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Second time, Disney Fantasy Excursion... - Cruise Shore Excursions Jamaica

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• Trelawny Parish    
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• Cruise Shore Excursions Jamaica

Second time, Disney Fantasy Excursion to Blue Hole and Scotchies

I can not say enough good things about Patrice Bailey and her staff. The first time we had Kay as our guide but this this time we had Ken as our driver and I do not recall the name of our guide. We disembarked the ship (Disney Fantasy) first thing in the morning and went straight to the tent in the parking lot. Our guide and driver met us by name and were immediately ready for us. We had 26 people in our party and thought we would be in two vehicles but were pleasantly surprised to find out they had a bus big enough for all of us. We had plenty of water for the kids and red stripe for the adults. It was about 1 1/2 hours to get to Blue Hole and the guide we requested was waiting for us. His name is Ken with help from Andre as well from Island Gully Falls. He is AMAZING!!! We specifically requested Glen for our group because he is great with the smaller kids. On our first trip my youngest was only 2 and he jumped all day with Glen. He carried him up and down the falls and my son was so comfortable with him it was incredible. I was extremely happy to see we were able to have him again. With a group of our size we did let smaller groups get ahead of us and we spent about 2 1/2 hours at the falls. It was just as amazing as I remembered the first time and again, Glen had my youngest with him the whole time. It was comforting knowing that Glen was encouraging us to take our time and not rush so no one was injured. After our time at Blue Hole it took us about 45 minutes to get to our lunch destination. Our guide was able to call our order in ahead and it was waiting for us when we arrived. Scotchies is such an interesting and authentic place for lunch and has been featured in Food and Wine magazine. We sat outside under a beautiful tree and enjoyed our Jamacian Jerk. We had a variety of food from chicken, sausage, pork, corn on the cob, vegetables and the best festival (like corn bread, breadsticks). Everyone found something they enjoyed. After lunch we loaded back up again for another 45 minutes back to port. This portion seemed to fly by as most of our party slept the rest of the way back. I will admit I was worried because I had planned this for only 10 people last time and having 26 people I was concerned that some people would not enjoy it as much as we did. I am happy to say, I think everyone had an amazing time. When we return to Jamaica I am 100% sure we will be booking with Patrice Bailey again. Everything was exactly what we wanted and we could not have been more pleased!

We booked a bus for 4 people out of the Cruise Terminal in Falmouth and were greeted right on time by the driver (Delano) as soon as we left the gates of the terminal. Nice comfortable van took us on an hour and a half drive to the Secret Falls and Blue Hole, where we had amazing time exploring the waterfalls and jumping into them from various spots under a supervision of local guides / lifeguards. On the way back, Delano recommended a nice souvenir shop and, if we weren't short on time, offered to stop by Ocho Rios market as well... All in all, a good service and fabulous ride. Now, having said that, I really want to emphasize that without their web site, we wouldn't know about the Secret Falls/Blue Hole destination and probably would pick a different place to visit, which would be a shame, since this was truly a hidden gem and a highlight of our entire cruise!

Leon was our driver... He made our visit to Jamaica fantastic! Went to see the caves and would do it all over again!

Prior to our cruise to Jamaica we researched several excursions on line. We came across many positive comments about Phil, so we decided to book an excursion for our visit last week. Phil did not disappoint. He met us promptly outside the ship and we went off on a great day. On the drive over to Ocho Rios, Phil provided some history of the country which was informative. Our first stop on our visit was to the tubing river. We were set up with two guides that were arranged by Phil. These guides were a blast and we had a great time floating. Our next stop was to the Blue Hole. Once again we had two guides take us through the rocks to get to the falls. Here we jumped off cliffs, rocks and got to swing from ropes... a GREAT experience. We would have never found these places without Phil, he provided a great day for our family !!

The port area is very secure and clean and there is a lot of shopping available in that area though most of the places appeared to be carrying a lot of the same stuff. That was not what we had come for so it didn't bother us and appreciated the cleanliness and safety of the area. It was recommended to us to book our excursions through RCCL rather than private groups and I would second that after just returning from our first cruise. We chose a low key tour of the historical Good Hope Plantation House and enjoyed it thoroughly. Our tour guide Lydia and bus driver "Uncle" Trevor with Chukka Tours were very imformative and through the tour we were able to get a better idea of life on the island back in the 18th and 19th century. A great meal by one of the small pool and waterfalls area of jerk chicken and rice and beans topped off the afternoon. And Lydia and Trevor were there to answer any and all questions. This particular tour included the young and old as well as a number that had issues walking and they were all able to enjoy all that the tour offered. Would definitely recommend this one when cruising with RCCL into Falmouth.

My family wanted to experience Jamaica through a professional guided tour company. So after reading many reviews on Trip Advisor, we found Patrice Bailey Tours. Thanks God! We were very fortunate. We had the best tour of our cruise and plan to come back to Jamaica to stay for at least a week--and take another tour with Patrice Bailey's company! Patrice asked us if we wanted to go to Montego Bay or Ocho RIos...she recommended Ocho Rios since we have young kids and Dunn's River falls has a very small but cute splash area for little kids. Patrice Bailey met my family in Falmouth as we departed the Disney Fantasy on July 26, 2017. We planned in advance via email ([email protected]) to take the Dunn's River Falls tour, beach break, and lunch at an authentic Jamaican restaurant, Scotchies! Patrice Bailey set us up with one of her Professional drivers-- with a uniform and all. We drove in a beautiful and clean van toured the local area of Falmouth before heading out to Ocho Rios. Our driver, Sharon, was outstanding! She gave us local history of the nearby towns as we drove through Jamaica. We stopped and picked up our water shoes for Dunn's River Falls and headed into the site. Sharon told us where she would be waiting, and after 2 hours at Dunn's River, she was right where she said she would be! We ate at a local restaurant--Scotchies--a must if you are in the area. The food was well seasoned and not too spicy for my young sons. Sharon got us back to the port in plenty of time to shop and enjoy the drummers. If you are looking for something to do out of the port at Falmouth or if you are staying in town and need a tour, send her an email and see what she can do for you...I am certainly glad that I did!

Disney Cruise Line

Unique Disney Cruise Line Port Adventures in Jamaica

In my last post , I told you about how excited I was when I found out Disney Cruise Line is going to Jamaica , a destination full of history, flavor and nature-filled experiences!

Today, I want to tell you about our Signature Collection Port Adventures , tours that have been specifically designed for and are exclusive to Disney Cruise Line guests.

Bamboo Raft Captain for a Day – Traveling down the Martha Brae River on a two-person bamboo raft is quite a popular excursion in Jamaica, but have you ever wondered what it is like to be the captain? On this experience, only Disney Cruise Line guests will follow a bamboo raft captain, learn how to build the raft and navigate these clear waters.

Family Pottery Painting and Studio Tour – Local art is one of the best ways to understand Jamaican culture, past and present. On this amazing experience nestled around an 18th Century Great House, families will enjoy a hands-on pottery painting activity hosted by a local renowned artist.

Chukka’s Amazing Race – Combining some of the most exciting experiences offered around the Plantation estate, guests will solve clues and experience a multitude of thrills: kayaking, tubing and zip lining. Lots of fun!

No matter what you decide to do there, a visit to Jamaica is certain to be a memorable one. Now that you’ve seen some of the great options, which Port Adventures are the most appealing to your family?

Destinations: Disney Cruise Line

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Excursions & Tours

Falmouth Dunns River Falls and River Tubing

Ocho Rios Highlights with Blue Hole

Jamaican Beach Day

Exclusive Dunns River Falls

Falmouth Overview and White Water River Tubing

Green Grotto Caves

Rose Hall Great House and Montego Bay

Beach Horseback Ride and Tubing

Falmouth Overview and White Water Rafting

River Tubing

Montego Highlights and Beach Break

Dunn's River Falls and Bamboo Rafting on the White River

Dunn's River Falls and Shopping in Ocho Rios

Falmouth Dunns River Falls and Area Highlights

Dunn's River Falls and Konoko Falls

Rio Bueno River Kayaking, Bengal Beach and Falls

Falmouth Overview and White Water Kayaking

Hampden Estates History and Rum

Dunn's River Falls and Reggae

Beach Horseback Ride and Falls

Beach Horseback Ride

Konoko Falls

Dunn's River Falls with Lunch

Rio Bueno River Tubing, Bengal Beach and Falls

River Tube and Chill from Falmouth

Private Driver/Guide Full Day

Private Dunn's River Falls and Area Highlights

Falmouth Jamaica excursions are a deep dive into the island's rich history and natural beauty, featuring tours of historic plantations and breathtaking waterfalls. Ourexcursions also provide thrilling adventures, such as river rafting, kayaking, ziplining, snorkeling, and exploring the luminous lagoon, making them perfect for both history enthusiasts and thrill-seekers.

Falmouth Jamaica Excursions

Located on the north coast of Jamaica, about 18 miles east of Montego Bay, is the port city of Falmouth. Its ideal location makes it your entryway to exploring the surrounding area and all the beautiful sights that await your discovery. Here at Shore Excursions Group, we are committed to providing you with the best shore tours and excursions in Falmouth, Jamaica at a low price.

Tours & Things to Do in Falmouth

Our Jamaica cruise excursions give you the opportunity to climb around one of the most popular locations in the Caribbean, the famous Dunns River Falls a tropical paradise in Ocho Rios; this tour is now currently being offered here at a special price. Learn the basics of how to ride a horse and then set out for a relaxing ride along the beach when you book our Beach Horseback Ride & Tubing combo excursion. Looking for an exhilarating adventure or just a relaxing experience? The Dunns River Falls & River Tubing tour offers both, as you can go tubing in whitewater for some excitement or float lazily in your tube down the calm, mild sections of the river. You might also enjoy a relaxing Bamboo Rafting Tour on the White River, floating on the water while reggae music plays.

Enjoy Jamaica Cruise Excursions

Falmouth's natural resources provide the complete island experience as you enjoy your cruise tour in port. Whether you're enjoying time on the cruise ship, sightseeing, exploring the depths of Blue Hole, admiring the natural wonders of the Green Grotto Caves, or tubing down river rapids, you're sure to be having the experience of a lifetime. Contact us for more information about our Falmouth shore excursions and tours, and be sure to check out our trip reviews!

The Disney Cruise Line Blog

An unofficial disney cruise line news, information, weather, and photo blog..

Port Adventure Review: Bobsled Jamaica and Dunn’s River Falls (FA10)

Bobsled Jamaica and Dunn’s River Falls is a Disney Cruise Line Port Adventure offered in Falmouth, Jamaica . This particular excursion has been offered for years and we decided to check it out during our 2019 spring break cruise . Disney promotes the excursion as an opportunity to experience the rush of bobsledding at Rainforest Bobsled Jamaica and the surreal beauty of Dunn’s River Falls.

The Bobsled Jamaica and Dunn’s River Falls (FA10)  port adventure is bookended by approximately a 1-hour drive from Falmouth to Ocho Rios, where other cruise lines dock when visiting Jamaica. I highly suggest encouraging everyone to take a restroom break before going to the designated port adventure meeting location on the ship. In our case aboard the Disney Fantasy, the meeting time was 7:15 AM in Enchanted Garden. The good news is each destination offers free restrooms. Additionally, you may want to bring some snacks, and something to keep everyone occupied during the drive if they are not interested in seeing the scenery along the way.

The overall group assembled in Enchanted Garden for our port adventure was very large, but once ashore we broke off into smaller groups. Each van had their own tour guide as well as a dedicated driver. I’m just mentioning the later because sometimes the driver doubles as the guide. This port adventure, like many we’ve experienced, allowed us to keep our belongings in the van during each stop. This is especially nice for an excursion that is split between a water activity and a land-based experience.

I will warn you now, if you book this port adventure, be prepared to receive no less than 688 notifications, alerts, wave phone texts, and papers delivered to your stateroom with various reminders, warnings, and random legal disclaimers, okay !

Dunn’s River Falls

Upon arrival to the parking lot at Dunn’ River Falls, we were instructed by our guide to get ready and were encouraged to leave everything in the van. By get ready, she meant get ready to get in the water. Hats and sunglasses were discouraged but not prohibited. The climb up the falls is under a canopy which results in an abundance of shade. We left the van in our swim suits & trunks as if we were going directly into the ocean leaving shirts, towels, and everything else in the van. It is highly encouraged you wear you swimwear off the ship to avoid causing any delays to your group. In fact, I believe that was one of the notices. The other important requirement for climbing the falls is that your are required to wear proper water shoes, which I’ll touch on in when we get to the list of rules.

The ticketing area was rather busy the morning of our visit, but rest assured, the excursion bypasses these lines.

We were given time to use the restroom while our guide picked up our entry wristbands.

For day guests, the fee to enter is $23 for adults, and $15 for children (ages 4-12).

Dunn’s River Falls is a natural feature, not a man-made attraction. It can be unpredictable, the water flow could vary from day to day to hour to hour. It is highly suggested that each person has some amount of agility to climb the falls which requires you to carefully place your feet on uneven, steep and wet terrain. Basically, you climb the falls at your own risk. There are no moose in Jamaica, but the sign out front should’ve told you .

In addition, those choosing to climb the falls are required to wear proper shoe attire, which must be stable, contain a rubber sole and cover your toes and heels. Suggestions include Teva-style sandals with a covered toe box or water shoes, which can be brought from home. Water shoes are available for for purchase at Dunn’s River Falls for somewhere around $10.

While reading up on Dunn’s River Falls, we saw a lot of people talking about Keens water shoes , and we each got a pair. They worked out great for the day. I would suggest finding a style of water shoes that do not have large openings as the basins in the falls are filled with small pebbles that are not comfortable when they get into your shoes.

