Falmouth is the newest cruise ship port in Jamaica. This deep water port which can accommodate the large Oasis-class ships, which include the Oasis of the Seas and the Allure of the Seas opened in 2010 with the first cruise ships arriving in February 2011.

Built by the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line for a reported $170 million dollars, it is located on the north side of the island, centered between the tourist towns of Montego Bay and Ocho Rios. Although built by RCCL other cruise lines will be permitted to anchor in Port of Falmouth as well.

Long a hub for the shipments of sugar, molasses, rum and coffee from the island, Falmouth has a few interesting historical note attached to it. As with many of the Caribbean islands, Jamaica was integral in the slave trade, but it was in Falmouth that the abolition of slavery started to take root in the early 1800's. Falmouth was also fairly advanced infrastructurally as it had piped water even before New York City - believe it or not.

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Facts

Where is the port?

Cruise ships dock at the Port of Falmouth, which is located on the north side of the island of Jamaica (see map) about an hour west of Ocho Rios and 40 minutes east of Montego Bay. The cruise terminal is still under construction with many hotels, shopping and residential construction in the works as well.

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What language is spoken in Falmouth, Jamaica? Do they speak English?

English is the "official" language of Jamaica, but it has a very melodic, rhythmic quality. Some people also speak Patois, which is a mix of English and some African languages.

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What is the time zone in Falmouth, Jamaica?

Falmouth, Jamaica is on Eastern Standard Time (-5 GMT) with no daylight saving time.

Current Time - Falmouth, Jamaica

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Money & Currency

What is the national currency?

The Jamaican Dollar (JMD) is the official currency. As of October 2011, one American Dollar is equal to 85.25 Jamaican Dollars. Click here for current exchange rates.

Do they accept US Dollars around the port?

Jamaican law requires that Jamaican Dollars are used for all goods and services. This rule is followed rather loosely - some vendors will accept American dollars but you will always get JMD in return. Credit cards are also widely accepted (Visa & MasterCard only.)

Where can I get or exchange money?

Jamaica has official money exchange offices called "cambios". Hotels and banks are also safe places to exchange money. Do not exchange money outside of one of these three types of locations as it is not safe to do so.

• Banks closest to Port: 

  There are many banks within a couple of miles of the Port of Falmouth, below are a few:

  • National Commercial Bank, located less than a quarter mile northwest of the port near Water Square (see map).
  • Scotia Bank, located less than a quarter mile northwest of the port (see map).
• ATMs closest to Port: 

  Scotia Bank has an ATM at Trelawny Wharf, however, if you can help it, don't depend on the availability of ATMs on the island - they are not as common as in other places, and they are frequently out of order. Do not use ATMs at night.

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Stay in Touch

How can I stay in touch with home? (Ex. Email, phone, etc.)

As Falmouth develops further as a port city businesses will

Where are the Internet cafes?

Reportedly there is an Internet Cafe in the Albert George Market in Water Square, walking distance from the port, however, information on Falmouth is a bit sketchy as it is a developing port town, so if you have any firsthand knowledge on this subject please let us know by adding a quick tip or contacting us.

There are also a few restaurants offering free WiFi to patrons, listed below:

• Club Nazz, located half a mile southwest of the port (see map) at 23 Market Street.
• Shapes & Flava Bar N' Grill, located half a mile southwest of the port (see map) at 24 Market Street.
• Rock Wharf, Rock, Falmouth, just 5 minutes east of town. Contact them at (876) 617-2074 or (876) 352-7336
• The Cool Spot Bar and Grill, located approximately 15 minutes west of Falmouth just off the North Coast Highway, on the way to Montego Bay.

What are the cell phone rates?

Verizon is $1.99/minute and AT&T is between $1.69 and $1.99/minute. Contact your cell phone provider for international roaming rates.

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Weather in Falmouth

Falmouth, Jamaica enjoys has a tropical climate with hot weather year round. Short, but heavy rain showers are common between late May and early November. Rain is especially prevalent in September and October, which coincide with the most dangerous months for hurricanes and tropical storms.

