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Showing posts with label puerto vallarta. Show all posts
Showing posts with label puerto vallarta. Show all posts
American Queen Voyages Rolls Out Pacific Coast Sailings with Free Air
American Queen Voyages is launching its Pacific Coast sailing aboard the Ocean Victory from San Diego, California, to San José, Puerto Rico, and offers free air transportation from select getaways, according to a press release.
Guests will be eligible for the free air option if they complete their booking by August 31, 2022, according to the company.
American Queen Voyages also offers its guests the choice to pick between two shorter voyages ranging from eight to fifteen days, from San Diego, California to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, to San José, Costa Rica, beginning on October 3, 2022.
Guided tours led by local experts and historians are available in each port, and the company has also introduced a series of premium tours developed by its shore excursions team, such as Turtles and Iguanas and Salsa and Margaritas.
"Guests have given Ocean Victory rave reviews on her inaugural Alaska season, and our Pacific Coast sailing provides a final opportunity to experience this unique vessel in 2022 before she returns to North America again next year," said Isis Ruiz, chief commercial officer, American Queen Voyages. "This itinerary exploring the Western coastlines of Mexico and Costa Rica will provide spectacular vistas and a variety of experiences guests have come to cherish from American Queen Voyages, which combines science, history, wildlife and adventure.”
Voyage Options:
San Diego, California to San José, Costa Rica Date: October 3, 2022 Duration: 15 days Calls on: Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; La Paz, Mexico; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Manzanillo, Mexico; Huatulco, Mexico; Puerto Chiapas, Mexico; and Playas del Coco, Costa Rica Fare: Starts from $5,099 per guest with free roundtrip airfare
San Diego, California to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Date: October 3, 2022 Duration: 8 days Calls on: Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and La Paz, Mexico Fare: Starts from $2,499 per guest with a $300 onboard credit
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to San José, Costa Rica Date: October 9, 2022 Duration: 9 days Calls on: Manzanillo, Mexico; Huatulco, Mexico; Puerto Chiapas, Mexico; and Playas del Coco, Costa Rica Fare: Starts from $2,799 per guest with a $300 onboard credit
Carnival Panorama Marks Carnival Return to the West Coast
Carnival Cruise Line is returning to the West Coast this Saturday, as the Carnival Panorama resumes service in California.
Based in Long Beach, the 2019-built vessel is departing today on a seven-night cruise to the Mexican Riviera.
The sailing marks the return of the brand to the region after a 17-month operational pause.
One of Carnival’s newest and biggest ships, the Panorama will visit three different destinations in Mexico, including Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta.
Before returning to Long Beach, the vessel also visits Cabo San Lucas, a city known for its rock formations and beaches.
Sailing from Long Beach every Saturday, the ship is set to repeat the itinerary through December.
Built-in Italy, the 4,000-guest Carnival Panorama is the last in a series of three ships known as the Vista Class. Larger than its predecessors, these ships introduced several new features for the Carnival brand, such as the SkyRide a twin-track suspended bike course.
The Vista-class also debuted the Havana Staterooms, Carnival’s first cabin enclave, complete with its own private pool deck and lounge and lanai balconies.
Other highlights are the Sky Zone, a trampoline park and the Carnival Kitchen program, a hands-on culinary experience led by the line’s chefs. Both attractions were first introduced by the Carnival Panorama.
In August a total of three vessels resumed operations for the company. In addition to the Carnival Panorama, the Carnival Magic welcomed guests back on August 7 and the Carnival Sunrise did the same on August 14. The ships are now sailing from Port Canaveral and Miami, respectively.
Puerto Vallarta Welcomes Return of Carnival Miracle
The Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board has announced the return of Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Miracle to Puerto Vallarta after a seven-year absence.
Connecting San Diego and Puerto Vallarta, the ship is scheduled to make its first call in December 2019.
For the 2019-2020 winter season, the Carnival Miracle will offer 10 voyages from the Port of San Diego. The schedule kicks off on December 1, 2019, with a seven-day cruise to the Mexican Riviera featuring calls at Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabo San Lucas.
Other cruise lines that sail from San Diego to Puerto Vallarta include Holland America Line and Disney Cruise Line.
For 2018, Puerto Vallarta is projecting 154 calls with 404,734 passengers, up from 145 calls in 2017.
According to the tourism board, calls to the destination are expected to increase annually and Puerto Vallarta’s International Port (API) is committing $22 million for an extensive renovation and construction project to the port infrastructure.
