Language: English, with a very distinct dialect

Currency: Jamaican Dollars-US Dollars are accepted everywhere

Shopping: Jamaican crafts, take the form of resort wear, hand loomed fabrics, silk screening, wood carvings and paintings. Avoid the "craft" stalls, if possible. Both Montego Bay and Ocho Rios now have excellent duty free centers specializing in jewelry, cameras, watches and similar items.

Port Facilities: Montego Bay’s docks are adjacent to a group of shops. To get into Town Centre, the principal duty free area, a taxi will be necessary. In Ocho Rios, there are two terminals, both a short walk to shopping.

Transportation: Cars and vans. Recently a proliferation of unlicensed drivers are showing up near the pier. For your safety, try to use only those licensed by the government. Taxi rates are set per car, not per passenger, however, be sure to agree on a price before setting off. We use vans and medium sized buses for our excursions.

Beaches: Doctor’s Cave Beach at Montego Bay offers a traditional tourist beach. Mallards is Ocho Rios’ popular spot.

Points of Interest:

Montego Bay: Rose Hall Great House , Greenwood Greathouse, rafting on bamboo rafts on a number of rivers, plantation homes and of course beaches.

Ocho Rios: Dunn’s River Falls, Fern Gully, Coyaba Gardens and the various rivers for rafting.

EXCURSIONS AND ACTIVITIES

ROSE HALL GREATHOSE AND ISLAND HIGHLIGHTS ( M. Bay)

Duration: 3-1/2 hr. Transport: Mini-buses

A comprehensive excursion visiting the greathouse , residential areas and the area’s highlights.

OCHO RIOS HIGHTLIGHTS & DUNNS RIVER FALLS

Also available from Montego Bay however the tour is app 6 hours and includes lunch .

Duration: 3-1/2 hr. Transport: Mini-buses

Enjoy the world renowned Dunn’s River Falls where the water cascades down 600 feet to the Caribbean Sea. For the actively minded you can climb the falls with the assistance of guides. From Montego Bay it is a full day tour with lunch at a local restaurant.

RAFTING ON MARTHA BRAE

Duration:4-1/2 hr. Transport: Mini-buses

Great for the more adventurous and romantic. Experience a ride down the lazy and meandering Martha Brae River, or similar rivers, with your own private raftsman.

Optional Activities: Golf, beach parties, snorkeling excursions, private party boats and catamarans, scuba, horseback riding, full day back country expeditions, limo service, transfers etc..

………Know Before You Go!!!!!……….

While generally a safe island, some passengers feel uncomfortable with the aggressive characters of some of the vendors, etc.. In Ocho Rios although it is easy to just take a taxi to the Falls it is very convenient to participate in the Ocho Rios Highlights tour. This way you are escorted to the falls, have an arranged guide for hiking up the falls and have the chance to see a little more of the area. All of our guides are official JUTA trained drivers. For those unable or unwilling to climb the falls there is a viewing area which precludes the need to climb the falls in order to see them. If your ship calls on Montego Bay, the all day trip to Ocho Rios is a recommended excursion. For the more romantically inclined, the rafting tours are an excellent and unique way of witnessing the beauty of the island. Beach parties or private sail charters are available and all possible for groups.