Royal Caribbean Opens Falmouth Port in Jamaica
It was a long time coming after many delays, but the new port along the north coast, 18 miles east of Montego Bay, opened Feb. 17, 2011. The Falmouth port project, a joint venture between Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and the Port Authority of Jamaica, has been under construction for many years and was first targeted to open in May 2010. This was postponed after construction delays until December, then January, and finally February. Voyager of the Seas was the first ship to call at Falmouth on Feb. 17. Oasis and Allure made their first calls the following month. The new port was the brainchild of Richard Fain when the mega-class Oasis ships were planned so a port on the popular island could accommodate the largest ships in the world and other gigantic ships like the Liberty which sail the Western Caribbean itinerary.
The delays were understandable with a construction project so large. Not only was the Oasis-size 2-berth pier and terminal constructed (and still under construction), but a visitor’s center with a cobblestone main plaza, retail and restaurant services, and a transportation center had to be built from the ground up. That is only the first phase of the development, which is nearing completion. Subsequent phases will include onsite attractions and experiences, hotel and residential components, and additional retail and restaurant options.
And just beyond the pier area and within walking distance, quaint Falmouth is being reconstructed. The revitalization and restoration of the town and its Georgian-style buildings are long-term projects that will be implemented in stages. Jamaica’s national Works Agency and its Urban Development Corp. began a $30-million road rehab program last fall in Falmouth’s market Street area. Curbs and side drains are being built, roads paved and patched, and there’s a movement to make whole sections of Falmouth near the port accessible to pedestrians. The Falmouth Heritage Renewal organization, a United States-based non-profit has taken an interest in the preservation of the historic Georgian-architectural-style buildings, including Falmouth Court House, St. Peter’s Anglican Church – Built in 1795, its supporting columns are solid mahogany - Falmouth All-Age School, and the Greenwood Great House, which once belonged to the Barretts of Wimpole Street, London.
This small village, now the chief town and capital of the parish of Trelawny, was founded in 1769 and flourished as a market center and port for forty years at a time when Jamaica was the world’s leading sugar producer, built on the backs of slaves- consequently a central hub of the slave trade. It was named after Falmouth, Cornwall in England, the birthplace of Sir William Trelawny, the Governor of Jamaica who was instrumental in its establishment. The town was meticulously planned, with wide streets in a regular grid and even had piped water before New York City. But the town’s fortunes as a commercial center declined after the emancipation of slaves in the British Empire in 1840. With little interest for new development, many of its early buildings were left standing, and today the streets are lined with many small houses known for their unique fretwork and windows, major merchant and planter complexes, and commercial buildings, all dating from 1790 to 1840. These characteristics are the bedrock of early Jamaican architecture.
Falmouth is well-positioned as a gateway to Jamaica’s best attractions. Just east of Falmouth is Ocho Rios, best known for its spectacular Dunn’s River Falls. Thanks to its central location, Falmouth gives visitors the best tour experiences along the north coast of Jamaica.
It’s worth a visit, and as time goes by, will certainly be the crown jewel of Jamaica’s unique heritage and northern coast.
You can visit Falmouth on the following Royal Caribbean ships and itineraries:
(Look for the AAA sign by sailings offering AAA Vacations® exclusive extras)
Allure of the Seas - 7-night Caribbean sailings from Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Freedom of the Seas - 7-night Caribbean sailings from Port Canaveral, Florida (Chefmakers Cooking Academy offered on board - see below)
Mariner of the Seas - 7-night Caribbean sailings from Galveston, Texas
Oasis of the Seas - 7-night Caribbean sailings from Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Voyager of the Seas - 7-night Caribbean sailings from New Orleans, Louisiana
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