Jamaica

[Richard M]

Hey, anyone out there have a cruise itinerary changed TO Jamaica? I just did (Freedom, Mar 7-12, '26) and Jamaica was just wiped out by Hurricane Melissa (CAT 5). Why would they re-route a cruise TO a Disaster Zone?

[loki007]

We were just in Falmouth a month ago and have friends there. There is no way cruises will be going there for sometime. The infrastructure damage is severe. 

[JerryG]

Did you get an email from Royal? Website still shows Grand Turk.

The website is so messed up right now with port stops for Freedom.

[smokeybandit]

Cruises will return to Falmouth sooner than people think.  And long before March. It wouldn't surprise me if it reopens by the end of the month. 

It will take Jamaica the country a long time to recover. But its tourism industry is being prioritized by the Jamaica gov't.

[loki007]

this brief video shows you the extent of the damage in Falmouth. 

 

[Traveling Mike]

I would hope they go back as soon as possible.  The people need the money and not us staying away.

[Geezer Of The Seas]

Read a story somewhere over the weekend quoting the Jamaica Tourism Minister. The government hopes (heavy emphasis)  to have Falmouth operational by mid December. No mention of Montego Bay or Ocho Rios. Was Kingston relatively unscathed?

Seems like the real urgency with seaports would be to facilitate resumption of cargo ship visits. Tourism, sure, but a lot of rebuilding that will require a lot of material that can only come by ship.

[smokeybandit]

16 minutes ago, Geezer Of The Seas said:

Read a story somewhere over the weekend quoting the Jamaica Tourism Minister. The government hopes (heavy emphasis)  to have Falmouth operational by mid December. No mention of Montego Bay or Ocho Rios. Was Kingston relatively unscathed?

The article said they wanted to have Jamaica's tourism industry 100% open by December 15. 

https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2025/10/30/melissaaftermath-bartlett-targets-full-tourism-restart-december-15-2025/

 

[WAYNO]

I have been throughout Jamaica and many other islands pretty extensively.  These places are sad to start with, with plenty of evidence they have rebuilt from previous storms and other catastrophes.  Their housing will likely be rebuilt using scrapwood and metal roofing harvested from this last hurricane.

The port areas were nice, but simple.  And I suspect they can be simply rebuilt, quickly.  

As was said, these folks rely on tourism.  They cannot afford to not rebuild, quickly.  And I very much suspect they will.  

I Pray that they will do so, and get their lives back on track.

I talk a lot with the locals.  One tour guide told me, the best they can hope for is for their kids to do well in school and be able to move to the United States.

Another island I visited after a big storm with tremendous damage... The tour guide said they were so blessed,  the U.S. sent them so many wonderful blue tarps.  These folks do not know how to hope for better.

I am sad for these people, and sad they must endure all this, over and over.

[BMW Hoosier]

3 hours ago, WAYNO said:

 The place is sad to start with, with plenty of evidence they have rebuilt from previous storms. 

Jamaica hasn't had direct landfall of a major hurricane in over 35 years, and even then, it was a low-end category four. 

[smokeybandit]

[Matt]

When Puerto Rico got hit by Hurricanes Maria and Irma, they wanted the ships back ASAP because tourism is what fuels that island.  I'd imagine the same is true for Jamaica.

[Jolly Ogre]

My cruise on Indy to Jamaica is 33 days out and no news yet of any port change.

[FOB]

19 hours ago, Jolly Ogre said:

My cruise on Indy to Jamaica is 33 days out and no news yet of any port change.

Currently on Indy and due to go to Falmouth next week

yesterday at the return cruisers event (Mario is on so it was a “who is number 2” for the top pinnacle) Captain Tor said they were waiting on reports from Rhapsody before deciding what we are doing. There are a number of folk on the fb page venting cos they aren’t being told anything but if it becomes a “day at sea while in port delivering emergency supplies” then that is what it will be. 

[smokeybandit]

While there will be an urgency to get ships back to Falmouth, even when they do return, any excursions in the western part of the country may be unavailable for a long time. 

[Jolly Ogre]

52 minutes ago, FOB said:

Currently on Indy and due to go to Falmouth next week

yesterday at the return cruisers event (Mario is on so it was a “who is number 2” for the top pinnacle) Captain Tor said they were waiting on reports from Rhapsody before deciding what we are doing. There are a number of folk on the fb page venting cos they aren’t being told anything but if it becomes a “day at sea while in port delivering emergency supplies” then that is what it will be. 

