Just a few years ago, the Port Authority of Jamaica announced the opening of its fourth cruise port at Falmouth, built in conjunction with Royal Caribbean. When it opened in 2011, Falmouth’s port could accommodate two cruise ships: one for 4,000-passenger vessels, and one for the world’s largest cruise ships, which carry as many as 6,000 passengers.
In the time since the port’s grand opening, Falmouth authorities have seen an increase in opportunities to draw more cruisers to the town. For this reason, they have just announced plans to increase the size of the port so that both berths can host the largest, 6,000-passenger vessels. Expected to be completed by the end of the year, the project is just one of several improvements being planned for the beautiful Jamaican coastal town.
As the newest of Jamaica’s cruise ports, Falmouth is not as widely known or developed as its famous sister-ports at Montego Bay and Ocho Rios. Conveniently situated right between those two venerable ports-of-call, Falmouth offers visitors a slightly different look into the “real” Jamaica and is just a short taxi-ride from some of the most popular destinations on the island.
Like the other Jamaican ports, Falmouth is home to a number of restaurants, friendly guides, and artisans selling traditional crafts and gifts. In addition to the modern port, the town also boasts a beautiful and walkable downtown area full of Georgian architecture. Falmouth is also in close proximity to a variety of interesting shore excursions, including the Good Hope Great House, one of the island’s most impressive historic plantations. Falmouth’s relatively small size also gives visitors unique opportunities to experience island life as the locals do, without wandering more than a few blocks off the beaten path. In addition, several beaches are easily reachable via a short cab ride from the port.
For visitors who want to explore farther afield, all the popular party hotspots of Montego Bay and its famous Hip Strip are only a 30-minute taxi-ride away. In the other direction, Ocho Rios provides gorgeous outdoor attractions like Dunn’s River Falls and Mystic Mountain, where cruisers can experience the best of Jamaica’s natural beauty.
