Cozumel welcomes cruise ships back to port MIAMI -- Cruise ships again began calling in Cozumel, Mexico, this week, following the damage Hurricane Wilma brought upon the destination last month.
The docks were damaged by Wilma so ships will anchor offshore and tender passengers to the island.
The Carnival Triumph and the Celebrity Galaxy were the first scheduled ships to anchor in Cozumel, and by Wednesday up to four ships will drop anchor there.
To welcome passengers to the destination, local government officials and businesses organized a weeklong event called "Festival del Mar Caribe" that will take place in Cozumel's town square.
The fiesta will feature music, dance performances, artisans and street vendors selling crafts and paintings.
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| Carnival Cruise Lines Itinerary Update – November 1, 2005 Itinerary Update – November 1, 2005 7:00 PM
Due to the impact from Hurricane Wilma in Cozumel, we will make the following itinerary changes for the cruises from November 3 through and including November 7, 2005:
Imagination November 3 from Miami - This cruise will visit Key West (Fri.) and Playa del Carmen, Mexico (Sat.)
Inspiration November 3 from Tampa - This cruise will visit Progreso, Yucatan (Sat.)
Elation November 5 from Galveston - This cruise will visit Progreso, Yucatan (Mon.) and Veracruz (Tues.)
Carnival Glory November 5 from Port Canaveral - The scheduled call in Cozumel will be replaced with Costa Maya
Carnival Miracle November 6 from Tampa - This cruise will visit Grand Cayman (Tues.), Belize (Thus.) and Costa Maya (Fri.)
Carnival Conquest November 6 from Galveston - The scheduled call in Cozumel will be replaced by a visit to Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Carnival Victory November 6 from Miami - The scheduled call in Cozumel will be replaced with Costa Maya
Fascination November 7 from Miami - This cruise will visit Key West (Tues.) and Playa del Carmen, Mexico (Wed.)
Inspiration November 7 from Tampa - This cruise will visit Grand Cayman (Wed.) and Costa Maya (Thurs.)
| Cancun execs: Wilma won't keep a good destination down NEW YORK -- A representative of the Cancun, Mexico, convention and visitors bureau was in town Nov. 3 to spread the word that the resort destination is on the fast track to recovery in the wake of Hurricane Wilma.
Patricia Lopez Mancera, the CVB's director of public relations, also highlighted new "alternative tourism" options for the resort that turn attention away from beaches and focus on areas near Cancun that were "untouched by Wilma," she said.
Meanwhile, the Mexico Tourist Board (MTB) was set to launch on Nov. 7 a $10 million international print and TV campaign to revive tourism to Cancun and other areas affected by Wilma, said Marisa Lopez, director of the MTB in New York The region accounts for 38% of Mexico's international tourist arrivals.
Mexican President Vicente Fox has pledged that 80% of the region's tourism destinations will be operational by Dec. 15, at which time the tourism industry will stage a "relaunch event."
As for Cancun's recovery, Lopez Mancera noted that as of Nov. 1, the airport's tower was fully operational, allowing for night flights; when it first reopened, on Oct. 26, it was limited to daytime flights.
By Nov 3, the airport was receiving 11 daily domestic and international flights, and by Nov. 5, that number was expected to increase to 14. Further clusters of air services will resume in mid-November and early December.
By Nov. 4, 5,200 hotel rooms would be available, Lopez Mancera said, and that number is expected to rise to 8,700 on Nov. 25 and 15,800 on Dec. 15, or about 60% of Cancun's inventory. The room count is projected at 20,900 by Jan. 15.
Those properties with more extensive damage, however, are closed until further notice, including the Hyatt Regency Cancun. Lopez Mancera added hoteliers are sometimes reluctant to broadcast opening dates for insurance reasons.
The convention center was slated to reopen Nov. 8, and the first convention, a domestic event for 3,000, is set for Dec. 3.
The largest single project, Lopez Mancera said, will be bringing sand back to some beaches, and the first stage of that is under way. However, studies lasting "not more than a month" will be undertaken to determine where precisely the missing sand settled. The work will involve pulling sand back from points about 150 to 200 meters (500 to 650 feet) out to sea. Fonatur has granted $19 million toward that effort across the region, plus $10 million for infrastructure repair.
Lopez Mancera said everyone -- the government, hotels, local service, tour operators -- are "in a hurry" to restore services because so many have so much invested.
When asked about the possibility this year's storms may cause tour operators and travelers to shy away from vulnerable areas in hurricane season, Lopez said Cancun is a long way from being as slow in the autumn as it was 10 to 15 years ago (when stores would close for a couple of months), and she doubts Wilma will hurt business much in future seasons because so many travelers are price-driven and are willing to take their chances.
As for alternative tourism, Cancun is highlighting options for day trips categorized as adventure, ecotourism or rural tourism. Lopez Mancera said the new programs, dubbed Expedition Cancun, were already in the works before Wilma, but the timing of their debut is fortuitous
| Tropical Weather Update from Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Royal Caribbean International® and Celebrity Cruises® continue to closely monitor the aftermath of Hurricane Wilma toensure our guests enjoy safe and comfortable cruises.
The safety of our guests and crew is always the foremost concern of Royal Caribbean International® and CelebrityCruises®.
Given Hurricane Wilma's aftermath, Royal Caribbean International® and Celebrity Cruises® are currently modifying theitineraries of the following sailings:
ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL®
Ships sailing from the Port of Miami
Explorer of the Seas® -- The Sunday, November 6, sailing of Explorer of the Seas® is unable to visit Cozumel Thursday,due to the port's closure. Instead, the ship will spend that day at sea.
Ships sailing from Port Everglades
Enchantment of the Seas® -- The Thursday, November 3, sailing of Enchantment of the Seas® is unable to visit CozumelSaturday, due to the port's closure. Instead, the ship will make a port call in Costa Maya, Mexico, that day.
Enchantment of the Seas® -- The Monday, November 7, sailing of Enchantment of the Seas® is unable to visit CozumelWednesday, due to the port's closure. Instead, the ship will spend the day at sea.
Ships sailing from Port Canaveral
Mariner of the Seas® -- The Sunday, November 6, sailing of Mariner of the Seas® is unable to visit Cozumel Friday, due to the port's closure. Instead, the ship will spend that day at sea.
Ships sailing from the Port of Tampa
Legend of the Seas® -- The Saturday, November 5, sailing of Legend of the Seas® is unable to visit Cozumel Thursday,due to the ports' closures. Instead, the ship will spend that day at sea.
Ships sailing from the Port of Galveston
Rhapsody of the Seas® -- The Sunday, November 6, sailing of Rhapsody of the Seas® is unable to visit Cozumel Friday,due to the port's closure. Instead, the ship will make a port call in Costa Maya, Mexico, that day.
CELEBRITY CRUISES®
Ships sailing from the Port of Miami
ZenithSM -- The Thursday, November 10, sailing of ZenithSM is unable to visit Key West Friday and Cozumel Saturday,due to the closures of the port in Cozumel and cruising time needed for an alternative port of call. Instead, the shipwill spend the day at sea Friday and will make a port call in George Town, Cayman, Saturday.
Ships sailing from the Port of Galveston
Galaxy® -- The Saturday, November 12, sailing of Galaxy® is unable to visit Cozumel Monday, due to the port's closure.Instead, the ship will spend that day at sea.
At this time, no other Royal Caribbean International® or Celebrity Cruises® ships are being adversely impacted by theaftermath of Hurricane Wilma or tropical weather. Royal Caribbean International® and Celebrity Cruises® willcontinue to closely monitor these situations and update this information as needed. | | |
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