Historic Falmouth Port Development

Falmouth Looks to the Past to Shape Its Future with a Historic Vision Directed by IDEA
Orlando, December 1, 2008 – IDEA, Inc. has been selected by Royal Caribbean Cruise, Ltd., to act as owner’s representative and design director for development of their newest Caribbean cruise destination, Historic Falmouth, Jamaica. Agreements between Royal Caribbean and the Port Authority of Jamaica to begin developing Historic Falmouth were finalized during a signing ceremony in Kingston in early November.
IDEA, Inc. created the vision plan to redevelop Historic Falmouth, inspired by the significance of the town in Jamaica’s history. As owner’s representative and design director for Royal Caribbean, IDEA will continue to ensure the inclusion of Falmouth’s history, architecture, art and culture in the project during design development, construction and opening. “Our branded destination concept is built on the existing historical assets of the town,” says Hugh Darley, president and executive producer of IDEA. “We are focused on creating an authentic guest experience that depicts the real Jamaica, when it played a major role in the development of the new world. During a recent Royal visit by Prince Charles the authenticity of our concept was reinforced by his keen personal interest in seeing the continued restoration of the town and its legacy as a great Georgian-era port of call.”
With groundbreaking scheduled to begin immediately on the three-stage development, guests can begin making plans to visit a revitalized Falmouth as early as 2010. A new wharf and historically-themed, mixed-use visitor complex will be ready to receive Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas, the largest and most innovative cruise ship ever conceived.
“This is one of the most significant contracts ever taken in Jamaica,” said Prime Minister Bruce Golding, speaking at the signing ceremony. “(It) is only part of a much larger project, which has as its focus not only the redevelopment of Falmouth, but the expansion of the Jamaican cruise shipping industry.”
Falmouth, Jamaica was once a bustling commercial center and one of the busiest ports in Jamaica, before the decline of the Caribbean sugar industry in the mid-nineteenth century. Today, Falmouth is home to the largest and most well-preserved collection of Georgian-era architecture in the Caribbean.
IDEA, Inc. is an Orlando, Florida based creative agency specializing in the development of branded leisure resorts, entertainment and port destinations worldwide. Founded by President and Executive Producer Hugh Darley, IDEA is leading the way in creating a new era of world-class Signature Port Destination development, realized in one-of-a-kind guest experiences throughout the Caribbean, Mexico and Alaska.