Puerto Vallarta Rated Top Mexican Riviera & South America Destination By Cruise Critic

Puerto Vallarta’s Cruise Port Terminal has been rated the top Mexican Riviera & South America Destination at the Cruise Critic® first-ever Cruisers' Choice Destination Awards. The world's leading cruise reviews site and online cruise community, based its ranking on consumer ratings submitted with reviews on the Cruise Critic website. The awards name award-winning destinations across 15 regions, worldwide. Puerto Vallarta was ranked number one in the region, followed by Buenos Aires and Cartagena. The port city is one of Mexico’s leading tourism destinations because of its stunning Bay of Banderas surrounded by the lush Sierra Madre mountains and rich colonial architecture of its city center. Today the 98-year-old Mexican city is a world-class destination where cruises are welcomed with Mariachi bands and can enjoy a wide array of activities.   Puerto Vallarta’s Cruise Port Terminal is currently undergoing an extensive three-year renovation with an investment of over 320 million pesos (About 17 million dollars). Construction will be done during off seasons and new to the port will be a Tequila Factory, an aquarium and a Welcome Center.       From January to August of this year, 83 cruises have made calls upon the destination compared to 72 calls for the same period in 2015. 199,565 cruise passengers visited Puerto Vallarta compared to 173,978. It is estimated that Puerto Vallarta will receive over 350,000 cruise passengers by the end of this year.   One of the most popular activities in Puerto Vallarta for locals and visitors alike is strolling along the destination’s Malecon, a lively 6-mile pedestrian-only boardwalk that connects Puerto Vallarta’s Downtown with the Romantic Zone and is surrounded by many shops and restaurants. Visitors can enjoy an art walk stopping in many of the city’s galleries, such as Sergio Bustamente’s gallery and shop, the artists who made many of the statues located in the Malecon, as well as shop at the arts and crafts market, ceramic and tequila shops and high end boutiques located along the cobble stone streets.  For lunch or dinner, there are over 360 restaurants in the area to choose from.   Adventure seekers will find that Puerto Vallarta has it all, from paddle boarding to rappelling down a waterfall. Tour Operators such as Canopy River offer unique opportunities to Zipline across rivers and ride mules down the Sierra Madre Mountain range while others can speed down the country side with Wild Treks Adventure’s ATVs. Vallarta Adventures incorporates cultural, adventure and ecological activities in its tours that range from visiting a ghost mining town in the middle of the jungle, sailing across the bay and relaxing on a secluded cove or trying the fastest zip-line in Mexico.   Those looking for a more relaxing time can opt for Puerto Vallarta’s many high end beach clubs, including Mantamar Beach Club and Casa Velas’ Ocean Club or obtain a day pass to enjoy the beach or pool at many of Puerto Vallarta’s hotels, including Secrets, Westin or Fiesta Americana.  Spa treatments are also a big favorite at CasaMagna Marriott Ohtli and Villa Premire’s Spa.   Additional information on Puerto Vallarta is available at www.visitpuertovallarta.com

Travelore News: Puerto Rico To Welcome World’s Largest Cruise Ships In 2016

Oasis of the Seas

Next year Puerto Rico will welcome the largest cruise ships in the world, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, both from the Royal Caribbean line, as announced today by Puerto Rico Tourism Company’s Executive Director, Ingrid Rivera Rocafort and Port Authority Executive Director, Colberg Ingrid Rodríguez.

This announcement is part of the commitment made under the administration of Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla to attract mega-cruise ships to the island, once the renovation of the Pier 3 is completed. During the summer of 2016, the mega-cruise ships will complete a combined total of 10 trips, which will generate 60,000 additional passengers to the Port of San Juan.

"The arrival of the two ships represent an economic impact for Puerto Rico of approximately $6.4 million, only in this first season," said Rivera Rocafort. “With an average capacity of 6,000 passengers and 2,400 crew members, the ships will set sail from ports in Florida with seven-night itineraries, visiting several Caribbean destinations.”