Our guide expected everyone to arrive with shoes, but she did allow a few minutes to purchase water shoes if needed.

At this point, our group was instructed to meet our Dunn’s River Fall’s guide down by a tree.

This is a banyan tree, which you cannot miss.

Our guide, who works at the Dunn’s River Falls (not our guide from the van) welcomed everyone and told us how have a safe climb.

To climb up the falls, you first need to climb down the stairs adjacent to the falls to the beach. At first, you think it is just a normal beach.

However, once you turn around, James Bond fans will notice an iconic filming location from Dr. No . Ok, it looks a lot different than it did when the 1962 movie was filmed, but it’s cool think you are on the shores of  Crab Key .

Each group also includes a videographer. The video and photos can be purchased at the end of the climb on your way out.

In order to have a safe time, we were told we will be holding the hand of the person in front and behind us, carefully taking one step at a time in one long chain.

Our guide made sure that all children were between two adults which could mean for your group that you may be depending on someone you just met looking after your kid. Isabelle was between Emily and I, but we were also each responsible for another child.

During the climb, there are a number of great photo spots the videographer will stop at to take photos with their camera. It was commonplace to hand your camera off to the family behind you to take photos with your own camera.

600-feet later and we completed our climb of the world famous Dunn’s River Falls!  In March, I found the water to be cold, but in a way this was refreshing, not because it was hot in Jamaica, but because the cold water was instantly soothing each time you hit your ankle, or shin against a underwater rock.

The climb was moderate at best. There were a few spots where the guide stood above us and helped pull us up a bigger step and there were times we broke the chain to get a better footing and hold while climbing a steeper area.

Keep in mind that the guide at the falls is not the same as your van. In our climb, our Dunn’s River Falls guide did a great job at making sure everyone in the group had a safe climb up the falls. I did not notice anyone stiffing our guide following our climb.

However, on the way out you pass the photo tent where you can purchase printed photos and a copy of the video. I will tell you there is one single video that is available for each group – as in you could purchase 1 copy and share it amongst your entire group. If I recall correctly, the DVD was $40.

Our guide from the van met us to lead us back to the van. Before walking through the shops, she warned us to not take anything from any one as this is usually a gotcha scam and once you touch an item they will want to you buy it. The shopkeepers were not too happy about this as they confronted us and asked if the guide told us not to buy anything.

We all made it through the gauntlet of shopkeepers to the awaiting van. There were people walking around the parking lot selling beer, water, and I believe soda to each van. Our guide didn’t seem to have an issue with these vendors and so there were some sales made before we took the short drive down the road to Mystic Mountain.

Mystic Mountain

Mystic Mountain is a tropical rain forest destination in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. The destination offers a mix of activities including hummingbird and butterfly garden, zip lines, a pool with waterslide, and the 3280-foot bobsled track.

Mystic Mountain features the SkyExplorer, chairlift that transports you above the treetops up 700 feet to the peak. The ride up is approximately 15-minutes as long as the chairlift does not stop. In our case, the lift slowed down and stopped a number of times on our ascent. I highly recommend applying sunscreen before getting in line for the lift as most of the ride is in full sun.

The views were incredible, although it is odd taking a chairlift up a mountain in the heat without skis.

As we approached the top, we saw or first glimpse at the Ocho Rios cruise port.

For anyone with a fear or even concern about height, the chairlift has a lap bar.

The top of Mystic Mountain and the beginning of the chairlift line to begin your descent back to the parking lot.

When we first arrived, our guide directed us over to the lunch pavilion, where local musicians and dancers were entertaining the crowd and welcoming guests to join in.

This port adventure included a Jamaican-inspired lunch with a selection of jerk chicken, fried fish, rice & peas, coleslaw & water or punch. Hot dogs & fries were available as well. The food was delicious and had a wonderful kick!

In addition to the included lunch there was a restaurant and bar.

During our visit, a server was walking around with a tray of Bob Marley shots.

After lunch, we lined up for our turn for the bobsled. When you are there for a port adventure, you are sharing the destination with all other who may be from other cruise ships and day guests who are staying in Jamaica. I am not saying this as a negative, just pointing out that the wait for the bobsled can vary based on the the day you visit.

While we waited, Isabelle noticed a waterslide and the pool. Since we were still in our swimwear from climbing the falls, Isabelle had fun on the waterslide while we waited in line. Consider brining a towel if you would like to enjoy the pool and waterslide. Based on our visit, there was more than enough time to enjoy these extra amenities.

Off to the side of the main building you will find a hummingbird garden and sure enough, there were hummingbirds!

There is a lookout at the top of the main building which you can get to by going up the main staircase. When you get to the restaurant, keep to the right and keep going up the stairs.

Bobsled Jamaica

The gold medal attraction of Mystic Mountain is the Bobsled Jamaica experience. In a covered are of the building you will discover a mini-museum for lack of better words with background information on Jamaica and some of their more famous residents. A large portion of the area was dedicated to the Jamaican Olympic teams showcasing their accolades. The Jamaican Bobsled team had the most representation with uniforms, helmets, and other memorabilia on display.

Once you are in line for the bobsled you will see a number of Jamaican Bobsled team photos.

This signature ride features a gravity-driven plunge through 3,280 feet of twists and turns on a specially designed sled through the tropical rain forest. Guests must be at least 46″ to ride the Bobsled and there is even a sign at the bottom of Mystic Mountain before you get on the chairlift. In addition, there is a 275 lbs weight limit for the bobsled ride.

The bobsled ride is not an automated theme park ride, you are required to actively keep your bobsled under control at all times and maintain a safe distance between the bobsled in front of you.

There is space for a small backpack in the bobsled. This gentlemen has his hand on one of the two control arms. When riding these are used to control your speed on the track. You simply push the lever forward to go and let the lever back to slow down and stop. The levers are spring loaded, in the event you remove your hands they will move to the braking position.

Each person will sit in their own bobsled, but for younger guests, two bobsleds can be coupled together to make it easier and safer for kids to ride.

If time permitted, we could have spent all day going on the the bobsleds. It was a blast.

Disney Cruise Line offers a number of Port Adventures in Falmouth with options to visit Dunn’s River Falls and Bobsled Jamaica. However, FA10 is the only one that offers both.

Here is look at the current port adventure offerings that will take you to Dunn’s River Falls:

• Bobsled Jamaica and Dunn’s River Falls (FA10) Experience 2 popular attractions at Rainforest Bobsled Jamaica and the surreal beauty of Dunn’s River Falls with this comprehensive package.
• Chukka Catamaran Cruise and Dunn’s River Falls (FA14) Set sail on a 65-foot catamaran. Soak up the sun and snorkel over tropical reefs during planned stops and enjoy the option to climb up Dunn’s River Falls. Finally, enjoy a party with Jamaican music back onboard the catamaran.
• Chukka Horseback Ride and Swim with Dunn’s River Falls and Lunch (FA16) Climb Dunn’s River Falls and enjoy one of the most iconic experiences in Jamaica: horseback riding! Ride through a historic area, where you’ll learn interesting facts about Jamaica, and then ride a horse in the Caribbean Sea.
• Dolphin Cove and Dunn’s River Falls (FA03) Splash in the lush Dunn’s River Falls before visiting the Dolphin Cove Park, home to bottlenose dolphins, exotic birds, snakes and iguanas. Choose from a variety of experiences and enjoy a fun-filled day. A Jamaican-style lunch is included!
• Dolphin Encounter and Dunn’s River Falls (FA04) Splash in the lush Dunn’s River Falls before coming “face-to-flip” with live bottlenose dolphins. Enjoy an up-close encounter before savoring a Jamaican-style buffet lunch and the many other attractions in the park.
• Dolphin Swim and Dunn’s River Falls (FA05) Splash in the lush Dunn’s River Falls before coming “face-to-flip” with live bottlenose dolphins. Enjoy a belly ride in deep water before savoring a Jamaican-style buffet lunch and the many other attractions in the park.
• Dunn’s River Falls Express (FA29) Experience thrill and excitement as you climb the magnificent, 600-foot Dunn’s River Falls. During your climb, stop and enjoy the different water flows and soak in the soothing effects of the water as it cascades to the sea.
• Dunn’s River Falls Express with Lunch (FA30) Experience thrill and excitement as you climb the magnificent 600-foot Dunn’s River Falls, enjoying the soothing effects of the water as it cascades to the sea. Next, savor a delicious Jamaican-style jerk chicken lunch.
• Dunn’s River Ultimate Adventure (FA74) Take in the world-famous Dunn’s River Falls on this Caribbean adventure.
• Shark Encounter and Dunn’s River Falls (FA09) Splash in the lush Dunn’s River Falls before facing your fears during an interaction with live sharks at the beautiful Dolphin Cove, home to many friendly sea creatures, exotic birds and reptiles.
• Sky Explorer and Dunn’s River Falls (FA11) Visit the world-famous Dunn’s River Falls and then ascend 700 feet through a lush tropical forest on the Sky Explorer chairlift.
• Ultimate Dolphin Swim and Dunn’s River Falls (FA67) Ascend a 600-foot waterfall and swim with the affable and highly intelligent bottlenose dolphin.

However, at this time, there are only two that include Bobsled Jamaica:

• Tranopy Adventure (FA12) Experience the 3 exciting activities on this one excursion, the Sky Explorer chairlift, Jamaica Bobsled and a zipline canopy tour through the tropical coastal forest.

When we booked Bobsled Jamaica and Dunn’s River Falls (FA10) , it was $139 per person. According to the Port Adventures guide, it is now $144. for adults (ages 10 and up) and $79.00 (ages 5 to 9).

Disney Cruise Line’s Bobsled Jamaica and Dunn’s River Falls port adventure was, in our opinion, worth the price. If you’ve followed along in the past, we are big fans of third party excursions or touring by ourself using public transportation or taxis. You can book the Dunn’s River Fall and Bobsled Jamaica directly with Mystic Mountain , but they do not offer a way to book transportation from Falmouth. You’d need to arrange this on your own. It would be worth considering a direct book if you were on a cruise that docked at Ocho Rios.

Overall, we would absolutely return to Mystic Moutain to spend time enjoying the waterslide and pool and to get our Cool Runnings fix with another trip down the bobsled track. Dunn’s River Falls is more of a one and done experience – not to say we will never return, we had fun, it is just not something we need to do again for a few years….

Leave a comment if you have any questions regarding any part of our Port Adventure or want to share your experience at either Dunn’s River Falls or Bobsled Jamaica.

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4 Replies to “Port Adventure Review: Bobsled Jamaica and Dunn’s River Falls (FA10)”

We really enjoyed this excursion. We only had 2 issues at the falls. Hubby forgot the extra waterproof battery in his bag he left on the bus. Of course our battery died at the beginning of the climb. $40 for the video but at least I was able to pull some still pictures from it.

The marketplace at the falls was the worst!!! They grabbed ahold of my austic son and were really laying it on thick about buying something. Our guide had warned us about this ahead of time, but it still took her coming to our rescue to get us out of there. My son said he didn’t want to be rude to the “vendors”, but DO NOT even engage them in conversation. Just walk through. We felt very unsafe about this area and put in a complaint with DCL about it, but as we did this excursion in 2016 and Scott’s vlog is from this year, it looks like the same issue is happening.

The food at lunch was good, but a little spicy for my son & I. We were able to get hot dogs, but the staff weren’t too happy as they only had planned on kids having them.

Thanks for the vlog, Scott, it was great seeing the excursion again!!!

We did this excursion in 2016. We were supposed to do the Tranopy excursion, but it was canceled while we were on the ship so we opted for this one instead. My daughter thought Dunn’s River Falls was THE BEST! So, I’m glad we ended up changing. While walking through the vendors at the end, one of them walked up behind my daughter and put a necklace around her neck. We ended up having to buy it to get him to quit pestering us. I did feel pretty unsafe in that area, but couldn’t let my daughter see that I was feeling that way. I loved the Bobsled ride, but my daughter was a little freaked out by it for some reason. She did go on the waterslide many times. We were there in November and the pool was freezing, but she didn’t care. Our excursion was in the reverse order. We did the Bobsleds first and the Falls second.

Scott – are the bobsleds attached to the track or is it possible to run off the tracks if going too fast? Seems to really pick up speed in some of those curves! Saw you try to slow down a few times!

The carts are attached to the track like a roller coaster. Just need to control your speed.

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Disney Cruise Line Port Excursions – Discounts & Tips

LAST UPDATE: 2/14/24

Disney Port Adventures are not cheap, and they can add a significant amount to the total cost of your Disney Cruise. This page covers discounts, deals, and advice about port excursions at ports of call visited by Disney Cruise Line. We have collected our best tips and advice to help you save time, save money and have more fun when you get off your cruise ship. After all, sightseeing in exotic destinations is one of the primary reasons to take a cruise!

Thanks to Marjorie Treger and to MouseSavers.com readers Jeff Evernham and Aileen B, who contributed some great tips.

General Tips

Port safety, disney shore excursions, self-booking excursions & exploring independently, booking excursions with viator, castaway cay, lookout cay at lighthouse point, nassau, bahamas.

Other useful Disney Cruise Line information pages:

• For discounts and tips on saving money on the cruise itself , visit our Disney Cruise Discount page.
• For tips and tricks that will help you plan your cruise , visit the Planning Tips & Tricks for Disney Cruises page.
• For advice that will help you save time and get the most out of your cruise once you are onboard , visit the DCL Onboard Advice page.

If you’re not an adventurous traveler, you may want to book a Disney port excursion the first time you visit a port just to get the lay of the land, so to speak. That said, it’s pretty easy to go it alone in most of these ports, either by booking your own port adventures or just wandering. Every day in each of these ports, 3,000-18,000 cruise passengers flood the streets, so the ports are pretty good at providing services and infrastructure to travelers. And because they don’t want to risk the lucrative flow of tourism dollars, most of these places will have plenty of security in the major tourist areas. If you stay in tourist-oriented areas with lots of foot traffic during daylight hours, you may encounter vendors who are pushier than you might be used to, but safety should not be a major problem. Do read the port safety section and keep your wits about you.

