Jamaica, a popular Caribbean destination, has been issued a travel advisory by the US State Department due to increased crime. The advisory urges travelers to reconsider visiting the country at this time, with Jamaica now listed as a Level 3 warning of the four-tier system. The advisory notes that violent crimes, such as home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and homicides, are common, including at all-inclusive resorts. Local law enforcement can also be ineffective in responding to incidents, with lengthy prosecution times and different standards of medical care than expected in the US.
Cruise lines visiting Jamaica, such as Carnival Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Holland America Line, TUI Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Seabourn, Silversea, and Marella Cruises, offer a variety of curated shore excursions, or guests can choose to explore the port destinations independently. Popular tours include dolphin swims, snorkeling or other watersports, horseback riding, climbing the iconic Dunn’s River Falls, visiting local rum distilleries, ziplines, jungle hikes, grotto cave explorations, botanical gardens, or the fun and unique « Jamaican Bobsled » mountain coaster. Jamaica is the sixth most popular Caribbean cruise destination, with roughly 1.66 million visitors annually when all its cruise ports are combined.
While no cruise lines are revising their itineraries to exclude stops in Jamaica at this time, cruise guests should always be cautious and stay in well-populated, well-lit public areas and remain vigilant about their surroundings. The safety of guests and crew members is always a top priority, and such revisions can be made if cruise lines determine port calls to become too dangerous. Overall, travelers should carefully consider the travel advisory before visiting Jamaica and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety.
Keywords: Jamaica, travel advisory, crime, US State Department, cruise lines, shore excursions, safety.
