Wednesday, January 28, 2009

The Renaissance of Falmouth, Jamaica

Treasured memories revisited my thoughts as I refresh my unusual fascination with the town of Falmouth during my youthful years. The Georgian style buildings speak eloquently of its rich British heritage, inhabited by friendly natives that articulately expressed the aboriginal dialect of patois and proudly embraced their deep-rooted culture and family values. Twenty years later, my fascination with Falmouth became an interesting discovery and realization at Royal Caribbean Cruise line. Falmouth, carefully laid out with narrow streets, named after 18th and 19th century, is the site of a new cruise port, currently under construction. It will be able to occupy two of Royal Caribbean's Genesis class ships. Once a very affluent town, and is reported to institute secured pipe water before New York State. In the late 1820s there was an estimate of 25,000 slaves that were held captive in Trelawny alone. Merchants built shops beneath their homes- Georgian style Townhomes said to be the finest known outside of Great Britain. Some of the houses featured, stone built lower floors and wooden upper floors, with wrought iron balconies and verandahs supported on wooden columns, reaching out over the sidewalks. For more information on the hottest spots in Jamaica and the rest of the world, contact us at:
www.cruisesinc.com/cshettlesworth
www.exquisitewedevents.com
exquisitewep@yahoo.com

Falmouth, capital of Trelawny has great historical relevance, closely linked to the Sugar and Rum industry of the 17th and 18th centuries. Situated between Montego Bay (20 minute drive) and Ocho Rios (30 minutes), Falmouth is on her way to becoming the fourth Jamaican port, to make a huge contribution to the cruise industry. (The less-used Port Antonio on the eastern end of the island is the third). Tourist infrastructure is somewhat minimal -- a shopping and historical center, an 18th-century Anglican Church, Georgian-style plantation houses, spelunking adventures -- but the new port addition is expected to drive remarkable improvements. In centuries past, Falmouth has served both as a catalyst and a thriving gateway for the export of sugar and rum. It boasts what is believed to be the Caribbean’s largest collection of Classic Georgian buildings. For more information on the hottest spots in Jamaica and the rest of the world, contact us at:
www.cruisesinc.com/cshettlesworth
www.exquisitewedevents.com
exquisitewep@yahoo.com

The Port Authority of Jamaica has won government approval to build a Genesis-class cruise facility in Falmouth. The goal is to restructure and refashion the area into a Colonial Williamsburg of the Caribbean, i.e. a place where tourists can capture and recreate the experiences of the "English heritage" of eighteenth and nineteenth-century Jamaica (not too sure all will want to relive this). This project will have a significant impact on the Falmouth economy and vastly supercharge the local shopping center, which will channel their focus on arts and crafts.

When Oasis of the Seas begins sailing its Western Caribbean route in spring 2010, the Jamaican port -- Falmouth -- will be ready to accommodate the massive 220,000-ton 5,400-passenger mega-liner. Royal Caribbean is working in conjunction with the Jamaican government on the multi-million dollar revitalization project.
According to The Port Authority of Jamaica estimates the waterside infrastructure investment will cost in excess of $100m. The pier is poised and well positioned to become fully operational in August 2009 and will be open to all lines.
The cruise terminal and shops will be ‘completely themed on the Georgian architecture. The historic area surrounding the port will be totally rehabilitated and restructured with improved additions and new ideas, including horse carriage rides and other greatly anticipated attractions.
Many people optimistically believe that the development of Falmouth has given ‘a kick start in revitalizing the industry’s view of Jamaica. A new port will reignite and revive the world wide appeal and recreational interest in Jamaica as a whole. For more information on the hottest spots in Jamaica and the rest of the world, contact us at:
www.cruisesinc.com/cshettlesworth
www.exquisitewedevents.com
email:exquisitewep@yahoo.com