Mexico has long been a favorite international cruise destination, but CMV Travel and Leisure Group Limited (CMV) is shaking things up by dedicating a ship to the country's domestic market.
The British-based cruise company will deploy its Magellan in winter 2019 to cater specifically to Mexican locals traveling regionally.
"CMV specialise in the development of dedicated source markets having successfully established markets and programs in the UK & Ireland, Germany, Australia and France," said CEO Christian Verhounig, in a press release.
"CMV will currently be the only exclusive Mexican cruise product available on the domestic leisure market. The Mexican market offers great potential and we plan to extend the season in 2020. This exciting new initiative is part of the Group's continued strategic international development plan in achieving our longer-term growth objectives."
The 46,052-gross-registered-ton ship will begin operating Cruceros Marítimos Vacacionales sailings on February 3, 2019. A total of eight weeklong voyages will homeport from Acapulco on Sundays and Manzanillo on Fridays. The initial season will conclude on March 31, 2019.
The itinerary will visit Manzanillo and Cabo San Lucas and also feature two days at sea. Primary embarkation in Acapulco will service the Guerrero region as well as Mexico City. The ports of Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta will secondarily support gateways to Guadalajara, Leon and the northern Mexico States.
John Dennis, Vice President Sales & Marketing of the CMV North American Fort Lauderdale based sales office, will oversee the management and development of the new Mexican endeavors.
"Following extensive development work over the past year which has involved numerous visits and meetings with many of the key stakeholders and Government officials, I am delighted that the Board have sanctioned this exciting and ground breaking new venture," commented Dennis, in the release.
"We will be opening a dedicated sales office in Mexico City and officially launching Cruceros Marítimos Vacacionales and the debut 2019 Magellan program during Q1-2018 with big trade launch events planned in Mexico City, Acapulco, Guadalajara and Mazatlan, at the 2018 'Tianguis Turistico' the most important event of the tourism sector in Mexico."
Outside of the Mexican season, the Magellan's cruises to and from the United Kingdom will be marketed globally.
CMV's presence in Mexico reflects an overall cruise resurgence in the region. Americans are also cruising more frequently in the region with additional sailings and capacities from homeports including Long Beach, San Pedro and San Diego in California. Among other labels making a bigger push in the Mexican Riviera now and into the near future are Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line and Norwegian Cruise Line.
The British brand's dedication to the Mexican market is not unlike such mainstream brands positioning ships for the booming outbound Chinese segment. Should it prove lucrative enough, it's possible that the larger companies might also follow suit as they have elsewhere, such as Australia.
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