A Story of Hope: How the Cruise Industry Helped Jamaica Rebuild

allied image tudor rose cruise line

 

Within two weeks of Hurricane Melissa, all five cruise ports were back up and running. Richard Humphreys of Cruise & Ferry Review magazine finds out more.

Hurricane Melissa, a category five hurricane, hit Jamaica on 28 October 2025. It was a devastating event for the country – Melissa was the strongest recorded hurricane to ever hit the island and led to billions of dollars’ worth of damage, more than 100,000 acres of farmland being destroyed and over half a million people being left without power.

The hurricane also left the tourism industry reeling. In a New York Times article, Jamaica’s minister of tourism estimated the industry lost around $62 million in the first week after the storm. Much of this tourism comes from cruise calls and, given how important the sector is for the island, both the country and the cruise industry have made monumental efforts to not only help locals in their hour of need, but also welcome ships back as soon as possible.

“We had quite a bit of damage on the north coast, but everybody rose to the challenge,” says Joy Roberts, executive director of Jamaica Vacations. “It was hands and hearts together. One of our major attractions, Dunn’s River Falls, was badly affected but we worked hard and it is back open. We managed to reopen 60 per cent of attractions within one week of the storm.”

Within two weeks, all five cruise ports were back up and running, which was crucial for the country as it entered the winter season, a key period for cruising.

“Cruise benefits so many businesses and people, from hotels and restaurants to taxi drivers and crafters,” says Roberts. “Even though many had damage to their homes, they were able to come out and work and make money.”

Continue reading at https://www.cruiseandferry.net/articles/a-story-of-hope-how-the-cruise-industry-helped-jamaica-rebuild. This article first appeared in the Spring/Summer 2026 issue of Cruise & Ferry Review. Subscribe to the free digital edition of the magazine at https://www.cruiseandferry.net/subscribe.

 

richard humphreysAuthor
Richard Humphreys

Writer, Cruise & Ferry Review

Richard Humphreys works for UK-based publishing company Tudor Rose. He is the News Editor for their golf publications and a regular contributor to their suite of publications for the passenger shipping industry.

 

Tags: , ,

Posted in: Allied Member Insights, Blog

Leave a Comment (0) ↓