Your tour begins with a scenic drive along the coast to a small town known as St. Ann’s Bay. View the sights from your comfortable coach as your guide narrates the history and provides interesting facts about Jamaica. Observe the town’s classic Statue of Columbus, honoring his landing here. Continue to Fern Gully, a gorge filled with hundreds of varieties of ferns.

Visit Konoko Falls and Park, the Taino Indians called this Paradise and you’ll see why these original inhabitants choose this as a settlement site. You’ll hear the roar and feel the fresh mist of the spray from the spectacular waterfall. Follow the trails with your guide through this amazing rainforest. Visit the museum which features artifacts from the original inhabitants and early colonials that were excavated on site.

Stop at the colorful gift shop offering native products and handicrafts before re-boarding your coach. Enjoy a cup of Jamaica’s Blue Mountain Coffee and delicious banana bread as you relax at the Almond Tree Restaurant overlooking the Caribbean Sea. On the return, you’ll drive through bustling Ocho Rios, there’s an optional drop off at the shops in the center of town or you may return directly to the ship.

This tour takes you to an unforgettable collection of beautiful spots in and around Ocho Rios. You’ll visit the island’s premier attraction, Dunn’s River Falls. It’s a place of unique beauty where the river cascades over a giant limestone staircase to a white sand beach and the warm Caribbean Sea.

Take a guided tour of Konoko Falls and Park, where you’ll be at one with nature and inspired by its natural beauty. Your tour will lead you through the expansive grounds where many photo opportunities await. See the sparkling koi fishponds, natural springs, indigenous birds, animals and its soothing signature waterfall. Visit the small museum that showcases artifacts throughout Jamaica's history.

Discover the lush vegetation of ferns and gigantic trees that form canopies over the roadway on your drive through Fern Gully. A final stop is made in the town for shopping before returning to the ship.

OVERVIEW

Experience two exhilarating rides at the Mystic Mountain eco-adventure park as a warm-up to visiting the natural wonder Dunn’s River Falls. Covered by rainforest, Mystic Mountain rises 700 feet above the sea and the views on the way up are extraordinary. You will ascend on the Sky Explorer, an open-air chair-lift much like the ones used at ski resorts. The higher you ascend, the more thrilling the ride and the more spectacular the views. At the summit, you will hop in a bobsled patterned after the one that Jamaica’s Olympic team rode in the 1988 Winter Olympics. The big difference is that this bobsled follows a twisting track through the dense rainforest. As an alternative to these manmade thrills, you will enjoy an easy but exhilarating climb up gently cascading Dunn’s River Falls, perhaps Jamaica’s most iconic attraction. Pause any time you like to relax in the terraced pools and soak up the tropical scenery.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride the Sky Explorer chairlift up and down the forested slopes of Mystic Mountain.
• Tear through the rainforest on a bobsled track with countless twists and turns.
• Climb gently tumbling Dunn’s River Falls and enjoy a refreshing dip along the way.
• Enjoy a boxed lunch of traditional Jamaican dishes.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath.
• Bring a towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Release your inner adventurer by participating in four different outdoor experiences, each one uniquely exhilarating and sure to raise goosebumps. The thrills will begin in earnest with a breathtaking ride on the Sky Explorer, a state-of-the-art chairlift that will carry you up the forested slopes of the Mystic Mountain eco-adventure park. At the top of the 700-foot peak, you will race through the tree canopy on a series of ziplines. Feel free to scream as there will never be a dull moment. Next up is the Ragamuffin, an inverted roller coaster that twists and turns and takes you out over a tropical landscape that couldn’t be more beautiful. The third adrenaline-pumping experience will be racing through the rainforest in a high-speed bobsled inspired by the one that Jamaica’s Olympians rode in the 1988 Winter Olympics. A Jamaican-style boxed lunch follows, after which you will descend Mystic Mountain on the Sky Explorer.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy four exhilarating rides in the Mystic Mountain eco-adventure park.
• Take the Sky Explorer chairlift up and down the park’s forested mountain slopes.
• Race through the tree canopy high above the forest floor on a series of ziplines.
• Ride the inverted roller coaster known as the Ragamuffin.
• Tear through the rainforest on a bobsled track with countless twists and turns.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Relax however you please at an exclusive beach club where everything imaginable is at your fingertips, which will make the experience all the more carefree. Once you reach the Blue Waters Beach Club, the day will be yours to enjoy in whatever way you wish. You might stretch out on a lounge chair and bask in the sun, take a refreshing swim in the typically calm sea or just wade out into the water, which deepens gradually. You will notice that the sea bottom is stone-free, so you won’t have to closely watch where you step. If you prefer to relax in the shade, beach umbrellas and thatched-roof cabanas are available for rental. The menu in the club’s Blue Fish Bar & Grill offers plenty of choices if you want to dine on your own or just order a tropical cocktail. Background reggae music from the DJ will make the perfect accompaniment.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Spend hours relaxing on the private beach at the Blue Waters Beach Club.
• Stretch out on a lounge chair, stroll the beach and take a refreshing swim.
• Enjoy the casual ambiance, which background reggae music makes all the more special.
• Take advantage of the club’s bar and grill for dining on your own.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Bring a swimsuit, hat, towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Spend hours relaxing however you please on the beach at Discovery Bay, a beautiful stretch of sand with plenty of amenities, including a floating water park.

