Cruise Operations Expected to Resume At All Ports By December

  • The Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ) is working assiduously to ensure a safe and secure return of cruise operations at all the island’s ports by early December 2021. Assistant Vice President, Marketing Communications at the Port Authority, Kimberley Stiff, said that the entity is hosting a series of meetings to apprise various interest groups and the communities in which it operates, of the status of the resumption of cruise operations in preparation for the start of the upcoming season. 
  • The Port Authority, with the guidance and support from the Ministry of Health and Wellness, has been systematically devising and implementing mechanisms and solutions to ensure a safe and secure restart of the cruise-shipping sector within the COVID-19 operational context. The authority has also been working closely with the Ministry of Tourism and its select agencies in this regard. 
  • Already, several cruise ship calls have been secured for the upcoming season, some of which are scheduled to start in mid-November. These, Miss Stiff said, include inaugural visits as well as calls from ultra-luxury premium cruise lines. 
  • She said that the high level of interest in Jamaica by cruise operators, is attributed, in part, to the successful restart of activities at the port of Ocho Rios, after a 17-month absence due to restrictions arising from COVID-19. She noted that the state-of-art, modernized world-class cruise ports and facilities also add to the island’s attractiveness as a cruise destination. 
  • Cruise shipping is one of the PAJ’s core business segments, which contributes significantly to the Jamaican economy. The success of many sectors, small and medium-sized businesses, as well as entrepreneurs, is dependent on the viability of cruise shipping. Several professional and stakeholder groups benefit from cruise operations, as the industry plays an integral role in sustaining their livelihoods. As a result, cruise resumption will fuel business activity and economic growth, bolstering private consumption in the island’s port cities and towns.

(Source: JIS News)