Jamaica has three major cruise destinations including Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Port Antonio. Jamaica is a popular all year round cruise destination.

Jamaica has now become one of the top cruise destinations in the Caribbean. Cruise passengers in Jamaica will enjoy some of the best championship golf courses, beautiful beaches, historic great houses, duty free shopping, famous tourist attractions, restaurants and entertainment that only Jamaica can provide.

Approximately half of the Caribbean's two million annual cruise travelers visit the island of Jamaica to enjoy the beautiful beaches and warm weather. Many of Jamaica's visitors fall in love and return to the island for a longer stay.

Most cruises to the Caribbean leave from Florida from the cities of Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, and Tampa. A Western Caribbean cruise can take you to Jamaica, where you will most likely enter through one of these ports: Montego Bay, Port Antonio or Ocho Rios.

Montego Bay

Montego Bay became popular in the 1920s where early travelers came by steamer, lured by the tales of a Garden of Eden on a sapphire sea and by the curative powers of the waters at Doctor's Cave Beach. Few experiences will compare with a day of rafting down the Martha Brae, enjoy great Jamaican cuisine, dance to the beat of reggae music, browse the souvenir shops and enjoy some of the best watersports activities. Visit the 18th century Rose Hall, where you'll hear the tale of Annie Palmer's ghost. Or there is the Bird Feeding Station and a working plantation to explore.

Ocho Rios

Ocho Rios got its name from a corruption of the Spanish "chorreras" or waterfalls, which speaks of the stretch of coastline east of the town, where a series of streams cascade out of the limestone. The town is a hub of activity, with an intensity that makes it seem in constant motion. Bargain seekers should head straight for the crafts market. Gourmets can delight in the culinary joys of elegant restaurants and local cafes. Adventure seekers should not miss the excitement of climbing the refreshing waters of Dunn's River Falls or a horseback-riding trip at Chukka Cove.

Nature lovers can find vistas of floral splendour at the Coyaba River Garden and Museum and Shaw Park Garden or drive through a forest of ferns aptly named Fern Gully. No matter what you choose to do, a day in Ocho Rios will be a day to remember.

Port Antonio

Port Antonio was once a thriving banana shipping port. In fact, the well-known Banana Boat Song ('Day-O') originated here and was chanted by men and women as they loaded the boats.

Today, Port Antonio is a quaint seaside town that is perfect for romance. Visitors are surrounded by open seas and towering mountains, while the roadsides are framed with wild orchids, bananas, tree ferns and palms.

Port Antonio is a dream town that offers cruise passengers a glimpse into the natural world. Visitors will find adventure in the Blue Mountains, magic in the calming, 'bottomless' Blue Lagoon and mystery in the Nonsuch caves. Others may relax on a raft down the Rio Grande or marvel at two nearby waterfalls, Somerset and Reach Falls. Port Antonio also offers great one-day excursions that include gardens and mansions to tour or beaches for sunning and watersports. Errol Flynn said that Port Antonio was more beautiful than any woman he had ever seen.

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