After departing from the pier, you will enjoy a scenic drive along Jamaica’s lovely northern coast to Discovery Bay. When Christopher Columbus landed here in 1494, he called the town Puerto Seco or Dry Harbor because the natural harbor lacked fresh water nearby.

Although the area’s colonial-style architecture is a draw, Discovery Bay is known more for beautiful Puerto Seco Beach, which is rimmed by the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean. You will spend hours here enjoying the setting, as well as all sorts of other amenities.

You might stretch out on the sand, take an invigorating dip in the sea or in the freshwater swimming pool and stroll the horseshoe-shaped shoreline. Stands of palm trees line the beach, so there is also plenty of shade if you wish to get out of the sun.

If you are looking for activities, a floating water park is just offshore with slides, trampolines and a rock-climbing feature. You could also rent snorkeling equipment and see the tropical wonders that lie beneath the water’s surface.

When you are ready to dine, a hearty lunch will be served in the Santa Maria Restaurant. It is named for one of Columbus’ ships, and the park along one side of the bay is also named for the explorer, who is revered here.

OVERVIEW

Delve into the local culture on an enlightening tour that showcases key landmarks in and around Ocho Rios. In St. Ann’s Bay, the original Spanish capital of the island, you will gain a historical perspective while stopping at a 19th-century church. Statues of Jamaican national hero Marcus Garvey – who was born near St. Ann’s – and Christopher Columbus stand in the main square nearby. Another historical perspective awaits you at Seville Heritage Park, which holds a fascinating collection of artifacts from the Taino Indians and early settlers. A drink at the seaside Almond Tree restaurant follows, after which you will drive on through the Fern Gully rainforest, which blankets a spectacular 3-mile gorge lined with towering fern trees. The view from the hilltop restaurant Oceans on the Ridge will be equally memorable. The last stop will be the Taj Mahal shopping center, a collection of duty-free stores with merchandise ranging from exquisite jewelry to designer fashions.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit attractions that reveal the historical highlights of Ocho Rios and nearby St. Ann’s.
• See statues of influential figures such as Marcus Garvey and Christopher Columbus.
• Browse artifacts of the indigenous Taino Indians and the earliest settlers in a heritage park.
• Drive through lush Fern Gully rainforest and admire the views from a hilltop restaurant.
• Spend free time browsing the stores in the Taj Mahal shopping center.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Explore the geological wonders in the Green Grotto Caves, an experience that will give you much to reflect upon over a traditional Jamaican lunch at the casual eatery Scotchies. The mostly coastal drive to the caves will present the north shore’s natural beauty in all its glory. The scenery beneath the earth’s surface is just as inspiring as you will discover in the Green Grotto Caves, which was named for the green algae that covers its walls. Over the centuries, the voluminous caves have been home to Arawak Indians, colonial-era Spaniards, runaway slaves and smugglers. The caves have even been a nightclub. The most dramatic geological formations are eerily illuminated and named for their resemblance to figures such as Abraham Lincoln. A jerk-seasoned lunch awaits you at Scotchies Drax Hall, a wonderfully informal restaurant that grills its meats over a fire of sweet-wood rather than pimento wood, which imparts a unique flavor.

