PUERTO VALLARTA WELCOMES NORWEGIAN BLISS WITH ITS SIGNATURE HOSPITALITY
Largest cruise ship to call on the port arrives with over 5,000 people and almost half a million USD
in economic benefit to the destination
Puerto Vallarta – A delegation representing almost every level of Puerto Vallarta’s tourism industry, including the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board, was on hand yesterday morning as one of the largest cruise ships in the world, the Norwegian Bliss, made its maiden call on Mexico in general and Puerto Vallarta specifically. Headed by Captain Staffan Bengtsson the cruise will visit Puerto Vallarta five more times this year in October to December.
This giant of the seas – the largest cruise that Puerto Vallarta has received – had 5,570 people on board, of which 3,833 are passengers and 1,737 were crew, but it has the capacity to transport 6,104 people (4004 passengers and 2,100 crew).
“Puerto Vallarta has always shared a special connection with the cruise industry because of its diverse attractions and offers,” said Javier Aranda Pedrero, Director of the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to show this maiden trip Puerto Vallarta hospitality and show that we are committed to providing the best experience possible.”
Puerto Vallarta liaison with the cruise industry, Carlos Gerard, added that Puerto Vallarta is the pillar of the Pacific Riviera, “it is a port that stands out for the safety of its tourists, the beauty of its surroundings, the variety of its attractions and the quality of its services. This is why it enjoys the confidence of cruise companies.”
Gerard added that according to studies by the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), each cruise passenger leaves 98 dollars in the ports where he or she descends and 65 dollars per crewman, so the economic benefit of this arrival would have been more almost half a million USD.
Puerto Vallarta continues to be a great magnet for the shipping industry, the maritime terminal will receive 154 cruises this year with 404,734 people on board approximately, which represents 9 percent more than in 2017 when 145 vessels arrived.
MAIDEN VOYAGE
The Norwegian Bliss is a practically new cruise, its construction started in October 2016 by the German company Meyer Werft, as part of the Breakaway Plus cruise class; its sister ships are Norwegian Escape and Norwegian Joy, from the Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL).
The cruise sailed from its shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany on April 19, 2018, arrived in Southampton, United Kingdom on April 21, crossed the Atlantic Ocean to reach New York, then sailed to Miami, then arrived in Cartagena, Colombia; Later it crossed the Panama Canal to reach the Pacific Ocean, where it made its first call on this side of world in Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala.
Puerto Vallarta is its first Mexican destination, from here it sailed to Mazatlan at 6:00 p.m. where it arrives on Tuesday 22, to then head to Los Angeles, California. It will end its journey in Seattle, Washington to start its season by the Alaskan seas this summer.
It is noteworthy that the hull of the cruise is so large that a mural was painted on it by Roger Wyland, a renowned artist who is inspired by marine life.
About the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board
The Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board is responsible for promoting the destination in national and international markets. Nestled between the rugged, tropical Sierra Madre Mountains and Banderas Bay — Mexico’s largest natural bay and second largest on the American continent — on Mexico’s balmy Pacific coast, Puerto Vallarta is easily accessible from the U.S. and Canada. The city enjoys a warm tropical climate year-round, with average daytime temperatures of 80°F and cooler evening temperatures in winter months. Located 4 miles from downtown Puerto Vallarta, Gustavo Diaz International Airport receives more than 4 million visitors annually. The destination is home to 300,000 residents and offers an estimated 12,400 hotel rooms, with more than half in 4-star-plus properties.
