just found something a little cheaper. 659! Still quite high for me but in the consideration range. It would be a direct flight to MBJ from NYC but then on the way back I would fly to Kingston (where I have never been) in the morning, stay the night and fly home early in the morning and go directly to my work in NY from the airport. It might be kind of fun--if I could figure out a reasonable safe place to stay in Kingston and some place to hang out for the day. So I am not giving up hope--gonna try different combos and keep searching and may end up in Negril for Thanksgiving after all. If not Thanksgiving, then Christmas.