Jamaica’s Cruise Ports Are Making Waves
736,372 cruise passengers and 234 ship calls in the first seven months of 2026. Here’s how Falmouth, Ocho Rios and Montego Bay compare, what’s near each pier, and how to plan a better day ashore.
Hundreds Of Thousands Of Cruise Visitors, Three Leading Ports
Jamaica welcomed 736,372 cruise passengers from 234 ship calls between January and July 2026. Deputy Director of Tourism for the Americas Phillip Rose shared the figures on September 14 at the Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX) at Moon Palace Jamaica in Ocho Rios.
Falmouth led with 81 calls, followed by Ocho Rios with 76 and Montego Bay with 73. The remaining four calls were shared between Kingston and Port Antonio.
Note that these are ship-call counts for seven months, not passenger totals per port or a full-year figure. For context, Jamaica received about 1.1 million cruise passengers in all of 2025.
Jamaica’s Three Main Cruise Ports Compared
Falmouth, Ocho Rios and Montego Bay received 230 of the 234 ship calls reported for January–July 2026. Each offers a very different day ashore.
Falmouth Cruise Port
A Georgian-era town in Trelawny with a purpose-built pier. It’s the gateway to river rafting, heritage walks and day trips toward Montego Bay.
- Historic town center Walkable
- Martha Brae rafting ~15 min
- Montego Bay ~35–45 min
Ocho Rios Cruise Port
Jamaica’s adventure capital, with waterfalls, rainforest rides and beaches just minutes from the pier in St. Ann.
- Dunn’s River Falls ~10 min
- Mystic Mountain ~10 min
- Blue Hole Secret Falls ~20–30 min
Montego Bay Cruise Port
A lively resort city with beaches, the Hip Strip, local food and great-house history close to the cruise terminal.
- Doctor’s Cave Beach ~10 min
- Hip Strip ~10 min
- Rose Hall Great House ~25 min
Ship Calls By Port, January–July 2026
Source: Jamaica Information Service, September 16, 2026
The report doesn’t split the four calls between Kingston and Port Antonio.
Which Jamaica Cruise Port Suits Your Day?
| Port | Parish | Best for | Top nearby attraction | Walkable from pier? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falmouth | Trelawny | History, rafting, relaxed pace | Martha Brae bamboo rafting | Yes, historic town center |
| Ocho Rios | St. Ann | Waterfalls and adventure | Dunn’s River Falls | Partly; most sights need a short ride |
| Montego Bay | St. James | Beaches, shopping, food | Doctor’s Cave Beach & Hip Strip | No, take a short taxi |
| Kingston | Kingston | Music, history, culture | Bob Marley Museum | No |
| Port Antonio | Portland | Unspoiled nature | Blue Lagoon & Frenchman’s Cove | Town center, yes |
Ocho Rios Proves A Port Day Can Be An Adventure
Few cruise ports put this much within easy reach. Dunn’s River Falls, Mystic Mountain’s rainforest bobsled and the turquoise pools of Blue Hole Secret Falls are all a short drive from the pier.
The best itinerary isn’t the one with the most stops. Match your plans to your time in port, expected crowds on multi-ship days and realistic travel times. Most visitors are happiest with one or two well-chosen experiences.
See the best things to do in Jamaica →Falmouth’s Appeal Goes Beyond The Cruise Pier
With 81 calls in seven months, Falmouth was Jamaica’s busiest cruise port by ship calls. Its streets hold some of the Caribbean’s best-preserved Georgian architecture, and the countryside nearby offers peaceful bamboo rafting on the Martha Brae River.
Falmouth is also close enough to Montego Bay for a beach or shopping trip, as long as your plans fit comfortably within the ship’s all-aboard time.
Check the Falmouth cruise ship schedule →Disney Destiny Joins Jamaica’s Cruise Line-Up
Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Destiny made its first call at Falmouth on October 13, 2026, carrying just under 2,800 passengers. Tourism officials are also encouraging cruise visitors to explore beyond the main resort towns, toward Kingston and Port Antonio.
Three Things To Do Before You Step Ashore
Schedules can change. These steps make for a calmer, more rewarding day in port.
Confirm Your Ship’s Times
Check the port, arrival time and, most important, your cruise line’s official all-aboard time, which is usually 30–60 minutes before departure.
Pick A Realistic Plan
Allow for traffic, attraction queues and busy multi-ship days. One well-planned excursion often beats three rushed stops.
Leave A Return Buffer
Aim to be back at the pier at least an hour before all-aboard. Ships don’t wait for guests on independent tours.
Jamaica Cruise Ports: Questions Visitors Ask
What are the main cruise ports in Jamaica?
Jamaica’s main cruise ports are Falmouth, Ocho Rios and Montego Bay on the North Coast. Kingston and Port Antonio receive occasional calls. In January–July 2026, the three North Coast ports handled 230 of the island’s 234 ship calls.
Which Jamaica cruise port is the busiest?
Falmouth recorded the most ship calls in January–July 2026 with 81, ahead of Ocho Rios with 76 and Montego Bay with 73, according to the Jamaica Information Service.
How many cruise passengers visit Jamaica?
Jamaica welcomed 736,372 cruise passengers from 234 ship calls between January and July 2026. In 2025 as a whole, the island received about 1.1 million cruise passengers.
Which Jamaica cruise port is best for Dunn’s River Falls?
Ocho Rios. Dunn’s River Falls is roughly 10 minutes from the Ocho Rios cruise pier, making it one of the easiest major attractions to reach on a port day.
Will a cruise ship wait if my excursion returns late?
Don’t count on it. Ships generally wait only for their own sold excursions. Guests on independent tours are responsible for returning before all-aboard, so build in a generous buffer.
More From The Jamaica Travel Guide
One Port Day. A Whole Island Of Possibilities.
Check your ship’s schedule, choose one or two experiences that fit your time ashore, and leave room to enjoy the food, music and people along the way. For port-by-port schedules and transportation, see the cruise hub at Best Jamaica Travels. Travel agents, large groups and cruise lines can arrange time-sensitive shore excursions through Best Jamaica DMC.
