Jamaica’s cruise ship sector continues its steady pace back to recovery with two vessels calling at the port of Ocho Rios this week. The MSC Meraviglia, the last cruise ship to dock before the novel coronavirus pandemic, makes its first trip back on September 21. This will be the first of its five calls planned up to November. Meanwhile the Carnival Sunrise, the first vessel to return in mid-August, makes another call on September 22. It will make 11 calls by the end of the year.
The calls, says Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett, are further evidence of the growing demand for destination Jamaica and the success of efforts to reopen the tourism sector.
“Although [the MSC Meraviglia] has a carrying capacity of approximately 7,000 passengers and crew, it will be docking with some 2,833 persons onboard due to COVID-19 protocols,” Minister Bartlett explained.
“Cruise shipping is critical to the recovery of the tourism sector, and we are seeing a welcome return of vessels with the recognition that Jamaica’s Resilient Corridors offer a safe environment for our visitors, tourism workers and the general population,” he added.
The minister anticipates steady growth that will translate to significant growth in the number of stopover visitor arrivals, all while ensuring that strict safety protocols are in place and followed.
“I must underscore that the cruise ships have to meet strict measures governing the restart of cruise shipping, requiring approximately 95 per cent of passengers and crew to be fully vaccinated and for all passengers to provide evidence of negative results from a COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of sailing. In the case of unvaccinated passengers, such as children, a PCR test is mandated, and all passengers are also screened and tested (antigen) on embarkation,” Minister Bartlett stressed.
Based on schedules to date, Minister Bartlett says Jamaica is expecting some 20 cruise ship calls before year-end.
