Montego Bay
Jamaica
Port Report Card
Port Stats
The Tea
Montego Bay, Jamaica has a complicated reputation in the cruise world — the beaches are stunning, the culture is vibrant, the food is incredible, and the safety situation gives travel advisors heartburn. Jamaica sits at Level 3 ("Reconsider Travel") from the State Department, primarily due to crime in urban areas.
The cruise port is well-secured, and the resort strip along the "Hip Strip" (Gloucester Avenue) is heavily policed and generally safe for tourists. Doctor's Cave Beach is a 10-minute taxi ride and costs $6 to enter. The jerk chicken at Scotchies is legendary and costs about $8 for a full plate.
The honest assessment: Montego Bay offers some of the best value in the Caribbean, but you need to be aware and stay in tourist-designated areas. Don't accept rides from unmarked taxis, negotiate prices before agreeing to anything, and stick to the well-traveled areas. The cruise lines won't tell you about the safety concerns, and travel forums exaggerate them. The truth is somewhere in between.
Weather by Month
| Month | Avg Temp | Rain Days | Good Weather |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 78°F | 3 | 90% |
| Feb | 76°F | 6 | 79% |
| Mar | 79°F | 5 | 84% |
| Apr | 80°F | 5 | 83% |
| May | 81°F | 15 | 52% |
| Jun | 82°F | 19 | 37% |
| Jul | 83°F | 11 | 65% |
| Aug | 83°F | 13 | 58% |
| Sep | 82°F | 13 | 57% |
| Oct | 81°F | 16 | 48% |
| Nov | 79°F | 14 | 53% |
| Dec | 79°F | 9 | 71% |
Montego Bay on the Cruise Schedule
Two ships we track are scheduled to stop at Montego Bay on at least 14 sailings over the next 12 months. Ports of call are only recorded for some itineraries, so the real number is likely higher. Those ships sail for Carnival and Viking. The busiest months on the schedule are November 2026 and December 2026.
Ships Scheduled to Stop at Montego Bay
Dates are when the sailing departs its home port, not the day it reaches Montego Bay.
| Ship | Cruise Line | Sailings Stopping Here | Next Sailing | Latest CDC Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival Horizon | Carnival | 12 | Nov 7, 2026 | 96 |
| Viking Mars | Viking | 2 | Sep 17, 2027 | 100 |
More Caribbean Cruise Ports
Explore CDC inspection scores and outbreak data for every cruise ship that sails from Montego Bay.