For thousands of Americans, a trip to Jamaica is booked and has been the bright spot on the calendar to get through the daily grind. But in the last 48 hours, that dream vacation has turned into a source of extreme anxiety as Hurricane Melissa, a powerful and dangerous storm, has made a direct hit on the island.

If you have a trip planned in the coming weeks or months, you are asking one simple, urgent question: Should you cancel?

Here at Travel Off Path, our job is to cut through the noise and provide you with the most current, no-nonsense information available. This is a fluid, developing situation, but here is exactly what we know right now, based on official government alerts and on-the-ground reports.

What We Know: The Official Status

The entire island is now in a recovery phase as Hurricane Melissa moves away, leaving a trail of significant damage. The U.S. Embassy in Kingston is operating on an emergency basis, and a Hurricane Warning is no longer in effect, but the immediate situation for travel remains critical.

@aaliyahjen0 ♬ Ready – Official Sound Studio

Here are the hard facts for all travelers:

• Airports are Closed: As of October 29, 2025, both Sangster International Airport (MBJ) in Montego Bay and Norman Manley International Airport (KIN) in Kingston remain closed to all commercial traffic. Both airports are assessing significant flooding and structural damage. No official reopening date has been set.
• Airlines Have Issued Waivers: All major U.S. airlines, including American, Delta, JetBlue, and Southwest, have extended their travel waivers for passengers scheduled to fly to or from Jamaica. This means you can change or cancel your flight for the immediate future without a fee.

@skynews WATCH: Hurricane Melissa has wreaked havoc inside Sangster International Airport in Jamaica. The two main international airports have been closed until the storm passes. Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has formally declared the country a disaster area. #jamaica #hurricanemelissa #cuba ♬ original sound – Sky News

• U.S. Embassy is Closed: The U.S. Embassy in Kingston is closed for all routine services and is focusing only on emergency assistance for Americans currently stranded on the island.
• Widespread Power & Comms Outages: Verified reports from major news outlets confirm extensive, island-wide power outages. Mobile phone and internet services are also severely impacted, making communication extremely difficult for those on the ground. Major roads are also impassable due to flooding and debris, halting all ground transportation.

What We’re Seeing: The On-the-Ground Reality

While official, resort-by-resort damage assessments will take days, the initial picture emerging from the island is severe.

Preliminary, unconfirmed videos and photos posted by locals and stranded travelers on social media are painting a grim picture, especially for the northern tourist corridor. The Montego Bay and Negril area, home to many of the island’s largest all-inclusive resorts has taken a significant hit.

@ilianalopez07 ♬ original sound – Iliana Lopez

The unconfirmed reports show extensive water damage to rooms and lobbies of coastal resorts, as well as significant structural and flooding damage at Sangster International Airport.

What This Means For Your Upcoming Trip

This is the most critical question. The answer depends entirely on when you are scheduled to travel. Recovery from a major, direct-hit hurricane is a long and difficult process.

If Your Trip is in the Next 7-10 Days (First half of November)

The advice here is clear: This trip is not happening as planned. The island’s immediate priority is not tourism; it is recovery and safety. Power outages are widespread, roads are impassable, and airports are not operational. You should be on the phone with your airline and hotel today to use the travel waiver and either rebook for a much later date or get a full refund.

If Your Trip is in Late November or December

This is the “wait and see” category, but you should be prepared to cancel. A full recovery from a storm of this magnitude can take weeks and even months. Even if your specific resort can patch up the damage and reopen, you must consider the broader island experience.

• Will local excursions be running?
• Will local restaurants and bars be open?
• Will the infrastructure (roads, power, water) be stable?
• Will the beaches be cleared and the ocean water safe for swimming?

Start monitoring your resort’s official social media channels for updates, but do not be surprised if your trip is severely impacted.

@courtneyleigh2002 The aftermath of hurricane storm Melissa 👏🏼#jamaicatiktok #hurricane #dreamsrosehallresortandspa #montgobay#hurricanemelissa ♬ original sound – Courtney-Leigh

If Your Trip is in 2026 (January or Later)

Do not cancel your trip yet. Resorts in Jamaica have an incredible financial incentive to be fully repaired and reopened for the peak winter season, which starts in January. They will be in a race to get back to 100%. Monitor the situation closely over the next few weeks, as your trip will most likely be able to go on as planned.

We will continue to monitor the official reports from Jamaican authorities and on-the-ground traveler feedback and will provide updates as they become available.