Jim in Cancun
/ Moderator
Nov 11, 2002, 3:53 AM
Post #2 of 9
(2357 views)
Shortcut
|
Article from Orlando Sentinel Nov. 11, 2002
|
Can't Post | Private Reply
|
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/...%2Dheadlines%2Dprint
THE CRUISE REPORT
Ferry trip links Tampa, Mexico
By Arline Bleecker | Sentinel Cruise Correspondent
Posted November 10, 2002
   Email this story to a friend
 Printer friendly version
  THE CRUISE REPORT  Planning on taking a cruise? Let the Orlando Sentinel and OrlandoSentinel.com provide tips on getting the most out of your cruise including ways to save time and money. FALL CRUISES  Getting ready to cruise the seas? Let the Orlando Sentinel and OrlandoSentinel.com be your fall cruise guide for:
Information
Schedule
Port information
Contacts
Sanitation ratings
Considering the hassles you encounter and time you waste flying just about anywhere nowadays, a 36-hour ferry trip between Tampa and the Yucatan Peninsula sounds positively warp-speed. Now, the latest attempt to bridge the Gulf is about to become reality.
The Yucatan Express, a new cruise/ferry service that begins operating this month, introduces a handy option to and from Mexico and it's a cruise, to boot.
From Nov. 22 through April 2003, Yucatan Express will operate the 1,130-passenger vessel Scotia Prince, which will sail twice weekly between Tampa and Cancun and Merida, Mexico. The ship will leave Tampa on Tuesdays and Fridays, and Mexico on Wednesdays and Sundays.
And the waterborne vessel doesn't just shuttle passengers. If you're so inclined, you can bring along your car.
"The Yucatan Express cruise ferry is an entirely new type of vacation product for Florida and Mexico," says Jim Gamble, general manager for Yucatan Express.
Well, not exactly. Several attempts by other companies to do likewise have failed for a variety of reasons, mostly economic. Meanwhile, the new entrant holds the promise of convenient and relatively inexpensive travel options to and from south of the border:
You can go along just for the ride at round-trip "passage-only" fares that start at $75. If you prefer to linger longer landside -- say, stay for a night or more in Mexico on your own, then take the ferry back -- extended round-trip fares start at $120.
Yucatan Express also offers vacation packages that combine round-trip ferry transportation with hotel stays in a wide choice of accommodations in Cancun and the historic colonial city of Merida. Seven-day cruise/hotel packages start at $229; lengthier packages of 11 and 14 days start at $359 and $469, respectively. You also can opt for motor coach tours of the Yucatan.
A note about prices, though: The ship has 320 cabins, ranging from basic to luxury suites. Starting fares net you category 6 "economy" accommodations (which means washbasin only, no bath or toilet). But cabin upgrades are available. For instance, an extra $25 per person bumps you up to a cabin with lavatory and washbasin, and an extra $75 per person nabs an inside cabin with a sink, toilet and shower. And so on. The steepest cruise-only round-trip rate is $550 per person for a suite.
Similarly, starting fares for Yucatan Express' cruise/hotel packages will include the most basic hotels.
Fares are based on double occupancy and don't include port and security charges, meals, taxes or gratuities. Discounts for children and third and fourth passengers are available.
Aside from providing a welcome contrast to the hassle and bustle of air travel, the Scotia Prince's 36-hour jaunt offers a small, intimate cruise experience. The eight-deck, 485-foot-long ship features a restaurant, Las Vegas-style casino gambling, entertainment and duty-free shopping.
In addition to shuttling passengers who seek convenient transportation to Mexico, the Scotia Prince can accommodate 220 cars or a combination of vehicles that can include anything from your RV, motorcycle or boat to motor coaches and tractor-trailers. It even hauls freight.
Ferrying your wheels can give you the freedom to independently explore the attractions and natural beauty of the Yucatan peninsula. Round-trip fares for a standard vehicle start at $298, plus a $7.50 fee each way.
The company that divined the Tampa-to-Mexico cruise/ferry service, Scotia Prince Cruises, has operated similar service between Portland, Maine, and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, for 33 years. In fact, it uses the same vessel. From May to October the ship resumes its customary New England/Canada circuit. For more information, call 1-866-466-3935.
|
Forums Index
Search Posts
Who's Online
Log In or Sign Up