In charge of the project is the local company, Puerto Mágico PV. The work will cover La Hacienda, a new passenger centre, a Tequila distillery, an art gallery, artisan shops, a cultural centre; El Nido, a new commercial centre with a food court, a 400-car parking lot; and what is set to be the biggest aquarium in Latin America. The port will also be accessible to non-passenger, open to visitors and local residents. The project is scheduled to be unveiled before the end of 2018.
A delegation representing almost every level of Puerto Vallarta’s tourism industry, including the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board, was on hand on Monday morning as the Norwegian Bliss made its maiden call in Mexico and to Puerto Vallarta.
Headed by Captain Staffan Bengtsson the cruise ship will visit Puerto Vallarta five more times later this year, according to a statement.
“Puerto Vallarta has always shared a special connection with the cruise industry because of its diverse attractions and offers,” said Javier Aranda Pedrero, Director of the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to show this maiden trip Puerto Vallarta hospitality and show that we are committed to providing the best experience possible.”
"Vallarta is a port that stands out for the safety of its tourists, the beauty of its surroundings, the variety of its attractions and the quality of its services. This is why it enjoys the confidence of cruise companies," Pedrero added.
The port will receive 154 cruise calls this year and over 400,000 guests, up from 145 calls last year.
PHOTO: Cruise ship docked in Puerto Vallarta. (photo via Flickr/Brian Holsclaw) Puerto Vallarta has long been known as the smiling face of Mexico’s friendly coast.
Nonetheless, increased tourism demand and destination competition have prompted this bastion of traditional, authentic Mexico to undergo a critical upgrade and modernization.
In 2015, the Mexican government announced an audacious three-part plan for Puerto Vallarta: A complete rebuild of the cruise terminal, increasing parking there by 400 spaces and adding a notable attraction—since announced as the largest aquarium in Latin America.
“When the President [Enrique Pena Nieto] was in campaign, he came to Puerto Vallarta and promised to develop the port in order to be more competitive in the world,” said Carlos Gerard, the port director, local tour operator, former Puerto Vallarta Minister of Tourism and owner of the construction company now completing the first two projects.
While the footprint and ship-service mechanics of the three-berth port will not expand, the passenger space is modernizing substantially.
What’s New
Puerto Magico (or “Magic Port”) is the new 15,500 square meter terminal that will be designed like an airport terminal, look like a traditional Mexican hacienda and include numerous public spaces and shops, making it both an authentic welcome point for arrivals and a commercial destination throughout the city.
A study and bidding began in 2013, with construction starting February 2016 and a scheduled completion for August, 2018 on a price tag around $19 million US.
“Puerto Vallarta is in the state of Jalisco, the birthplace of tequila, mariachi and charrereia,” said Gerard, “so we need to make that part of the identity of the port itself. We don’t want to make just another cruise terminal. We want an experience so that when anyone visits the port—whether by cruise ship, car or airplane—they will feel like they’re in a real, authentic hacienda.
“The cruise lines have told us that many of the cruise ports in Mexico look all the same, so we have to make that different from the older ports. Mazatlan has its own look, so they have to show it. Cabo San Lucas is desert, so they have to show it. We will be the first to make things different and very authentic and original.
“It will be very light Mexican architecture, with arches and the green roof, as well as open spaces and vegetation.”
PHOTO: Puerto Vallarta Hacienda Cruise Terminal
The two-level parking garage replaces an open-air lot and will be approximately 9,500 square meters at a cost of nearly $6.4 million US. The first level will include bus and public transportation facilities, both to be completed with the terminal phase.
Meanwhile, the aquarium will be 8,500 square meters and is currently undergoing internal operations development. Its completion date is open-ended and estimated at easily costing more than $8 million US.
Visitors to the aquarium will enter through the parking complex and then walk past the terminal’s shops and public seating areas—the actual arrival and departure areas will be closed to the public and contain typical security.
PHOTO: Puerto Vallarta cruiseport entryway.
“We will have 300 different species and some 15,000 different animals from all over the world, including Mexico, the Gulf, the Pacific and the Caribbean,” said Julio Nasta Icaza, Director of Blau Life and the overseer of the current aquarium project. (Blau Life also operate Mexico City’s famous Acuario Ibursa aquarium and a coral farm there that helps repopulate coral in their own exhibits as well as the sea.)