HIGHLIGHTS

• View the extraordinary, eerily illuminated geological formations in the Green Grotto Caves.
• Hear how the caves were used historically to shelter runaway slaves, smugglers and others.
• Enjoy a Jamaican jerk lunch at a restaurant in St. Ann’s Bay that locals favor.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Browse two 18th-century Great Houses, both having survived a slave rebellion unscathed. Perched on a hilltop, the Greenwood Great House is considered the most original of Jamaica’s opulent colonial estates because it appears much as it did when constructed. It is handsomely furnished with period pieces and holds the largest private collection of plantation library books on the island. The Georgian-style Rose Hall was built even earlier and was left intact during the slave rebellion of 1831 because it was supposedly haunted by the ghost of former owner Annie Palmer. You will hear stories of her – the notorious White Witch – and how she murdered three husbands and numerous slave lovers when she grew tired of them. Now restored to its former glory as a sugar plantation, Rose Hall is an architectural treasure. A jerk-seasoned lunch at Scotchies restaurant in the shopping mall Main Street Rose Hall will follow. You may also have time to shop.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Browse two grand Great Houses, which look much like they did in the 18th century.
• Admire the plantations’ period furnishings and hear tales of their owners.
• Enjoy a Jamaican jerk lunch at Scotchies, a restaurant in St. Bran’s Burg that locals favor.
• Spend a bit of free time shopping at Main Street Rose Hall mall.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Become immersed in the culinary traditions of Jamaica in a hands-on cooking workshop and enjoy your creations for lunch. The venue for this deep dive into the local cuisine will be the duty-free shopping mall Island Village. You will begin by watching an introductory film on Jamaica that will set the stage for the Appleton rum tasting that follows. This spirit is made with rich molasses, sugar cane juice and limestone-filtered water, ingredients that impart a distinctive taste. The story behind the rum’s distillation is also multi-faceted. You will delve even deeper into Jamaica’s traditional dishes during the cooking class, where a local chef will teach you to prepare a traditional jerk pizza and duckunoo, a spicy dessert made with cornmeal, sweet potatoes and bananas. As the dishes are cooking, you will enjoy a Jamaican mule concocted with rum, ginger beer and lime. After dining on your creations, you can shop.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Join a hands-on cooking class in Island Village, a duty-free shopping mall.
• Learn to make jerk pizza and duckunoo, a dessert also known as blue drawers.
• Enjoy your creations for lunch along with a rum-based Jamaican mule.
• Sit in on an Appleton rum tasting after watching a short film on Jamaica.
• Spend free time shopping for duty-free merchandise at Island Village.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Spend hours relaxing at the Half Moon Resort, a luxurious waterfront property with views of the Caribbean Sea. While traveling there along Jamaica’s northern coast, you will get a glimpse of the gorgeous tropical environment that awaits you at the storied resort, which opened in 1954. Upon arriving, you will receive a welcome drink and a brief orientation of the amenities so you can maximize your time. Half Moon Resort sprawls over 400 acres that was once a sugar plantation and features a powdery beach that is two miles long, and you will have access to the sunrise beach. Few settings are so inviting and accommodating. You might stretch out on a beach chair and bask in the sun, stroll along the beautiful shoreline, take a refreshing swim or explore other areas of the resort such as the Maakit pop-up shop with Half Moon resident artisans and craft vendors. Welcome drink and a traditional Jamaican BBQ buffet are also included to enhance the experience.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Relax on the sunrise beach on the luxury beachfront property Half Moon Resort.
• Enjoy complimentary beach chairs, beach towels, and beach butler service with complimentary beach snacks.
• Swim in the sea, bask in the sun and stretch out under a beach umbrella, if you wish.
• Take full advantage of the Welcome drink and delectable buffet lunch.
• Indulge in other resort amenities for an additional charge.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing. Bring a swimsuit, hat and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Dine on a quintessential Jamaican lunch prepared with locally sourced ingredients at an extraordinary restaurant that overlooks a serene lagoon. An initial stop at St. Peter’s Anglican Church – the town’s oldest building – will offer a historical glimpse of Falmouth that will set the stage for the lunch setting as Glistening Waters restaurant perches above what was once a bustling port in the 18th and 19th centuries, when sugar was king. The menu will offer several choices for each course, allowing you to select a dish that suits your palate. Entrées include chicken or pork marinated in jerk seasoning and vegetarian options such as bean stew or a baked zucchini lasagna. You can also select a favorite accompaniment, whether a traditional side of rice and peas, seasonal vegetables or crispy French fries. The desserts choices will also be plentiful and typically range from puddings made from cornmeal or potatoes to a creamy cheesecake.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy lunch at a waterfront restaurant where the Martha Brae River meets the sea.
• Choose your courses from a variety of traditional Jamaican dishes.
• Drop by Falmouth’s oldest building, an Anglican church built in the late 18th century.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.