Oh Boo Whoo... my port call was disrupted by the most devastating hurricane in 35 yrs. I want more info and compensation.

The gall of some people. Sheesh!!

Just got off Utopia on Monday and our stateroom attendant is from Jamaica. He was great in the face of having his home destroyed. His family is ok though so at least there is that. He got triple tip.

[Richard M]

On 11/3/2025 at 10:44 AM, JerryG said:

Did you get an email from Royal? Website still shows Grand Turk.

The website is so messed up right now with port stops for Freedom.

Nope, not a thing. I'm referring to the sailing date of march 7, 2026.

[smokeybandit]

Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean Group and Disney Cruise Line have each committed US$1 million in financial assistance. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) has pledged up to US$100,000, with additional matched contributions from employees and passengers.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has pledged US$50,000, with a commitment to match an additional US$50,000 in public and employee donations, reflecting the company’s belief that “the Caribbean region holds a special place in our hearts”.

https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2025/11/05/cruise-industry-rallies-behind-jamaica-us3m-hurricane-relief/

-------------------

50k outright, Norwegian?

 

[RCIfan1912]

NCL is such a disaster. I hope they are forced to sell to either Royal Caribbean or Carnival at some point because they continue to make unforced error after unforced error. I used to be kinda like its good there are 3 major cruise lines and they each serve a purpose but I truly hate NCL at this point. Employees? Really? NCL may be stealing employee tips. I would not put it past these clowns.

[Geezer Of The Seas]

NCL had the highest leveraged position (IIRC) of the 3 major cruise lines coming out of the pandemic. A LOT of high yield (junk) bonds whose maturity dates comes in waves. New ships being launched. To the casual observer, it appears they have a big time free cash flow/cash on hand problem. Frequent, sudden itinerary changes with little or sometime dubious explanations, it's like they're ducking debt collectors. A financial house of cards? 

[Atricks]

This link shows post-storm aerial imagery, including Falmouth.  The port has multiple buildings with damaged/exposed roofs, and the big pole in the center is gone, along with a lot of the stands.  Lots of the building even with roofs, had damage inside.   Although the main cruise dock area survived, the docks a lot of the excursions used were wiped out.  And the bus/taxi pickup area was shredded.

https://storms.ngs.noaa.gov/storms/melissa/index.html#15.06/18.49338/-77.64655

That said, they'll probably try to get it going again as soon as possible, but may be limited at least a first.

 

[smokeybandit]

I'd say the port itself held up pretty well all things considered.

[FOB]

Heading to Falmouth with 130 pallets of emergency aid including generators as there is very little power. 
doing a virtual sea day though as we can’t ge5 off the ship
apparently they have got Ocho Rios port area available for folk to walk around but no excursions if you are due to port there

[smokeybandit]

Yeah Ocho Rios is open since they didn't get hit as hard as Falmouth/Montego Bay.

[Bean79]

Looks like the Blue Waters Beach Club got hit hard

[smokeybandit]

On 11/3/2025 at 9:36 AM, smokeybandit said:

It wouldn't surprise me if it reopens by the end of the month. 

I was 2 days off my prediction. So close.

 

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2025/12/03/cruise-ships-will-return-jamaica-after-catastrophic-hurricane-melissa

 

https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2025/12/02/cruise-tourism-resumes-sailing-falmouth/

[PhantomWolf]

We dropped off supplies while on Indy last week.  From the ship it looked like the area around the port was still dealing with damage and messed up roofs.  Personally it would have felt inappropriate to get off the ship at that time.  Hope things get back to normal for everyone there soon.

[steverk]

We docked in Jamaica today, so an update seems in order. 

At first glance, the port looks as good as ever.  It's clean and most of the shops are open.  Look closer, and there's several stores closed permanently.  Most notable, there was a bar (was it Margaritaville or Senor Frogs. I don't remember) that is permanently closed and all signage removed. 

The town appears to be in tact, but several blue tarps are visible proving that there's still work to do.

[smokeybandit]

Margaritaville never re-opened after the restart.

[xaza]

We walked the town last week and the destruction is still pretty severe anywhere off the port area.  There were still a few roofs in port needing repaired.  First time there so I have no idea how it was before.