“We will have some 59 different exhibits, and there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes with animal husbandry, fish farms and training before we can open, even as construction is yet to begin. We have state-of-the-art equipment and will touch all the senses and be highly themed.
“We have agreements with turtle conservation groups and support their efforts. When you have a crab crawl on your arm or touch a starfish in one of our educational exhibits, it brings the sea to life and helps people want to save it.”
Meeting Multiple Needs
While the number of cruise ships being built continues to rise, it is not meeting the increased demand from passengers. What’s more, the competition is fiercer than ever among destinations.
2008 was the high point for Puerto Vallarta, with about 290 ships making a call. That number plummeted to 81 arrivals in 2013 due to the recession and other factors, but has since risen to 108 during 2014, 130 in 2015 and 145 in 2017.
Gerard estimated 10-15% annual growth in cruise ship arrivals following the completion of this project.
Still, there is much work to be done, even as Puerto Vallarta maintains its reputation as one of Mexico's safest cities and neighboring Riviera Nayarit continues to draw international interest.
“There are actually more ports being developed and re-developed right now than cruise ships being built,” said Gerard. “We are making the port more competitive and attractive for the cruise lines, passengers and crew. This will create 400 different new jobs just at the cruise terminal. Once all the construction is finished, it will be over a thousand.”
PHOTO: Puerto Vallarta Parking and entrance.
That said, the project was never going to get off the ground at the scale Puerto Vallarta tourism officials wanted unless they began thinking bigger.
“2017 will see approximately 145 cruise ships in Puerto Vallarta, but you’re only talking about 100 days out of 365 that see cruise ship visitors,” said Gerard. “That’s not going to be worth it to investors and developers, so we needed to open it to the public itself so it is attractive.”
Thus was born the idea for making the cruise terminal a multi-use site that caters to tourists and locals alike as a commercial and cultural hub within the city.
“We annually have 4.2 million visitors to Puerto Vallarta who fly in or drive. 50% are Mexican, while almost the other 50% are Americans and Canadians. We have 22,000 hotel rooms in Puerto Vallarta and another 12,000 in Riviera Nayarit.”
Gerard estimated 2.9 million visitors will check out the new cruise terminal and its attractions during its first year based on conservative projections. This includes around 400,000 cruise passengers and 120,000 crew, plus another 600,000 land- and air-based visitors simply using the terminal as the jumping off point for their harbor and water-based tours.
“We also expect about ten percent of the 4.2 million visitors to visit here for commercial reasons,” noted Gerard. “We have 320,000 people living in Puerto Vallarta—including about 45,000 American and Canadian expats partial- or full-time—plus another 120,000 in the surrounding area. We are expecting the average of those folks to visit us once during the year. That is extremely conservative.
“The crew also are buyers and have needs, similar to the passengers. Tourists will spend around $98 US apiece here, which is second-place in Mexico. Crew members will spend $65 US on average.
“We are the No. 2 destination in Mexico for gastronomy and No. 1 in tourist preference. We also need for Mazatlan and Cabo to do something similar. The most popular route from San Diego or Los Angeles is the 7-day cruise that comes through our three cities.”
Notables
—Forty percent of cruise ship passengers take a water or land excursion of about 4.5 hours during their 12-hour stay in Puerto Vallarta, and these will all originate from the terminal after the revamp. (The rest get off the ship and visit the downtown for shopping and exploring along the seaside Malecon andZona Romantica.)
—Shuttles and small trains will link Berths 2 & 3 (which are across the waterway) on multi-ship arrival days with the cruise terminal and Berth 1 (used for primary arrivals).
—Carnival Cruise Line arrives weekly to Puerto Vallarta year-round. Princess, Norwegian, Holland and Royal Caribbean are also frequent customers, in that order.
—The port will oversee all the cruise ship maintenance and re-provisioning services, as well as all shop dues and transportation services through this new centralized hub.
—Cruise ship sizes continue to expand, but Puerto Vallarta’s berths remain the same for now. Thus, expanding the mechanical and service infrastructure to meet the coming megaships is not part of this project but is next on the horizon.
The Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board announced that the city has reported an increase of over 6% in hotel occupancy for the first 6 months of the year, with an average occupancy rate for January to June of close to 90% compared to 73% in 2016 and 70% in 2015.
