 |
| ms Veendam // Photo by Susan J. Young |
It's been a long way back for Mazatlan, Mexico, which lost its major cruise line business a few years ago in the aftermath of several highly publicized crime incidents. But things are looking up for the port along Mexico's Pacific coastline.
Now, three lines will soon return with port calls this fall and early next year at Mazatlan. Holland America Line (www.hollandamerica.com) is returning with Veendam in November. Norwegian Cruise Line (www.ncl.com) is coming back the following month with Norwegian Star. Azamara Club Cruises' (www.azamaraclubcruises.com) Azamara Quest will also call at the port early next year.
In a complex and substantive effort involving local, state and federal officials, security has been heightened, the destination created a new connection corridor from the cruise pier to the downtown area and security cameras have been installed.
Read about what's happened in this recent Los Angeles Time article about the major lines' return to Mazatlan: http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-trb-mexico-cruise-lines-back-to-mazatlan-20130909,0,6054522.story.
Mazatlan first became known to many Americans through the "Love Boat" 1970s television show with Julie, Gopher and the rest of the show's characters shepherding passengers off the ship, the Pacific Princess, for a day ashore in Mazatlan. Guests often returned up the gangway wearing Mexican hats and showing off their souvenirs.
Carnival Cruise Lines, which had been the source of the most travelers going ashore in Mazatlan in past years, hasn't yet returned, although the line has repeatedly said publicly that it hopes to do so some day.