By Judy Newell
The first cruise will sail from Puerto Vallarta to Mazatlán, departing April 14. The cruise will last three days and two nights for the exclusive preview route.
Grupo Vidanta recently presented the itinerary for its brand-new cruise line. This Mexican company, which specializes in vacation experiences and services, will provide a new cruise service on Mexico’s west coast.
Grupo Vidanta became the first Mexican business to own a luxury cruise line. They expect to replicate their popular and award-winning resort experience over the Pacific.
The company already owns six resort hotels in Nuevo Vallarta, Riviera Maya, Los Cabos, Acapulco, Puerto Peñasco and Puerto Vallarta. Their tourism services also include restaurants, events, parks, tours, and now cruises.
Vidanta Elegant can host up to 295 guests in 149 cabins and suites. The ship was purchased in 2019 and rebuilt. It was originally built in 1990 in Valencia, Spain and used to host up to 550 passengers.
Now, it offers large outdoor spaces, twice as much as the average cruise ship in the industry, becoming also the first cruise line with COVID protocol considered for its installations. It incorporates ventilation systems with PYURE filtration technology to eradicate 99.9% of viruses in the air.
The ship has 13 restaurants and bars, as well as a gym, a fitness center, a spa, and a deluxe entertainment lounge for live jazz and Latin American concerts, dancing and cooking classes.
The luxury sailing experience will highlight Mexican culture, including visits to exclusive destinations, unique exterior views, and beautiful starry nights on the Pacific Ocean.
Other international cruise companies, such as the Norwegian Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean and Princess, have been offering sea routes along the Mexican Pacific Coast, but Grupo Vidanta is the first Mexican company to offer this service on their own land.
The expectations are high: Grupo Vidanta has been offering services for the past 47 years and focusing on creating unique and exclusive vacations experiences and has won several awards in entertainment and hospitality.
International News
Australia: International Travelers Can Visit Now
After nearly two years of being closed to international travelers, Australia is lifting restrictions and welcoming tourists once again.
The government announced that the country’s border restrictions, which have been in place since March 2020, would be lifted on February 21, reopening Australia to vaccinated foreign visitors.
The news comes just four days after neighboring New Zealand ‒with which Australia has a travel bubble‒ announced its five-step plan to open to foreign travelers by July. Australia had planned to reopen to travelers as early as last December, but officials delayed due to the quick-spreading Omicron variant.
Inbound visitors to Australia will need to present proof of being fully vaccinated upon check-in to their flights and may be asked to show the evidence again to border officials upon entry. The vaccines must be from an approved list, which includes AstraZeneca, Janssen, Pfizer, Moderna, and Sinovac.
Paper and digital certificates issued by government authorities or accredited vaccination providers are accepted and must have a name matching the one on the passport, a date of birth or passport number, the vaccine brand, and dates the dosages were completed. Additionally, they must be in English, or accompanied by a certified translation.
Foreign visitors must also have a negative pre-departure test. The Australian Department of Health also specifies that masks must be worn for the duration of the flight.
Once on the ground in Australia, there may be additional restrictions depending on the state or territory. Some states are completely open, others are opening gradually.
The Australia border opening is the final phase of the country’s long enacted plan that said international borders would be reopened when 80 percent of its population 16 and older received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
More than 19 million people over the age of 16 are fully vaccinated, accounting for 93.8 percent of the population.
Deal of the Week
AMR™ Collection is Our Sunshine Spotlight
This February, AMR™ Collection shines bright with exclusive, all-inclusive offers as our Sunshine Spotlight! Whether you are looking for a dreamy romantic vacation or a fun-filled adventure for the whole family, AMR™ Collection has a brand and resort for every moment with irresistible deals, including:
Up to US $300 in instant savings
Hotel savings up to 40%
Exclusive Perks
And more!
Secure the dream vacation you will never forget in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean with AMR™ Collection when booked by February 28, 2022. Travel dates now – December 15, 2022
Cancun Promotions:
• Breathless Cancun Soul & Spa by AMR™ Collection – Unlimited-Luxury®
Save up to 40% + up to US $300 in Instant Savings + US $200 in Resort Coupons and Exclusive Perks + plus 50% Off Roundtrip Airport Transfers
• Dreams Playa Mujeres Golf & Spa Resort by AMR™ Collection – Unlimited-Luxury®
Save up to 40% + up to US $150 in Instant Savings + US $200 in Resort Coupons and Exclusive Perks
• Dreams Sands Cancun Resort & Spa by AMR™ Collection – Unlimited-Luxury®
Save up to 40% + up to US $300 in Instant Savings + $200 in Resort Coupons and Exclusive Perks
Judy Newell, an international travel consultant for 50+ years, heads Perfect Journeys and specializes in unique travel experiences to destinations around the world. She custom designs journeys that are tailored to suit client’s interests, physical abilities and budget. Please contact Judy for further information on Travel News topics, Mexico and international travel. Cell phone 415-111-8765, Vonage 949-300-3682; email judynewell@perfectjourneys.net.
Sources: Travel Off Path, Conde Nast Traveler, AMR™ Collection
