocho Rios and Lucea. Visitors to Dolphin Cove can swim with dolphins, while Mystic Mountain appeals to adventure seekers with rides and experiences offering views of Jamaica’s mountainous landscape and coastline. “Dunn’s River Falls remains one of our signature attractions, giving visitors an experience that is distinctly Jamaican,” explains Roberts. “For those drawn to our beaches, Seven Mile Beach in Negril offers the white sand and Caribbean waters for which Jamaica is known, while Rose Hall Great House combines Jamaican history with the mystery and legend surrounding one of the island’s most famous great houses. JamWest has also opened a new location in Falmouth, and it has quickly become a popular choice for cruise passengers with something Photo: Matthew Khoury Photography
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