Montego Bay, long regarded as Jamaica’s principal tourism harbour, has signalled its readiness to resume visitor operations after Hurricane Melissa with the homeporting of TUI’s Mein Schiff 1, carrying 2,894 passengers. The ship’s arrival marked the first call to the port since the storm’s passage and served as a clear indication that cruise activity in the region is gathering way once more.
Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, noted that the vessel’s return represented an important stage in the island’s recovery, observing that cruise traffic had already brought some 32,000 visitors since the hurricane and was expected to reach roughly 64,000 by the close of November 2025. He emphasised that this renewed flow of passengers would bolster both national economic restoration and employment opportunities for tourism workers.
The vessel was welcomed by a delegation that included Ian Dear, Chairman of the Tourism Product Development Company and a member of the Tourism Recovery Task Force. Captain Georgios Dimou and his crew of 1,000 were received at the quay as the port resumed operations only four weeks after the storm disrupted both cruise and stopover arrivals.
Ian Dear commended the coordinated efforts of public bodies and private partners in restoring the resort city, which Mayor Richard Vernon has previously identified as being economically reliant on tourism for roughly half of its livelihood.
In keeping with the Task Force’s mandate, Dear reported that clean-up crews had been deployed throughout the resort district to restore public spaces for residents first and visitors thereafter. Working with the St. James Municipal Corporation, the team undertook a major restoration effort ahead of this initial post-storm call. Dear acknowledged that further work remained but stated that the port was pleased to welcome the returning vessel.
Mayor Vernon also received the Mein Schiff 1, remarking that its call reflected the port’s readiness and the city’s drive to move from emergency support efforts toward renewed economic stability. He noted that the resumption of cruise traffic would help bring many local residents back into employment across a range of tourism services.
Captain Dimou observed that returning as the first ship after the hurricane carried particular significance for his crew, explaining that such a call required careful preparation but that conditions ashore proved favourable. As part of its visit and in support of local recovery, the ship delivered twelve pallets of relief supplies, including bottled water, foodstuffs, and educational materials for children.
Among those present at the Montego Bay Cruise Terminal were representatives from the Port Authority of Jamaica, the Tourism Recovery Task Force, Jamaica Vacations, and the port’s management team, underscoring the collaborative effort behind the harbour’s restoration and reopening.