‘Disney Treasure’ Makes Inaugural Call at Falmouth Cruise Port

The ‘Disney Treasure’ made its inaugural call at the Port of Falmouth in Trelawny on Thursday (December 5), marking a significant milestone for both the cruise line and Jamaica’s tourism industry.

The occasion was marked with much fanfare by local and foreign stakeholders, highlighting Jamaica’s growing prominence in the sector, which has already welcomed more than 1.1 million cruise passengers.

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, expressed pride in the milestone and outlined the critical importance of cruise tourism to Jamaica’s economy.

“The inauguration of the Disney Treasure in Falmouth restates the point that Jamaica is one of the top destinations [in our region]. This maiden voyage is significant, [and] it speaks well to the work that Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ) is doing to position Jamaica as a premier cruise destination,” he added.

Mr. Bartlett pointed out that Jamaica is on track to welcome approximately four million visitors, matching the record-breaking number for 2023.

He indicated that the Disney Treasure’s arrival comes as Jamaica gears up to achieve this milestone during the 2024/25 winter tourist season, which runs from December 15 to April 2025.

The ship is the fourth vessel in Disney’s fleet of 13 cruise ships to call at Jamaica’s ports. Its maiden voyage represents a strategic commitment to the destination.

“So, cruise tourism for us is critical. It is the activity with the highest level of convertibility, as cruise passengers, immediately upon disembarking, transfer wealth to the destination without intermediaries,” Mr. Bartlett noted.

He said the Government intends to expand and enhance Jamaica’s cruise infrastructure because “with additional capacity, we could achieve even more”.

The Minister pointed out that, with this achieved, the country can move to develop an itinerary unique to Jamaica by incorporating all the nation’s port.

“We have to be proactive and resilient, so Jamaica is preparing itself to build capacity to enable us to have our own itinerary in time. We are doing the changes to make sure that we have the capacity. So we say to all the people of Jamaica, work with us… [to] continue the progress, so prosperity will be the outcome,” Mr. Bartlett underscored.

Meanwhile, PAJ President, Professor Gordon Shirley, noted the special long-standing relationship between Disney and Jamaica, adding that the Authority is excited about the prospect of developing Falmouth and other local destinations.

“It is a pleasure for us [at] the Port Authority of Jamaica to welcome the latest Disney vessel to Jamaica. They have shown [interest] in helping us in many ways to develop more stellar products, here in Falmouth and across Jamaica. So it is with great pleasure that we welcome [them, and] we hope to see [them] often and for a very long time,” he added.

For his part, Captain of the Disney Treasure, Marco Nogara, pointed out that it was an “honour” to bring the cruise line to Falmouth.

He had high praises for the port’s beauty and acknowledged the support of local stakeholders, primarily the PAJ and the Government.

The day’s festivities also entailed an official Plaque Exchange Ceremony involving key stakeholders, including the Minister, Disney representatives, Mayor of Falmouth, and Custos Rotulorum for Trelawny.

Following the ceremony, visitors and officials toured the ship, explored Falmouth Pier, and visited the renowned Artisan Village.

The Disney Treasure is scheduled to visit Jamaica every two weeks, with a focus on supporting local community development.

Through its ‘Treasure Tomorrow’ programme, the cruise line will collaborate with Junior Achievement Jamaica to provide career exploration programmes for local students, further strengthening the connection between tourism and community growth.