Key Aspects:
- Royal Caribbean is confirming itinerary changes to remove Jamaica on several different ships in November.
- This is not unexpected, as Jamaica cannot yet welcome cruise ships until more post-storm repairs are made.
- Whenever possible, alternatives are being arranged for impacted sailings so guests can still enjoy port visits.
Royal Caribbean has begun notifying guests booked on sailings that include stops in Jamaica that their itineraries have been changed. This is not unexpected, as port facilities in the Caribbean nation remain damaged from Hurricane Melissa and it may be several weeks before cruise calls can resume.
Whenever possible, the cruise line is arranging substitute port visits for the impacted ships. For example, on Symphony of the Seas‘ November 16 departure from Miami, the 7-night sailing is unable to call at Falmouth, Jamaica.
Instead, the ship will be visiting Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic on day five (Thursday, November 20). That is the same day Symphony of the Seas was to have been in Jamaica.
“We’re excited to bring you this refreshed experience and appreciate your understanding, as itinerary planning is an ongoing process that requires cruises to have a certain level of flexibility,” the notification email explains.
“Sometimes, these changes are the result of a weather impact or issue avoidance, speed restrictions, berth or scheduling conflicts, and agreements we have with the ports we visit.”
A similar change has been made to Oasis of the Seas‘ November 23 departure from Fort Lauderdale. That 6-night itinerary was also supposed to visit Falmouth, but will now be going to Cabo Rojo in the Dominican Republic instead. The same explanation, word-for-word, is part of that itinerary notification.
“While these itinerary changes are occasionally necessary, please know they’re made thoughtfully, with your experience and enjoyment in mind,” the email continues. “We know it’s not the original itinerary we planned; however, we’re excited to explore this destination together!”
Read Also: The Best Way to Help Cruise Ports After a Hurricane
It’s likely that many upcoming sailings to Jamaica will have similar adjustments. This could include voyages not only aboard Symphony and Oasis, but also on Rhapsody, Independence, Adventure, and Freedom of the Seas in November and early December.
Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, has already declared that Jamaica will be ready for full tourism operations to resume on or before December 15, 2025. This is an ambitious goal, but it may certainly be doable, depending on what types of repairs different facilities need.
In the meantime, Royal Caribbean is not the only cruise line diverting sailings away from Jamaica. Disney Cruise Line has already cancelled Disney Treasure‘s visit to Falmouth on November 5, and undoubtedly, additional sailings will also be impacted.
Not All Cruises Are Completely Skipping Jamaica
While guests will not be able to visit Jamaica for the next few weeks, not all cruise calls are completely cancelled.
Some ships are using planned port calls to the island as an opportunity to deliver relief supplies. Carnival Horizon dropped off pallets of bottled water, baby food, diapers, canned goods, and hygiene supplies to Ocho Rios on Tuesday, November 4, exactly one week after the storm tore across the island.
Similarly, Rhapsody of the Seas delivered more than 120 pallets of supplies to Falmouth, also on Tuesday, November 4.
These relief stops are not actually port visits, as guests are not permitted to debark the ship. Instead, each vessel stops just long enough to safely unload materials that are being donated to help the island recover, then they resume sailing for a day at sea.
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It is possible that similar relief calls will be made over the next few weeks as enough supplies are collected and packaged for efficient delivery.
Different cruise lines have also pledged to make significant financial donations toward Jamaica’s storm recovery, vowing to support the communities they visit and to resume cruise stops as soon as possible.
