It was announced yesterday that Carnival and its joint venture partner Dufry (duty free shops) have purchased several tracts of land and will spend $65M to develop a two berth port facility in the bay of Maimon, only 10 minutes West of Puerto Plata. This was announced by Carnival's Vice President of Port Development, Giora Israel, and the Dominican Minister of Tourism. It will require the dredging of a cruise ship channel into the bay and is subject to all applicable environmental and business licenses.
I am not sure how, but they were able to keep this a secret until they completed the land purchases and the signed an agreement with the Leonel administration last week. The crowd (made up of who's who in business and tourism in the area) of about 200 in the event room at the Be-Live Marien hotel went ecstactic, as nobody knew of the existence of such a project except some rumours over the last few days.
Carnival Cruise Line is the world's largest cruise ship operator with ownership of 10 cruise lines that own over 100 ships that visit 169 ports world wide.
We had the honor of having dinner with the Carnival/Dufry group later that night, I can tell you this is a done deal with construction starting in 2012 and the opening of the first cruise ship arrival slated for the summer of 2014. This being an election year, should facilitate a smooth licensing process.
The project will be financed completely by the Carnival/Dufree group and the port may also see the arrival of non-Carnival controlled ships.
I am not sure how, but they were able to keep this a secret until they completed the land purchases and the signed an agreement with the Leonel administration last week. The crowd (made up of who's who in business and tourism in the area) of about 200 in the event room at the Be-Live Marien hotel went ecstactic, as nobody knew of the existence of such a project except some rumours over the last few days.
Carnival Cruise Line is the world's largest cruise ship operator with ownership of 10 cruise lines that own over 100 ships that visit 169 ports world wide.
We had the honor of having dinner with the Carnival/Dufry group later that night, I can tell you this is a done deal with construction starting in 2012 and the opening of the first cruise ship arrival slated for the summer of 2014. This being an election year, should facilitate a smooth licensing process.
The project will be financed completely by the Carnival/Dufree group and the port may also see the arrival of non-Carnival controlled ships.
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