A limited number of strollers are available from Guest Services while in port. They are free with a deposit. Since they are limited, don’t wait until most people have left the ship to ask for one.

Port days are a great time to take advantage of the ship’s amenities — such as the pools, spa and the AquaDuck or AquaMouse — with minimal crowds. Most people leave the ship in the morning and return in the afternoon. If you want to enjoy the ship when it’s nearly empty, reverse your schedule so you’re on the ship in the morning and in port during the afternoon. Depending on the ship’s arrival and departure times, this is easier to do at some ports than others.

If you’re wondering how busy a port will be, a great resource is CruiseTimeTables.com . Select your ship and dates, and it will show you which ships will be in port on each day of your cruise. From that, you can click on each ship name to see the details of that ship and see how many passengers it carries. Add all the passenger counts for all the ships in a particular port, and that’s the “port load” for that day. On low-load days, it will be easier to get a taxi, the tourist spots will be less crowded, etc. On high-load days, expect crowds everywhere. It’s a good idea to look at the port load on other days that month to get an idea of what’s a “normal” load. If the port usually handles 15,000 people, then a 10,000 person day might be fairly light. But in another port, their normal day might be 6,000, making 10,000 a huge crowd.

And of course, any of these ports will be busier during peak vacation times, which for the Caribbean and Bahamas is spring break (generally late March through early April) and Christmas season (the two calendar weeks that contain Christmas and New Year’s Day). During those times, you can expect major tourist destinations, beaches, resorts, restaurants, etc. to be very busy and booked up well in advance. The resorts will be full of guests, and the cruise ships will be running as full as possible. Surprisingly, summer in the Caribbean is only moderately busy, as it’s very hot, and a lot of cruise ships are in Alaska and Europe then.

If you want to get away from the tourist gloss and go a little deeper, you might ask some of the crew on the ship where they like to go when they have free time in that port. You still won’t necessarily be seeing the “real” country, but it’s a good way to find something more like a local hangout and less like a chain restaurant. Keep in mind that crew care more about things like free Wi-Fi and cheap drinks, and less about fancy décor and beautiful views.

A warning: reading this section can make you feel like it’s a mistake to leave home, which is not our intent. We don’t want people to get the impression that they’re in grave danger when they leave the ship, but it’s important to be clear-headed and travel smart. Most travelers have no real trouble, especially on organized cruise excursions and shopping in busy tourist areas. However, crime rates are quite high in some of the countries Disney Cruise Line visits, and it’s worthwhile to take some basic precautions.

In almost all developing countries, including many ports in the Caribbean, you are highly likely to encounter vendors who will call to you, ask questions, shove items in front of you, touch you to get your attention, etc. This is not a safety problem per se, it’s just much more aggressive selling than most first-world residents are used to. The vendors know that cruise ship passengers have money, and they hope to get some of that money by selling crafts, t-shirts, hair-braiding, etc. If you’re not interested in what they are selling, you should say “no thanks,” shake your head, or something equivalent, and keep walking . If you ignore them, they don’t know if you have heard them or not, and they may just get louder and closer. If you stop, they’re going to assume you’re interested. Politely making it clear that you’re not interested usually works; you want to act like someone who’s got somewhere to be. If they persist after that, stop responding and move away from them. Do not answer questions from vendors if you aren’t interested in what they’re selling. Usually these vendors are concentrated right around the cruise terminal and a few other big tourist hot spots and if you get a block or two away it gets much better. If you know that dealing with aggressive vendors is going to make you uncomfortable, you’re best off sticking with organized excursions, either through Disney, Viator or large tour operators, or hiring your own guide or driver to take you around.

We strongly recommend against doing any kind of motorized watersports excursions, such as jet-ski rental or parasailing, on a walk-up basis on any beach in the Caribbean, Mexico or Bahamas. These vendors are typically effectively unregulated, and incidents of accidents due to under-maintained equipment and/or poor safety procedures are high enough to make us uncomfortable. Any such excursions should either be purchased through Disney, Viator or some other intermediary that you trust to do reasonable vetting of the final provider. Note that the jet-ski vendors working the beaches in front of major hotels are not typically affiliated with, or recommended by, the hotels. We also recommend doing thorough research on any boat tour, fishing tour, snorkeling or scuba tours booked independently. There are plenty of good independent companies in any of the ports, but there are also lots of tiny companies that may not carry adequate insurance, may not have proper equipment maintenance, may not have proper safety certifications, etc. You should look for how long they’ve been in business, how many reviews they have on major review sites like TripAdvisor, and whether their staff have certifications from recognized organizations like PADI.

We advise not straying far from the port or other tourist areas in Nassau, Bahamas, especially at night. Violent crime against tourists is rare, but it does happen, including bold armed robberies of tour groups. Don’t just take our word for it, read the US State Department’s advisory , under Safety & Security. The vendors are also extra-aggressive here, though it dies down considerably once you get a block or two away from the cruise terminal. If you just want to shop or walk around in Nassau, we advise staying within a few blocks of Bay Street, which is the main shopping street running along the shoreline, or take a cab over to Paradise Island, where the shopping area is much less chaotic and less sketchy.

Falmouth, Jamaica  has had ongoing problems with extremely aggressive vendors near the port. While Jamaica does have serious crime problems, most of it is found in poor areas of Kingston and Montego Bay. Falmouth itself is not an especially crime-prone area. Certainly the large gated shopping area of the cruise port is completely safe to explore, as only employees and cruise-ship passengers are allowed in, and while inside the gated area you will not be accosted by sellers. However, outside the port gates there are quite a few souvenir and craft vendors on the street who buttonhole cruise passengers as they go by. Firmly and politely saying “no thanks” is generally enough to get them to leave you alone. If you ever feel unsafe, during the day there are tourist police stationed at intersections near the port, who wear white helmets, white shirts and black pants.

Crime and violence have been on the increase in Mexico for the last few years. Relatively little of the violence has been directed against tourists, but it does happen occasionally: in February 2012, a busload of people on an official excursion from a Carnival ship were robbed of all their valuables , including passports, in Puerto Vallarta. (This was a giant mess for those who lost their passports, which is why we say do not take your passport off the ship! ) Disney adjusts its port calls in response to current events and will make every effort to visit the ports that are safest. We recommend staying with a group and/or taking an official excursion when visiting Baja ports, except for Cabo San Lucas, which has had few crime problems. For Western Caribbean cruises, Cozumel is a fairly safe port.

Barcelona  is an amazing city but has a big problem with pickpockets. According to a tour guide we spoke with there, under local laws most such thefts are a hand-slapping offense (basically if the pickpocket is caught, a ticket is issued and they don’t have to worry about going to jail). Personally, we saw a lot of tourists wandering around with expensive handbags hanging open over their arms. Don’t make yourself such an obvious target and you’re likely to be fine.

Some safety tips when getting off the ship in any port:

• Be aware of your surroundings. Look on a map before leaving the ship so you know the general layout of the port and have an idea of where the ship is docked. Don’t rely exclusively on a smartphone or other electronic device for directions, since those might be stolen. Take a paper map with you so you can find your way back to the ship.
• Don’t carry your whole wallet around. We recommend getting a travelers pouch (worn inside your shirt around your neck, or around your waist inside your pants), plus a cheap wallet. Preload the wallet with a little cash and maybe one credit card, and nothing else. In the travelers pouch put more cash, a different credit card, your ID, room key, and any phone numbers you might need (see below). Don’t put the ID in the wallet, since you’ll usually need the ID to get through customs and back on the ship. If you get mugged or pickpocketed, the thieves will get some cash, a credit card (which you’ll cancel as soon as you get back to the ship), and a wallet.
• DO NOT take your passport with you when you leave the ship, unless the country requires it, or you plan to rent a car (in which case you’ll need it). If it is stolen, you will have a real problem. Very few countries require you to carry your passport around. If not having your passport with you makes you nervous, make a color photocopy of the identity page of your passport before you leave on the cruise, and carry that with you when you get off the ship.
• DO put your passport (and any other necessary documents, credit cards, etc.) in your stateroom safe when you leave the ship. If for some reason you can’t make it back to the ship, Disney will send two security officers into your stateroom, open the safe, retrieve your passport and leave it with the port agent so you can arrange to rejoin the ship or head home.
• Don’t wear expensive-looking jewelry/watches/handbags, particularly when visiting places with a lot of poverty (e.g. Mexico and the Caribbean) or that are known for pickpockets (e.g. Barcelona and Naples). It just makes you a target for thieves. Very expensive/complicated SLR cameras can also make you a target. If you have a great camera, stay in the safest areas and don’t wander too far alone.
• Write down the name and phone number of the “ship’s agent” for the port (which will be available in the Navigator app), and carry it with you. Putting it in your cell phone or other electronic device is a good backup, but put it on a piece of paper, too, in case your phone is lost or stolen. You’ll need to contact the ship’s agent if something bad happens while you’re onshore (i.e., you get sick/robbed/miss the ship’s departure, etc.) If something happens and you lose the number for the ship’s agent, call the port – they will know the agents for the various cruise lines. It would be a good idea to also have the number of the nearest US embassy or consulate and a local cab company.
• Do not take unlicensed cabs, unless the car was arranged by yourself or a trusted intermediary such as your hotel concierge or bell captain. If a random driver offers to take you somewhere, don’t take them up on it. Your best bet is to only pick up cabs at managed cab stands at ports, airports, hotels or major tourist destinations. In cities with well-regulated cab systems with clear markings, hailing a cab on the street is fine.

Disney offers a wide variety of shore excursions (which they call “port adventures”) of varying quality. In almost all cases the excursions are offered by third parties contracted by Disney. If you’re wondering whether an excursion is worthwhile, we recommend buying a guidebook that reviews them, or searching the internet for reviews on cruise sites, since nearly all shore excursions are the same ones offered to all the cruise ships. Keep in mind that there are often many tour operators offering similarly-named excursions in each port, so just because you find a fantastic review of a city tour, for example, doesn’t mean it’s the same city tour offered by Disney.

Some excursions are very popular and fill up early, so book them as early as you can . If you’re not able to get an excursion you wanted before you embark, go to Guest Services or the Excursion Desk as soon as you get onboard and see if they can add you to a waiting list. Or you can check our tips below for booking the tour on your own. Sometimes the tour or experience itself still has space, but the bus that Disney chartered is full – if  you’re willing to take a cab direct to the facility you can still do the excursion.

Booking excursions directly, instead of via Disney, can save you money and give you extra flexibility. As we mentioned earlier, the shore excursions offered at each of Disney’s ports of call are provided by third-party tour companies, with the exception of most of the Castaway Cay excursions. They are (with a few exceptions) the exact same excursions offered by every other cruise line, and are often offered directly to the public via the tour operators’ own website, or via various aggregators like Viator . In some cases the tour is cheaper when you book directly (since they don’t have to split the profit with Disney), but even if it’s the same price, booking yourself allows you to choose excursions or optional add-ons Disney doesn’t offer, or alternative times that might fit your schedule better. And of course you can choose to do tours and activities that are not offered by Disney, or just get off the ship and explore the town.

Families with kids can often save significant money booking direct! Disney Cruise Line almost always uses a standard age range for pricing port excursions: anyone 10 or older pays the adult price, ages 3-9 pay a child price and ages 2 and under are usually free (or sometimes there’s an infant price). But if you book your port excursion directly with the tour operator, you often find that they offer child discounts up to age 12 and sometimes up to age 16 or 17. Some don’t charge for kids 3 or under, or even 4 or under. That can save you a lot of money, depending on the ages of your kids. You have to book directly (or through another vendor like Viator ) to get the more generous child discounts.

Some people worry that an independent tour company might not getting them back to the ship on time. In practice, it’s extremely  rare for a tour operator to get passengers back late enough to miss their ship. Any tour company that services cruise passengers risks the wrath of a busload of incredibly angry guests if they miss their ship. You can be sure they do not want that to happen, and they will go to great lengths to avoid it. If they have a bus breakdown, they will have a contingency plan to bring in another bus or provide alternative transportation. Some third-party tour companies provide a guarantee that they’ll get you back to your boat on time or they’ll pay to get you to the next port, which tells you that they’re confident they’ll be on time. They take cruise-ship passengers around every day of the year; they’re very aware of the need to stay on schedule.

On a Disney-booked tour, the tour operator will contact the Disney ship’s agent immediately if they get into trouble, so the ship staff know what’s going on. You should do the same: if you are exploring independently or on a self-booked tour and suffer an issue that might make you late, immediately call the ship’s agent and tell them what’s happening. The name and phone number of the ship’s agent for the port is in the Navigator app, or you can call the port and ask for the name and number of the Disney port agent. The ship may wait for you if they know where you are and when you’ll be arriving; they usually won’t wait very long if they have no idea when you’ll be there.

In the very unlikely event that a tour operator doesn’t get you back to the ship before it has to leave, third-party trip insurance may cover your cost to get to the next port, via the “trip interruption,” “missed connection” or “travel delay” coverage, if the tour operator or a cab, bus, or train is delayed as a result of one of the covered events. Covered events usually include a tour operator or carrier suffering a mechanical breakdown, traffic accident or weather-related delay. Check the description of coverage of your trip insurance, or call their customer service number to see if you’re covered. Be careful; some of them only cover trip interruption or missed connections if the carrier ceases service for more than a certain amount of time, sometimes as much as 24 hours.

