Ultimate Falmouth Cruise Port Guide: 10 Top Things To Do
Nestled in the northwest of Jamaica, Falmouth cruise port is the best-developed Jamaican port and boasts rich historical and cultural heritage.
Falmouth is located 34 km/21 miles from Montego Bay (35 minutes drive), 67 km/41 miles from Ocho Rios (a 1-hour drive), and 137 km/85 miles from Kingston (a 2-hour drive), Jamaica’s capital.
Along with ports like Nassau, Cozumel, and Grand Cayman, Falmouth is a frequent stop on Western Caribbean cruise itineraries.
In this Falmouth cruise port guide, you’ll find everything from cruise terminal details and transportation tips to the 10 best things to do, including top shore excursions and port highlights.
Falmouth Cruise Port
The port of Falmouth opened its doors in 2011 and boasts the status of one of the cleanest and best-developed ports in the Caribbean.
Officially named “Historic Falmouth Cruise Port”, the port was built in a triangular shape and is co-owned and run by the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ) and Royal Caribbean International.
The port consists of 2 long piers that can accommodate the world’s largest cruise ships.
The two piers meet at the seaside end and share a terminal building where you can find a security check, a waiting area, and a small tourist information desk where you can pick up some maps and brochures.
The port area lies within the triangle and is filled with several Georgian-style buildings housing souvenir shops, duty-free shops, jewelry stores, and bar restaurants.
By the port entrance, you’ll find a Craft Market where you can find local handicrafts and buy authentic Jamaican souvenirs.
These are some of the familiar brands you’ll find in Historic Falmouth Cruise Port:
- Diamonds International
- Tanzanite International
- Diamonds Forever
- Touch of Gold
- Pandora
- Colombian Emeralds
- Pirana Joe
- Harley-Davidson
- Margaritaville
- La Casa del Habano
- Starbucks
- Blue Mountain Jamaican Coffee
Getting Around Falmouth Jamaica & Tips
- The port area is flat and suitable for guests in wheelchairs and with walking difficulties.
- The shore excursion meeting location and a taxi rank are located at the exit of the port area, approximately a 5-10 minute walk from the terminal building. You’ll see multiple stations with different tour operators, so make sure you hold your tour ticket/booking confirmation form in hand so that you can easily identify your meeting spot. The meeting areas are shaded and some of them have benches where cruise passengers can sit and relax while waiting for their tour departure.
- Upon coming to your designated meeting location, you need to check in at the tour booth you’ll find at the station. Shore excursion staff and tour operators will be there to assist you. If you haven’t booked a shore excursion, don’t worry – you can also do it on-site! Important Note: Some tours meet right in front of the terminal building, so always double-check the instructions on your tour ticket!
- There is also a taxi stand with official taxi fares displayed at the exit of the port area, as well as a public bus station near the Craft Market from where you can catch a bus to Montego Bay.
- The official currency in Jamaica is the Jamaican Dollar (JMD). US dollars and credit cards are accepted, however, I suggest you pay by card only in the port area. Have some cash on you if you want to spend money outside the port because it’s safer.
- Explore Falmouth tours and activities
Plan your Caribbean cruise with this all-in-one guide to 40 ports, complete with detailed port insights, practical tips for getting around, and the top attractions you won’t want to miss at every destination!
Planning a Stop in Falmouth? These Ports Are Often Included in the Itinerary
Besides the ports of Nassau, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel, Falmouth is often included in cruise itineraries that feature private island stops such as Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay, Labadee, and NCL’s Great Stirrup Cay.
Other exciting ports commonly included in these itineraries are San Juan, where you can explore its historic Old Town and iconic forts, Puerto Plata, known for its beautiful beaches and the cable car ride to Mount Isabel, and Key West, with its charming streets, turquoise waters, and laid-back island vibe.
If your cruise departs from Florida, plan a smooth start to your vacation with our blogs on the best hotels near Port Canaveral, top hotels in Miami near the cruise port, and best accommodations near Fort Lauderdale’s cruise port.
10 Best Things to Do in Falmouth Cruise Port
1. Explore Falmouth Downtown
If you are in Falmouth for the first time, my honest suggestion is that you skip the downtown area and explore the island’s attractions because there’s so much to see outside the town.
