CRUISE passenger arrivals for the first two months of 2012 were 71.6 per cent higher than the comparative period last year.

The Falmouth pier — the largest of the three, which carried 42.8 per cent of the 332,187 passengers — was largely responsible for the rise in passengers, according to preliminary data from the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ).

More cruise ships like this one docked in the island’s ports this year

Thirty-nine ships carrying 142,314 passengers docked there between January and February 2012 compared to three ships carrying 10,817 passengers.

Ocho Rios saw a 10.3 per cent decline in its arrivals, due to ships being diverted to the Falmouth, which started receiving passengers in February 2011.

However, Montego Bay saw a 29 per cent year on year increase in arrivals during the review period.

Should the preliminary data be reflective of 2012’s expected performance, cruise passenger arrivals will reach record levels this year at 1.9 million visitors.