Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett says Jamaica has welcomed 32,000 cruise passengers from eight ships since Hurricane Melissa made landfall on October 28. 

Bartlett, who made the dislcosure on Thursday (November 20) in an address to business interests and other stakeholders in St Ann, projected that the same tally would be reached in Ocho Rios next week, pushing the overall count to 64,000 passengers since the hurricane. 

The update signals to the world that cruise shipping is back on track for Jamaica, he added.

Minister Bartlett said the momentum is a testament to collaboration across the sector. 

“Despite the challenges we faced in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, the industry is showing resilience and a shared commitment to Jamaica’s recovery and continued growth,” he said. 

“The faith that cruise lines have in our island is evident in their continued itineraries and in the support of our attraction partners who are ready to welcome visitors,” the minister added.

In an earlier meeting with the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) in Florida, the minister conveyed that cruise lines would honour their itinerary commitments to Jamaica. 

He mentioned the assurances received from major operators that Jamaica remains a top priority in their regional plans. 

“We are grateful for the reassurance from our partners in the cruise industry,” Bartlett said. “Their continued calls are a strong signal that Jamaica is open, safe, and ready to deliver memorable experiences”.

Bartlett also highlighted the readiness of key attraction partners, including the world-famous Dunn’s River Falls, which he described as “open and ready to accommodate visitors”. 

He emphasised that the destination’s hospitality ecosystem remains vibrant and capable of delivering quality experiences that meet international standards.

President of Holland America Line, Beth Bodensteiner, affirmed the company’s commitment.

“We are honoured to return to Ocho Rios and deeply grateful for the collaboration with the port, local community, and tour operators who have helped make this possible. Our decision to resume calls to Jamaica was made with great care and respect, recognising the vital role tourism plays in the island’s recovery and future,” the president said.

“As part of our visit, Zuiderdam delivered essential relief supplies, including canned food, water, dry goods, baking ingredients, and cleaning products, and approximately 30 of our team members joined local partners in volunteer efforts to support clean-up and recovery. We are proud to stand with the people and communities of Jamaica as they rebuild,” she added.

For her part, president of Carnival Cruise Line, Christine Duffy, said Jamaica has long been a beloved destination for Carnival guests, thanks in large part to the warmth of its people.

“We know the strength and resilience of Jamaicans will help get them through this difficult time and we look forward to continuing making visits.  We also proudly have many Jamaican crew members across our fleet, and we have been providing support to them as well,” she added.

Zuiderdam’s November 11 visit to Ocho Rios delivered 5,000 boxes of relief supplies, including water, clothing, bedding, and mattresses, alongside 30 volunteers who joined forces with Chukka Caribbean Adventures for a Seville, St. Ann, beach clean-up.

Royal Caribbean continues to report port calls, with the recent visit by Rhapsody of the Seas signalling ongoing confidence in Jamaica’s post-hurricane recovery path.