However, if you decide to stay, I suggest you start (or end) your visit at the port area as you’ll find not only great shops but also tasty Jamaican dishes (Jamaican jerk chicken, the famous patty dish), local coffee (Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee is absolutely delicious), rum cakes and the best Caribbean rum!
Falmouth was established in 1769 as a sugarcane farming town and boasts beautiful Georgian architecture and old churches reachable within a short walking distance.
Upon exiting the port, you’ll find yourself on Seaboard Street and within a 5-minute walk, you’ll reach Water Square, the central square in Falmouth. From there you can explore the town’s architecture, lively streets, and shops or check out one of the bars and restaurants.
You can book a guided heritage walking tour or a 45-minute Trolley tour of Falmouth that will allow you to visit the town’s main landmarks (Falmouth Courthouse, Baptist Manse), and stop at St Peter’s Anglican Church. You can book these tours at the terminal information kiosk.
There is no beach in Falmouth, and it takes at least 15 minutes’ drive to reach the nearest nice beach. I recommend Blue Waters Beach Club which is located only 10 minutes’ driving distance from the dock.
2. Dunn’s River Falls
The famous waterfalls are located 63 km/40 miles or 1-hour drive east of Falmouth port.
Nestled in the middle of the Jamaican jungle, right by the ocean and only a 5-minute drive from the city of Ocho Rios, the falls rank among the most visited attractions on the island.
The terraced waterfall is popular for climbing and it takes around 45 minutes to climb from the bottom to the top.
The activity itself is considered strenuous, however, if you don’t feel like doing it – you can spend your day within the complex where you can walk, shop at souvenir shops, have a drink, or grab a bite at one of the eateries.
The area is incredibly scenic and there is a staircase parallel to the waterfall so you can walk along, take pictures of your loved ones, take in the waterfall view, or get down to the beautiful scenic beach at the bottom.
You’ll need water shoes and a swimsuit if you want to climb the falls, and I suggest you get a waterproof phone case so you can bring your phone with you (as there is no professional photographer taking pictures of you).
Changing rooms and restrooms are available on-site.
3. Martha Brae Bamboo Rafting
At only 10 minutes’ drive from Falmouth port, you can reach Martha Brae Rafting Village, a starting point for a peaceful 3-mile journey down the river set in unspoiled nature and lush vegetation.
Embark on a tranquil bamboo raft ride and enjoy the unspoiled beauty of the Jamaican countryside. The village boasts picnic areas, a bar, and gift shops.
Explore Martha Brae River Bamboo Rafting tours and activities
4. Dolphin Cove
If you love animal encounters, you should head to Dolphin Cove located a 5-minute ride from Dunn’s River Falls and a 1-hour drive from Falmouth cruise port.
Tucked in a lush tropical rainforest, this marine park allows visitors to interact with dolphins, stingrays, and sharks.
You can choose between different programs including dolphin encounters (kiss, hug, dance with the dolphin), swimming with dolphins, snorkeling with stingrays, and shark feeding.
Within the complex, you’ll find a small zoo, a bar restaurant, souvenir shops, and several trails that you can explore. Get more info at the official website https://www.dolphincoveja.com/
5. CHUKKA Adventures
CHUKKA Adventures is a reputable tour operator providing a wide range of adventure activities not only in Jamaica but also in other Caribbean islands (Belize, Dominican Republic, Grand Turk, Barbados).
They partner with the major cruise lines and the majority of adventure shore excursions offered by cruise lines are operated by CHUKKA.
The tour operator boasts several estates scattered across the island, offering a great variety of activities including river tubing, zip lines, ATV rides, horseback ride and swim, bamboo rafting, and so much more.
Good Hope (Eco-Adventure Outpost at Good Hope) is a 2000-acre plantation located only 20 minutes’ drive from the port of Falmouth.
You can visit the Good Hope Great House and learn about plantation tradition and island history, go for adrenaline activities (ATV, zip lines, river tubing), and enjoy 6 swimming pools, waterslides, and a replica of Dunn’s River Falls.