Most people who miss their ship departure are not on an excursion at all. They just get sidetracked while shopping or sightseeing (or drinking),  often within walking distance of the ship. When you’re close to the ship you don’t have the stress of worrying about getting a cab or whether your tour is going to leave on time, and it’s easy to stop paying attention. Another reason people miss the ship is that they mis-remember the all-aboard time. Don’t let this be you! Write down the all-aboard time, and set an alarm on your phone or watch for when you should be heading back to the ship. Something to be aware of is that if your phone connects to the local cell towers or to local Wi-Fi, it may reset its clock to local time, which might not match ship time. Make sure you know whether your all-aboard is in local time or ship’s time, and also know what time zone your watch or phone is set to. Allow 30 minutes to get through port security, plus 30 minutes for each transportation leg you have to take, in addition to estimated travel time , just in case.

Another thing to keep in mind about self-booked tours: occasionally the ship has to miss a port or arrive late because of weather or some other issue. If you have an excursion in that port that you self-booked, that tour operator’s cancellation policy applies. In our experience many tour operators will refund your money if the ship doesn’t make port, and most will wait for you or put you on a later tour if the ship is late, if they can find a way to do it. It’s definitely worth checking the “missed port” policy before you book, though. Again, your trip insurance may cover missed port excursions under “trip interruption,” “travel delay” or “missed connection;” check with your insurance provider to be sure.

No matter how you book your tour it’s a good idea to have your own contingency plan just in case. You should always have the number of a local cab company in your phone (and written on a piece of paper in case you lose your phone). And you always want to give yourself some leeway. We strongly recommend against self-booking a tour or activity that ends less than 2 hours before the ship leaves . You could make exceptions if you know the activity happens completely within walking distance of the ship, such as the lumberjack show in Ketchikan, which is literally a block and a half from the dock. Be careful though – sometimes the location given by the tour operator is just the pick-up spot; they may transport you somewhere else for the actual activity. The bottom line is that you want to have enough time to find alternative transportation back to the ship if you have to, especially if you’re just exploring on your own. When in doubt, contact the tour operator directly if you can, and ask them how much time it takes to get to and from their pick-up/drop-off points.

Viator.com is an easy, reliable way to book cruise excursions, tours and activities. Like Disney, they work with third-party operators in the various port cities. They hand-pick tour operators that meet their standards for experience, financial soundness, and customer service. They have reviews on their excursions, written by actual customers. You need to take these reviews with the same skepticism that you would with any online reviews: some people are ultra-picky, and some people love everything. But it can give you useful details about the kinds of things you’ll get to do, the kinds of problems that can arise, whether you have to take a long ride from the port to get to the tour beginning, etc.

We have been recommending Viator.com for several years and have had good feedback from readers. They often have the best prices we’ve found on shore excursions, and offer many of the popular excursions in the major ports Disney visits. In some cases they offer the exact same excursion as Disney, provided by the exact same tour company, but with a wider range of available times or more options. We have on several occasions chosen one of their excursions as an alternative to Disney’s excursions, and we’ve always been happy with the tour operators and tours.

To give an example, on our trip to Alaska on the Disney Wonder, we booked a whale-watching excursion in Juneau with Viator because it left earlier, which left us more time for sightseeing and the Mendenhall Glacier. It turns out there are about 5 big whale-watching companies in Juneau, and they all share information about whale sightings, so everyone’s boats spend most of their time in a group traveling from sighting to sighting, then occasionally splitting up to look for more whales. The boat we were on was smaller and faster than the other boats, which allowed us to reach several whale pods first, but in the end everyone saw the same whales. The bottom line: we got a basically identical (maybe a little better) whale-watching trip for about 70% of the Disney excursion price.

Here are direct links to the tours and activities pages on Viator.com for the most popular Disney Cruise Line ports, including departure ports. Note that many excellent tours that work well for cruise passengers are not necessarily listed in the “shore excursions” category. You just have to look at the start and end times of any tour you’re considering and compare to the cruise schedule. We recommend avoiding picking start times less than 30 minutes after your scheduled arrival time in port (plus any travel time needed to get from the port to the tour’s start point). And we strongly advise not picking tours with ending times less than 2 hours before the cruise’s scheduled departure time (plus any travel time needed to get from the tour’s end point to the ship).

• Nassau tours and excursions

Western Caribbean :

• Miami tours and excursions
• Cozumel tours and excursions
• Grand Cayman tours and excursions  (Remember to allow time for tendering into port)
• Falmouth, Jamaica tours and excursions

Eastern Caribbean :

• Tortola shore excursions
• St. Maarten tours and excursions
• St. Thomas/St. John shore excursions
• Vancouver, Canada tours and excursions
• Juneau tours and excursions
• Skagway tours and excursions
• Ketchikan tours and excursions

Mediterranean :

• Barcelona, Spain tours and activities
• Venice, Italy tours and activities
• Villefranche (French Riviera) tours and excursions
• Pisa, Italy tours and excursions (Note that you need to allow travel time to/from La Spezia)
• Florence, Italy tours and excursions (Note that you need to allow travel time to/from La Spezia)
• La Spezia, Italy tours and excursions
• Rome, Italy tours and excursions  (Note that you need to allow travel time to/from Civitavecchia)
• Naples, Italy tours and excursions

For other locations, go the Viator.com home page  and search for the name of the port.

Many of Disney’s Bahamian and Caribbean cruises include a day at Disney’s original private island: Castaway Cay (pronounced like “key”), which is a tiny islet in the Bahamas. For many people Castaway Cay is the best part of a Disney Cruise, as you get the wonderful white sand beaches and clear water of the Caribbean without annoying distractions like roaming vendors and hair braiders. There are plenty of beach chairs for everyone (though you may need to hike to the far end of the beach if you take your time in the morning getting off the ship), and lots of things to do or not do as you prefer.

On your Castaway Cay day, we definitely recommend getting off the ship early . Use room service to have breakfast in your cabin or head to the buffet when it opens and then get off the ship as soon after 9:00 am as you can. You’ll have your pick of chairs, no lines for character greetings and photo opportunities, and the snorkeling will be undisturbed by others stirring up the bottom.

If you’re the adventurous type and don’t want to just lie around on the beach, take advantage of the package excursions at Castaway Cay that include snorkel equipment, float/raft rental, and a one-hour bike rental. The bundle deal is not available once you leave the ship (i.e., you have to pay the individual price for each activity, which will cost more). However, MouseSavers.com reader Kelly M has this to offer: “at Castaway Cay, there is so much to do that we couldn’t get to everything. We booked four passes for the snorkel, float and bicycle package. Next time we will only book two passes and share. We ran out of time and could have easily shared two sets. We didn’t even get to pick up the bikes since we ran out of time.”

Castaway Cay has its own post office, so your stop there is a great opportunity to send postcards to your friends. All of you scrapbookers out there will want to bring an extra postcard or two to mail to yourself; they’ll receive the Castaway Cay postmark! Definitely buy your Bahamian stamps on the boat at Guest Services before you arrive at Castaway Cay, or you can buy them in Nassau if you go there first. If you do buy stamps at Castaway Cay you will need CASH to pay for the postage — it can’t be charged to your room key, and you may find that the post office has very limited hours (as in it may not open at all). If you have stamped postcards, you can drop them in the slot any time. Note that it can take quite a long time (months) for the postcard to reach home, and we have multiple reports of postcards never arriving at all.

Every visit to Castaway Cay includes a running of the Castaway Cay 5K , which is a nice way to start your day if you like running. You’ll (usually) get a souvenir medal for completing the race (though sometimes they don’t give them out, seemingly at random), a feeling of accomplishment, and an excuse to have a second helping of cookies and ice cream at lunch. Look at the Navigator app for instructions on where to meet. Usually the race gets going pretty early in the morning to avoid the heat.

Take some time to explore the public parts of the island, including the old landing strip . Disney has placed a bunch of artfully arranged flotsam and jetsam all over, including a couple of DC-3’s with Disney nose art that make a great backdrop for a group photo. Taking a walk or bike ride to the observation tower makes a nice expedition. The walkway is paved and well-marked, and there are water dispensers at regular intervals. From the top of the tower you can see the ship in the distance, the native landscape of Castaway Cay (which is admittedly pretty sparse), and some fun surprises placed here and there by Disney imagineers.

Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point is Disney’s newest “private island” experience , created to take some pressure off Castaway Cay and add new private beach experiences to the Disney Cruise portfolio. It has all the same basic features as Castaway Cay: a nice private beach with plenty of lounge chairs and umbrellas, included buffet lunch, and exclusive shore activities and excursions.

Lookout Cay is not actually a separate island, but rather a private piece of land near the southern tip of Eleuthera , one of the larger Bahamian islands. However, from a practical point of view it works the same way as a true private island. It’s just easier for the locals to come to work, since they can just drive over instead of taking a boat.

Lookout Cay has something for everyone. You can snorkel, get a spa treatment, walk the nature trails, participate in Disney shore adventures, meet characters and learn about Bahamian arts and culture. As with Castaway Cay, there are a few extra-cost experiences, but most of it is FREE.

Lookout Cay is not open yet as of this writing, so a full set of details will have to wait until June 2024, when the first Disney cruise passengers will get to see it in person.

All of Disney Cruise Line’s popular 3- and 4-day cruises stop in Nassau, which is probably the single most visited cruise destination in the world. Every day, up to 18,000 cruise passengers arrive at the Nassau cruise terminal and head out to a variety of adventures, shopping, or just to the beach. The Bahamas is a former British colony with a rich history, and traces of its Georgian heyday are visible in the lovely old buildings, some dating back to just after the American Revolution.

There is plenty here for the cruise visitor, including the amazing Atlantis mega-resort, snorkeling, scuba-diving, or just lying on the beach. You can also just get off the ship and explore, though read the Port Safety notes; the tourist areas of Nassau are quite safe during normal business hours, but it’s not recommended to wander too far on your own beyond the downtown and resort areas, especially at night.

Getting Taxis in Nassau

• Atlantis & Aquaventure
• Aquaventure Tips
• Savings Tip: Aquaventure Via Comfort Suites

Nassau Beach Options

• Other Nassau recommendations

There is quite a bit to explore within walking distance from the cruise terminal, but if you want to get to the further beach and resort areas like Paradise Island or Cable Beach you’ll want to get transportation. We generally recommend taking taxi cabs. There is a water taxi to Paradise Island near the cruise terminal, but it doesn’t have a schedule; it waits until it is full, which can take a long time. And there are jitneys, which are local buses. The #10 jitney runs back and forth along Bay street from near the cruise terminal to the far end of Cable Beach, but the waits can be long, and they can be crowded and stop semi-randomly. Be sure to take the #10, which stays on Bay Street, and not the #10A, which goes through side streets and takes forever. The fare is $1.25 each way per person, cash only, no change given. Our feeling is that you have limited time in Nassau; make the most of it and take cabs. It’s a small town and very few places will cost more than $4/person to get to in a cab. Getting from the cruise terminal to the far end of Paradise Island or Cable Beach might go as high as $6/person.

You should know in advance that taxis in Nassau are not always in particularly great shape. The air conditioning may not work or the driver may not run it to save gas. The car or van itself may look well-used. The driver may stop to get gas on the way to your destination. It’s the Caribbean, and that’s pretty much the standard for cabs all over the region. Ultimately if you don’t like the look of a cab, wait for another one. If all of this sounds like it would make you uncomfortable, then don’t take cabs; book excursions with included transportation via Disney or Viator  or direct with a tour company. Disney and Viator work with large tour companies that generally use nice, clean air-conditioned vans and minibuses.

Licensed cabs say “Taxi” on the side in fancy lettering and have a taxi license plate and a meter. There are shuttles as well, mostly doing back and forth runs between the cruise terminal and Paradise Island, and they can be a perfectly reasonable option, if picked up inside the cruise terminal gates or called for you by the bell captain at a hotel. We would not recommend taking an unlicensed cab anywhere else, unless you arrange the booking yourself through a reliable transportation company. Often even if you take a licensed cab with a meter the driver will refuse to use the meter and will just quote a price, which you are free to negotiate. Just about anywhere within 15 minutes of the cruise terminal should be $4/person or less. If the driver tries to change the agreed price, just repeat the price you agreed, hand them the money and get out.

At the cruise terminal, the shuttles to Paradise Island are easy to get, but be aware that they are not organized into a well-behaved line. There is a large, chaotic area inside the cruise terminal gates with shuttle vans, van hawkers, drivers, etc. all trying to get the attention of cruise passengers. You can go to one of the counters offering shuttles, or just tell the first driver you see where you want to go. The drivers will usually want to wait until they’ve filled up their van, but that shouldn’t take long. If you want to get a personal taxi for just your party, you may want to walk outside the terminal and look for a licensed cab.

At a resort like Atlantis or the One & Only Ocean Club, just go to the bell stand out front and ask for a taxi. They’ll whistle one over, or call one if there isn’t one waiting.

If you’re somewhere else and need a ride back to the cruise terminal, if you’re near Bay Street you can just hail a taxi; there are plenty going up and down it all day. On Paradise Island, you can find taxis in any tourist spot or driving on Paradise Island Drive.

It’s normally about 15-20 minutes drive from Atlantis or other locations on Paradise Island to the cruise terminal. The far end of Cable beach is about the same driving distance from the cruise terminal in the other direction. But near the end of the day there can be significant traffic trying to get back to the terminal that can push the total travel time to 30 minutes or more, so don’t push your luck. Allow plenty of time, and remember you have to get through port security.

Atlantis & Aquaventure

Atlantis   is a truly massive resort and casino on Paradise Island, about a 15-minute drive from the cruise terminal . It’s one of the most popular destinations for cruise-ship passengers in Nassau, largely because of its massive water park, Aquaventure . It also has a very large and beautiful aquarium called The Dig, which is designed to look like you’re touring an ancient section of the mythical land of Atlantis that has been submerged and discovered centuries later by archaeologists. Atlantis is located right on Cabbage Beach, perhaps the most beautiful of all Bahamas beaches, and it has an enormous casino and lots of high-end restaurants and shopping. It’s all very impressive, but the prices are equally impressive.

