Jamaica Targets December 15 to Restart Cruise Tourism After Hurricane Melissa

Jamaica’s cruise industry, a cornerstone of the island’s tourism economy, has set an ambitious goal to fully resume operations by December 15, 2025, following the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm that tore through the Caribbean at the end of October.

While the island begins recovery efforts, cruise itineraries across major lines are being rapidly adjusted, with dozens of ships rerouted away from Jamaican ports in November and early December.

A Race to Rebuild Jamaica’s Tourism Industry

Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, announced that the country is determined to restore all tourism operations — including cruises — within six weeks.

“Recovery cannot be left to chance,” said Minister Bartlett. “We are aligning marketing, communications, infrastructure repairs, aid, logistics, and every enabling support behind a single objective: full industry operation by December 15.”

The recovery effort is being coordinated through a newly formed tourism recovery task force, working closely with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) to conduct rapid assessments and restore key infrastructure — from airports and ports to hotels and attractions.

Jamaica’s tourism sector contributes billions to the national economy, with cruise tourism alone generating over $197 million annually. The government’s plan includes transparent progress tracking and public updates to help workers, travel partners, and visitors plan with confidence.

Cruise Lines Respond and Support Relief Efforts

As ports including Falmouth, Montego Bay, and Ocho Rios remain closed for repairs, major cruise lines are stepping in to help.

Royal Caribbean Group, Carnival Corporation, and Disney Cruise Line have each pledged $1 million toward recovery efforts in Jamaica, supporting relief work and rebuilding key tourism areas.

Despite this support, the short-term impact on cruise operations is significant. Disney Cruise Line has already cancelled Disney Treasure’s scheduled call to Falmouth on November 5, and several other ships have adjusted itineraries to avoid Jamaica through mid-December.

In total, more than 40 port calls across the island have been affected in just six weeks, impacting sailings from Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Carnival, MSC Cruises, and Virgin Voyages.

Cruise Calls Affected Across Jamaica

• Falmouth: 10 ship calls cancelled for November, 11 more postponed in early December

• Montego Bay: 13 November visits cancelled, plus 6 additional before December 15

• Ocho Rios: Multiple calls from Virgin Voyages, MSC Cruises, Carnival, Holland America, and others paused

Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald shared an honest update with fans via Facebook, noting the uncertainty of Jamaica’s return to itineraries.

“Lots of you have asked when we’ll return to Ocho Rios and Montego Bay. The answer is — I have no idea,” Heald said. “Having seen the biblical scale of the damage, I’d guess it might not be for some time.”

Travel Advisory Raised for Jamaica

In addition to the hurricane’s devastation, the U.S. Department of State raised Jamaica’s travel advisory from Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”) to Level 3 (“Reconsider Travel”) on October 28, 2025, citing ongoing recovery challenges, infrastructure instability, and increased safety concerns following the storm.

Looking Ahead

While the December 15 reopening target is bold, Jamaica’s tourism leadership remains optimistic that with international aid, local determination, and cruise industry cooperation, ships could once again return to the island before the year ends.

For cruise passengers, this means temporary itinerary changes, but also the hope that one of the Caribbean’s most beloved destinations will be back on the map before the holiday season.