Royal Caribbean is helping Jamaica's relief efforts after Hurricane Melissa caused catastrophic damage across the country.
Hurricane Melissa made landfall near New Hope, Jamaica, on Tuesday, October 28, as the strongest landfall the country has ever recorded.
According to NBC News, the Category 5 storm is responsible for 32 deaths and up to $4 billion in insured losses in Jamaica alone.
At Hurricane Melissa's peak, 77% of homes and businesses in Jamaica were without power. More than 80 roads were closed, too. However, as of Monday, over 27% of customers had their power restored.
(Credit: Michael Bayley/Facebook)
In the days following the storm's direct impact, Royal Caribbean Group pledged to contribute more than $1 million in aid to Jamaica and The Bahamas.
Michael Bayley, CEO of Royal Caribbean International, took to social media to share that the first cruise ship had arrived with emergency relief supplies in Falmouth, Jamaica.
"This morning the Rhapsody of the Seas will call into Falmouth, Jamaica on a relief call for a couple of hours to off load over 120 pallets of supplies of water, bedding, medical supplies, food items," he wrote on Facebook.
(Credit: Michael Bayley/Facebook)
"The pallets will be offloaded and then items packaged as relief packages for immediate distribution with the help of GEM [Global Empowerment Mission] our relief partner. A huge thank you to the Falmouth Port Authority and community for opening the port."
The images shared by Bayley depict supplies, including memory foam mattresses, bottled water, and t-shirts, being loaded onto the Vision Class ship.
Rhapsody of the Seas departed San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Nov. 2 on a 6-day cruise to the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Grand Cayman.
Read more: Royal Caribbean promises over $1 million in aid will be sent to hurricane-ravaged Jamaica & Bahamas
(Screenshot taken from Cruise Mapper at 9:25 a.m. EST on Nov. 4)
According to Cruise Mapper, the ship revised its itinerary to call at Falmouth one day earlier to drop off supplies for the locals. However, the port is still closed to tourists.
Rhapsody of the Seas is expected to conclude its current voyage on Nov. 8 in Tampa, Florida.
Jamaica remains closed to tourists
(Pictured: Falmouth, Jamaica, after Hurricane Melissa. Credit: Michael Wattkis)
After Hurricane Melissa passed, residents and tourists emerged to find their communities and resorts in shambles. Entire neighborhoods were swept away by the powerful winds and flooding. Power and communication lines were torn down, too.
That said, Jamaica's tourism leaders are optimistic about the country's recovery, and they're eyeing a full restoration of the tourism industry by Dec. 15, 2025.
"Tourism’s strength lies not just in its product offerings, but in its people and partnerships. The speed and synergy of our response show the industry’s resilience and our unwavering commitment to recovery with empathy, compassion, and innovation," said Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica's Minister of Tourism.
Other cruise lines are also sending supplies to Jamaica
Carnival Horizon's current 6-night cruise was scheduled to visit Ocho Rios, Jamaica, on Nov. 4, and Carnival Cruise Line used the opportunity to assist those in need.
A letter from Captain Rocco Lubrano was delivered to passengers on Nov. 2, saying that Carnival had been in close contact with local officials about the planned visit.
As expected, the local infrastructure and shore excursion partners weren't ready to provide a day of fun to the cruise guests.
(Screenshot taken from Cruise Mapper at 9:45 a.m. EST on Nov. 4)
However, the 133,500 gross registered ton ship still called in Ocho Rios to make a brief supply stop. Passengers were not allowed to disembark, but they were given refunds for their shore excursions, as well as the port fees and taxes.