Is Atlantis worth visiting while on a Bahamas cruise? It’s hard to say. Purely as a water park, we’d have to say no. If you book it through Disney, it’s about $250 for adults and $140 for kids. If you self-book and work every angle, you might be able to get access to Aquaventure for $120-$140 so per person in the peak season, or $95-$110 in the off season. Compare that to Blizzard Beach , Typhoon Lagoon or Aquatica in Orlando, all of which are $75-ish for a full-price adult ticket (even less if you use one of the many discounts available). Atlantis Aquaventure is huge and has some very neat water slides and a great rapids river called the Current, but it’s not so much better than the Orlando parks to merit the price difference. In fact, we’d say the Orlando parks are easier to navigate and better planned for practical touring. All that said, Atlantis as a whole is pretty spectacular and a unique destination. The Dig, the predator lagoons, the Aquaventure park and the art and the architecture are all unlike anything anywhere else (except maybe the other Atlantis resorts), so it’s very hard to say what it’s worth. If you have people in your party who love water parks, or love aquariums, it’s probably worth a visit. If you find the architecture intriguing, you’ll like it even better up close. But if you expect to get your money’s worth as a “theme park” experience, then it’s going to be a disappointment.

Most of Atlantis , including Aquaventure and the aquariums and other exhibits, is only open to their own hotel guests, cruise-ship guests with a day pass , or guests of the Comfort Suites next door, at least during daylight hours. Even the Royal Towers lobby is off-limits if you don’t have a wristband or the paperwork you need to get a wristband.

There are several options for visiting the paid sections of Atlantis, including several Disney-sponsored excursions. It is almost always cheaper and faster to get to Atlantis on your own. We recommend taking a cab right outside the cruise terminal, which allows you to leave immediately after docking and beat the other cruise passengers to the water slides.

You can get an Aquaventure pass on-site, when available, which includes beach and Dig access. However, when the resort is very full, such as during spring break, they may not offer walk-up Aquaventure passes, or they may sell out quickly. If you know you want to visit Aquaventure, it’s a good idea to book through Disney or use the tip below to book a hotel day room. If you just want to view the Dig or the beach, there are passes that don’t include Aquaventure available at a lower price.

These prices were correct when gathered (early 2024), but are subject to change any time, and may vary based on season and demand:

• The Atlantis Aquaventure day pass includes access to pretty much everything at Atlantis except the Dolphin adventures and the grounds and pools of the ultra-pricey Cove and Reef areas. It includes access to Aquaventure, pools, the beach, the Dig, the predator lagoons and the Royal Towers lobby. Same-day passes cost $250-275 (depending on season and whether lunch is included) for adults (13+), and $140-$160 for children (4-12). Children 3 and under are FREE with a paying adult. Note that these may sell out, especially at peak times like spring break. 
• The Discover Atlantis pass includes the Dig, the predator lagoons, and access to the Royal Towers lobby. It includes a guided tour of the Dig (which you can take or not). Same-day passes cost $55 for all ages (4+). Children 3 and under are FREE with a paying adult. We have never heard of these being sold out.
• The Atlantis Beach Day pass includes use of beach chairs and umbrellas, plus access to the Dig, predator lagoons, and the Royal Towers Lobby. Same-day passes cost $95 for all ages (4+). Lunch is not included. Children 3 and under are FREE with a paying adult. We have heard of these selling out during spring break, and possibly other times, but perhaps not as often as the Aquaventure passes.

Some (but not all) of these day passes can be purchased in advance on Atlantis’s website .

To buy a day pass in person, go to the ticket booth at the Coral Towers entrance and show your Key to the World card to prove you’re on a cruise. (They don’t want guests of other unaffiliated Bahamas hotels to be able to get access to the Atlantis facilities, which is why they need to see proof that you’re a cruise passenger.)

If you don’t want to pay for a day pass, there are a few areas of Atlantis that are free to visit , most notably the casino, shops and restaurants in and around the Coral Towers. If you just want to soak up the atmosphere, gamble, or have some lunch, you’re welcome to do so by coming in the Coral Towers entrance. You should know, though, that pretty much all of the iconic Atlantis architecture and decor is in and around the Royal Towers, which are off-limits without a pass. You can also walk outside and visit the Marina Village shopping center and the Paradise Shopping Plaza across the street, which features a local handcrafts area that is like the Straw Market in downtown Nassau, but with slightly less aggressive vendors. If you want to eat, many of the signature restaurants in Atlantis are only open for dinner, but there are quite a few restaurants open for lunch in the Marina Village, or you can walk through the conference center to the Beach Tower and eat at the Cave Grill without needing a day pass.

When you’re ready to leave Atlantis, if you have any day pass (or a room at the Comfort Suites) and thus have a wristband, just walk out the front doors of the Atlantis Royal Towers and ask them to call you a taxi or cruise terminal shuttle. There will likely be several of them waiting, and there will be a posted flat rate to the cruise terminal. If you’re just visiting with no day pass or band, you will have to pick up a taxi at the Coral Towers, Beach Tower or the Marina Village.

Aquaventure Tips & Tricks:

• Whether you book the Disney Aquaventure tour or go on your own, our advice is to ignore the guided tour of the Dig and just head straight to Aquaventure as soon as you get your wristbands. The Dig is well worth visiting, but not during prime morning hours; it stays open much later than the pools, so save your visit for later in the day when you’re tired of slides, during a mid-day break or in the last 30 minutes before you need to return. Obviously if you get there so early that they won’t let you into the Aquaventure area, congratulate yourself on your efficiency and take a turn through the Dig, or take the opportunity to check out the predator lagoons over by the Coral Tower or the murals and decorative elements in the Royal Towers lobby.
• The slides and Current usually open at 10, and the pools and Dig open at 9 . It’s a good idea to get in as early as you can to get a locker and towels and stake out some lounge chairs. If you manage to get all settled before the slides open, you can walk around and check out the lay of the land and get yourself oriented.
• In the late summer and fall, it’s not uncommon for the pools and slides to close in the mid-afternoon because of thunderstorms, and they might not open again, so it’s important to get an early start.
• The best locker and towel area is the Hospitality Center. In defiance of logic, it is in the back of the park as far as possible from the lobby and entrances. From the desk where you get the wristbands, head up the stairs to the lobby level of the Royal Towers and follow the signs to Aquaventure, and then to the Hospitality Center, or ask any staff about the most direct route. There are lockers, fresh towels, and deck chairs there, and it’s right next to a good place to enter the Current. However, we’d suggest spending the morning riding water slides, and then check out the Current once you’re tired of slides or the lines are getting long.
• The Current is not a “lazy” river. It’s a rapid river, and there are sections of it that can hurt you if you’re not paying attention, including a speed run through concrete “rocks” you could hit your head on or get a bad scrape from. If you’re paying attention, you’ll have no trouble; it’s not crazy fast. But don’t make the mistake of thinking you can just relax and float. In some sections it can look that way, but then it can speed up and start knocking you around. Think carefully before sending small children on it, or walk around and take a look at the hairier sections. There is an actual lazy river way over by the Beach Towers (which is a hike), should you want a more sedate experience.
• The concrete walkways appear to be some kind of cool-deck material, but they still can get pretty hot. Flip-flops or water shoes are highly recommended. You can wear flip-flops or water shoes on the slides, as long as they don’t have metal on them that might scratch the slide surface.
• Towels are available early in the day from big carts near the Hospitality Center. Later in the day those carts disappear but they still have towels, so if you don’t see any, just ask at the Hospitality Center desk and they’ll hand you fresh towels.
• The food and merchandise locations in Aquaventure do not accept cash. They only accept Atlantis room keys or credit cards, so make sure you bring a working credit card with you if you want to be able to get food and rent a locker.
• There is no central float and tube distribution location. Tubes are included in the price of Aquaventure , and you just grab any empty one as it floats by, or from any stack you see. There’s no point in dragging them around the park; there will be more available just about anywhere you would need one. In a few cases you have to lug your own tube up the stairs to the top of a slide, and that will be obvious, as everyone will be carrying tubes up the stairs.
• Several of the fancier tube slides can be accessed from the Current ; you just float around until you see a fork in the river, with one side leading to the “Rapids” and one to the “Power Tower.” Take the Power Tower path to get to two elaborate slides called The Drop and The Falls via a conveyor belt that carries you to the top of the Power Tower without you even having to get out of your tube. To get to the other slides in the Power Tower you have to leave the Current and walk up some stairs.
• The food from the snack bars is pretty ordinary and similar to theme-park food. If you want more exciting food, there is a full-service restaurant in the water park area called Shark Bites that serves a few Bahamian specialties like conch salad, conch chowder, and johnnycake (in addition to the usual burgers, salads and chicken strips). You could also head over to the Beach Tower and try the Cave Grill, which has a nice view of Cabbage Beach, and you could check out the sharks in the predator lagoons while you’re over there. If you have a lunch voucher it may only be good at certain restaurants, so check on that before you hike all the way over to the Beach Tower.

Savings Tip: Aquaventure Via Comfort Suites

Guests of the Comfort Suites Paradise Island   get FREE admission to the aquariums, exhibits, pools, beach and most importantly Aquaventure , just like guests of Atlantis itself. The Comfort Suites is conveniently located right next door to the Atlantis Coral Towers. Each room you book gives you up to four passes to Atlantis (one for each person in the room). The hotel has a 3:00 pm check in time, but you can “check in” early in the morning and get the paperwork you’ll need to get your Atlantis wristbands; they will be happy to tell you how to get to Atlantis. You can even check in and check out in one transaction so you don’t have to stop by on your way back to the ship, or if you’d like to use the room you can come back after 3 to shower and change before heading back to the ship.

Important note : To discourage people from waiting to book the Comfort Suites until the day their cruise ship arrives, a one-night stay booked same-day, either online or at the front desk, does not come with access to Atlantis. A one-night stay booked in advance (at least a day earlier than the arrival date), still includes access to Atlantis .  If you were thinking you’d book a room same-day because you’re worried about the ship not being able to dock, our advice would be to get travel insurance that covers trip interruption, which will reimburse any non-refundable expenses you incur if you are unable to experience part of the trip. Also, keep in mind that it’s very rare for ships to be unable to dock in Nassau. It’s the most popular cruise ship port for a reason.

In the last few years the Comfort Suites has raised the price for single-night stays considerably, and added fees that take the final price for one night to $120/person or more at times. However, if you check their web site regularly, you can sometimes snag deals in the off season, and they offer a small discount for AAA members . Kids under 16 are FREE, but anyone 16 or over is considered an adult, and there’s a $40 fee for every adult after the first one. Even at their top rates, one night at the Comfort Suites  plus cab fare is almost sure to be less expensive than getting day passes to Aquaventure or buying the Disney excursion for a family of 3 or 4, and you can book it in advance easily. For families of 5 or more, you’ll have to get two rooms unless one or more of the kids is 3 or younger ( children 3 or under don’t need a wristband to get into Aquaventure when accompanied by a paying adult, so they don’t need to be on the Comfort Suites booking ). For two adults, the Disney excursion is often the least expensive way to go, but price it out just to be sure.

You may see reports on the internet from people who were charged a bunch of surcharges at checkin, but that only happens if you book via shady online travel agencies that are booking special consolidator rates (rates for group tours) that don’t include the resort fees. If you book via the Choice Hotels web site, they are already figured into the final price you see on the final booking page. You’ll see a very large “Taxes and fees” amount added to the total, and that includes all surcharges. They will not charge you anything more when you check in to the hotel, as long as you book directly with the Choice Hotels site and list the correct number of adults and children when booking . If you see a much lower rate on another site, it probably doesn’t include the fees. As mentioned above, you don’t need to list children 3 or under if you’re only using the room to get Atlantis wristbands; you won’t need a wristband for them.

Once you check in at the Comfort Suites, ask the front desk clerks to direct you to Atlantis. The quickest way is via the back exit from the Comfort Suites. It’s about 100 yards to the entrance, and then a short walk through the shopping area to the guest services desk, where they will take your Comfort Suites paperwork and give you the wristbands you need to enter the grounds.

One nice thing about booking the Comfort Suites is that you don’t have to wait for the official Disney tour , which often leaves somewhat late in the morning. You can get off the ship immediately, get into a cab and go straight to the Comfort Suites, check in (and immediately check out, if desired) and collect your paperwork, then walk over to Atlantis and get your wristbands. If you’re off the ship at 9:30 am you can be on the water slides at 10:00 am, assuming everything goes well. It’s not hard to beat the cruise ship tour buses by 30-60 minutes. On our first trip to Aquaventure, we got off the ship 15 minutes after the ship was cleared, got a very slow cab that made several stops before getting to the Comfort Suites, got lost multiple times while walking to the guest services desk to get our wristbands, and we still beat the Disney excursion; they were arriving as we were walking away from the service desk. The second time we went, we beat the excursion bus by roughly 50 minutes, which meant almost an hour of extra water slides!

• Book a day room at the Comfort Suites Paradise Island , including full access to Atlantis and Aquaventure for up to 4 guests!

Free Beaches :

There are several public beaches in Nassau which cost nothing to visit other than transportation costs , plus of course any snacks, drinks, souvenirs, hair braiding, etc. you might purchase while you’re there. Most of the public beaches will have vendors hawking drinks, chairs, pictures, souvenirs, etc. and some of them can be pushy. Generally just politely saying “no thanks” is enough to get them to move on.

