Montego Bay Cruise Port Guide

Want to maximise your port time in Montego Bay Cruise Port?

Here’s a guide to this popular Jamaican port of call with some suggestions of how to spend a day in Montego Bay.

About Montego Bay

Montego Bay is a north Jamaican cruise port that is an alternative to Ocho Rios or Falmouth.

Affectionately called Mo Bay, it is the second largest city in Jamaica by area, and fourth biggest by population. It’s situated on the north coast of Jamaica.

The port of Montego Bay is a popular cruise port on a Western Caribbean cruise from Fort Lauderdale and is frequently on the itineraries of Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line.

Montego Bay Cruise Line Terminal

Cruise ships dock at the Montego Bay Terminal. The terminal is a large empty building and it’s here where you can meet for your excursions.

From this building you can walk outside but just remember you will need to take your photo ID and cruise card in order to re-enter the building.

Outside the building you will find wooden kiosks selling souvenirs. A word of warning, be careful here, some of our friends came away with additional purchases after the market ladies put bracelets on them before they could say no.

You cannot get taxis inside this area, you need to go outside of the gates. In Montego Bay, taxi drivers and taxi services need permits.

If you do decide to travel independently, ensure that you choose a government approved and licensed vehicle, which will have red licence plates with two letters and four digits.

Montego Bay Shore Excursions

A lot of safety advice online suggests that you should book shore tours for your visit to Montego Bay for your safety. There are many options to choose from:

• 4×4 Jeep safari
• Catamaran trips
• Zip lining
• Horseback riding and swim
• Rafting on the Martha Brae River – see our experience below
• Rose Hall Great House
• River tubing
• Doctor’s Cave Beach
• Blue Hole
• Bellefield Great House
• Walter Fletcher Beach
• Greenwood Great House
• Green Grotto Caves
• Dunn’s River Falls
• Aqua Sol Theme Park
• Port Royal
• Cinnamon Hill Golf Course
• Old Fort Craft Park

Martha Brae River Rafting

Based on my research before the cruise, I pre-booked the rafting on the Martha Brae River.

I discovered by booking this excursion directly with the Jamaica Rafting Company it was cheaper than the cruise excursion booked through the cruise line, saving $20 in total for two people.

What was even better was that we found we were still with cruise passengers on the cruise ship excursion (small triumph, fist pump). I’d always recommend checking directly with the tour company to get the best value.

Getting to Martha Brae River

The small bus we boarded to Martha Brae comfortably seated 21 passengers and we were introduced to our driver and tour guide who pointed out landmarks.

We were given a flavour of life on Jamaica, including learning some common Jamaican phrases such as “Ya man” and “No problems”.

It was this journey that reassured me that booking an excursion had been the right decision. We drove past many homes without proper roofs, burnt out cars and people loitering on street corners. These sights were punctuated by luxury, gated, all-inclusive resorts in juxtaposition to the real Jamaica outside the high walls of the complexes.

Arriving at the river rafting, we were greeted with a complimentary fruit juice and a life jacket. We were then shown to our raft for the journey.

Each bamboo raft seats two passengers and is owned by its raft captain, who builds and maintains the raft. These rafts have a lifespan of around four months. They are the Jamaican equivalent of a Venetian gondola.

River Rafting Experience

The Martha Brae rafting was so tranquil and relaxing. The light shone through the bamboo trees, which lined the river and creaked faintly in the breeze as we snaked our way along the river for an hour and a half.

On the way we passed a few vendors on the river bank selling t-shirts, artwork, carvings, towels and beer. Once we said “No thank you” they didn’t hassle us any further and wished us a good day.

There was only one vendor we bought from and we had to give him top marks for his sale technique. This involved him throwing his miniature bamboo raft model into the water next to us. We picked it up for closer inspection and he shouted “$5!”. “But how do we pay?” I shouted back, still drifting down the river away from him. With that he waded into the waist-deep water to collect his money.

When we returned to the tour bus almost everyone had bought one of his miniature bamboo rafts!

The rafting was a great experience, it certainly lived up to my expectations and I would definitely recommend this for a half day excursion.

Other Things to do near Montego Bay Cruise Port

On the return journey to the cruise port, the tour stopped at the Shoppes at Rose Hall – a lot of cruise excursions stop here.

There were souvenir and jewellery shops in a pleasant setting. If you want to grab some souvenirs quickly, this may not be the cheapest but it will save you time. Our tour guide gave us 15 minutes to explore! We discovered a guy selling fresh coconut water, served straight from the coconut, only a straw needed!

The local currency is Jamaican Dollars but U.S. Dollars are also accepted.

Once back at Montego Bay cruise port there are a number of options available to maximise your time in Jamaica.

Montego Bay Cruise Port Food

Go for a late lunch at Margaritaville’s rooftop terrace and enjoy beautiful sea views, and remember, it’s 5 o’clock somewhere!

Thrill-seekers can take the 120ft water slide from the terrace into the sea. Margaritaville, Gloucester Avenue (Hip Strip), Montego Bay is a 10 minute taxi ride from just outside the cruise terminal.

Try a Jamaican Patty, which can be purchased from one of the kiosks, just a short walk outside the cruise terminal building. Delicious snack!

Montego Bay Beaches

Visit one of the beautiful beaches near the cruise port such as Doctor’s Cave Beach. It’s around $6 per person by taxi and $8 entrance fee ($4 for children under 12), you can also rent two chairs and an umbrellas for around $25.

You may decide to do some water sports or simply relax and enjoy the turquoise waters and warm sand.

Our friends decided to visit Rose Hall (one of the plantation houses) and go horseback riding, which includes a sea swim with the horses.

Both groups of friends enjoyed their respective excursions so I would not hesitate to go with their recommendations for my next trip to Montego Bay port.

Most importantly, make the most of your time in Montego Bay, however you decide to spend your day.