NEWS: U.S. State Department Will Reconsider Travel Advisory for Disney Cruise Destination

No matter where you’re headed on your vacation, it’s probably a good idea to check the U.S. State Department’s travel advisories.

Storm view from aboard Disney Cruise Line

These warnings let travelers know about any potentially dangerous destinations and what they should be on the lookout for should they choose to travel there. A Level 3 travel advisory has been in place for Jamaica for a while now, but that could change soon.

On July 25th, 2024, the United States Department of State updated its travel advisory for Jamaica to Level 3: Reconsider Travel. These warnings were issued due to crime and poor health services, with the caveat that “tourist areas generally see lower rates of violent crime than other parts of the country.”

Jamaica

But, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in late March 2025 that the State Department will re-evaluate its travel warnings for Jamaica and other countries “to ensure they reflect real conditions on the ground,” per the Associated Press.

During a tour of the Caribbean, Rubio heard Jamaican officials’ complaints about the warning for the country — which is heavily dependent on tourism.

©Disney

Rubio also defended the Trump administration’s opposition to a government program from Cuba that sends physicians and other medical personnel to countries that need these workers, which would include Jamaica.

Prime Minister of Jamaica Andrew Holness said his country had “benefitted greatly from the program” the Trump administration is claiming violates international labor standards and likens to human trafficking in some cases.

Disney Magic Cruise Ship

As far as the Jamaica travel advisory goes, Rubio did not promise it would be updated but said that revisions were possible in light of the government’s progress on crime reduction.

“We pledged (that) we’re going to go back and reevaluate the travel advisories as they currently stand to ensure that they do reflect the reality of the new numbers and what the numbers show,” Rubio said, noting that Jamaica has “made very impressive progress in your general numbers overall when it comes to the murder rate and so forth.”

Prime Minister Holness said, “We are committed to working collaboratively to ensure that travel advisories reflect the current realities and promote travel to Jamaica,” and added, “I’m confident that the dialogue initiated today will lead to tangible outcomes.”

Disney Wish at Castaway Cay

The Disney Cruise Line sails to Falmouth, Jamaica on 7-night Western Caribbean sailings that depart out of Port Canaveral. Typically, these ports and tourist destinations are safe — but it’s always a good idea to be on your toes when traveling to other countries no matter where they are!

We’ll be on the lookout for additional updates on this travel advisory that could impact your upcoming travel. In the meantime, make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest travel news.