Similarly, the Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR) handled 1,843,600 international passenger arrivals, in the first half of the year, 12.1% more than the same period in 2016. In addition, 189,324 passengers visited the destination while on cruise calls to the Puerto Vallarta Cruise Port, a 2% increase compared to 2016.
The Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board credits the success of its consistent and proactive promotional and communication campaign in its primary markets including as Mexico, the US and Canada as well as emerging markets in South America and Europe for the continued increase in visitor arrivals. In addition, the tourism board’s strategic PR efforts targeting specific niche markets have played a role.
Puerto Vallarta is home to the most hotels with Diamond Awards in Mexico and is also described as Mexico’s leading culinary beach destination, with more than 350 restaurants.
Civil unrest and violence around Puerto Vallarta led to cruise lines canceling ship calls there.
The Celebrity Infinity bypassed the Mexican port on May 10 for a day at sea, spokeswoman Cynthia Martinez said. On May 12, Royal Caribbean International's Jewel of the Seas will substitute a sea day for Puerto Vallarta.
In a statement, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (parent of Celebrity and Royal Caribbean) said the decisions were made "due to the recent episodes of violent civil unrest, stemming from criminal gangs that have engaged in armed conflict with local authorities.”
Disney Cruise Line distributed a letter to passengers on a 14-day Panama Canal cruise aboard the Disney Wonder explaining that the May 12 port call was being canceled, citing “several reports of unrest in the area around Puerto Vallarta.”
Disney said taxes, fees and port expenses associated with the visit would be refunded to the original source of payment used by the passenger to book the cruise.
The Carnival Miracle will continue with its scheduled May 12 stop, but some shore excursions have been canceled, a spokesman said.
The U.S. State Department issued an updated travel warning for Mexico on May 5 detailing the "risk of traveling to certain places in Mexico due to threats to safety and security posed by organized criminal groups in the country."
We're excited to start the New Year off with some great Carnival
product news for you and your clients!
Carnival Miracle will undergo an extensive refurbishment this spring that
will add an array of new and exciting on-board innovations, from unique bar
concepts like RedFrog Pub and Alchemy Bar to fun entertainment choices such
as Playlist Productions and Hasbro, The Game Show, and the family-friendly
Seuss at Sea program!
The new features - part of our ongoing Fun Ship 2.0
product enhancement initiative - will be added during a two-week-long dry dock
that will take place March 7-21, 2015.
The exciting new
enhancements include:
Red Frog Pub
- our Caribbean-inspired watering hole featuring the region's best rums
and beers - including Carnival's own ThirstyFrog Red - enjoyed in a
distinct British-West-Indies-meets-Key-West atmosphere
Alchemy Bar
- at this vintage-themed cocktail "pharmacy," mixologists
"prescribe" concoctions from different elixirs and ingredients
with creative names like "Forty is the New Twenty" and
"Restorative Basil Drop"
Playlist Productions - these four spectacular shows - 88 Keys, 80's Pop
To the Max, Getaway Island and Heart Of Soul - combine captivating live
performances of recognizable pop and rock songs with dazzling special
effects to create unforgettable evenings of entertainment
Seuss At Sea
- part an exclusive partnership with Dr. Seuss Enterprises, Seuss at Sea
brings the whimsical world of Dr. Seuss to life with fun activities like
the Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast with the Cat in the Hat and Friends,
Seuss-a-Palooza Story Time, and more
Hasbro, The Game Show - this audience-participation favorite features
larger-than-life adaptations of the company's iconic and popular games
with titles like Connect4 Basketball, Sorry Sliders, and Yahtzee Bowling
Cherry On Top
- this "candy and more store" celebrates the joys of simple
indulgences with bins of bulk candy, fun fanciful gifts and novelties,
custom apparel and more
New SPORTS Bar
- at this sports lovers' paradise, guests can catch live sporting events
and check out scores on the real-time 24/7 sports ticker
Spin U
- developed in partnership with legendary DJ IRIE - Carnival's official
DJ who has entertained crowds from South Beach to Las Vegas - this fun
DJ academy provides aspiring spin-masters ages 15-17 all they need to
know to "hit the decks" and rock the club!
These
innovations complement a wide range of existing onboard features such as the
Punchliner Comedy Club presented by George Lopez, a Serenity adults-only
retreat with magnificent ocean vistas, a classic American-style steakhouse
serving prime cuts of beef and other gourmet cuisine, a nine-hole miniature
golf course, a 14,500-square-foot health and wellness center, and The Taste
Bar offering bite-size samples from popular Fun Ship 2.0 dining venues.
