CRUISE SHIPS BRING MORE THAN 6,000 TO OCHI AFTER MONTHS OF ABSENCE
OCHO RIOS, St Ann; Nov. 12, 2025
Two cruise vessels were enthusiastically and eagerly welcomed in Ocho Rios, St. Ann, on Tuesday, November 11, after the north coast resort had been off the cruise itinerary since last year, when a freak storm smashed crucial infrastructure at the port.
Six thousand five hundred passengers arrived on the two vessels two weeks after Hurricane Melissa slammed into the island, causing loss of more than 40 lives and major damage to western parishes and also St Ann.
Holland America, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation, was in port with passengers and relief supplies. Its crew members participated in clean-up efforts in St. Ann. MSC Cruise also contributed to the flow, reinforcing confidence in Jamaica as a premier Caribbean destination.
(Carnival Corporation’s Holland America docked at the reopened Ocho Rios cruise-ship port in St. Ann on Tuesday, November 11).
JIS reported that restaurants and other businesses in Ocho Rios saw encouraging traffic as visitors sought experiences—from vibrant local cuisine to artisan crafts and guided tours of the region’s natural beauty. The bustling ports – Reynolds Pier, which housed MSC Cruise, and the neighbouring Urban Development Corporation (UDC) Pier, which accommodated Holland America – reflected the potential for an exciting cruise-ship season, JIS reported.
The visit of the vessels came after damage to the ports in February 2024, which was followed by extensive repair work. Tour operators, food businesses and craft traders around Ocho Rios had complained bitterly to the North Coast Times about the loss of revenue resulting from the cessation of cruise arrivals.
(Mayor of St. Ann’s Bay, Councillor Michael Belnavis (centre) greets Suzie Phillips (left) and Heidi Hodges, who arrived aboard Carnival Corporation’s Holland America. The vessel docked at the Ocho Rios cruise-ship port in St. Ann on Tuesday.November 11)
Residents, business interests, transport operators, and other stakeholders were on hand for the arrival of the vessel, which signalled a welcome return to cruise activity.
“A great day… smiles all around,” said Mayor of St Ann’s Bay, Councillor Michael Belnavis. “This means so much to us here in Ocho Rios and the wider St. Ann… considering how tourism and cruise shipping are a major part of the local economy.”
Local business leaders welcomed the port’s reopening as a timely and crucial boost for the town’s economy.
Double V Shopping Centre Owner Colin Mills; Transport Operator Robert McKenzie; and Dunn’s River Craft Market President, Devon Mitchell, also voiced optimism about the pier’s reopening and the boost it will provide for the local economy, particularly for craft vendors and transport operators.
YOU CAN ALWAYS REACH THE NORTH COAST TIMES BY EMAIL AT [email protected]
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PHOTOS BY GARWIN DAVIS/JIS
