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CRUISING TO THE CARIBBEAN:
FALMOUTH, JAMAICA |
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OVERVIEWFalmouth is an old town that has only recently become a cruise ship port of call (2011). Located on the north coast of Jamica 18 miles east of Montego Bay and 59 miles from Ocho Rios, it provides access to most of the attractions that those two traditional cruise destinations offer.
The town was founded in 1769 by the British and is named after the town of Falmouth in Cornwall. The governor of Jamaica at that time, Sir William Trelawny, was from Cornwall. In the years that followed, Trelawny Parish grew to be one of the leading producers of sugar with some 100 plantations in the vicinity. Sugar and rum were exported through Falmouth and slaves to work the plantations were imported through Falmouth. As a result, Falmouth became one of the busiest ports in the Caribbean. The plantations depended upon cheap slave labor to be profitable. Consequently, when slavery was abolished in the 1830s, Falmouth went into severe economic decline. |
Above: Cruise ships tower over the main shopping plaza of the new cruise port.
One result of this was that much of the Georgian architecture from Falmouth's heyday still exists. Much of it has been neglected. However, Falmouth Heritage Renewal and the University of Virginia both have programs aimed at restoring the historic buildings.
Although it remains the seat of Trelawny Parish, Falmouth is a small town, heavily dependent on the new cruise port. Indeed, this large self-contained shopping, dining and entertainment complex is what makes Falmouth a tourist destination. |
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Cruise destination travel guide - Falmouth, Jamaica - Falmouth Overview