Marella Cruises still taking J’cans despite absconding concern

WESTERN BUREAU:

Caribbean Cruise Shipping and Tours, the local agents for Marella Cruises, are refuting reports that their TUI UK client has stopped taking Jamaican vacationers on their boats, which homeport at the Montego Bay Freeport terminal.

“We have only received correspondence regarding Leisure for Pleasure, a local tour operator. We were told to cancel all their passengers; however, we were not given a reason,” Caribbean Cruise Shipping and Tours Managing Director Dr Lee Bailey told The Gleaner on Wednesday.

Gleaner checks have revealed that seven Jamaican cruise passengers – who boarded the Marella Discovery 2 in Montego Bay, St James, two weeks ago – ran off when the vessel docked in Belize and are still missing.

Ten other Jamaicans on that same ship were caught by Belizean authorities trying to remain on land.

“All 17 persons were not from Leisure for Pleasure. Only two of the seven who absconded were booked through us, and only three of the 10 who allegedly tried to run off in Belize were booked with us,” says the company’s managing director, Judith James.

It is believed that the seven who absconded were trying to get to the Mexican border with the aim of crossing into the United States.

Leisure for Pleasure released a notice on Wednesday afternoon, stating that sale of the Caribbean cruise departing from Jamaica’s tourism capital has been temporarily halted. The tour operator is asking all persons with reservations to contact their agents.

On Tuesday, while the ship was docked in Montego Bay, two Leisure for Pleasure customers were refused embarkation. James said she is not sure why their trips were not cancelled. Approximately 26 people got cancellations on Tuesday.

James said all passengers will be refunded.

Leisure for Pleasure has been selling eight-day/seven-night cruises at J$121,000 per person for inside cabins. The promotion was expected to run until March 14, starting again December 12, until March 2024.

With no US visas required, passengers would depart Montego Bay for Roatan, Honduras; Santo Tomas de Castillo, Guatemala; Belize City, Belize; and Costa Maya, Mexico.

However, The Gleaner understands that Mexico is now only accepting Jamaicans with US visas.

Another itinerary being sold on the Marella Discovery 2 is Montego Bay to George Town, Grand Cayman; Havana, Cuba; and Cozumel, Mexico. The price includes accommodation, entertainment, port charges, gratuities, meals, and drinks.

Leisure for Pleasure is one of the top Jamaican tour operators, winning several awards for selling land-based vacations. They have been selling vacations for this ship since 2014, when Marella was being handled by Thomson. The company has booked thousands of passengers with the cruise line during the period and only started having difficulties with passengers last year.

A source on the port says the tour operator cannot be blamed.

“For years, we have been accommodating Jamaicans who come to Montego Bay to board the homeport ships. The people trying to reach the USA have just killed this amicable arrangement that was going so well. They have tarnished the country’s reputation,” the source said.

Efforts to get a comment from Joy Roberts of JAMVAC, an arm of the Ministry of Tourism, proved futile.

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com