Janet Silvera, Hospitality Jamaica Coordinator

Hospitality Jamaica has learnt that Royal Caribbean Cruise Line has its eyes set on constructing a cruise ship port in the island's 18th-century commercial capital, Falmouth in Trelawny.

Andrew Smith/Photography Editor - Falmouth, Trelawny, photographed on August 8, 2003. Falmouth, once a thriving seaport for sugar, has a history dating back to 1770 and was designated Jamaica's seventh resort area after Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, Negril, the south coast, Portland, and Kingston Metropolitan Area

Poised to become the 21st century sporting arena in the Caribbean, news of the potential investment has been met with enthusiasm by industry stakeholders, attraction operators and the first citizen of the parish, Custos Roylan Barrett.

"We have a story to tell to the nation that is uniquely different from the two other popular cruise destinations, Ocho Rios and Montego Bay."

He said Falmouth would complement the other two bastions. Making reference to a study done by the Organisation of American State (OAS) in 1998 on sustainable heritage tourism, he noted that a recommendation was made for the town to base its efforts on cruise tourism.

Royal Caribbean, the world's second-largest cruise line and owners of the mega liner Freedom of the Seas is currently spending billions of dollars on port expansion in Grand Cayman.

built within three years

The cruise ship port is expected to be built within the next three years.

Any investment in Falmouth would see them taking over one of the island's most beautiful natural harbours, which was known as a thriving seaport in 1790.

The Falmouth port not only served the many slave ships that docked there, but supplied the ships carrying molasses, sugar and dry goods in and out of the country.

Boasting a reputation of having drinking water long before New York City, Custos Barrett said the preparation that is being done to the richly embedded historical town for Cricket World Cup 2007 would create the legacy on which the cruise line could build.

The town currently boasts a spanking new highway, upgraded water system, an improved hospital with a new operating theatre, a police station under construction and a new fire station. "Infrastructure that can be built on," added the custos.

The town is also poised to welcome the neigbouring Outameni Experience attraction, being built by Lennie Little-White.

Commenting on the possibility of having a cruise ship port half way between Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, Mr. Little-White said it would bring tremendous oppor- tunities not only to his property, but also to the many other attractions that exists within the perimeter.

market would be multiplied

"On a more personal level, being only a stone throw from the wharf area means that our potential market would be immediately multiplied many times over as opposed to if we were totally dependent on clients coming from Ocho Rios and Montego Bay," he told Hospitality Jamaica.

Outameni Experience is set for opening this summer at the Orange Grove Great House in Trelawny.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line has been around since 1969 and currently operates 16 ships. In 1997, it purchased Celebrity Cruises, a premium line to appeal to an upscale audience, bringing the total fleet to 25 ships and a capacity of more than 40,000 berths.