Earlier this week, I wrote about the Falmouth cruise pier. I mentioned that I wouldn’t want to go outside it on my own again. However, that doesn’t mean you should stay there. I wanted the kids to have an authentic slice of Jamaican culture. However, Royal Caribbean didn’t offer a Falmouth shore excursion which interested me. We made a private booking with Jamaica Culinary Tours instead. Our experience was amazing, and I was thrilled to experience this authentic slice of Jamaican culture.
Let’s start with the logistics. Jamaica Culinary Tours does not offer their expertise through Royal Caribbean nor any other cruise line. They are a private firm, and you need to make arrangements for your Falmouth shore excursion directly with them. We emailed through their web site, and a lovely woman named Janet Crick answered us at the end of each day. We booked the Falmouth food tour, which was $55 for adults and $35 for kids. That price included the cost of our food. We paid extra for a beer at one stop, and we tipped our guides at the end.
What was the actual tour like?
We arrived in Falmouth early in the morning in July 2019 on the Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas. That left us with a few hours to kill until the tour picked us up at 11. They met us inside the secure cruise pier area. Please know that this tour involves a great deal of walking, and it is often hot and humid. Wear comfortable shoes, and bring plenty of water.
Our first stop was a local grocery market. We were offered slices of fresh fruit. They were delicious. As we walked to our next stop, the tour guides explained the history and culture of their island to us. That was an amazing part of the experience.
Later stops included meat patty, jerk chicken, coconut water, and local desserts. Our party included 4 adults and 6 children, and we were of varying physical abilities. Our guides did an excellent job of caring for all of us. Even more impressive, all 10 of us enjoyed what we ate. We all loved this tour, and I highly recommend it.
