Royal Caribbean cruise to resume operations to Jamaica in November

Tourism Minister – Edmund Bartlett has been informed by the Royal Caribbean International’s senior management team will resume limited operations in Jamaica in November 2021 after a gap of a year and half.

5th of October 2021

Jamaica: Tourism Minister – Edmund Bartlett has been informed by the
Royal Caribbean International’s senior management team will resume limited operations in Jamaica in November 2021 after a gap of a year and half.

The executives have further stated that once some logistical issues are entirely resolved, they will be able to increase cruises to Jamaica and bringing in tens of thousands of fully vaccinated cruise passengers.

The senior executives also reemphasised their strong wish to hire Jamaicans across a wide range of job functions, and they are anticipating regulatory changes from the Government to make this a reality sooṇ.

The Tourism Minister added, “We have a few pressing issues to address right away in order to increase cruises to Jamaica and, as a result, the economic and social livelihoods of thousands of Jamaicans who rely on the cruise industry directly and indirectly.”

“Jamaican government would move speedily in facilitating the ‘cruise line’s’ efforts to employ – thousands of Jamaicans for what are truly – exciting job opportunities that would have a positive effect for many. Our people are in the demand and the cruise lines are fully cognizant of this.”

While another meeting in Miami headed by Minister Bartlett and his team with Arnold Donald, Chief Executive Officer of Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest cruise company, and other senior company executives took place.

In the meet, they informed of plans for 110 or more cruises with over 200,000 fully vaccinated visitors for the island country in the upcoming months.

Tourism Minister was joined by John Lynch – Chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board; Donovan White – Director of Tourism; Delano Seiveright – Senior Strategist in the Tourism Ministry; and Donnie Dawson – Deputy Director of Tourism for the Americas.

The COVID-19 outbreak hard hit the cruise sector of Jamaica that shut it down for more than a year.

But, the industry has gradually resumed operations to multiple destinations, including Jamaica, using the most stringent health
& safety protocols in the – global travel industry, including fully vaccinated passengers and crew members.