First Royal Caribbean Ship Delivers Relief Supplies to Jamaica

Rhapsody of the Seas is visiting Falmouth, Jamaica on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, but not for guests. While the port of call was originally on the ship’s itinerary for her November 2 departure, Jamaica’s ports remain closed for tourism following the devastation of Hurricane Melissa.

Instead, the ship will be making a brief stop to deliver much-needed relief supplies to help the residents of Jamaica recover from the storm.

Those supplies include more than 120 pallets of bottled water, bedding, medical supplies, and non-perishable food items, all of which will be very welcome to those struggling with loss and damage from the hurricane.

“The pallets will be offloaded and then items packaged as relief packages for immediate distribution with the help of GEM our relief partner,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean.

The supplies are part of the $1 million pledge the cruise line has made to help Jamaica recover. The donations are being coordinated through Global Empowerment Mission and their team based in Kingston.

Reactions to the donation and delivery are overwhelmingly positive, with both guests and Royal Caribbean crew members grateful for the support the cruise line is showing to Jamaica.

“Giving back to an island that has delivered to us for many years – RESPECT!” said one guest.

“Just one of the reasons that make me proud to work for Royal,” commented an employee.

Some guests also recall similar past efforts following other natural disasters.

“We were on Majesty when it brought relief packages to Freeport, Grand Bahama after Hurricane Dorian in 2019. It also picked up and brought refugees back to the US. Royal is absolutely the best when it comes to helping those in need when disaster strikes! Thank you!” one guest shared.

Read Also: The Best Way to Help Cruise Ports After a Hurricane

Following the delivery, Rhapsody of the Seas will continue on her way toward Grand Cayman, her next (and last) port visit on the 6-night sailing.

The ship departed San Juan on Sunday, November 2, and is currently repositioning to her new homeport in Tampa. She will arrive in the Sunshine State on Saturday, November 8.

Rhapsody of the Seas will be offering Western Caribbean itineraries from 4-8 nights, with various ports of call depending on departure date and cruise length.

While the ship will not be returning to Jamaica in the coming months, she will visit Roatan, Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Belize, and other top destinations.

Other Cruise Lines Also Offering Aid

Royal Caribbean is far from the only cruise line offering aid to Jamaica during this difficult time. Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Horizon has also delivered supplies to the island, bringing pallets of water and other materials to Ocho Rios on Tuesday, November 4.

Likewise, Carnival Cruise Line has pledged a $1 million donation to Jamaica’s recovery, and Disney Cruise Line has also pledged to donate $1 million for aid and relief to the island nation.

Norwegian Cruise Line has pledged to donate up to $100,000 including matches to guests’ donations. The cruise line has taken some criticism for the size of its contribution compared to other cruise lines, but it must be noted that Norwegian Cruise Line visits Jamaica far less than other lines.

Anyone interested in helping with Jamaica’s relief efforts and storm recovery can donate through various non-profits, cruise lines, or even the Office of the Prime Minister. Smaller organizations and individual attractions in Jamaica may also set up their own donation portals.

Guests should always double-check that their generous donations are through legitimate, authorized organizations to ensure there are no scams or fraud.

Jamaica is currently closed to cruise ship visits and some ships are rerouting to alternative ports for the next several weeks. The country hopes to resume full tourism operations by December 15, a date that eager visitors will look forward to in order to offer even more immediate support to the island.