Meanwhile, the Port Authority Executive Director reaffirmed the government's commitment to continue to modernize and adapt the Port of San Juan docks to the demands of the tourism market and attract more mega-cruise ships.

"The port entrances of the cruises, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas is evidence that we have recovered the strength and confidence of the cruise industry in the region,” said Colberg Rodriguez. “The arrival of both cruises is an achievement made possible thanks to the expansion of Pier 3, that included an investment of $9.3 million to place the Port of San Juan at a level that it deserves, and provide incentives to attract cruise ships. The demonstrated effort and interagency support between the port and Puerto Rico Tourism Company have been key in the record number of cruise passenger arrivals to the country."

Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, agreed that the recent enhancements made to Pier 3 have been key to making the upcoming inaugural trip a reality.

"It is with great pride that Royal Caribbean announced that the two largest and most innovative ships in the world, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, will be coming to Puerto Rico for the first time in the summer of 2016,” Bayley said.

Caribbean's Newest Destination Amber Cove In The Dominican Republic To Welcome First Cruise Ship In 2015

Amber Cove, an exciting new destination located in the heart of the Dominican Republic's breathtaking North Coast, known as the Amber Coast, just outside the historical town of Puerto Plata – will welcome its first cruise ship when the Carnival Victory arrives on October 6, 2015, for a day-long call.

The visit by Carnival Victory is the first of 37 calls by eight different Carnival ships that will take place between October 2015 and April 2016, accounting for more than 100,000 guests during this period.

Amber Cove will be a featured port on select sailings of Carnival Breeze, Carnival Glory, Carnival Splendor and Carnival Victory from Miami, Carnival Conquest from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Carnival Sunshine and Carnival Valor from Port Canaveral, Fla., and Carnival Fantasy from Charleston, S.C.

"Amber Cove is destined to become a cornerstone in creating new itineraries from several U.S. home ports," said Terry Thornton, Carnival's senior vice president of itinerary planning. "It will provide an unmatched combination of 'fun in the sun' activities and eco-tourism opportunities along with unique sightseeing, dining and cultural experiences to create a lifetime of wonderful vacation memories for our guests," he added.

Designed to serve as the gateway to one of the world's most beautiful cruising regions, Amber Cove features dramatic architectural elements that echo the area's storied Colonial past. The port is situated in a picturesque cove that serves as the backdrop for soaring mountains and lush tropical landscape. Its cobblestone plazas will be lined with a wide variety of retail offerings, including themed restaurants and bars and a marketplace with locally sourced crafts and souvenirs, recreational amenities, and a transportation center for access to land and sea adventures.

The facility will offer two berths that can accommodate up to two large post-Panamax cruise ships simultaneously.

Amber Cove will feature one of the most extensive shore excursion programs available in the Caribbean, offering a wide array of landside experiences including beautiful beaches, exciting water sports and special culinary, cultural and adventure options. Nearby Ocean World, which is one of the region's largest marine adventure parks, will offer guests many great ways to experience and interact with a variety of marine animals.

Dozens of shore excursions will be available, from cross-country adventures in 4x4 Terracross buggies that traverse the rugged countryside and horseback riding on the beach to snorkeling in crystal-clear waters and swimming in a pristine natural river pool.

Guests can also travel via speedboat to beautiful Paradise Island, one of the Caribbean's top spots for snorkeling and scuba diving, or visit rural coffee plantations and sample traditional Dominican cuisine, rum and seasonal fruit. Or for the ultimate luxury experience, guests can reserve their own private beachside bungalow with the services of a personal chef, bartender and staff.

Amber Cove will also provide easy and convenient access to the nearby historic town of Puerto Plata, named by Christopher Columbus when he discovered the island in 1492. Puerto Plata is home to the first fort built by European settlers in the New World. Visitors to the city can shop in the bustling downtown area featuring numerous artist studios and rum and cigar factories or stroll along the famed Malecon, a three-mile-long open air beach-side boardwalk dotted with bars, restaurants and shops.

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