Jamaica Welcomes More Than 736,000 Cruise Passengers

• Jamaica welcomed more than 736,000 cruise passengers from 234 calls during the first seven months of 2026. Deputy Director of Tourism for the Americas, Phillip Rose, disclosed the figures during the opening of the Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX) at Moon Palace Jamaica in Ocho Rios, St. Ann, on September 14.
• Falmouth remained the island’s busiest cruise port, recording 81 calls, followed by Ocho Rios with 76 and Montego Bay with 73. Together, the three North Coast ports accounted for 230 of the 234 calls, underscoring the continued concentration of cruise activity within Jamaica’s established tourism corridors. Kingston and Port Antonio each recorded two calls.
• Tourism officials are seeking to broaden the range of destinations and experiences available to cruise passengers beyond the island’s traditional resort towns and beaches. According to Mr. Rose, visitors have shown growing interest in Kingston’s cultural and entertainment offerings and Port Antonio’s nature-based attractions. Increasing calls to these ports could distribute tourism spending more widely and reduce some of the pressure on the major North Coast destinations.
• Jamaica’s cruise offering is also expected to benefit from the scheduled arrival of the Disney Destiny on October 13, carrying just under 2,800 passengers. The vessel will join ships operated by several major cruise lines that continue to include Jamaica in their itineraries, including Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Princess Cruises and Virgin Voyages.
• The cruise segment should provide an important source of visitor traffic and foreign-exchange earnings as Jamaica’s tourism industry continues to recover from Hurricane Melissa, particularly while sections of the hotel inventory remain under repair. However, the economic benefit will depend on the extent to which passengers leave the ports and spend on local attractions, transportation, dining and retail services, as cruise visitors generally contribute less per person than stopover tourists.
• Consequently, expanding cruise calls to Kingston and Port Antonio could strengthen the sector’s overall contribution by extending visitor spending beyond the established resort areas. The addition of newer vessels should also support passenger capacity ahead of the winter tourist season, providing a useful complement to the gradual recovery in stopover arrivals and hotel-room availability.

(Sources: JIS & NCBCM Research)