Falmouth decline signals readjustment
2019, November 1: Falmouth was expecting 19 fewer cruise calls in 2019 as compared with the previous year. And 2018 was itself a leaner year, by 20 cruise calls, than the previous year’s 181 dockings.
In 2019, 142 vessel calls will be made in Falmouth, with Royal Caribbean Lines making 77 dockings, followed by Disney (24) and Princess (22).
The reason for the decline in calls to Falmouth are two-fold, Port Authority of Jamaica Vice President Cruise Shipping and Marine Operations, William Tatham explained.
“We have experienced a decline in calls for the Oasis Class vessels as the three-port itinerary is less popular than the four-port in the Eastern Caribbean.”
It is for this reason that stakeholders in the Jamaican cruise sector are eagerly watching developments in Grand Cayman surrounding the construction of a cruise port and passenger reception facilities.
“We believe this (cruise port in Grand Cayman) will turn these calls around,” Mr. Tatham said.
Secondly, in 2018, the Falmouth port received several calls from NCL following extensive hurricane damage to the port in the British Virgin Islands. NCL decided to keep Falmouth on the itinerary until end of winter 2018 but has since returned to the BVI, he said. []
– Mike Jarrett photos
