Jamaica walked away with the top cruise honours at the 2026 World Travel Awards, being named the Caribbean's Leading Cruise Destination — with two of its ports picking up prizes of their own. The Port of Ocho Rios took the Leading Cruise Port award, while the Port of Montego Bay was named the Caribbean's Leading Home Port, a nod to its growing role as a spot where cruises begin and end rather than just a day-stop.
The awards were handed out on October 12 at the Princess Grand Hotel in Hanover, Jamaica, with Trudi Davidson, cruise manager at Jamaica Vacations Limited (JAMVAC), accepting the destination prize. JAMVAC, an agency under the Ministry of Tourism, works alongside the Port Authority of Jamaica and the cruise lines to develop and promote the island's cruise sector. The World Travel Awards themselves date back to 1993 and are voted on across the travel and hospitality industry, so the recognition carries some weight with operators as well as travellers.
What makes the wins more striking is the timing. Joy Roberts, JAMVAC's executive director, pointed out that less than a year ago Hurricane Melissa caused serious damage, and the recovery demanded a big collaborative effort across ports, transport providers, tour operators and communities. Coming back fast enough to collect international awards within the year, she argued, says a lot about the resilience of the people behind the island's tourism product — the port staff, craft vendors, entertainers and attraction operators who actually deliver the experience visitors remember.
For cruise travellers, the practical takeaway is straightforward: Jamaica is very much open and being recognised at the highest level. Ocho Rios remains one of the Caribbean's most-called-at ports, with easy access to Dunn's River Falls, rafting on the White River and beach clubs within a short ride of the pier. Montego Bay's home-port status matters if you'd rather fly in and start your sailing from Jamaica itself — a growing option on Caribbean itineraries — and it pairs nicely with a pre- or post-cruise stay on the island.
If you're planning a Caribbean sailing for the coming season, itineraries calling at Ocho Rios or embarking from Montego Bay are worth a closer look, particularly if you want a destination that's investing heavily in the cruise experience right now. The awards don't change what you'll pay or see, but they do signal a port network and local industry that's motivated and back on form.