You can opt for the Appleton Rum Tasting Experience, indulge in delicious jerk chicken in an on-site restaurant, or simply chill out in one of the hammocks and swings over the river.
CHUKKA also has a couple of more outposts throughout the island, where you can enjoy numerous activities and cultural experiences.
Explore CHUKKA tours and activities
6. Montego Bay
A famous resort town and port of Montego Bay is located only 34 km/21 miles, or a 40-minute drive from Falmouth port.
The town is packed with beach resorts, hotels, eateries, shops, and historic landmarks.
A Hip Strip is an area parallel to the ocean filled with entertainment venues, shops, restaurants, hotel resorts, and fast food places.
The most popular Montego Bay beaches are:
- Doctor’s Cave Beach, right on the “Hip Strip”, is ideal for families due to its shallow waters and sandy bottom.
- Walter Fletcher Beach, which is home to a large seaside amusement park (Aqua Sol Theme Park).
- Dead End beach
- One Man Beach
- Harmony Beach Park
- Cornwall Beach
In Montego Bay, you can visit an old Saint James Parish Church and Sam Sharpe Square filled with colorful houses with a monument to a British abolitionist.
Explore the town’s narrow, cobbled streets, shop at Montego Bay Craft Market, visit the Old Jewish cemetery, and check out the town’s golf clubs.
7. Rose Hall Great House
The 18th-century Rose Hall Great House was built on the 650-acre Rose Hall Plantation and is one of the main Montego Bay attractions.
It preserves the memory of White Witch Annie Palmer who, according to the legend, tortured countless slaves and murdered her three husbands on the property.
The Georgian mansion was restored and transformed into a history museum where you can learn about the island’s history and hear the haunted stories of the White Witch of Rose Hall.
Rose Hall Great House is located a 20-minute ride from Montego Bay and 20 minutes drive from Falmouth cruise ship terminal.
8. Blue Hole
This gorgeous natural attraction is situated 77 km/48 miles or a 1-hour 20-minute drive from Falmouth port, near Ocho Rios.
Blue Hole features scenic tropical waterfalls with multiple limestone swimming holes where you can swim, cliff dive, rope swing, and hike to the secret waterfalls through the lush rainforest.
Alternatively known as Cool Blue Hole, it is located in Cascade St Mary on Cascade Road and is not to be confused with Blue Hole Thatch Hill (on Thatch Hill Road).
Check out Blue Hole tours and activities
9. Bob Marley Experience
Jamaica is the birthplace of reggae legend Bob Marley who was born in the Nine Miles district, in Saint Ann Parish.
It is possible to tour the musician’s house and museum in the village of Nine Mile where he was born and visit his museum in Kingston, the island’s capital.
Kingston is located 143 km/89 miles from Falmouth, and it takes a 2-hour drive one way to get there, while Nine Mile is situated around 66 km/41 miles or a 1-hour 30 minutes from the Falmouth port.
Some cruise lines offer these tours, and if you are willing to join I suggest you book it with your cruise line as it guarantees your return to the ship on time.
10. Green Grotto Caves
Surrounded by lush vegetation, this mystical labyrinth of underground caverns served as a shelter for the native Arawak Indians (Tainos), and a hiding place for smugglers and runaway enslaved people.
Green Grotto is 1.5 km/0.9 miles long and 12 meters deep, with numerous chambers, spectacular rock formations, and a subterranean lake – the Grotto Lake. Guided tours are available.
The caves are located 42 km (26 mi) east of Falmouth, and it takes approximately a 35-minute drive to get there.
Wrapping Up
If you are planning your cruise to Falmouth, make sure you plan your day according to the ship’s schedule to maximize your stay in port.
If you are a first-timer, I definitely suggest you explore the island as in downtown Falmouth there’s not much to do (my honest opinion).
Have a great cruise! 🙂
Helpful Resources for Falmouth Cruise Port
- Google Maps Location: Find the exact location of the port.
- Cruise Ship Schedule: See when ships are in port and plan your visit.
- Falmouth Port Authority website
- Local Weather Forecast: Get the latest weather updates to prepare for your day.
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