Kingston Jamaica (Port Royal)

Kingston is a cruise port, major cargo port, largest city (population around 670,000) and the capital of Jamaica (an island country in the central Caribbean Sea). The seaport is located on the island's southeastern coast and near Port Royal.

Kingston Harbour is a natural, deep-water harbor. It is well protected waterway (by a long sand spit - Palisadoes) connecting Port Royal Town and Norman Manley Airport to the rest of Jamaica. The city is the biggest south of the USA with predominantly English-speaking population. Jamaica's government bodies were established in 1923, when Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) was formed.

The city is bounded by Harbour View (east), Six Miles (west), Papine (northeast), Stony Hill (north) and also by St Andrew communities (Bull Bay, Gordon Town, Lawrence Tavern, Mavis Bank, Mt Airy) which are not part of Kingston. City's central area is made up of two parts - New Kingston and Downtown. the city is served by two airports - Norman Manley (international) and Tinson Pen Aerodrome (domestic flights only).

Liguanea Club (upper-class social and recreational club) is on Knutsford Blvd. The club owns over 14 hectares (35 acres) of land including former Liguanea Park (current Emancipation Park. Liguanea Club gave a 7 acres land as a gift to the Jamaican Government to establish the park. It is famous for the 3 m (11 ft) high bronze sculpture at the main entrance that comprises a couple naked black male and female statues gazing to the sky – symbolic of the triumphant rise from slavery.

Royal Botanical Gardens (aka Hope Gardens) is a national attraction. Sized 809 hectares (2000 acres), it is ranked the biggest botanical garden in the English-speaking Caribbean.

Kingston was Jamaica's main seaport with numerous finger piers used for docking/berthing by passenger and cargo ships. With freight containerization (shipping TEU containers on large boxships), the seaport moved to Newport West. Kingston Freeport Terminal Ltd (KFTL) in Port Kingston Jamaica started 2019 with a 24-hour performance record (January 24) of handled 3304 TEU-container moves (1464 unloaded and 1840 loaded) on the carrier Cosco Beijing. Terminal's operator KFTL is subsidiary of CMA CGM (world's 3rd largest shipping company). The terminal is operated by KFTL since July 2016 under a 30-year government concession.

Port Royal, Jamaica

Port Royal is an anchorage/tender port and a small fishing town located at Kingston Harbour's mouth. The town (1518-founded by the Spanish) soon developed into the largest in the Caribbean. In its glory days (late-17th-century), it was the Caribbean's largest port and hub for shipping and trade.

Port Royal was the main homeport for pirates (privateers and buccaneers) who attacked mainly the Spanish treasure fleet of galleons. These large-sized sailing ships were used in the period 15th-18th centuries - originally as warships, later as merchant ships. The town was well known worldwide for its wealth and low morals. Unfortunately, it was completely destroyed in June 1692 by an earthquake accompanied by a large tsunami. Following the disaster, Port Royal's commerce relocated to Kingston.

There are plans to develop Port Royal into a cruise port and tourism destination themed on its unique heritage from the privateering years.

The first cruise liner docked in Port Royal on January 20, 2020. The vessel Marella Discovery 2 was on a 7-day Panama Canal Experience Cruise roundtrip from homeport Montego Bay.

The ship docked at a floating pier. For the visiting tourists, from Port Royal were organized bus tours to Kingston.

Kingston Jamaica cruise terminal