MONTEGO BAY, St James — After a more than 16-month hiatus because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, cruise ships are expected to resume calling on Jamaica next Monday.
In fact, between Monday, August 16 and Tuesday, October 26, cruise ports in Falmouth, Trelawny; Ocho Rios, St Ann; and Montego Bay, St James are expected to welcome a combined total of 25 calls from Carnival Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean International and MSC Cruises.
In preparation for Monday’s cruise call on Ocho Rios, teams from the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Health and Wellness, and the Port Authority of Jamaica will visit the Ocho Rios port tomorrow to sensitise stakeholders, particularly about the importance of taking the COVID-19 vaccine.
“Cruise shipping is an integral part of our tourism product and an important driver in terms of visitor arrivals and expenditure. Thousands of Jamaicans depend on the cruise shipping industry, and we look forward to its return,” Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett said in a recent release.
“Tourism workers must always remember that they are valuable front line workers who have a critical role to play in restoring the national economy and their own state of well-being. They must therefore play their part in helping to overcome the current setback created by the COVID-19 pandemic by taking the vaccine,” Bartlett added.
Chukka Adventures’ CEO John Byles welcomed the return of cruise shipping to Jamaican shores.
“I think it is a welcome move. It touches a wide base of stakeholders, such as the craft markets, the bus drivers, and so many more,” said Byles, who is also chairman of the Tourism Resilient Corridors Committee.
