NCL Puts Ocho Rios Back on Caribbean Itineraries

NCL Puts Ocho Rios Back on Caribbean Itineraries
By Donna Tunney

Norwegian Cruise Line will begin calling at Ocho Rios, Jamaica, in October for the first time since 2007. The 2,394-passenger Norwegian Pearl will operate seven-day Western Caribbean cruises roundtrip from Miami until April 2012, calling at Nassau, Bahamas; Ocho Rios; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Cozumel.

The 1,936-passenger Norwegian Sun, sailing roundtrip from Port Canaveral, will operate alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises, also until next April. Eastern Caribbean cruises will call at Nassau, St. Thomas, San Juan and Great Stirrup Cay (Norwegian's private isle).

Western itineraries will visit Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios and Great Stirrup Cay. It also will visit Jamaica’s new port of Falmouth on the Oct. 29 departure, rather than Ocho Rios.

“We have received many guest requests for Jamaica, and with the variety and accessibility of shore excursions that Ocho Rios now offers, it was the perfect time to return,” said a Norwegian spokeswoman.

The visit to Falmouth is a “one-off” port call because there was a berthing conflict at Ocho Rios, she said. The Falmouth port development was a joint project of the Jamaican government and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.