Cruisers hoping to sail to Jamaica on an upcoming voyage will be glad to learn that their vacation just got a little bit safer.

It seems like almost every time the US State Department revises a travel advisory, it’s to indicate that a location has become more dangerous.

However, the government has opted to lessen the severity of the advisory to a Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution.

The change comes after Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, visited Jamaica in March of 2025 as part of a .

During his travels, Rubio met with the Jamaican Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, to discuss how Jamaica has made great strides in becoming safer in recent years.

Indeed, recent data , the Commissioner of Police in Jamaica, shows that there has been an 18% decrease in major crimes within the Western Caribbean cruise port.

However, this doesn’t mean that all crime has been eliminated, and violent crime rates are still high – but more so in areas that aren’t frequented as much by tourists and cruise guests.

“While violent crime in Jamaica has decreased since 2024, it remains statistically high throughout the country. Tourist areas generally see lower rates of violent crime than other parts of the country,”

“The homicide rate reported by the Government of Jamaica is among the highest in the Western Hemisphere. Armed robberies and sexual assaults are common,”

Visitors are also advised that medical care within Jamaica is lower quality than in the United States – and that emergency services are not always readily available or may come with longer wait times.

Travel advisories are not uncommon at popular cruise destinations, and are currently in place for destinations throughout the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Panama, and even Europe and Australia.

For example, Turks and Caicos and Costa Rica are also under Level 2 travel advisories, and Haiti – which is home to Royal Caribbean’s private resort at Labadee – is famously under the most severe Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory.

In 2024,sailed to Jamaica – generating $197.8 million in revenue – and the vast majority never had an issue.

Rest assured that the cruise lines always have safety as their top priority, and will not sail to a destination that has become too dangerous.

No matter where you are traveling to, it’s always a good idea to remain aware of your surroundings and stay vigilant – whether the destination is under a travel advisory or not.

In Jamaica’s case, the US government has issued specific guidelines on

First, it is illegal to bring firearms or ammunition into the cruise port – and the punishment can be severe, even for non-citizens.

“Do not attempt to bring firearms or ammunition. This includes stray rounds, shells, or empty casings. The penalties for carrying firearms or ammunition, even by mistake, are severe, and can include long prison sentences,” the advisory states.

Additionally, guests are advised to avoid walking or driving at night (most port calls usually only take place during daylight hours anyway) and to avoid remote areas.

It is also not recommended to utilize public transportation, such as buses. If you will need a ride around the port, the safest course of action is to pre-book a reputable service in advance or take a shore excursion that has been vetted by the cruise line.

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