Jamaica's Makin' Changes

While the untouched sands and turquoise waters of the Caribbean never really change, its tourism offerings do. Jamaica, with its countless ways to spend your precious down time, is never one to rest on its laurels. Here are a few of the island’s latest enhancements to an already stellar accommodation and activity line-up.

Pulling into Falmouth, Jamaica’s newest port, the 1,754-passenger Disney Wonder cruise ship’s seven-night Western Caribbean route launching from Galveston, Texas, will delight everyone in the family. Once on-shore, track down adventures like climbing Dunn’s River Falls, ziplining through the lush rainforest canopy, or swimming with dolphins at Dolphin Cove.

Properties under new management include the 13-villa Trident Hotel, the eight-room Trident Castle, and the Blue Lagoon Restaurant & Villas in Port Antonio. This third-largest port on the island’s northeastern coast is a well-kept secret by Jamaica loyalists who appreciate its rich culture and lack of an international airport. Karisma Hotels & Resorts (a big player on Mexico’s Riviera Maya) debuted on Jamaica’s scene with the opening of their 128-room, all-inclusive Seashore Bay Beach Resort in Negril. Also, the guest rooms, restaurants, pools, and public areas at the 266-room Jewel Runaway Bay Beach & Golf Resort (formerly Breezes Runaway Bay) underwent a multimillion dollar renovation; and, the completion of Riu Palace in Montego Bay is scheduled for before the year’s end.