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 Montego Bay, Jamaica


Margaritaville, Montego Bay, Jamaica

Montego Bay, Jamaica Information
Tom Ogg

Language and Currency
What is Montego Bay Like?
What is the Weather Like?
Where Does the Ship Dock?
Where is the Shopping?
What is There to Buy?
What is There To Do?
Is There Anything of a “Don’t Miss Quality?
Are There Any Great Restaurants or Bars?

Cozumel Port Reviews
Montego Bay, Jamaica Shore Excursions

Language and Currency

The official language of Montego Bay, Jamaica is English and the currency is the Jamaican dollar or the U.S. dollar.

What is Montego Bay like?


Private Island in Montego Bay, Jamaica
(Sandals Royal Caribbean)

Montego Bay (also known as MoBay) is Jamaica's second largest city and is an eclectic collections of characters, shops and boutiques. The vast majority of Jamaicans are wonderful and friendly people but there are some pimps, hustlers and drug pushers in MoBay and you will not have to go very far to find them. Remember that you are a guest in their country and it is never a good idea to become confrontational. If you are approached a simple "no thank you" followed by your immediate departure should suffice. DO NOT BUY DRUGS and DO NOT WEAR EXPENSIVE JEWELRY. I once had a group of travel agents in MoBay that were riding in a taxi cab. The driver pulled up to a stop sign where a follow outside the cab reached in a grabbed the agent's purse and took off. The taxi driver just sat there while the fellow made his getaway. The ladies returned to the ship after the taxi driver explained that the local police didn't care, as she would not be around to testify if they actually caught the fellow. Of course, it makes one wonder if the taxi driver and the thief were in cahoots.

If you approach Montego Bay for what it is, you will have a wonderful time, but be sure not to become a victim by always traveling in groups (or at least with another person) and taking precautions before you get off the ship. Leave your jewelry, handbags and other items that might get stolen on the ship. Take only what you will need and only what you don't care if it is lost or stolen with you. That said, get ready to have the time of your life bargaining, interacting and enjoying in one of the richest cultural experiences to be had in the Caribbean. Jamiacans are truly interesting people.

What is the weather like?

Montego Bay enjoys a tropical climate with an average temperature in the mid 80s year around. However, it can rain in Mo Bay and when it does, it can really pour.

Where does the ship dock?


Docked in Montego Bay, Jamaica (Taken From Margaaritaville)

Montego Bay has an excellent pier and cruise terminal just a couple of miles from downtown. Taxis are available right at the terminal

Where is the shopping?


Duty Free Shopping in the Montego Bay Cruise Terminal

Right in (and adjacent to) the Montego Bay cruise terminal are several shops if one justs wants to get off the ship and shop there.


Downtown Montego Bay Shopping Street

Downtown Montego Bay is a shoppers dream come true. There are shops, boutiques, large stores and an expansive flea market all within blocks on one another.


One of the Flea Markets That Hold Many Treasures

Have the taxi drop you in the main part of MoBay for shopping.

What is there to buy?


A Typical Jamaican Store Full of Unique Products

Lots of traditional tourist items (tee shirts etc.) as well as lots of Jamaican arts and crafts, spices, rums, wood carvings, shell jewelry and knick knacks, clothes and much more. If you are a fan of Bob Marley, be sure to visit the Bob Marley Experience where they carry everything Bab Marley (music, tee shirts, posters, stamps and much more. There are also a good number of duty free stores offering electronic equipment, jewelry, fine collectibles, perfumes, crystal, watches, porcelain and more.

What is there to do?

Montego Bay offers great shopping and several excellent restaurants. If you want to go to the beach, I would strongly suggest Doctor's Cave Beach just outside of Montego Bay. The beach is a private club and is kept immaculate The restaurant, the "Groovy Grouper" serves excellent food and the bar is well stocked as well. There are umbrellas, beach chairs, lounges and just about everything else you could want for a day in the sun. The reef off of Doctor's Cave Beach is part of an underwater sanctuary and is excellent snorkeling.


Montego Bay is Ocean Oriented

There is every kind of ocean activity you can imagine including sailing, diving, snorkeling, para sailing, water skiing, banana boat rides, fishing and so on available both off the ship, at local tour operators at the tender wharf and downtown. Also, there are a number of tours to the interior of Jamaica visiting villages, jungle and Jamaica's wonderful sights and sounds of her interior mountains.

Jamaica offers unlimited beaches and a good number of all-inclusive clubs that many folks arrange to visit while in port.

Is there anything of “Don’t Miss” quality?


The Top Floor of Margaritaville (Note the Jacuzzi)

Don't miss Margaritaville. Even if you don't drink and do not like to party, be sure to check this unique bar/restaurant out.

Are there any great restaurants or bars?


The Entrance to the Margaritaville Water Slide

Yes! Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville sets the standard for Caribbean party bars. This three story structure sits right on the ocean and is a daily scene of fun and party. There are actually several bars, Jacuzzis on the third deck with their own bar and a water slide that actually drops 4 stories and catapults you into the ocean. Warning, the water slide is not the same as you would find at a family water park and is not for the faint of heart. Margaritaville is FUN!

 Port Reviews

  • Crystal,

    A Day at the Sunset Day Resort We did not do any shopping at this port. We did not even venture into City Center at all. This was the day we chose to lay by the beach and relax. We went to...read more

    48 users found this review helpful.
  • Lorne Torres,

    This tour was pretty enjoyable. They take you on a river raft ride down the Great River. Beautiful scenery and very quiet. Our raft captain was Sherman. He said he's been rafting for 16...read more

    7 users found this review helpful.
  • Michael Scott,

    The first port we reached was Montego Bay. I would suggest an excursion in this country. We went on the canopy tour and had an absolute blast! It was by far our favorite part of the cruise....read more

    20 users found this review helpful.
  • Dan Miller,

    This was one stop I could have done without. We did not book any tours at this stop because nothing looked worth the prices they were asking ($40+ dollars to take us shopping or to a...read more

    15 users found this review helpful.
  • Anthony Jones,

    Our first port of call was Montego Bay, Jamaica. We had read many negative reviews on this port, but heard that Sunset Beach Resort was the best place to go, so that’s what we did. We...read more

    59 users found this review helpful.
    • 1 2 3 4 (1-5 of 20)

     Montego Bay, Jamaica Shore Excursions

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