Jamaica Packages Resume, Recovery And Health Risks Persist

Published on Nov 19, 2025, 11:58 am CST

9 min read

Key points

Jamaica packages resume as TUI and major airlines rebuild capacity after Hurricane Melissa
All international airports in Jamaica are open, but some resort corridors and inland attractions still face repairs
Cruise calls are returning to Ocho Rios while Montego Bay and Falmouth remain more constrained
A Level 3 U.S. travel advisory and leptospirosis cases keep health and safety as key planning factors
December and early January trips require flexible itineraries, robust insurance, and careful transfer timing

Impact

Flight Planning: Expect mostly restored schedules into Kingston and Montego Bay, but monitor for late aircraft swaps and timing shifts as infrastructure repairs continue
Resort Choices: Prioritize properties that have fully reopened with confirmed utilities, staff levels, and clear statements on which amenities and excursions remain offline
Cruise Itineraries: If your sailing includes Jamaica, watch for port substitutions and timing changes as Ocho Rios ramps up and other ports work through damage
Health Precautions: Treat Jamaica as a higher risk environment, avoid floodwater exposure, and confirm you can access urgent medical care and evacuation if needed
Insurance And Backup Plans: Book with cancel for any reason or strong medical coverage, and build backup routing options for both flights and ground transfers
On The Ground Logistics: Add extra time for airport transfers and consider private or vetted transport companies that can adjust routes around damaged roads

U.S. travelers weighing winter trips to Jamaica now have a clearer picture of what is open and what still carries extra risk, because flights, cruises, and tour packages are coming back even as the island continues to repair hurricane damage. All three international airports are open to commercial traffic again after Hurricane Melissa, and major tour operators are restarting limited programs, including TUI's decision to resume some Jamaica holidays from November 24. At the same time, a U.S. Level 3 travel advisory remains in place and health officials are tracking at least 11 leptospirosis cases linked to post storm flooding in western and north coast parishes that include heavily visited resort corridors.

This update builds on earlier coverage of Jamaica's airport and cruise reopenings and its leptospirosis warning, and shifts the focus to how air, cruise, and resort capacity for U.S. travelers is ramping back up for peak season, and how to travel safely if you decide that now is still the right time to go.

Jamaica Packages Resume For U.S. Travelers

Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on October 28 as a Category 5 storm, bringing extreme winds, storm surge, and flash flooding that damaged roads, power lines, and tourism infrastructure across parts of the island. In the weeks since, the Jamaica Tourist Board and local authorities have worked to reopen key gateways, and all international airports in Jamaica are now operating commercial flights again.

TUI, which had canceled its Jamaica program in the immediate aftermath of the storm, is now resuming a limited schedule from November 24, with customers traveling through November 30 still being advised that hotel or itinerary changes are possible. For U.S. travelers, this is one visible sign of a broader restart that also includes more resorts reopening inventory to the North American market, especially around Montego Bay, Negril, and Ocho Rios, even as some inland attractions and more heavily damaged properties stay offline or operate with reduced services.

On the air side, American Airlines was among the first carriers to resume operations into Jamaica after the storm, bringing back flights into Kingston and Montego Bay once safety checks were complete and airports reopened. Earlier, American, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, JetBlue Airways, and Southwest Airlines had issued Hurricane Melissa change fee waivers that covered travel into late October and early November for affected routes, including Kingston and Montego Bay, with free rebooking windows that have now largely expired. Going forward, most disruptions will fall back under regular schedule change and irregular operations policies rather than broad hurricane specific waivers.

Cruise tourism is also edging back. Carnival Sunrise made the first official post Melissa call to Ocho Rios on November 13, signaling that at least one major port can now accept ships and passengers again, although operators still warn of excursion changes and reduced capacity while cleanup continues. Jamaica has set a goal of restoring cruise and broader tourism operations by mid December, but in the near term many itineraries still face reroutes away from the island or port substitutions that could affect shore time and excursion options.

Latest Developments

The most important development for U.S. travelers is that the United States Department of State continues to rate Jamaica at Level 3, Reconsider Travel, and explicitly cites crime, health, and natural disaster risks, with the advisory updated on November 3 to reflect hurricane damage and embassy operations. That means the baseline risk environment was already elevated before Hurricane Melissa and remains so now, even as tourism infrastructure comes back online.

