<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;"><span class="supplier_link">Royal  Caribbean</span> International&rsquo;s new $170 million port in Falmouth,  Jamaica, will begin operations in January, according to Craig Milan,  senior vice president-land operations and president of Royal Celebrity  Tours. <span class="supplier_link">Royal  Caribbean</span> has been working for three years with the Port Authority  of Jamaica to create the new port of call. The port, located on the  north coast of Jamaica midway between Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, is  designed to accommodate two large ships simultaneously. It meets the  operating requirements of Oasis of the Seas and will become part of  Oasis&rsquo; Western Caribbean itinerary beginning in March.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;"><br /> The first ship to call, however, will be Navigator of the Seas on Jan.  7; Oasis and new sister ship Allure of the Seas will start to make  biweekly calls in March. &ldquo;Originally, we had planned to open this port  at the same time as Oasis arrived into Port Everglades, but as is often  the case with really big projects, it has taken somewhat longer than we  originally anticipated,&rdquo; Milan wrote in a guest entry on <span class="supplier_link">Royal  Caribbean</span> President and CEO Adam Goldstein&rsquo;s blog. &ldquo;But we are no  less excited by the prospect for the development.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;"><br /> The project was designed by Idea Group of Orlando to reflect the  historic character of Falmouth, founded in 1769. It was the original  port of Jamaica and the site where many slaves were brought to the New  World, Milan wrote. For a time it was also the world&rsquo;s leading export  port for sugar and rum. Eventually, shipping activity moved to Port  Royale in Kingston, and Falmouth harbor gradually silted in. Milan said  the Falmouth port will begin the revitalization of the town. The port&rsquo;s  buildings and attractions are designed in classic Georgian style. As the  phases of the port are implemented, Milan hopes the new  state-of-the-art port will blend into the old town and that the  remaining designated historic buildings in the community will gradually  be restored.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;"><br /> Many local workers are involved in the development, and the community is  expected to be revitalized as cruise ships begin to call. Guests  arriving into Falmouth will be able to choose between shore excursion  options in both Ocho Rios and Montego Bay, since the new port is  equidistant from both towns. Additionally, there will be excursions and  non-tour options at Falmouth, Milan said.</span></p>