Cruises to Montego Bay

488 Reviews
Montego Bay (Photo:Lucky-photographer/Shutterstock)

About Cruising to Montego Bay

The north coast town of Montego Bay makes for a very lively and colorful welcome for travelers to Jamaica for the many visitors who arrive here by sea. Cruises to Jamaica allow travelers to experience the country in a truly unique way. MoBay, as it's called, offers a steady schedule of food and cultural festivals, and some of the Caribbean's most entertaining beaches (offering water sports, waterfront bars and more) fringe its shores. Add in golfing, duty-free shopping and easy access to the island's active adventures, and visitors can have as lazy or as action-packed of a day as they choose.

Jamaica's second-largest city after Kingston, Montego Bay is a market center for locals, in addition to being a package tourism hotspot for Canadians, Americans and Europeans. You might not know it with the abundance of U.S. hotel chains and even chain restaurants like KFC, but the town has a storied past that dates back centuries to the arrival of the original inhabitants, the Taino Indians, and later Christopher Columbus and Spanish control in 1494. For 300 years after, the British ruled Montego Bay, and the town was a center for plantations and the slave trade. It wasn't until the late 1800's that tourism really began to gain a foothold there. It's an industry that still supports the local economy today, along with banana, sugar and bauxite exports.

One of Montego Bay's most important historical events occurred in 1832, when Sam Sharpe, a slave who preached nonviolent resistance, was lynched in the center of town in what is now Sam Sharpe Square. (There are memorial statues there dedicated to his courage.) Sharpe was hanged for leading the Christmas Slave Rebellion of 1831, but by 1838, slavery was abolished. Today, MoBay's population is a diverse one, with people from other Caribbean islands, European and North American ex-pats and an influx of Chinese, too.

Visitors come, largely, for the idyllic tropical weather and beaches, which are among the prettiest in the Caribbean. However, cruisers will find that many of these sandy hotspots are accessible only to the guests of whichever mega-resort or all-inclusive hotel is backing them. That said, there are several scenic beaches for whiling away onshore days, both along the Hip Strip in MoBay and closer to the cruise port.

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.

The port makes an excellent base, too, for arranging tours and excursions to nearly every other major Jamaican attraction, including Dunn's River Falls near Ocho Rios, Negril's famed Seven Mile Beach and the many old plantation homes (called Great Houses) in the area.

  • More about Montego Bay

  • Why Cruise to Montego Bay?

  • Montego Bay Cruise Port Facilities?

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MSC Seashore
MSC Seashore (Image: MSC Cruises)

7 Night
Caribbean - Western Cruise

191 Reviews
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MSC Seashore
MSC Seashore (Image: MSC Cruises)

7 Night
Caribbean - Western Cruise

191 Reviews
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Norwegian Jade
Norwegian Jade

12 Night
Repo - Panama Canal

2,042 Reviews
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Regal Princess
Regal Princess (Photo: Princess Cruises)

11 Night
Caribbean - Western Cruise

1,788 Reviews
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14 Night
Caribbean - Other Product

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14 Night
Panama Canal & Central America

123 Reviews
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14 Night
Panama Canal & Central America

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7 Night
Western Caribbean Cruise

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7 Night
Western Caribbean Cruise

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14 Night
Carnival Journeys - Panama Canal Cruise

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14 Night
Carnival Journeys - Panama Canal Cruise

1,963 Reviews
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Caribbean - Western Cruise

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14 Night
Caribbean - Eastern Cruise

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9 Night
Exotic Western Caribbean Itinerary

1,355 Reviews
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11 Night
Exotic Eastern Caribbean Cruise

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More about Montego Bay

Why Cruise to Montego Bay?

Pros:

After a day on the beach, visitors can snag souvenirs and tasty jerk chicken right at the terminal

Cons:

Locals are pushy, crime is a concern, beaches are crowded and Dunn's River Falls is 90 minutes away

Bottom Line:

Take precautions, and go with the flow

Montego Bay Cruise Port Facilities?

There's not a whole lot to see or do at the port itself, save for browsing the usual smattering of shops selling touristy items like Tortuga rum cakes and Red Stripe Beer baseball hats, complete with bottle openers in the visors. There is a small, indoor tiki bar of sorts inside the airy but dated terminal building, just in case you can't be bothered to venture farther afield for a tropical drink, but it lacks atmosphere in a big way. The port does serve its purpose as a departure point for catching taxis into town, and there's a Jamaica Tourism Board kiosk inside, too, where you can get tour advice and area info.