It’s very important to note that public beaches in the Bahamas do not have the same level of amenities as most public beaches in the USA . If you are used to California or Florida public beaches with bathrooms, changing rooms, showers, maybe a boardwalk, you will need to reset your expectations. In the Bahamas, as in many developing countries, there is very little public money for beaches, and (with a few exceptions mentioned below) the only infrastructure is provided by private vendors, who will charge money for access. At the more popular beaches there may be vendors who will rent you a beach chair or umbrella for a fee, or people just walking around with cold drinks for sale, but don’t expect much more than that. Also, depending on the tides and weather some of these beaches can have heavy surf and riptides, and there are no lifeguards.

• Junkanoo Beach (also called West Esplanade Beach). This is the closest beach to the cruise terminal, and is an easy walk. Just come out of the cruise terminal, turn right and follow the road along the shore (which has a few twists and turns along the way) for a few blocks past the British Colonial hotel. As the nearest public beach to the main tourism area, it’s quite busy and full of tourists and vendors. We have seen frequent reports of litter and debris, but if you can find a section that has just been cleaned and raked, it can be quite nice, and some of the vendors who have permanent shacks on the beach are very good about keeping up the area near them. The water is much calmer here than on other beaches in the area, though the view is perhaps not as nice (mostly you can see the harbor and cruise ships). There are public facilities here of varying cleanliness, again depending on how recently they were serviced. 
• Saunders Beach . This beach is just a bit further east on Bay Street from the Fish Fry area but not all the way to Cable Beach. There are fewer (often no) vendors here, and on weekdays there may not be many people here, period. There are no bathrooms or other facilities, but there are shops and some fast-food restaurants across the street. The beach has nice sand, but once you get into the water it’s a bit rocky. The surf here is not typically very strong, but there are no lifeguards on duty, so you’ll want to keep an eye on children. You could conceivably walk here, but it would be a  long walk; we’d take a taxi. If you’re trying to get away from the touristy beaches, this is the place, or Goodman’s Bay, just a bit further along Bay Street.
• Cable Beach . This is about a 15-25 minute drive from the cruise terminal, depending on which end of it you visit. Cable Beach is a beautiful beach with soft sand, but it’s hard to access the best section of the beach without paying, because that portion, while technically public up to the high-water mark, is effectively controlled by the row of hotels in front of it. The easiest public access is via Goodman’s Bay park, which is essentially part of Cable Beach. The beach at Goodman’s Bay is a less crowded beach than Junkanoo, and in fact on weekdays there may be almost no one here. On weekends there will often be some locals out and about. There are no public facilities on the beach or in the park except for restrooms that are open erratically and a children’s playground. You can walk over to the section of beach in front of Breezes, but they will shoo you away if you venture too close to the resort. At the other end of Cable Beach, near the Melia, pretty much the whole beach is deliberately designed to be inaccessible except through one of the resorts, and if you can find your way through an alley to the beach, you’ll find that essentially anything you would want to do is reserved for hotel guests. Really, if you want to spend the day at Cable Beach, a day pass is your best option.
• Cabbage Beach . This is on the north side of Paradise Island, right next to Atlantis. Cabbage Beach is a beautiful beach with a great view of the ocean, but the surf is very strong, especially in the winter, and it’s often not safe to swim. The best public beach access is about a mile away from Atlantis, next to the Paradise Island Beach Club. There are no public facilities to speak of, but there will usually be lots of private vendors around renting chairs, selling drinks, etc. The nearest public restroom is at the Marina Village, about a 25-minute walk away. You can no longer get into the Atlantis Beach Tower from the beach without an Atlantis wristband. If you decide you want a day pass, both Riu and Atlantis offer them ( see below ), but you can’t buy them at their beach entrances; they will direct you to go all the way around to the front entrance of the Riu or the front entrance of the Atlantis Coral Towers to buy one, which is about a 25-30 minute walk. The bottom line is that while the beach is technically public, the resorts in front of the beach effectively control access to most facilities and for most travelers we would suggest buying a day pass to experience this beach.

Paid Beach Day Passes :

For a more relaxing beach experience, it may be worth your while to get a day pass for one of the hotels in the area , which will generally give you access to their private beach, or to a reserved area on a public beach with beach chairs and umbrellas, plus access to the rest of their hotel including pools, bathrooms, towels, recreation equipment, etc. Lunch is sometimes included with a day pass, but be sure to read the included amenities to be sure. Note that these hotel’s websites never seem to have any information about day passes. To find out more, you must generally call the hotel directly. The Bahamas uses the US/Canada phone prefix (1), so you can direct-dial Bahamas numbers easily. It is an international call from the US or Canada, so you might want to check what your phone company is going to charge before calling. Some of these hotels also have an email address, but our experience emailing foreign hotels is hit-or-miss. Some respond immediately and some never respond. All prices below were correct when we last checked them, but are subject to change without warning.

During peak times (spring break and Christmas, most notably), the resorts will be very full and the prices may be higher. The day passes tend to sell out, so it may be hard to get one as a walk-up guest. Pre-book if possible, or get to the resort as early as you can the morning you arrive. And of course even if you get a pass during peak season, it may be harder to find an empty beach chair or snag a kayak if you don’t arrive early.

• British Colonial, Nassau is a beautiful colonial-era hotel that was renovated extensively in 2023. Its best feature is its proximity to the cruise terminal – you can easily stroll there in 10 minutes. Just exit the cruise terminal, turn right and walk along the street for about 4 blocks. They have a private beach (with a view mostly of the port and cruise ships), and a nice restaurant. They offer a beach pass for $100 for adults, $55 for children. You can buy the pass in advance from ResortForADay . Direct phone: +1-242-605-9900
• Margaritaville Beach Resort is a new-ish resort right in downtown Nassau. It has multiple food outlets, a nice beach with a view of the cruise ships, and a small water park with a lazy river and a few water slides. It’s easy to get to – you just go out to the street, turn right, and walk along Bay Street for about 10-15 minutes. It’s just before Junkanoo Beach. A day pass is $110 for adults and $55 for children. This just includes access to the grounds, including the water park and beach area. No food or drink is included. You can buy the pass in advance from ResortForADay . Direct phone: +1-242-603-8400
• Breezes Bahamas is on Cable Beach, and only open to ages 14+, and at times (spring break) only 18+ . This is an all-inclusive resort, so day passes include all-you-can-eat food and drink including beer, wine, and cocktails for those over 18. Walk-up day passes are $110/person, or you can buy in advance from  ResortForADay . Direct phone: +1-242-327-5356
• Sandals Royal Bahamian is on the far end of Cable Beach, even further down than the Melia. It is an adults-only resort, so all guests must be 18+. They have by all accounts some of the nicest facilities in Nassau. This is an all-inclusive resort, so day passes include all-you-can-eat food and drink including beer, wine, and cocktails for those over 18. Walk-up day passes are at last report $115/person for 10 am – 6 pm. Direct phone: +1-242-327-6400
• Atlantis Paradise Island is on Cabbage Beach and last we checked, offers a beach day pass for $85 for all ages (4+), which includes lunch and access to the Dig aquarium (but not the pools or Aquaventure water park). Direct phone: +1-242-363-3000
• Riu Palace is also on Cabbage Beach, next to Atlantis.  It is an adults-only resort, so all guests must be 18+. This is an all-inclusive resort; day passes include all-you-can eat food and drink including beer, wine and cocktails. Day passes are available in person, or in advance for $160 through ResortForADay . Direct phone: +1-242-363-3500
• Blue Lagoon is best known for their popular Dolphin Encounter, but you can book a beach day on their private island for $94 for adults (13+), $70 for children (4-12), including lunch. Booking directly is a little cheaper than the Disney-arranged excursion, but you’ll have to take a cab to and from the Paradise Island Ferry Terminal to get to the embarkation point for the ferry to the island, whereas Disney includes all transportation and leaves from a dock near the cruise ship, so for most people booking this with Disney is the better option. More information: +1-866-918-9932
• Other day passes may be available from ResortForADay . The mix of resorts offering day passes changes from time to time, so it’s worth checking out what’s available on the date you’ll be in Nassau.

Other Nassau Recommendations

• The Fish Fry is a group of colorful restaurants and bars just a few blocks from downtown Nassau. It’s a good place to get authentic local food, including the local shellfish: conch (pronounced “KONK”). You can eat conch in many forms: fritters (which are generally heavy on the batter and light on the conch), “cracked conch” which is lightly battered and fried conch strips, tangy conch salad (kind of like ceviche), or spicy conch chowder (which has both cream and tomatoes, kind of like a cross between New England and Manhattan styles). You can also get fried or grilled grouper, snapper and other local fish. There are usually at least a few non-fish items on the menu for folks who aren’t fans of seafood. You can walk to it fairly easily in about 15-20 minutes, or take a very short cab ride. Just come out of the cruise terminal, turn right, and follow the road along the shore past the British Colonial Hilton, past Junkanoo Beach, and about two more blocks through Clifford Park until you see the row of fish joints. This is not fancy eating and may not be a good choice for picky eaters or young children (though most places have simple food like fries and chicken fingers available), but it is real Bahamian food and not expensive (at least not compared to other Nassau options), and during the day the walk is safe. You can Google “fish fry Nassau” for specific restaurant recommendations, but the competition here is fierce and tends to keep the quality up, so following your nose and checking out what other people seem to be enjoying is a good strategy.
• The Ardastra Gardens & Zoo is quite nice. It’s a small private zoo with some lovely grounds and a famous (and fairly amusing) “marching flamingos” show. Exactly how much the flamingos are “marching” versus “running away from the trainer” is debatable, but it’s all in fun and the narration doesn’t take the show too seriously. You can also feed apple chunks to Australian lorys (a kind of small parrot), who will land right on your hands and shoulders to take apple pieces. They have a wide variety of other interesting animals, including rare black swans. It’s good for a few hours, and our recommendation is not to bother with the Disney excursion that includes an overlong “island tour.” Just take a taxi there, and when you’re done, ask the Ardastra folks to call you a taxi back to the ship. You can also walk to/from Ardastra; it’s very near the Fish Fry. It’s about a 5-minute walk from the Fish Fry or a 20-25 minute walk from the cruise terminal, but definitely get a map at the cruise terminal; it’s tucked in among a bunch of houses and not in an obvious location. If possible, try to time your visit so you’ll be there for a lory feeding and flamingo show; the schedule is listed on the Ardastra Gardens & Zoo website .
• The Versailles Garden and Cloisters is a lovely terraced garden on Paradise Island that contains the ruins of a French monastery. The monastery was moved from France to the US by newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst, and subsequently to the Bahamas by supermarket heir and developer Huntington Hartford , who thought it would look nice on the resort island he was developing. The gardens are now part of the The Four Seasons Ocean Club Resort , but a good portion is open to the public. The gardens are in a narrow strip of land that goes from the resort to the water, going down to sunken gardens and back up to the cloisters. You can easily enter the gardens from Paradise Island Drive, the main artery going east-west on the island. If you walk south from the road, you’ll pass through the cloister and eventually reach an overlook with a gazebo and beautiful view of the water. If you walk north from the road toward the resort, you’ll get to see a fair amount of the gardens, but will eventually encounter security who will turn you away if you’re not a guest of the resort. If you want to see the whole gardens including the portion near the resort, you can have lunch at the Dune restaurant (which is nice, but very pricey) at The Ocean Club, then walk out through the gardens. Keep your receipt from the restaurant just in case you walk out past a guard and then want to get back in. You can take a cab here from the cruise terminal, or walk to or from here from Atlantis, the Comfort Suites, or the Marina Village; it’s about a 10-15 minute walk from the Marina Village down Paradise Island Drive on a paved pedestrian walkway. There is also a free shuttle van between Atlantis and the Ocean Club. Ask about it at the Atlantis front desk.
• John Watling’s Rum Distillery  is built around a large and lovely renovated historic house. The highlight is a FREE self-guided walk through that tells you about the history of the location and how rum is made. The actual rum production facilities are a little underwhelming, and are basically a big warehouse full of barrels with some stainless steel tanks and equipment in the back. The rum itself is perfectly fine and makes a unique souvenir, as it isn’t easily available outside the Bahamas. There is a lounge at the end of the tour where you can buy small samples of the rum for a few dollars per pour, and a gift shop where you can buy t-shirts, mugs, glasses and, of course, rum. You can bring children on the tour (though obviously they can’t buy rum), but it’s not the most exciting thing for kids. Depending on how long you care to stay, you can spend as little as 15 minutes on the tour or perhaps as long as 45 if you love learning about rum. For us at least, the house itself and the history displays were the most interesting part.

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Falmouth, Jamaica Excursions...What did you do?

• Thread starter Reddaisy
• Start date Nov 25, 2015

Earning My Ears

• Nov 25, 2015

Uncleromulus

Plain grey will be fine.

Did the Greenwood House tour. The house--tho somewhat rundown--was very interesting. The "tour" of the oldest church is nothing but a tourist trap--it isn't even open to look inside. We didn't even exit the van. Should add that outside the main dock shopping area (which is fenced in) is a rather "unsavory" area to say the least. Felt fairly safe in our van, tho lots of cold stares from the various people as we rode by. Would recommend the tour if the Browning Family history is of interest-and also the stunning view from the house verandah. To add that we took this tour just a few weeks ago--  

IAMASTITCHER

Enjoying the cruising life.

Did the Hope Plantation tour. That was nice and interesting history of the area.  

Twelve plus trips and counting

We went to Dunn's River Falls and climbed the waterfall. My kids loved it, but it is a fairly active excursion and definitely not for everybody.  

