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Mexico’s Puerto Costa Maya, located on the Caribbean coast about four hours south of Cancun, reopened with a festive celebration last week. The port spent $16 million to rebuild and improve the facility, which was closed in August 2007 after sustaining serious damage from Hurricane Dean.
“It’s a great pleasure to receive ships after 15 months,” said Teofilo Hamui, president of Puerto Costa Maya. “The port is functioning at 100 percent.” The ceremony was held in one of the restaurants onsite, overlooking two Holland America Lines ships docked at the port on Nov. 21.
Several cruise line executives were on hand, as were the governor of Quintana Roo and other local dignitaries. Prior to Hurricane Dean, Costa Maya was the second-busiest port in Mexico, attracting about 400 ships a year. Forty calls are scheduled for 2008 and about 200 for 2009.
Hamui said it was a monumental effort to rebuild the port in 15 months because business came to a standstill — ships cannot anchor and tender passengers in because the seas are too rough. The port hired 400 workers and 80 divers who often worked six days a week.
During the work, the pier was extended by 100 feet to accommodate the next generation of megaships, such as Royal Caribbean International’s 220,000-ton Oasis of the Seas. “We’re talking to Royal Caribbean to see if Oasis might come here, but nothing is defined yet,” Hamui said.
The newest attraction at Puerto Costa Maya is BioMaya Bacalar, a zipline excursion between iron towers ranging from 656 feet to 2,559 feet. A Hard Rock Café is under construction outside the port facility and is expected to open in winter 2009.
Hamui said the dolphin experience will be reintroduced in winter 2009 at the port’s private beach. Costa Maya was the Western Caribbean’s first port designed exclusively for the cruise industry.
Resembling an ancient Mayan city, Costa Maya can accommodate three ships at once. Costa Maya has three pavilions, more than 70 artisan and luxury shopping areas, a beach club, saltwater pools, restaurants and bars.
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