Just outside of the official port complex, behind a chainlink fence, is a rather ramshackle shopping area called the Montego Freeport Shopping Center. It's little more than a collection of beachwear and souvenir shops and empty offices. There is one homey-looking restaurant, Swizzle's, which sells inexpensive jerk specialties; the crowds, however, seem to be mostly due to the fact that there's free wireless Internet with your food or beverage purchase. Though you'll find a few restaurants within about 10 minutes' walking distance of the port (including a juice bar and seafood restaurant), you're better off heading into town for the most options and atmosphere.

Good to Know?

While there aren't too many touts outside the terminal building itself, you're likely to be approached with offers for everything from tours and souvenirs to more illicit things in the town of MoBay itself. A firm "No, thank you," usually does the trick if you're not interested. Marijuana or ganja is smoked openly, but make no mistake: Drugs are illegal in Jamaica.

Mosquitoes and other creepy-crawlies can be particularly brutal in Jamaica, due to its tropical climate. Be sure to use insect repellent frequently to avoid bites and potential illness. And don't forget the sunscreen, either.

Jamaica is known for its high crime rates, so be careful when carrying cash, purses or wallets, and leave any unnecessary valuables stowed in your in-cabin safe.

Getting Around?

On foot: Downtown Montego Bay is a 20-minute walk from the cruise port along a two-lane road that's fairly busy with traffic. Unless the weather is cool and you're up for some exercise, definitely spring for a taxi instead. As long as you're walking in daylight hours, safety is not an issue.

Taxis: Taxis line up where you exit the terminal building, and all of the taxis arriving there are licensed JUTA (Jamaica Union of Travelers Association) vehicles. (Look for the stickers.) Touts will often try to beckon you hither (and off port property) from behind the chainlink fence of the external shopping area, but you're best off going with a licensed JUTA taxi departing from the port itself for haggle-free, set fares. The cost of a cab ride from the cruise port to downtown Montego Bay is $5, and if you get off anywhere along the way, you'll have to pay another $5 to get back into town with another taxi or back to the ship. Rates are listed inside the terminal for taxi fares to popular north coast destinations, too, such as Falmouth and Dunn's River Falls.

Shuttles: If you'd like the option to hit a few of the town's sites (the Market, the beach, the Hip Strip) throughout the day, it's worth buying a Hot Spots Shuttle pass, which allows you to get on and off an air-conditioned bus as much as you like throughout the day for a flat $15 fare. The shuttle departs from the cruise ship terminal, and tickets can be purchased inside the port.

Car rentals: There are no car rentals at the port, but you can take a taxi to Montego Bay's Sangster International Airport, where Hertz, Budget, Avis and several local companies are all represented. Expect to pay between $65 and $150 per day, and don't forget that Jamaicans drive on the left!

Currency & Best Way to Get Money?

The Jamaican dollar is the national currency, but U.S. dollars are readily accepted at most places, including all of the favorite haunts in Montego Bay. Be prepared: If you pay with U.S. dollars, your change might be returned to you in the local currency.

There is no ATM machine at the Montego Freeport port, but cash machines can be found throughout town. Several stops along the Hot Spots Shuttle have Scotiabank ATM's, including the Harbour Street Craft Market, the Yacht Club and the Hip Strip across from the Jamaica Bobsled Cafe.

Language?

English is widely spoken and understood in Jamaica. But, when the locals talk among themselves, it's with a colorful patois, based on English but with a thick accent and different vocabulary that makes it hard for new arrivals to understand.

Where You're Docked?

Cruise ships dock a few miles outside of Montego Bay proper at the Montego Freeport port -- a rather unsightly complex surrounded by office parks. It's a five-minute, fixed-rate ride into Montego Bay from there ($5).


Montego Bay Cruise Reviews
Mo Bay was better this time. The shops are outside in a designated area and they aren't able to badger the cruisers coming off the ship. Cleaned up and nicer. Did the Rose Hill excursion. Very informative and interesRead More
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PinkShark
Rates were irresistible everything was awesome The port shops have gotten very expensive and the times were cut shorter but overall everything was amazing Just remember to apply suntan lotions Read More
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Stephanie4753
Of the 3 cruise port locations in Jamaica, this is the furthest from interesting attractions. But… it’s what we were stuck with. Not much right at the pier, but you could take a taxi or shuttle to their main “strip” Read More
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Mariastreby
Jamaicans were very friendly and eager to lease and do some business with you. A great and somewhat sad history to the island with regards to its slavery was learned, and I bought a book on it. Some shirts for the gRead More
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Herbstmd

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