Ships Skip Falmouth

[bajathree]

Ships Skip Falmouth

Published: Friday | October 15, 20106 Comments and 0 Reactions

WESTERN BUREAU:

 

The first three ships scheduled to dock at the historic Falmouth Port next month have been diverted to the resort towns of Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, cruise-ship officials have confirmed to The Gleaner.

 

The ships, Holland America's Ryndham and P&O's Aurora, were slated to call on the 18th-century commercial capital on November 3. The other vessel is Noordam, which was expected to make its maiden call on December 26. Each ship carries an average of 1,200 to 1,800 passengers per call.

 

"The port is not conducive to make a call," Holland America's vice-president of Caribbean affairs, Matthew Samms, confirmed, noting that he had visited the site on Monday and, after looking at the area, a decision was taken to move his vessels to the other local ports.

 

Future calls

 

He was quick to point out that he fully supports the Falmouth Port and was looking forward to making calls there in the very near future.

 

In the meantime, Jamaica's president of cruise shipping, William Tatham, in his response to questions from this newspaper, scoffed at suggestions by cruise-sector stakeholders that the port was not in a state of readiness to accept the calls.

 

According to Tatham: "Having spent so much money developing this port, our feeling was that the guest experience was more important than anything else. It was always agreed that we would deliver only at a certain level to our customers."

 

The cruise-ship executive said it was a mutual decision by the Port Authority of Jamaica and the cruise lines to divert the vessels.

 

Tatham said the first ship, Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Sea, would make a call on the port on January 7 next year

 

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com

 

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20101015/lead/lead6.html

[pbinn]

Supposed to go here in May. Doesnt matter to me which stop we actually have, I am just looking forward to some reviews on the port from people who do stop there once it is done .

[klingoncruiser]

We were there two years ago and found the town to be cramped, dingy and about what you expect in Jamaica. However they did have a very nice area to put the new port in and should look great once finished. It will be a nice position between OR and Mobay. That could allow some better leverage for those seemingly endless trips to Dunns River. I hope it does work out for everyone.

 

I am NOT surprised that it is not ready on time or even in a somewhat late manner. It is Jamaica time mon.:rolleyes:

[Bakincakes]

I would hope that RCI won't just dock there just for the sake of saying they are docking at a new port.:rolleyes:

 

Excursions to Mo'Bay or OR will mean long bus rides...better they should dock elsewhere than Falmouth until that port is ready for tourists.

[Cruising89143]

Even when complete, most of the excursions are going to be to OR and Mo Bay.

[Bakincakes]

Even when complete, most of the excursions are going to be to OR and Mo Bay.

 

 

Probably but the allure of a new port might also be something many pax would like to do instead of making long bus rides and having no port to enjoy as well.

 

If there aren't any additional attractions in Falmouth..why dock if there is nothing else there other than the dock.:rolleyes:

[yogimax]

Even when complete, most of the excursions are going to be to OR and Mo Bay.

 

Oh joy... Ocho Rios or Montego Bay!:rolleyes:

[lady_cruiser]

We were suppose to go there in February but if the Voyager can't dock there then I will make the best of which ever port the ship will be docked at.

[Bakincakes]

Oh joy... Ocho Rios or Montego Bay!:rolleyes:

 

 

It could be worse..they could always bus everyone to Kingston.:eek:

[dougp26364]

IMHO, it matters little what port a ship does or doesn't dock at in Jamaica. It's a great day to stay on the ship. The only way to go to Jamaica for us would be an all inclusive resort and then never leave the resort grounds.

[bigeagle12]

Falmouth = lipstick on a pig

[DebJ14]

Which is precisely why I wish the VOS was still going to MBJ or Ocho Rios. We would spend the dayn at Sandals.

[Oscar1410]

All we are really interested in is diving anywhere on Jamaica...that is worth it. Does anyone know just how long these bus rides are to the other basecamps for diving excursions? Sounds more and more like there will be very little to do around Falmouth and your best options for adventure is taking a bus to the other ports.

UGH!

.....those of us non divers will probably just stay on the ship...which is fine also. I saw the beaches near Falmouth.....yucky.

[geoblond]

Which is precisely why I wish the VOS was still going to MBJ or Ocho Rios. We would spend the dayn at Sandals.

 

Hey Deb-we're going to MoBay in December. How do you get a reservation at Sandals?