DIS Sponsor in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado

After reading lots of both Disboard and Cruise Critic reviews about the excursions, we opted for the ultimate of laziness non-excursion that still got us off the ship...we explored the shops around the "secure" dock complex in the morning then wandered over to Margaritaville early enough to snag two loungers by their pool and swim up bar in partial shade. Spent a wonderful couple hours there nursing drinks, ordering appetizers, swimming, reading, and using their free w-fi to catch up on (non-work) emails and post some Facebook pictures. There's no cover charge and no minimum order charge and there were pool games and karaoke games for kids, and our giant refillable souvenir boat drink glasses, appetizers, and the photo we bought from a pool photographer made our entire "excursion" cost under $50. Bought a bottle of rum cream in one of the many shops it was available in to take back with us. This was a year ago before the alcohol policy change, so once back onboard, DH and I and our cruise buddies filled up our huge DVC member giveaway mugs with soft ice cream from the upper deck, brought them back to our stateroom and then made rum cream sundaes out them. Next trip to Falmouth we'll have to just wait til after the cruise for our rum cream. Normally we are way more adventurous in ports, but the reviews of Falmouth just didn't inspire us to venture out. It's an option.  

Yeah--Falmouth has --at least--the look of an unsavory port once outside the fenced in safe area. I had a couple of Red Stripes myself at that Margaretaville!!!  

Thank you all for your responses! Keep 'em coming!  

We stopped at Falmouth on our cruise in October. We did the Dunn's River Falls excursion. It was great even though it was a little challenging! At the port, we boarded a bus for Ocho Rios. Once we got there, we boarded a catamaran and headed to the falls. We stopped along the way to snorkel for about a half hour. When we arrived at the falls, the boat docked at the beach and we split into groups to climb the falls. As I said the climb was challenging, but a lot of fun! The scenery was beautiful! It was lush and jungle-like. We climbed from the beach to the top of the falls. Climbing was a little slippery and treacherous at times, but our guide told us where to step and kept an eye on us. We stopped along the way to slide down a rock, take the "Nestea" plunge, and get a waterfall massage. The only drawback was the crowds of people also climbing the falls. There were probably 10 other groups climbing at the same time. However, they didn't really get in our way. My DH and I are glad we did this excursion before we got too old to handle climbing over rocks in rushing water. When we got back on the catamaran, the crew served us rum punch, beer, and water. We partied all the way back to Ocho Rios. If you are looking for an active adventure that kids can do, I recommend Dunn's River Falls! Gayl  

DIS Veteran

We did the Green Grotto and beach excursion. The caves were interesting but VERY hot and humid. The beach was nice and the lunch was good. Not much shopping on this one which was fine with me.  

timrousbeastie

Wee, sleekit, cow'rin, ....

Reddaisy said: We are only interesting in booking an excursion through DCL . What excursions have you done in Falmouth, Jamaica? What did you like/dislike about your excursion? Thanks for your help! Click to expand...

These are all great! How far is Margaritaville from the ship?  

Scillycruisers

Mouseketeer.

,we did the Chukka beach break, followed by a stroll around the shops and a visit to Margaritaville. This is right by where the ship docks in the fenced off area.  

Retired and living 2 miles from The Castle.

skylynx said: Bought a bottle of rum cream in one of the many shops it was available in to take back with us. Click to expand...

Reddaisy said: These are all great! How far is Margaritaville from the ship? Click to expand...

OKW Lover said: A very short walk within the protected area. Check out this thread: http://www.disboards.com/threads/falmouth-port-private-tour-to-the-blue-hole-trip-report.3357936/ There is a map in the first post. Margaritaville is near #15 IIRC. Click to expand...

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Top 10 Falmouth Excursions

• Blue Hole & Falls ($109.99)
• Dunn's River Falls & River Tubing ($124.99)
• River Tubing & Beach ($99.99)
• River Kayaking & Beach ($79.99)
• Dunn's River Falls, Lunch and Cocktails ($104.99)
• Wild Orchid Day Pass ($182.99)
• Tubing & Beach ($79.99)
• River Rafting & Beach Adventure ($79.99)
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• Round-trip transportation from your Falmouth cruise ship terminal!
• Air-conditioned, fully licensed, and insured transportation!
• English-speaking certified Falmouth cruise excursion guides!
• All entrance fees and taxes!
• Jump, dive, and swim in the Blue Hole waterfalls!
• Climb up Dunns River Falls!
• English-speaking certified shore excursion guides/drivers!
• Entrance fee to Dunn's River Falls!
• Tubing gear and equipment included!
• Fun combo shore excursion of Dunn's River Falls climb and river tubing!
• Shopping time included!
• Entrance to River Tubing Park!
• Entrance to Bamboo Beach Club!
• Lunch, house cocktails, 3 alcoholic and 3 non-alcoholic beverages included!
• Option to purchase extra food and drinks onsite!
• English-speaking river shore excursion guide!
• English-speaking Jamaica river kayaking shore excursion guides!
• River Kayaking on Rio Bueno River!
• Beach break at Bengal Beach!
• Entrance to Reggae Hill!
• Lunch, house cocktails, and beverages are included!
• English-speaking shore excursion guide!
• Round-trip transportation from your Falmouth cruise terminal!
• All you want lunch buffet and open bar (alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages)!
• Swimming pool, Jacuzzi, lounge chairs, towel service, snorkel gear, and more included!
• Adults-only Resort Day Pass Excursion for cruise ship passengers to Falmouth Jamaica!
• Option to stay longer and return on your own!
• Limited to 30 resort day passes per day! Book early!
• English-speaking Jamaica river tubing shore excursion guides!
• River Tubing on Rio Bueno River!
• English-speaking waterfalls and river rafting shore excursion guide!
• River Rafting on Rio Bueno River!
• English-speaking certified driver/guide and hosts!
• Access to Blue Waters Beach Club facilities including showers, bathrooms, and beach chairs!
• Delicious Jamaican Jerk lunch plus rum punch or soft drink!
• Free WiFi at Blue Waters Beach Club on Paradise Beach!
• Visit the historical sites of Falmouth: the Old Georgian Building, Water Square, the Old Port, St. Peter's Anglican Church, and the Old Courthouse!
• English-speaking certified guides!
• Entrance fees to Rose Hall Great House and Doctor's Cave Beach are included!
• The best highlights and sights of Montego Bay include the crafts market, Hip Strip, Dr.'s Cave Beach, and more!
• Certified guide!
• Jamaica sightseeing on the way to Martha Brae River!
• Relaxing bamboo river float!
• City tour and shopping time!
• Round-trip transportation from your Falmouth cruise ship pier!
• English-speaking certified shore excursion guides!
• Entrance fee to Dunn's River Falls included!
• Jerk-style lunch included!
• Sightseeing - Fern Gully, Ocho Rios, and more of Jamaica!
• Climb the famous Dunn's River Falls!
• This RIU Resort Adults Only All Inclusive Day Pass is valid from 10:00 AM to 06:00 PM (transportation not included)!
• Three different bars, including one Sports Bar and one swim-up pool!
• Buffet lunch at Mahoe Bay Restaurant with an international and local menu!
• Jerk Hut at the beach with Jamaican national dishes, including the worldwide famous "Jerk Chicken"!
• Entertainment activities with the friendly entertainment team!
• Two large pools are provided with sunbeds and umbrellas, one for activities and another one with the swim-up bar!
• Beach access is provided with sunbeds!
• Access to the Gym!
• The Falmouth Royalton White Sands Resort Day Pass is valid from 09:00 AM to 05:00 PM!
• Lobby bar service is available from the moment you arrive!
• Unlimited snacks and a full buffet lunch!
• Unlimited beverages at any of the resort bars!
• Enjoy the on-site water park for all ages!
• Use of the pools and children's pirate-themed water park!
• Sun chairs by the pool and beach (first come first serve)!
• Towel service is available from 7 AM(first come first serve)!
• Non-motorized water sports equipment (kayaks, snorkeling, ping pong, beach volleyball, cooking classes, dance classes, trivia games, beach and pool Olympics, and more!)
• Bathroom and changing facilities!
• Kid's Club with supervised indoor and outdoor activities!
• Complimentary Wi-Fi in common areas!
• Spa services are available at extra cost!
• Round trip transportation from your Falmouth cruise ship terminal!
• Air-conditioned, fully licensed and insured shore excursion transportation!
• English speaking, local and trained excursion guides!
• Your choice of river kayaking, tubing, rafting or boarding excursions!
• All necessary safety equipment (gloves, shin pads, helmet, life vest, etc)!
• Delicious Jamaican lunch at beach location!
• Complimentary naturally flavored waters and soft drinks!
• Class 1 and 2 rapids river excursion fun!
• Air-conditioned, fully licensed and insured transportation!
• English speaking certified guide!
• Climb the famous Dunns River Falls!
• Choose River Tubing, Rafting, Kayaking or River Boarding at Rio Bueno!
• Delicious Jamaican Lunch and one beverage!
• Beach break at private Bengal Beach!
• Available at all 3 cruise ports in Jamaica - Falmouth, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios!
• English-speaking certified guide!
• Tubing down class 1 and 2 whitewater rapids - safe and fun for all!
• Private beach break afterward - bonus!
• This Falmouth horseback riding cruise excursion is available at all 3 cruise ports in Jamaica - Falmouth, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios!
• Round trip transportation from your Falmouth cruise ship terminal is included if 4 in your group or combined (otherwise available at a nominal fee)!
• Cold drink!
• Ride and swim your horse in the Jamaican ocean!
• Private beach break afterward!
• Round trip transportation from your Falmouth cruise terminal!
• Family friendly!
• Relaxation pool, pool with swim-up bar, 2 heated whirlpools!
• Non-motorized watersports (windsurfing and kayaks)!
• Beach and pool lounge chairs and towels!
• Free WiFi in common areas!
• Secluded pool for adults only with swim-up bar!
• Use of Hyatt Ziva (next door) pool for volleyball or other activities!
• Resort day pass hours are 09:30 to 04:30 only!
• Available at all 3 cruise ports in Jamaica - Falmouth, Montego Bay, and Ocho Rios!
• River rafting gear included!
• Class 1 and 2 whitewater rapids - safe and fun for the family 
• Jamaican private beach break afterward - bonus!
• English-speaking certified kayaking guides!
• Guided kayaking excursion of Martha Brae mangroves and lagoon with all instructions, equipment, and professional supervision!
• Complimentary Jamaican-style lunch - delicious jerk chicken and side dishes!
• Lockers are available at the lagoon!
• Relaxing Beach Break with a beach chair!

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Our Falmouth tour and transport company offers the best Falmouth shore excursions, Falmouth private tours and things to do for cruise ship passengers and hotel tourist seeking personalized tours, best service and best rates to explore the Island of Jamaica, our selection of land and water activities include Dunn’s river falls, bobsled zipline, blue hole, sightseeing, shopping experience, mountain expeditions, bird feeding, horse riding, cultural tours, herb plantation, coffee plantation, scuba diving, catamaran sailing, party boats, deep sea sport fishing, local beach, glass bottom boat, parasailing, jet skiing, white river tubing, swimming with dolphins, private sail and snorkelling cruises, swimming with sharks, stingrays and reef exploring and more.

Our Falmouth tour and transport service specializes in private group tours for cruise ship passengers and hotel stopover guest, you can choose your Falmouth day trip or Falmouth excursion from our catalog of tours or book and hire a private vehicle and driver service to customize your personal travel itinerary.

Once your cruise ship gets into pier at Falmouth, we are aware that you would want to leave for your private tour, excursion as soon as possible, so we recommend that you book and secure your Falmouth private excursion, Falmouth transport service in advance to save time and not worry about trying to find a private driver at the pier and negotiating taxi fares.

Our team of Falmouth drivers and tour guides are experienced in providing private shore excursions from Falmouth and have proper time management skills that will ensure that you get back to the cruise ship on time.

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Private Group Transportation from Port Falmouth

Martha Brae Rafting Excursion Falmouth

Dunn’s River Falls & Blue Hole Excursion Falmouth

Mystic Mountain, Sky Explorer & Bobsled Ride Excursion from Falmouth

BLUE HOLE & RIVER RAINFOREST ADVENTURE TOUR Falmouth

Rockland Bird Feeding & Sightseeing Excursion Falmouth

WHITE RIVER TUBING & SIGHTSEEING EXCURSION Falmouth

Large Private Coach Bus & Driver for Hire Port Falmouth

Historical Great House Excursion Falmouth

Doctors Cave Beach & Margaritaville From Falmouth

Private Minivan & Driver for Hire Port Falmouth

White River Kayaking Excursion from Falmouth

SWAMP SAFARI EXCURSION Falmouth

Dunn’s River Falls & Ocho Rios Sightseeing Excursion Falmouth

Falmouth Private Bus And Driver Service

Dunn’s River Falls & River Tubing Excursion Falmouth

White River Kayak and Local Beach from Falmouth

Hampden Estate Rum Tour from Falmouth

Bob Marley Excursion Falmouth

Private 20 Passenger Bus & Driver for Hire Pier Falmouth

Dunn’s River Falls And Snorkeling Adventure Tour from Falmouth

8 Best Cruises to Jamaica for Every Type of Traveler

T here’s no other voyage quite like a cruise to Jamaica , the Caribbean island that’s the birthplace of both reggae music and the legendary musician Bob Marley. When your ship arrives in port, you’ll find reef-lined sandy beaches, soaring mountains, tropical rainforests, and rum cocktails you’ll be daydreaming about for months. 

Jamaica is home to five cruise ports equipped to handle everything from intimate yachts to mega-ships. Ocho Rios is Jamaica’s largest port and a gateway to attractions like Dunn’s River Falls. Montego Bay is a golfer’s dream while Kingston, the Jamaican capital, offers an opportunity to visit the Bob Marley Museum and dine at a restaurant owned by Olympian Usain Bolt. Here's everything to know about booking a cruise to Jamaica .

All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This story has been updated with new information since its original publish date.

What cruise lines sail to Jamaica?

