The historic Falmouth port received the first cruise ship the island had seen in more than two years in a happy homecoming to turquoise waters, and it was a critical advance in the recovery of Jamaica after the hurricane.
The Caribbean Princess of Princess Cruises sailed into St John on December 2, with roaring crowds and the beat of steel drums and 2,500 smiling passengers who are about to enjoy the sun and rum-soaked-ness of the Caribbean all-inclusive cruise.
The $250 million reconstruction of the port following Hurricane Beryl’s Category 5 wrath in July 2023 (killing 32 and costing $4 billion) has made it a sturdy entry point to the Caribbean, promising better times in the cruise economy of the Caribbean.
The 112,894-ton Sun-class veteran Caribbean Princess, since 2004, has been anchored all day long, with excursions ranging from zip-lining through rainforests and catamaran sails along the shore of Montego Bay.
Reflected with the 2017 additions of chef-led cuisine and relaxing Lotus spas, the ship was very easy to access land through the new green tenders that used the port. The piers were lined with crafts and jerk chicken stalls by local artisans, and dignitaries celebrated the fact that the storm had brought a phoenix.
Rebuilding from the Brink: Falmouth Overhaul of $250M
Winds of up to 160 mph in Hurricane Beryl tore down piers, cranes and flooded terminals, compelling the likes of Royal Caribbean and Carnival to divert itineraries. The Port Authority of Jamaica invested in fortification: high docks can now sustain a Category 4 surge, solar lights have reduced the energy bill by 30% and the increased size of berths can host Oasis-class monsters. It is not just infrastructure, but 5,000 jobs and $100 million of yearly revenue are at stake.
Falmouth is a destination that Princess Cruises implemented in its winter 2025-26 cruise, mixing it with Ocho Rios and Montego Bay in seven-night Southern Caribbean circles out of Fort Lauderdale. The prices begin at $599, and with kids clubs and couples and private cabana escapes are attracting. Royal Caribbean is looking at a January 2026 return to Harmony of the Seas, and Norwegian is looking at Gem of the Seas calls in spring.
Specialists estimate that there will be a 25% growth in the number of passengers in Jamaica in 2026 due to the “Resilient Jamaica” initiative. However, there remain difficult moments: climate deniers want to build seawalls and mangrove rehabilitations, and airlifts increase to keep pace with cruise booms.
Passenger Paradise: What awaits in Revived Falmouth?
Cruiser disembarking excursions plunged into such attractions as the Glistening Waters bioluminescent bay, where the water at night sparkles like stardust, and the Rose Hall Great House, a plantation-turned-history lesson that is haunted.
The Cockpit Country eco-tours highlight Taino heritage, and the Dunn River Falls ascends the cliff, leaving adrenaline-seeking thrill seekers. Caribbean Princess also steps up barb board entertainment by introducing calypso performances and duty-free rum samples so that the arrival in port is a party.
To the travellers, this is a go-ahead in the form of guilt-free vacations: check weather apps, make bookings on excursions through the line to swap, and bring reef-safe sunscreen to pay tribute to the coral recovery measures. Taking off the scars that Falmouth has had, it is evident, the spirit of the island, like the scenery of the sunsets, lives on.
The cruise industry is waiting with bated breath; Falmouth will have to continue with its recovery efforts, and that will give other Bahamian-to-Belize ports that were hit by the storm the impetus to start recovery efforts as well. The conch shells are calling, Jamaica, back.