Current Temperature

Average Monthly Temperatures and Rainfall in Falmouth

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Getting Around Falmouth, Jamaica

Walking

The downtown area of Falmouth is full of historical sites to explore, particularly 19th Century Georgian architecture. Be aware that oncoming traffic will be coming from the opposite direction (on your side of the road) than in the United States. Don't walk alone, particularly after dark.

Taxis

Taxis are expensive in Jamaica - charges are per car, not per passenger. You need to haggle with the driver and agree on a price BEFORE getting into the cab. Look for taxis with red license plates marked "PPV" (Public Passenger Vehicle) - these are the only cabs that are registered and approved by the government. Using a non-approved taxi can be very dangerous and should absolutely be avoided. Many taxi drivers display the blue "JTB" sticker on their front window - this means they have been approved by the Jamaica Tourist Board, and are generally associated with the hotels and resorts.

Bus

The Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) runs Jamaica's public bus system. Buses run regularly to and from major Jamaican cities, but other routes on the island don't follow set schedules. You can hail a bus from anywhere along the road, but they tend to be extremely crowded as the driver is paid per person.

Car Rentals

Car rentals are available in the port area.

Trolley

The trolley system, which will run along the coast in Falmouth, is one of the many projects which were planned for the restoration of Falmouth.

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Food & Drink

What are the must-eats in Falmouth?

Leon's Lobster Hut is perhaps the best known restaurant in Falmouth. Right on the beach near the Breezes Trelawny Resort, you choose lobster, chicken or beef as your main dish, and it's an "all you can eat" dinner. Along with your choice of meat you get baked potato, sweet potato, yams, crab, and shrimp, all cooked over a campfire.

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What are the must-drinks in Falmouth?

The Glistening Waters Restaurant, at the Marina, is famous for their banana daiquiris and rum punch - you can also get a cold Red Stripe beer, brewed in Jamaica since 1928.

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Souvenirs

Which are the best souvenirs to buy in Falmouth, Jamaica? Where can I get them?

Under $25:

Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum, which can be purchased in the shopping area at Water Square or on the tour of the factory, is a sipping rum finely aged in oak barrels. If you are a connoisseur and looking for something really special try the Limited Edition 30 Year Old Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum.

$25-$75

Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee, which can be purchased in the shopping area at Water Square, makes a delicious gift and/or souvenir of your trip to Jamaica. The coffee beans are grown along the range of hills on the eastern end of Jamaica, known as the Blue Mountains.

Over $75

Local art and wood carvings are always a good choice when looking for a memento of your visit. The wood carvings are especially good in Jamaica. Prices will range according to size of the item(s) and the intricacy of the design.

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Attractions

What are the must-sees in Falmouth? How long will it take me to get there and to explore?

Attractions

• The Good Hope Great House is 20 minutes from Falmouth, and offers an extensive array of activities sure to please everyone in your party. You can choose from horseback riding, river or pool swimming, visiting their potter's studio, or simply exploring the 2000 acre farm with its historic ruins and beautiful scenery. The area is particularly well-known for excellent bird watching opportunities- you may see hummingbirds (including the red and black billed streamertails), woodpeckers, the Jamaican Crow, parrots and the Jamaican Tody.
• The Outameni Experience, located about 15 miles from Falmouth Harbor, is "an interactive cultural journey" combining music, art, dance, film, and drama. They run 11 tours per day, with about 20 people per tour. The "experience" is completely sheltered and not affected by a rainy day.
• The Luminous Lagoon is also known as Jamaica's only natural night-time attraction. Boats leave regularly from Glistening Waters Marina, located a mile and a half west of the port (see map.) for this unique attraction. You can enjoy dinner at their waterfront restaurant and then take the tour which begins at sunset. They say that this natural phenomenon occurs at only three places in the world, and this is one of them. There are microscopic organisms in the water which, when disturbed by the boat, glow with an eerie light. The Marina is located right in Falmouth, at the place where the Martha Brae River meets the ocean.

