Jamaica Cruise Calls Return, Montego Bay Still Shut

Published on Nov 10, 2025, 11:21 am CST

4 min read

Key points

Carnival Paradise will call at Ocho Rios instead of Montego Bay during the November 10 sailing
Montego Bay remains off some line schedules through at least November 13 as repairs continue
Royal Caribbean itineraries that had Jamaica calls are still routing to Dominican Republic alternatives on select dates
Port schedules show Ocho Rios handling limited calls this week while other piers phase back in

Impact

Recheck Itineraries: Verify your ship's port list for November 10 to 13 because Montego Bay calls may be swapped to Ocho Rios or a different country
Arrival Windows: Expect updated arrival and all-aboard times, and watch for tendering or single-pier operations at Ocho Rios
Shore Plans: Confirm third-party tours will run from the new pier and allow extra time for road work or detours
Line Alerts: Monitor cruise line app and email for day-of adjustments and any compensation or credit policies
Documentation: If your replacement call is in another country, double-check entry requirements and shore excursion terms

Carnival is restarting Jamaica visits in a limited way this week, beginning with an Ocho Rios call in place of Montego Bay. The pivot covers sailings that were originally slated to visit Montego Bay around November 10 to 13, and it marks the first meaningful passenger return since Hurricane Melissa interrupted cruise operations nationwide on October 28. Travelers booked on near-term Western Caribbean itineraries should expect last minute swaps toward Ocho Rios or non-Jamaica alternatives, and they should monitor their line's app and email for pier times, tendering notes, and any credit or policy updates.

Ocho Rios is taking the first calls

Carnival Paradise's six-night cruise departing Tampa on November 10 will replace Montego Bay with Ocho Rios. Carnival has framed the shift as a pragmatic restart while broader repairs continue, and public port timetables show Ocho Rios hosting multiple calls this week, including visits on November 11 and 12 from other lines. Expect constrained operations, single-pier docking, and tighter gangway windows as local teams sequence vessels and restore shoreside capacity.

Montego Bay remains off schedules for now

Although Jamaica's government says major harbors have reopened for essential marine activity, that does not translate to a full return of cruise calls at every tourist pier. Montego Bay remains off some line schedules this week while assessments, debris removal, and vendor readiness continue. If your booking listed Montego Bay on November 10 to 13, assume an alternate until your line confirms otherwise.

Some itineraries still shift out of Jamaica entirely

Royal Caribbean and other brands continue to route select late-November calls away from Jamaica to ports in the Dominican Republic as part of a broader Caribbean reshuffle after Melissa. While those examples trail into the week of November 23, they illustrate the regionwide pattern lines have used during the repair phase. For this week, watch for similar logic on a ship-by-ship basis, especially where pier capacity is tight or road access to excursions remains limited.

What to do if your ship is affected

If your itinerary shows Ocho Rios instead of Montego Bay, recheck arrival and all-aboard times and look for any switch from dock to tender. Third-party shore plans may need new meeting points or revised timing due to road work and detours. If your replacement port is outside Jamaica, verify any visa or entry formalities for that country, confirm whether previously purchased excursions will auto-refund, and review your line's compensation rules for port substitutions. Cruise lines typically treat hurricane-related changes as operational necessities, not as events that trigger cash refunds, although onboard credits can appear case by case.

Background

Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, made a devastating landfall in Jamaica on October 28, damaging infrastructure and disrupting tourism operations across the island. Officials have targeted mid-December for a broader tourism restart, and lines have layered in relief calls, test visits, and phased passenger returns as ports stabilize. Expect a rolling restoration, with Ocho Rios out front, Falmouth and other piers following as capacity, power, and vendor networks come back.

Latest developments, what we are watching

We are tracking whether additional Carnival ships, and other brands, add short-notice Ocho Rios calls later this week as Montego Bay work continues. We are also watching for the first public updates from pier authorities on load limits, gangway sequencing, and tour capacity. If pier repair teams can safely expand operating hours, same-day double-ups may be possible, which would broaden the list of ships that can return before the weekend.

Final thoughts

A limited return to Jamaica is underway, centered on Ocho Rios. Montego Bay is not yet ready for near-term calls on some sailings, so cruisers should assume substitutions, confirm meeting points, and build slack into shore plans. Expect the pattern to evolve through November as lines balance capacity, repairs, and regional alternatives.