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Latest News...She's the next in a fine line for Cunard, and today (April 19), Queen Anne officially joined the luxury cruise line's iconic fleet during a historic handover ceremony in Italy. Cunard took ownership of their stunning 3,000-guest ship during a traditional handover ceremony at the Fincantieri Marghera shipyard in Venice – where master shipbuilders have been constructing the...
Latest News...Princess Cruises and ship builder Fincantieri today announced the mutual decision to postpone the delivery of the next Sphere Class ship, Star Princess. Following a comprehensive review of the remaining construction milestones, both parties have elected to adjust the ship's delivery date from July 29, 2025 to September 26, 2025, which will result in the cancellation of the nine...
Latest News...Seabourn announced this week that the Wunambal Gaambera Traditional Owners as godparents of Seabourn Pursuit, the line's newest ultra-luxury, purpose-built expedition ship. >Seabourn is the first cruise line to appoint Traditional Owners as godparents of a ship. The naming of Wunambal Gaambera Traditional Owners as godparents of Seabourn Pursuit serves as a symbolic gesture...
quote:Mexico resorts recovering from hurricanesBy Lisa Kalis, NEW YORK TIMES January 31, 2006THERE is life after Wilma. While that hurricane struck Cancun and the surrounding area in Mexico hard from Oct. 21 to 23, services — and tourists — are coming back. Le Meridien Cancun began taking guests again on Nov. 16. The Gran Costa Real, which is partly open, will be at full service by Dec. 1. Several thousand more rooms, including those at Le Blanc Spa Resort and the all-inclusive Dreams Cancun, are expected to open by the end of December. The Maya Riviera, the popular coastal stretch south of Cancun, was spared extensive damage, with 83 percent of its hotel rooms scheduled to be open by Nov. 30, according to the Mexican tourism board. Nearly all rooms will be open by the end of December. During the week of Nov. 14, cruise lines returned to Cozumel, including Carnival, Norwegian, Princess and Royal Caribbean. Up to five ships a day are now coming in, said Michele Paige, president of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association, a trade group. Still, the docks have been damaged (one could take up to two years to rebuild), so for now, ships are anchoring offshore and ferrying passengers to shore. Also on Cozumel, the tourist board said 18 dive shops are ready for business. And in a surprising development, some of the beaches are actually wider — one on the east coast of Cozumel and another along Canczn's hotel zone — according to local tourism boards. Despite these developments, however, many travelers have changed their holiday vacation plans. The Ritz-Carlton resorts in Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Florida all had an increase in reservations from guests who switched from the Cancun property, which had to close, said spokeswoman Vivian Deuschl. It should be repaired by May, she added. After the Fairmont Mayakoba, on the Maya Riviera, had to delay its opening until spring, Fairmont put together comparable packages at its properties in Acapulco, Miami and Scottsdale, Ariz. Some travelers are just switching coasts. American Express Travel has rebooked hundreds of customers to alternative spots in Mexico, according to Desiree Fish, a spokeswoman — particularly to resorts on the Pacific, including Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta and Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. Of course, on the east coast, much work remains.Inside Bay Area
THERE is life after Wilma. While that hurricane struck Cancun and the surrounding area in Mexico hard from Oct. 21 to 23, services — and tourists — are coming back.
Le Meridien Cancun began taking guests again on Nov. 16. The Gran Costa Real, which is partly open, will be at full service by Dec. 1. Several thousand more rooms, including those at Le Blanc Spa Resort and the all-inclusive Dreams Cancun, are expected to open by the end of December.
The Maya Riviera, the popular coastal stretch south of Cancun, was spared extensive damage, with 83 percent of its hotel rooms scheduled to be open by Nov. 30, according to the Mexican tourism board. Nearly all rooms will be open by the end of December.
During the week of Nov. 14, cruise lines returned to Cozumel, including Carnival, Norwegian, Princess and Royal Caribbean. Up to five ships a day are now coming in, said Michele Paige, president of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association, a trade group. Still, the docks have been damaged (one could take up to two years to rebuild), so for now, ships are anchoring offshore and ferrying passengers to shore.
Also on Cozumel, the tourist board said 18 dive shops are ready for business. And in a surprising development, some of the beaches are actually wider — one on the east coast of Cozumel and another along Canczn's hotel zone — according to local tourism boards.
Despite these developments, however, many travelers have changed their holiday vacation plans. The Ritz-Carlton resorts in Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Florida all had an increase in reservations from guests who switched from the Cancun property, which had to close, said spokeswoman Vivian Deuschl. It should be repaired by May, she added.
After the Fairmont Mayakoba, on the Maya Riviera, had to delay its opening until spring, Fairmont put together comparable packages at its properties in Acapulco, Miami and Scottsdale, Ariz.
Some travelers are just switching coasts. American Express Travel has rebooked hundreds of customers to alternative spots in Mexico, according to Desiree Fish, a spokeswoman — particularly to resorts on the Pacific, including Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta and Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo.
Of course, on the east coast, much work remains.
Inside Bay Area
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