On the health side, Jamaica's Ministry of Health and Wellness has confirmed at least 11 leptospirosis cases tied to post hurricane flooding, with cases concentrated in western and north coast parishes that include major resort areas. Leptospirosis spreads through water or soil contaminated with urine from infected animals, which makes wading through floodwater, walking in muddy fields, or handling debris without protection a tangible risk. U.S. public health guidance urges travelers to be up to date on routine and travel vaccines, practice strict hand hygiene, avoid floodwater, and seek prompt care if they develop fever, headache, or severe muscle pain after possible exposure.

Infrastructure is improving but not fully restored. Local and international reports describe washed out roads, damaged bridges, and landslides in parts of western Jamaica and the north coast, with some secondary roads still under repair and occasional power or water interruptions outside core tourist zones. That matters for airport transfers and excursions, because even if Sangster International Airport (MBJ) in Montego Bay, Norman Manley International Airport (KIN) in Kingston, and Ian Fleming International Airport (OCJ) near Ocho Rios are open, the route to your hotel or attraction may still involve detours, slower speeds, or night time safety concerns.

For cruises, Ocho Rios is the early focus for returning calls, while Montego Bay and Falmouth face a slower path back given reported damage to port infrastructure and local transport. Cruise lines that had already issued waivers and offered credits or rebookings during the storm disruption window are now mostly operating under standard itinerary change rules for future sailings, with port swaps announced on a sailing by sailing basis.

Analysis

For U.S. travelers considering December and early January trips, the core tradeoff is between increased choice as Jamaica packages resume and the fact that the underlying risk profile has not improved, and in some ways has worsened, since before Hurricane Melissa. The Level 3 advisory highlights both crime and limited emergency medical capacity, including the high cost of air ambulances and the lack of Medicare and Medicaid coverage overseas, which means that any flood related illness or injury can quickly become a very expensive problem without strong insurance.

On flights, schedules into Montego Bay and Kingston for December now look closer to normal on many major U.S. carriers, although some frequencies and aircraft types remain trimmed versus last winter. Because the broad hurricane waivers have ended, you should treat tickets into Jamaica like any other higher risk destination, and either choose fully refundable or flexible fares, or buy strong travel insurance that covers weather related delays and medically necessary evacuation. Build extra buffer time into connections, avoid tight same day cruise embarkation after an inbound flight, and consider routing through hubs with multiple daily departures to Jamaica so you have more recovery options if something cancels.

For resort stays, the big branded properties that have reopened tend to have more robust generators, water systems, and security, plus better leverage with airlines and tour operators if something goes wrong. Smaller hotels and guesthouses in harder hit areas may offer attractive pricing but can still face intermittent utilities, limited staff, or restricted access to excursions and inland attractions. Before you book, confirm directly with the hotel which facilities are fully open, which are operating in a limited way, and what backup plans they have for power, water, and communications.

Airport transfers need more attention than usual this season. Roads from Sangster International Airport to Negril or Ocho Rios can involve sections that were damaged by flooding or landslides, and night time driving in Jamaica presents additional safety concerns that the State Department advisory already flags. Consider arranging transfers through your hotel or a vetted operator that tracks road conditions and can shift routes as needed, rather than relying on informal taxis or last minute arrangements. Leave longer than normal between flight arrival and any time critical plans at the resort, such as weddings or group events.

Health precautions now sit at the center of any plan. Avoid walking barefoot or in open sandals through puddles, ditches, or mud, especially in western and north coast parishes, and use boots and gloves if you must move debris or walk through wet areas. Pack a basic medical kit plus copies of prescriptions, and think through where you would seek care if you developed sudden fever or severe illness. Travelers with underlying conditions that make infections more dangerous, such as kidney or liver disease, diabetes, or compromised immune systems, should have a lower threshold for rescheduling travel until flood related disease risks decline, in line with U.S. public health guidance.

Finally, cruise passengers should treat Jamaica calls this winter as fluid. If your itinerary lists Montego Bay or Falmouth in December, watch closely for pre departure updates that substitute Ocho Rios or another Caribbean port, and factor in that excursion lineups may be smaller, with more emphasis on coastal experiences and fewer inland tours while roads and attractions recover. Booking ship sponsored excursions can offer more protection if conditions force last minute changes, since the line is more likely to adjust or refund those directly.

Final thoughts

Jamaica packages resume as a sign of resilience and recovery after Hurricane Melissa, but the island remains a higher risk destination for U.S. travelers this winter. If you choose to go in December or early January, treat the Level 3 advisory, leptospirosis cluster, and ongoing infrastructure repairs as core planning facts, not background noise. With conservative routing, carefully chosen resorts, strong insurance, and strict health precautions, some travelers will still find a viable vacation in Jamaica this season, while others may decide that waiting for a future window, when Jamaica packages resume under more stable conditions, is the safer call.