According to Jamaica Tourism Ministry, Ocho Rios is gearing up to welcome ~50,000 cruise passengers courtesy of MSC Cruises liner Meraviglia.
Speaking at the welcome reception for the liner’s inaugural visit to Ocho Rios on Wednesday, December 4, Minister Edmund Bartlett said that with the additional call of MSC Meraviglia, Jamaica’s cruise tourism was expected to end 2019 in a very strong position. Bartlett added that Ocho Rios was expected to welcome 50,000 cruise passengers with 10 visits from now through April 2020.
MSC Meraviglia joins Armonia, Divina, and Seaside, which have been visiting Falmouth and Ocho Rios.
The minister also said the cruise tourism in Jamaica will see a boost in arrivals and earnings during the next couple of years with more visits to all ports and Port Royal's inclusion to the itinerary.
For the period from January through October 2019, the port of Ocho Rios has seen an 11.9% increase in calls and 2.6% in passenger arrivals, representing a total cruise passenger count of 450,000.