Silversea Cruises is First to Schedule Call at Banana Coast, Honduras
By Theresa Norton Masek
November 29, 2012 10:18 PM
Silversea Cruises is the first cruise line to sign on to call at Banana Coast, the new cruise destination at Trujillo, Honduras. The 296-passenger Silver Cloud is scheduled to call Dec. 17, 2014.
“We are pleased to have a high-end brand like Silversea Cruises be the first to commit to call at Banana Coast,” said Michael Greve, president of Global Destinations Development, one of the companies partnering in the port project. “It’s a testament to how we have carefully created a destination that is culturally and historically appealing to the most sophisticated travelers.”
Greve said construction at Banana Coast, which began in August 2011, is now 80 percent complete, and the facility is expected to have a soft opening in January 2013. The port will be open to host ships throughout 2013 and beyond.
“We have met with several other cruise lines and have hosted site inspections by cruise line executives,” Greve said. “We expect that several lines soon will commit to adding Banana Coast to their itineraries.”
Plans for Banana Coast Landing call for construction of a 50,000-square-foot shopping facility and transportation hub on 10 acres of beachfront land. Themed “Where the Rainforest Meets the Sea,” the $20 million Banana Coast project currently employs 150 construction workers, engineers and architects. A future phase will see construction of a two-berth, post-Panamax pier.
In March 2012, the developers unveiled a shore excursion program that includes cultural, soft-adventure and eco-tour offerings. In addition to the signature tour -- Campo del Mar Nature Park & Beach Break -- highlights include a VIP airplane ride to the Mayan ruins at Copan, a snorkeling adventure at a starfish bank, and kayaking in Guaimoreto Lagoon. Also to be offered are a mountain ATV ride, a culinary tasting tour and a trolley ride through the colonial town of Trujillo.
Future plan phases include creation of the 100-acre Campo del Mar, which will incorporate an integrated heritage park, river park, wildlife park and nature park, all easily accessible from Banana Coast Landing.