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Beaches

Doctor's Cave Beach, which is part of the Montego Bay Marine Park, is located 20 miles east of Falmouth and is perhaps the most famous beach on Jamaica. The beach is maintained by the Doctor's Cave Bathing Club. There is a fee to use the beach. Beach chairs and umbrellas are available for rent and there are restaurants, bars, and restrooms as well. Snorkeling is quite good just off the beach. Believed to be fed from natural springs, the waters have been said to have healing powers.

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Shopping

Water Square is the center of town and the shopping area in Falmouth, which features the Albert George Shopping and Historical Centre. It is a market full of craft stalls that date back to 1895. If you are fortunate enough to be in port on a Wednesday, there will be a great variety of local produce and crafts to choose from, which makes for excellent shopping opportunities to be had.

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Golf

• The White Witch Course, located 12 miles west of the port (see map), is one of the highest rated courses in the Caribbean. The course, which sits on the grounds of what used to be a plantation, is named for the plantation's beautiful but wicked 19th century mistress, Annee Palmer. The White Witch Course is a 6,758-yard, par 71, 18-hole championship course. The course boasts a beautiful mountainous terrain and ocean views on 16 of 18 holes. Reservations for tee times can be made online or by contacting the pro shop at (876) 684-0174.
• Cinnamon Hill Golf Course, located 16 miles west of Falmouth (see map), is a par 71, 18-hole course with mountain and ocean views on almost every hole of the course. The course is also near the James Bond movie "Live and Let Die" was filmed and the waterfall that the immortal poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning "How do I love thee, let me count the ways" was written. Reservations for tee times can be made online or by contacting the pro shop at (876) 953-2984 or 3981 or after hours call (866) 699-6938 (US only).
• Half Moon Golf Club, located 13 miles west of Falmouth (see map), is a 7,119 yard, par 72, 18-hole championship course designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. The course is known for being an excellent walking course (not all courses on the island allow walking). Note that caddies are mandatory at this course. Reservations for tee times can be made online.

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Scuba

There is a great variety of diving available in the waters around Jamaica and visibility averages between 60 and over 100 feet. Near Falmouth, walls start as shallow as 25 feet. The top of the reef at sites like Chub Castle is covered with corals, gorgonians and sponges.

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Tours

• The Bamboo Raft Tour on the Martha Brae River is a 75-minute ride on a bamboo raft from Rafter's Village, about 4 miles from the Falmouth Area. You'll see the Great House at the Good Hope Estate, built in 1755 and now restored to its former glory. The Great House sits on 2,000 acres of a former sugar plantation. Currently they grow papaya, ackee, citrus and anthuriums on the property.
• The Falmouth Heritage Walking Tour, operated by Falmouth Heritage Walks, takes you through the historic streets of Falmouth, which has the largest collection of Georgian architecture in the entire Caribbean. At $25 per adult and $19 per child (5 and under are free), this is one of the more affordable tours you may encounter. Your tour guide will provide you the history and the group will provide the safety that walking the streets of Falmouth alone will not. Make sure to apply sunblock, wear comfortable clothes and shoes for this tour, as it is a "walking tour" after all.
• The Appleton Estate Rum Factory Tour is not just informational and fun, but comes with a complementary bottle of rum. You will learn historical information of the Appleton Estate on the tour as well as visit the distillery itself. There will be a demonstration of the rum aging and blending process followed by rum tasting.
• The J Charles Swaby Black River Safari is a 45-minute eco-tour where you will see crocodiles, birds, snakes and other creatures among the mangroves on his two-acre property. Jaital Tours offers excursions to Dunn's River Falls, a river kayaking adventure, or a fun day on a zip-line course.

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Other

Use caution as you would in any port city - don't flash money or expensive jewelry, don't walk alone at night and, as a precaution, lock your car doors even when you are in the car. Avoid deserted beaches, and don't leave valuables in your car. Stay alert!

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