The Jamaica Ports Authority (PAJ) has received several calls for the upcoming season reporting an increase in cruise ship shipping activity across all of the island’s cruise ports.
This is good for Jamaica as over the past year PAJ, with the guidance and support of the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MoHW), has systematically designed and implemented mechanisms and solutions to ensure safe expedition travel resumes. sectors in the context of the Covid-19 operation.
Some of these calls are expected to begin in mid-November, including inaugural visits and calls from ultra-luxury premium cruise lines.
The austerity may be due in part to the positive resumption of activities in Port Ocho Rios which returned cruise ships to the country after a 17-month suspension due to restrictions stemming from the Covid-19 protocol.
In addition, modern and state-of-the-art ports and cruise facilities greatly enhance our attractiveness and global status that goes hand in hand with our cruise products, resulting in the recognition of four annual World Travel Awards.
Jamaica holds the Caribbean Cruise Destination title and the trophy was awarded to Falmouth Harbor for the Main Caribbean Cruise Port.
The Port of Montego Port has taken over the Caribbean Leading Home Port and Port Royal’s Historic Naval Shipyard has been awarded a Caribbean Tourism Development Project award.
The port of Ocho Rios has a fixed schedule of calls from the September departure to Sunrise Carnival and MSC Meraviglia which will continue throughout the season.
Jamaica’s Port Royal will host a number of ultra-luxury premium cruise line ships this season, including stopovers of Holland America Cruise Line (Nieuw Statendam and Nieuw Amsterdam), Crystal Cruises (Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony), Seabourn Cruise Line (Seabourn Ovation).) What is the new ship of Saga Cruises (Spirit of Adventure) and the Marella, the first call-up line at the Naval Historic Dock Yard, returning with four more calls this season?
A number of premarital stopovers are also planned, including one of MSC Cruises’ newest ships, MSC Shores, which will arrive at the historic port of Falmouth in November and Spirit of Adventure’s first stopover arriving at Port Royal in Berbaris.
Receiving the World Travel Award at a recent virtual ceremony, PAJ CEO Gordon Shirley was delighted with the accolade and said that “despite the award resulting from a difficult time, we are starting to restore normalcy as bookings increase. “.
He also took the opportunity to remind cruise enthusiasts around the world of the incredible value that can be found in award-winning cruise destinations such as Jamaica.
He added that “Following the organization’s investments in shipping infrastructure this year, PAJ is even more optimistic that next season’s calls will exceed those planned for this year.”
William Tatham, Vice President, Cruise Ships and Marina Operations, PAJ added, “I am pleased with the return of PAJ’s cruise business and am confident that we will provide a safe and profitable cruise experience in the coming seasons.”
He also noted that many regular ships will return this season, including Disney Cruise Lines ships, and indicated that Disney Fantasy plans to make a stop at the historic port of Falmouth in December.
Emerging from a successful meeting with Disney Cruise Line executives at the Seatrade Cruise World Conference recently held in Miami, USA, numerous calls have been confirmed from this line for the season.
