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New “Historic Falmouth” Port Opens in Jamaica

More than a year after it was supposed to, Jamaica’s new “Historic Falmouth” port received its first ship as Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas pulled in and offloaded her 3,000-some passengers.

Royal Caribbean’s Voyager

The port development, a joint venture of Royal Caribbean and the Jamaica Port Authority, is being billed as ” the first-ever thematic cruise port,” which some, including Arthur Frommer , are interpreting as “theme park.”

Set between Montego Bay (about 20 minutes away by car) and Ocho Rios (30 minutes), Falmouth (as opposed to “Historic Falmouth”) is a real town. Capital of the parish of Trelawny, it was once one of the busiest ports in Jamaica, hosting up to 30 tall ships on any given day to exchange European goods for rum and sugar. Its fortunes began shrinking in the mid-19th century, which means not much changed thereafter, and today it’s noted for having the largest collection of intact colonial Georgian architecture in the Caribbean.

What Royal Caribbean and the Jamaica Port Authority did was to create a sort of add-on to the town, with a two-berth pier, retail and restaurants, and a transportation hub for excursions elsewhere in the region. Planned expansions will add “onsite attractions and experiences,” plus additional retail and restaurant options and hotel and residential developments. As part of the plan, some of the town’s original (and needy) 18th and 19th centuries houses, shops, and public buildings are being restored.

Think of it as a Jamaican version of what Disney did to New York’s Times Square, for better or worse.

“Falmouth has an important place in the cultural history of Jamaica,” said Mike Henry, Jamaica’s Minister of Transport and Works, in a media statement. “It is especially rewarding for us to use that history as an entree for a new generation of guests. Our sights have always been set on being the preeminent cruise destination, and with the best-in-class berthing facilities at the Historic Falmouth port, we’ll now easily welcome the world’s largest ships.”

The official grand opening celebrations for the port will take place on March 22, when Oasis of the Seas makes her maiden call. Other Royal Caribbean ships that will soon be calling at Historic Falmouth include Freedom of the Seas (Feb. 23), Navigator of the Seas (Feb. 24), and Allure of the Seas (March 30).

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