Acapulco has announced it will be the port of origin for the 1,400 passenger Magellan cruise ship, of Cruise and Maritime Voyages, starting in the winter of 2018. The roundtrip cruise will depart from Acapulco and make stops in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Manzanillo, Puerto Vallarta, and Cabo San Lucas, before returning to port.
The announcement was made during a joint press conference at Foro Mundo Imperial on May 25th, where Governor of Guerrero, Hector Astudillo Flores, and the Secretary of Tourism of Guerrero, Ernesto Rodríguez Escalona, were joined by representatives from Cruise and Maritime Voyages, which included CEO Nicholas Tragakes, Commercial Director Chris Coates, Finance Director Alexis Tsokos, and VP of Sales and Marketing for North America John Dennis. Both parties agreed that the completion of this negotiation reinforces the destination’s commitment to the tourism and cruise industry.
The cruise line had initially planned to use a smaller ship, the Marco Polo, but finally opted for the Magellan, a much larger and newer vessel, to cover the route due to the forecasted demand. The boat has 750 cabins, including suites with balconies, bars, beauty salons, casino, club, cinema, library, showroom and swimming pools.
During the presentation, the directors of Cruise and Maritime Voyages announced that the first stage in the company’s plan for expansion will focus on this route on the Mexican Pacific, while a second stage will include the Panama Canal and the Mexican Caribbean.
Cruise industry growth has been important this present year in Acapulco, tourism officials said. The destination is ready to receive 28 cruise ships, which have been confirmed for 2017, compared to 18 cruise ships during 2016, representing a 64 percent increase for this upcoming season. The increase in cruise arrivals will positively effect the local economy, with a projected growth in international tourism.
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