Costa Maya News

Puerto Costa Maya to reopen in September 2008

Costa Maya's 'Puerto Costa Maya'announced today that it will not reopen until September 2008. The port was literally at ground zero when Hurricane Dean, as a Category Five storm, went ashore late last month. Also receiving major damage was the nearby fishing village of Majahual.

In a statement issued today by the developers of Puerto Costa Maya, Cesar Lizarraga, its director of sales and marketing, says that "Costa Maya has been working closely with all pertinent government agencies to secure the necessary permits to immediately begin the reconstruction process."

Lizarraga notes that the first phase of reconstruction and clean up to Costa Maya will begin next Monday; the priority will be on returning the first and second ship berthing positions by September 2008. A third part of the pier, which before the storm permitted the facility to dock three ships at a time, will be finished in early 2009.

Presumably -- the statement didn't say -- the restaurants, bars, shops and pool and beach areas that gave Costa Maya its private island feel will also be up and running by September 2008.

While Costa Maya itself is a commercially developed property, nearby Majahual, a charming ocean front town that lies five minutes outside the gates, also needs rebuilding and the statement today notes that "presently, 100 workers are conducting clean-up of the beach and small fishing village. Restoration of services, including phone lines and electricity, are already underway. The rehabilitation project, funded with 18 million Mexican pesos or more than 1.5 million U.S. dollars by Fonatur, Sectur and the Government of Quintana Roo, also includes the creation of a new boardwalk along Majahual’s beach. Fonatur’s announcement with specific development plans is expected by the end of the month."

In the meantime, while cruise lines had already announced near-term port replacements for Costa Maya, they're now needing to plan for substitutes for a longer time. At this point, the following changes have made -- and stay tuned as we'll update cruise line movements as we receive them:

Carnival Fantasy's five-day cruises from New Orleans will call at Progreso instead of Costa Maya.

Carnival Legend will call at Roatan instead of Costa Maya.

Carnival Glory is adding Key West (and dropping Belize as well as Costa Maya). Its new schedule is Port Canaveral, Key West, at sea, Cozumel, Progreso, at sea, Nassau, Port Canaveral.

Enchantment of the Seas will replace Costa Maya with Ocho Rios.

Grandeur of the Seas will swap in visits to Cozumel instead of Costa Maya.

Jewel of the Seas is going to Playa del Carmen.

Voyager of the Seas will not swap out Costa Maya for another port but will instead extend its call time at Roatan and Progreso.

Crystal Symphony's seven-night Miami round trip on November 24 this year has been changed. The new itinerary is Miami, at sea, Progreso, Cozumel, Belize, at sea, Key West, Miami.

Veendam and Westerdam, which both had regular calls at Costa Maya on their winter Western Caribbean itineraries, will instead head to Cozumel.

Amsterdam, which on a Christmas cruise was slated for just one trip this season to Costa Maya, will head also to Cozumel.

Norwegian Sun, which begins a new itinerary from Miami beginning October 27 will call at Roatan, Belize City, at sea, Great Stirrup Cay

Source: Cruise Critic

Back 11.09.2007.