Jamaica’s cruise industry is showing strong signs of growth, according to new numbers released by the country’s Ministry of Tourism. 

Last year, the island welcomed 1.26 million arrivals, up 48.3 percent compared to the previous year, according to Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett. 

The expectation for the 2024-2025 season is to either equal or exceed the previous fiscal year, he said. 

“Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL) has reaffirmed its commitment to Jamaica and has set a target of maintaining their tally of 400,000 visitors to Falmouth every year,” Bartlett said. “Additionally, Disney Cruise Lines expressed their satisfaction with their current operations in Falmouth and have expressed their willingness to consider Port Royal as a future destination, pending the requisite logistical arrangements.”

Jamaica is also looking to attract more “luxury yacht” calls, Bartlett said, presumably companies like Ritz-Carlton or Four Seasons, which have been the most prominent entrants to the ultra-luxe small-ship sector. 

More broadly, the island is also looking at becoming a more robust homeporting destination, Bartlett said. 

“Jamaica is also able to serve as a homeporting destination, and we are exploring opportunities to expand the supply of goods and services to the vessels that visit our ports,” he said. 

Ultimately, though, the island’s cruise industry continues to be anchored by the port in Falmouth, a historic town that has everything from a centuries-old Jewish cemetery to the storied Hampden rum estate. 

Falmouth is also a gateway to a host of attractions in the surrounding area, from river tubing to the lush beauty of Dunn’s River Falls.

Are you planning a cruise that calls on Jamaica? Here are Royal Caribbean’s upcoming Jamaica sailings.