Holland America is planning to have one cruise ship a week on the Sea of Cortez route as of 2011, stated Simon Douwes, Planning and Scheduling Director, who recently confirmed that at the latest in three years, Puerto Penasco will become the site for the arrival and departure of cruise ships.

Plans are to make between 50 and 60 trips in the ?World's Aquarium?, departing from Puerto Penasco to Guaymas, Loreto, La Paz and Topolobampo, and then, returning to the port of departure.

He stated that the Sea of Cortez route is excellent for the company, because in only seven days they can go to six Mexican ports, which will provide a myriad of attractions.

On the other hand, the coordinator of the Commission for the Development of Tourist of the State Government, Epifanio Salido Pavlovich, explained that initially there will be a 14 day route that will depart from San Diego, California, and will travel to Puerto Penasco, then Guaymas, and the tour will conclude in the port of embarkation.

Representatives of Holland America and Carnival Corporation recently visited the area of Sandy Beach, where they intend to locate the cruise ship terminal in Puerto Penasco.

An assessment on the technical feasibility of building the wharf in this area of Rocky Point, Mexico was conducted with good results. Possible attractions in that area that could be provided to cruise ship customers were analyzed within the plans to set-up the Home Port. Some of these attractions are the Visitor Center of the ?El Pinacate? Biosphere Reserve which is another option that can be provided to nautical tourists.

Government sources said that the Home Port project in Puerto Penasco is looking for the appropriate conditions to remain as the Sea of Cortez cruise ship route, while at the same time duly caring for the environment and furthering a sustainable activity through ecological balance.

On October 16, the first tourist cruise ship owned by Holland America arrived in Guaymas, Sonora, while the second one arrived on November 15. in both cases, 1,200 tourists enjoyed the region's attractions.

A ?home port? is a port of arrival, or rather, the site where cruises begin and end. It is something Mexico had never had up to now. This benefit will also include Puerto Penasco once the construction of the Home Port is completed a few kilometers from the US border.

The Government of Sonora, the Florida and Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), and the Coordination General of Ports and Merchant Marine, a body belonging to the Department of Communications and Transportation (SCT) entered into negotiations to make this project come true.

Author: RealtyExecutives Mexico