Montego Bay Jamaica Cruise Port

Table Of Content

• Is there specific etiquette I should be aware of when interacting with locals?
• Destinations & Ports
• Aqua Sol Theme Park
• Home Cruise Ships Port Expenses Hints and Tips
• Explore Rastafarian Culture at Rastafari Indigenous Village
• Norwegian Cruise Ship Returns to Port Due to Engine Problem
• What to Do in Montego Bay, Jamaica on a Cruise: A Complete Guide

Next to the beach is located Old Hospital Park, a small waterfront park great for sunset views and family picnics. A small entrance fee includes some activities, while some require an extra charge. The facilities including beach chairs, umbrellas, changing rooms, and showers are available, as well as a bar-restaurant serving Caribbean specialties.

Is there specific etiquette I should be aware of when interacting with locals?

Montego Bay is among Caribbeans most famous cruise ship travel destinations featuring duty-free shopping, large cruise terminal, top-quality resorts and beaches in close proximity. The city is served by Sangster Airport - located approx 5 km (3 mi) east of downtown. Walter Fletcher Beach is one of the most popular beaches for cruise ship passengers visiting Montego Bay.

Destinations & Ports

Around twenty miles from Montego Bay, rafting on a 30 ft bamboo raft in Martha Brae is one of the top highlights of Jamaica and an opportunity for the cruise traveler to experience a truly unique tour. At the Appleton Estate you can enjoy rum tasting and taking a behind the scenes tour into how it’s all made! The south coast facility in Jamaica has been making rums since 1749 and there’s so much history take in. From Rick’s Cafe to Scotchies jerk chicken, there are plenty of places to try out. Food tours are the best way to take advantage but don’t forget to check out the latest offers of cooking classes too. Between the cultural heritage expressed through Ras’s artwork and the peace of the garden, it’s hard to wonder why it’s a major tourist destination.

Aqua Sol Theme Park

Around the square and on St James St you’ll find numerous shops, shopping malls, restaurants and bars. Craft Market, located a stone’s throw from Sam Sharpe Square on Harbour Street, features dozens of stalls where you can find authentic handicrafts, local art and souvenirs. The town is a hotspot for reggae music and hosts some of the best live concerts in the Caribbean. But, high on most tourists' to-do list (in addition to sipping fruity cocktails and beach-lounging, of course), are visits to the area's duty-free shopping venues and terrific golf courses. All cruise lines offer excellent shore excursions (aka Shorex) and tours of Montego Bay. Besides the sightseeing options mentioned above, the cruise traveler should consider independent tour operators such as Jamaica Tour | Viator | Tours by Locals | Shore Trips | Shore Excursions.

Montego Bay Cruise Port Guide: Tips, Attractions, Beaches

This guide offers insights into the top things to do during your cruise port stop. Resort Day Pass  – Spend the day in luxury at the boutique Zoetry Montego Bay resort. Stunning sandy beaches, fabulous local restaurants and tons of shopping aside, Montego Bay offers more activities than most port destinations. Whether you are into watersports, art, golf or history Montego Bay has something for everyone.

Home Cruise Ships Port Expenses Hints and Tips

Prices vary somewhat depending on whether they involve a raft or kayak. Mystic Mountain is an entertainment complex 90 minutes east of the cruise port that offers “bobsledding”, zip lining and other activities in one package. Prices depend on the program, but $125 to $150 per person is common for this seven-hour tour. Arriving at the village, you are greeted with warm hospitality, including drumming, chanting, and Reggae music. Shore excursions also include vegan Rastafarian fare and opportunities to immerse yourself in Jamaican culture.

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Interestingly, as the fourth-largest urban area, it is only one of two incorporated cities on the island; the other being Kingston. Knowing the lingo whenever your ship docks are always fun, so during your excursions and shopping be prepared to hear locals refer to Montego Bay as MoBay or simply, Bay. It has a wonderful beach, Doctor’s Cave beach, the most popular spot in the city packed with both locals and tourists. There is a small entrance fee to pay before entering the beach complex, which features sunbeds and umbrella rentals, a couple of restaurants, and beach bars. It is a sandy beach with crystal clear, turquoise waters and soft, warm sand. The surrounding area is full of shops, markets, restaurants, and very busy with traffic.

Jamaica does have age restrictions for car rentals that range from 23 to 75-years-old. In addition, you need a valid driver’s license and a credit card with a high available balance as the “hold” for rental cars can go as high as $2,500. Taking a bus from Montego Bay to nearly anywhere else on the island is likely your best value for transportation. Unlike other islands, taxi rates for Montego Bay and the rest of Jamaica are set prices rather than metered. Charter taxis are set by the company and route taxis are set by the government.

What to Do in Montego Bay, Jamaica on a Cruise: A Complete Guide

Perhaps the best option for getting around is with cruise excursion buses. Although a cruise excursion is sometimes more expensive than taking a taxi, it’s worth considering for Montego Bay visitors. Nor does it have the same historical attractions and other points of interest within walking distance of the cruise port as some other Caribbean destinations.

So, checking if you get dollars in change when paying in USD is worthwhile. After all, this location was Fort Montego, where the British troops protected the island from sea invasions. You can find old cannons and stroll through the Old Fort crafts market. There are plenty of watersport centers around the harbor and beach areas of Montego Bay to choose from. However, you can arrange excursions through mountain trails if you prefer a more traditional horseback adventure. The forest horseback adventures include breathtaking panoramic ocean vistas of Montego Bay and the Caribbean as well as a trip to an 18th-century sugar plantation.

There is also a water fountain and a small museum and the square is a popular spot for hosting free events, so you might get there when it is a bit crowded. During the evening you will also find several food vendors, selling jerk chicken and pork, soup and Jamaican-style egg sandwiches. Aqua Sol Theme Park a few miles north of the cruise docks is mostly just a beach with an entrance fee rather than a park. This explains why these port cities are used as seasonal turnaround ports for homeporting (roundtrip itineraries) by many major cruise companies with ship deployments in the Caribbean. The official currency of Jamaica is the Jamaican Dollar (JMD), sometimes written as J$. Most vendors at Montego Bay and tourist destinations accept US dollars.

Are you looking for the most tranquil experience in port in Montego Bay? The relaxing excursion takes you down the slow-moving river on a 50-foot bamboo raft. You are surrounded by lush vegetation and tropical birds, ending with an authentic Jamaican jerk chicken experience. At the caves, an experienced guide explains the different features of the underground caverns. Then, on the way back, you stop off at Whitter Village—a large shopping mall selling gifts, souvenirs, traditional Jamaican rum, and coffee.