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% |
Explore CDC inspection scores and outbreak data for every cruise ship that sails from Montego Bay.