Carnival Miracle
Itineraries
Carnival Miracle operates year-round departures from Long Beach, California
(perfectly placed for the LA stay before or after your Guests’ cruise)
featuring three different week-long Mexican Riviera cruise options: a
three-port itinerary featuring Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas;
a two-port option that includes a stop in Cabo San Lucas, along with a
two-day overnight stay in Puerto Vallarta; and a third choice featuring a
day-long visit to Puerto Vallarta, along with a two-day call at Cabo San
Lucas.
Carnival Miracle will also offer 15-day Hawaii cruises round-trip from Long
Beach departing Oct. 17 and Nov. 28, 2015, and Jan. 16, 2016, along with a
special one-time 13-day Mexican Riviera cruise departing Jan. 31, 2016.
Erin
Johnson
Marketing Director
Carnival Cruise Lines UK & Ireland ejohnson@carnival.com
Carnival to again sail Mexico's Pacific Coast year-round
By Gay Nagle Myers
Carnival Cruise Lines will resume year-round sailings to the Mexican Riviera from Long Beach, Calif., beginning in October.
The line last sailed to Mexico's Pacific Coast year-round in 2012, although it has operated some cruises on a seasonal basis since then.
The Carnival Miracle will operate three seven-day itineraries, starting next April.
One itinerary is a three-port sailing with calls in Mazatlan, Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta. That cruise will mark the return of Carnival to Mazatlan since its pullout in early 2011, citing safety and security issues for passengers following several incidents of crime near the port.
Other lines also cut the Mazatlan stop at the time but have since returned.
"With the return of Carnival, five major cruise lines have now resumed service to Mazatlan, including Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and Azamara Club Cruises," said Frank Cordova, secretary of tourism for the state of Sinaloa.
"We are extremely pleased with the positive developments that have transformed Mazatlan over the past several years, including those in the cruise industry, and are excited about the prospect of future growth in tourism to the destination," he said.
Those developments include a new $3 million tourism corridor between the Port of Mazatlan and the city's historic center, making it easier and safer for cruise visitors to reach the heart of the city.
Carnival's two other Mexican Riviera itineraries include a two-port voyage that pairs a stop in Cabo San Lucas with a two-day overnight stay in Puerto Vallarta.
The third itinerary pairs a visit to Puerto Vallarta with a two-day call in Cabo San Lucas.
Cruise passengers robbed on excursion in Puerto Vallarta
By Donna Tunney
Carnival Cruise Lines suspended
a guided nature-trail excursion in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, after 22 passengers
sailing on the Carnival Splendor were robbed at gunpoint during the tour on Feb.
23.
There were no injuries and all
passengers returned safely to the ship, Carnival said in a statement.
“Numerous authorities were notified and
responded to investigate, as well as assist the affected guests. The tour in
question has been suspended until further notice.”
Carnival said it is working to reimburse robbery victims for lost
valuables and assist with lost passports or other forms of identification that
were stolen.
“Carnival sincerely apologizes
to its guests for this very unfortunate and disturbing event and is providing
its full support and assistance,” the cruise line said.
The 2,974-passenger Splendor was operating a seven-day cruise
that departed Long Beach, Calif., on Feb. 19.
Puerto Vallarta, a city of 255,000, is located in Jalisco state.
The most recent U.S. State Department travel warning concerning the region tells
Americans to “deter nonessential travel to areas of the state that border the
states of Michoacan and Zacatecas.”
Michoacan is located to the south and Zacatecas to the northeast
of Jalisco. The warning does not specifically mention Puerto Vallarta.
Princess Cruises last June suspended calls to
Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan, citing security concerns, but announced last
October it would include both destinations on six Sapphire Princess cruises in
winter 2012-13.
At the time, Princess said
it could alter its decision to include Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan closer to
departure, if its comfort level with the destinations changes again.
Holland America Line had extended its
suspension of Mazatlan port calls through March 2012, replacing the visit with
an overnight in Puerto Vallarta.
Meanwhile, Puerto Vallarta is poised to host a major trade show,
Tianguis Turistico 2012, March 25 to 28 in Puerto Vallarta and the Riviera
Nayarit.
Puerto Vallarta’s conference
center will serve as the venue for the trade show, meetings and press
conferences.