Several cruise lines sail to Jamaica with most itineraries departing from the United States. Royal Caribbean sails to Jamaica from Tampa, Florida. Celebrity cruises to both Ocho Rios and another Jamaican port, Falmouth. Carnival has several itineraries that stop in Jamaica, including a few that sail the Panama Canal. Carnival Cruise Line and Princess Cruises sail to both Montego Bay, located on the northern side of the island, and Ocho Rios. MSC, Norwegian , and Holland America also include Jamaica on their cruise itineraries. 

MSC alone offers more than 50 cruises that stop in Jamaica.

Jamaica cruise itineraries often depart from Texas or Florida and include other Caribbean islands. Some include more adventures, sailing to Central America or through the Panama Canal. 

What cruise ships sail to Jamaica?

Cruises to Jamaica tend to be longer, with many itineraries falling into the five- to seven-night range, so you’ll need more than a long weekend for this vacation. Ships sailing here tend to be larger and stacked with onboard entertainment and activities. Most ships sailing to Jamaica, like Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas , the Norwegian Escape , and the MSC Meraviglia , carry thousands of passengers, but Viking Cruises and Oceania Cruises sail to Jamaica on ships that carry 1,200 passengers or less.

Whatever kind of cruise experience you’re looking for, you can find it on a ship headed toward the sandy beaches and reggae beats of Jamaica. These are some of the best Jamaica cruises for every kind of traveler. 

Which Jamaica cruise port is better?

Ocho Rios on Jamaica’s northern coast is the island's largest and best-located cruise port. It offers easy access to two of Jamaica’s top attractions—Dunn’s River Falls and Mystic Mountain, where you’ll find bobsledding and zip-lining—and several of Jamaica’s most popular activities. In Ocho Rios, you can ride horses on the beach, take a tour to learn about Bob Marley and the roots of reggae music, or relax on sandy beaches. The port is a quick walk from town, making it easy to explore on your own if you choose not to take an excursion.  

What is the best month to cruise to Jamaica?

There’s no place like Jamaica to escape winter. Jamaica’s dry season stretches from mid-December through April and brings sunny days with pleasant temperatures. Cruise to Jamaica between mid-December and April for perfect beach days and good weather for exploring rainforests and local markets. Avoid cruising the Caribbean in August and September, which is peak hurricane season. 

Find the right cruise for you:

• Best Jamaica cruises for solo travelers  
• Best Jamaica cruises for thrill-seekers  
• Best cruise to Jamaica for families  

Best cruise to Jamaica for relaxing

• Best cruise to Jamaica for partying  
• Best megaship cruise to Jamaica  
• Best smaller ship Jamaica cruise  
• Best long cruise to Jamaica  

Best Jamaica cruises for solo travelers 

Holland America, one of the best cruise lines for solo travelers , offers a seven-night Western Caribbean itinerary that includes a full day in port in Ocho Rios. Check out Dunn’s River Falls and go for a swim at the Blue Hole. Relax on a bamboo raft, ride horses, listen to reggae or try zip-lining. Back on board the Nieuw Statendam , enjoy having one of the ship’s 12 oceanview solo staterooms all to yourself. These solo staterooms are small —between 127 and 172 square feet— but with so much to do onboard that might not matter. The Nieuw Statendam is a Pinnacle Class ship with several live entertainment venues, an expansive fitness center, shopping, and a spa. There are multiple dining options on board, and the cruise line hosts several events for solo travelers each sailing. The Nieuw Statendam ’s Western Caribbean itinerary departs from Fort Lauderdale, Florida , and also stops in Cozumel, the Cayman Islands, and the Bahamas. 

Book now with Holland America

Best Jamaica cruises for thrill-seekers 

Royal Caribbean cruises to Falmouth, Jamaica, on the Independence of the Seas , a modern cruise ship made for unforgettable adventures at sea. Spend your Jamaica port day zip-lining, bobsledding, or snorkeling. Try white-water rafting or go tubing through the Jamaican jungle. Climb to the top of Dunn’s River Falls or opt for a lazy day on a gorgeous beach eating beef patties. Back on board the Independence of the Seas , try out the 40-foot-long FlowRider surf simulator or scale an outdoor rock climbing wall with epic ocean views. Play glow-in-the-dark laser tag or race down dueling waterslides. You might just find yourself wishing for more sea days. The ship sails from and returns to Miami . Five-night itineraries also stop in Labadee, Haiti. 

Book now with Royal Caribbean

Best cruise to Jamaica for families 

If you’re looking for a cruise line that’s got something for everyone , MSC has you covered. The MSC Meraviglia starts its Caribbean journey in Port Canaveral, Florida, giving families a chance to visit Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, or the Kennedy Space Center before heading out on an unforgettable Caribbean vacation. The  11-night itinerary visits the Bahamas, Aruba, Curaçao, Dominican Republic, and Ocho Rios, Jamaica. In Ocho Rios, guests can choose from several excursions including a traditional bamboo rafting tour. Adults may prefer the island tour and rum-tasting excursion. That excursion dives into the history of the island, taking travelers to historical sights as well as scenic spots. Guests learn about rum production on the island while sampling locally made rums. Juice tastings are available for any kids who may want to join this experience. 

But there’s so much to do on the Meraviglia , it may be tough to get your kids off the ship. The ship is home to a full-size bowling alley, F1 simulators, an epic waterpark with twisty slides and a sports field. There’s also a kid’s club, several shows to choose from, and an expansive pool. 

Book now with MSC

For a relaxing Jamaican cruise, jump on board the brand new Celebrity Beyond , which sails a  nine-night Caribbean itinerary round trip from Fort Lauderdale. The Celebrity Beyond is the cruise line’s newest ship. It boasts 32 restaurants, bars, and lounges and has a spa that offers a selection of more than 120 treatments. The cruise makes its first stop in Grand Cayman before stopping in Aruba and Curacao. Its last stop is Falmouth, Jamaica, a town with cobblestone streets lined with Georgian architecture that sits between Ocho Rios and Montego Bay. From Falmouth, cruise passengers can opt to ride a bamboo raft along the Martha Brae River, climb to the top of Dunn’s River Falls, or lounge on the beach. This is an area of Jamaica known for its long emerald rivers, caves, waterfalls, and beaches, there may be no better place to relax in Jamaica. 

For a longer cruise, consider the  Celebrity Beyond ’s 11-night Southern Caribbean itinerary which adds a stop in Cartagena, Colombia. 

Book now with Celebrity

Best cruise to Jamaica for partying 

If you’re looking to party on your Jamaican cruise , look no further than Carnival Cruise Line. Carnival is the cruise line for travelers looking to let loose on vacation and is known for its fun onboard atmosphere. Carnival sails to Ocho Rios and Montego Bay from Florida. 

The  Carnival Sunrise sails roundtrip from Miami to Ocho Rios, Jamaica's most popular cruise port. This five-night itinerary starts with a day at sea—the perfect way to ease yourself into vacation mode, especially if you spent the night before sailing sampling Miami’s epic nightlife. The ship’s first port is Ocho Rios, where travelers can climb the 600-foot Dunn’s River Falls, drive a dune buggy through Jamaican woodlands, swim with dolphins, ride horses on the beach or try out river tubing. The ship stops in Grand Cayman before making its way back to Miami. 

Onboard, spend your sea days sipping cocktails by the pool. Spend your evenings at the Red Frog Pub, the onboard piano bar, or laughing your heart out at the ship’s comedy club. 

Book now with Carnival

Best megaship cruise to Jamaica 

To cruise to Jamaica with everything you could ever want on board, book yourself on the Norwegian Escape , a ship built in 2015 that can accommodate more than 4,200 passengers. This is a ship with dining options to suit even the pickiest palates. There’s even an American Diner on board should you get a little homesick. 

The Escape cruises to Jamaica on a  seven-day itinerary that includes stops in Cozumel, Mexico, George Town, Grand Cayman, and Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas, in addition to Ocho Rios, where it spends a full day in port. Excursion options in Ocho Rios include a 4x4 safari to Dunn’s River Falls, island sightseeing and beach breaks.

The itinerary includes two sea days, offering plenty of time for lounging by the pool or relaxing by the spa. Or try your hand at the ship’s ropes course and catch a show at the onboard comedy club. 

Book now with Norwegian

Best smaller ship Jamaica cruise 

If you’re looking for a luxury cruise experience and a trip of a lifetime that stops in Jamaica, Viking has you covered with its  15-day Panama Canal and Central America itinerary on board the Viking Star. The Viking Star is smaller than most of the cruise ships that call on Jamaica. It accommodates just 930 guests, ensuring top-notch service for everyone on board. 

​​Being a smaller ship, you won't find the same breadth of dining and entertainment offerings on board the Viking Star as you may on other cruise lines calling on Jamaica, but you're guaranteed not to get hungry or get bored on this luxury vessel. The Viking Star has two pools, a spa, and a fitness center. It also has a sports deck, piano lounge, and a handful of dining venues. This is a cruise line that focuses on enrichment, so expect lots of opportunities to learn about your destinations along the way. 

Viking’s Panama Canal and Central America journey begins and ends in Fort Lauderdale. It takes passengers on a once-in-a-lifetime journey to Cozumel, Mexico; Belize City, Belize; Roatan, Honduras; and Puerto Limon, Costa Rica, before sailing through a portion of the Panama Canal. Its last stop before returning to Fort Lauderdale is Montego Bay. 

Book now with Viking

Best long cruise to Jamaica 

Oceania's  27-day Rome to Miami Grand Caribbean Crossing may be the most exciting way to make your way to Jamaica. This epic journey begins in Rome and spends a day sailing the Mediterranean Sea before sailing to Valencia and Santa Cruz de Tenerife in Spain. From Spain, the Oceania Vista crosses the Atlantic Ocean for just over two weeks of hopping around some of the Caribbean's top destinations. The cruise stops in Antigua, Puerto Rico, and Cozumel, before eventually making its way to Montego Bay. 

This itinerary does include several sea days, but with cabins that feel more like a home than a room on a ship, lots of great food, and a selection of cocktail experiences, you may not mind. The luxurious ship also offers cooking classes, shows, a spa, and lots of gorgeous photo spots. 

Book now with Oceania

Travel | MSC Cruises to bring a 2nd ship to Port Canaveral

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MSC Grandiosa was the first Meraviglia Plus class ship for MSC Cruises. It debuted in 2019. (Courtesy/Ivan Sarfatti/MSC Cruises)

The Wild Forest Aquapark on MSC Grandiosa. (Courtesy/Ivan Sarfatti/MSC Cruises)

The Safari pool on MSC Grandiosa. (Courtesy/Ivan Sarfatti/MSC Cruises)

The Galleria Grandiosa on MSC Grandiosa. (Courtesy/Ivan Sarfatti/MSC Cruises)

L'Atelier Bistro on MSC Grandiosa. (Courtesy/Ivan Sarfatti/MSC Cruises)

The Lego-themed kids club on MSC Grandiosa. (Courtesy/Ivan Sarfatti/MSC Cruises)

MSC Grandiosa will begin seven-night Caribbean itineraries in December 2025 for the winter sailing season while MSC Seashore remains, but sailing short three- and four-night Bahamas sailings to Nassau and the cruise line’s private island Ocean Cay.

It’s the largest MSC ship yet to sail from the port. The Meraviglia Plus-class vessel is among the top 20 largest cruise ships worldwide at 181,541 gross tons and a maximum passenger capacity of 6,334. It debuted in 2019 and features a water park, five pools, nine hot tubs, spa, the MSC Yacht Club exclusive area and a Lego partnership in its kids clubs.

One of the more dramatic features is the 323-foot-long Galleria Grandiosa promenade with an LED projection screen over the length of the walkway. The ship features 10 restaurants including the Butcher’s Cut steakhouse, Hola! Tacos & Cantina, Kaito Sushi, Kaito Tepanyaki and L’Atelier Bistrot.

This is its first time taking on North American duties, and its arrival coincides with the debut out of PortMiami of the MSC World America, which will be even larger.

“The Winter 2025-2026 season will mark our largest presence in the U.S. to date, and our expansion at Port Canaveral is a big part of that,” said MSC Cruises USA President Rubén A. Rodríguez in a press release. “We know people sailing from Central Florida want options, and we’re delighted to offer them two of our most modern and glamorous ships with itineraries that will appeal to everyone from first-time to seasoned cruisers.”

MSC first began sailing from the port in 2021, joining mainstays Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Norwegian. It has shuffled several ships for short runs for what Rodríguez said was a taste of what MSC has to offer. That has included MSC Divina, MSC Meraviglia and MSC Seashore.

The family-owned cruise line has its roots in Europe, so the line plays up its “unique international flavor” compared with the other lines, while also touting its environmental efforts such as can be found on the private Bahamas island, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. It is undergoing a major expansion effort to support excursions and on-island activities.

MSC Grandiosa will trade off alternating eastern and western Caribbean itineraries. Eastern trips will visit Nassau and Ocean Cay, Bahamas; Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands. Western trips will visit Nassau; Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico; George Town, Cayman Islands; Montego Bay and Falmouth, Jamaica; and Belize City, Belize.

“We are honored that MSC Cruises chose Port Canaveral for the North American debut of their magnificent MSC Grandiosa,” said Port Canaveral CEO John Murray in the release. “Expanding their homeport fleet at Port Canaveral underscores their confidence in our partnership and shared commitment to success.”

The growing port for a time took on the title of world’s busiest cruise port after the pandemic, and while PortMiami has since retaken that title, Port Canaveral continues to expand its ship offerings.

The last sailing season saw 16 ships that either homeported year-round or sailed seasonally, and it expects that number to grow to 19 for the 2024-2025 sailing season, including the debuts of Princess Cruises and Celebrity Cruises this fall.

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