In November, we wrote about the planned Tampa, FL to Mexico ferry service. All indications point to the fact that the ferry service is moving closer to becoming a reality. Por Esto!, the main daily paper in the region, reported today that the permits to add facilities to accommodate an international ferry service in the port of Calica, just south of Playa del Carmen, have been filed. If everything goes well, the article goes on to say, the ferry could be in service as early June/July 2012.
Knowing how long these type of projects take in Mexico, a June/July completion date is likely aggressive. But, this is exciting news nonetheless. Each year in Cozumel, we get lots of visitors who make the car trip down the coast of Mexico from the US or Canada. A ferry service that can get these visitors, and their car/pets/belongings, here in 1/2 the time that the overland trip takes, would be oh so convenient.
Not to the mention of course the convenience of being able to travel back to the US/Canada for the thousands of expats who make this region of Mexico home.
A few different Mexico and US newspapers are reporting this week that a Tampa, FL to the Cancun area ferry service is slated to be operational in the second half of 2012. According to Bruce Nierenberg, the CEO of United Caribbean Lines, the ferry service would be similar to services between ports in the Mediterranean, and would carry approximately 1,000 to 2,000 passengers and 500 vehicles.
Nierenberg expects to run two round trips weekly to Tampa, with a cost of $350 $195 (updated 1/31/12) for a round trip crossing in a cabin with meals included.
The idea of a US-to-Mexico ferry service is not new. In 2003, a ferry service affectionally called the “Yucatan Express” ran for one winter season, eventually closing down due to lack of passengers. Business picked up significantly towards the end of the season, but the owners still chose to close down the operation, having invested and lost $5 million USD in the venture.
Will it happen again? Who knows. Significant barriers stand in the way. For one, Tampa’s port director, Richard Wainio, has said that the service would require the Tampa port to construct ramps for cars and additional fenced areas for U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents to check vehicles and cargo. That total cost to the port could be $1 million USD.
On the other hand, would it be great to have such a service? Absolutely. As Cozumel island dwellers, having the ability to get off the island and to take our US-plated car to the US, whether for tourist or business reasons, via a 36-hr 27-hr (updated 1/31/12) ferry would be fantastic.
As vacation rental managers, we have also noticed a significant increase in 2011 in the number of Americans and Canadians coming to the island for 3-6 month periods. 25% of these temporary dwellers travel over land by car. Would they appreciate having the option of skipping that 3-4 day trip through Mexico and arriving in the Cancun area directly? We’re sure many of them would, and that having that option would attract even more temporary visitors to Cozumel, and the surrounding areas.
We’re keeping our fingers crossed!
Close, but not yet. Local papers are reporting today that a possible fourth cruise ship pier has the possibility of being constructed near the Puerto Abrigo marina on the North side of Cozumel. The proposed pier would have room for four cruise sips and the surrounding area, 78 businesses. Pending environmental studies, the project is also on hold until private investors can be found to fund the construction. Given that the cruise ship market isn’t exactly on a tear right now, in Cozumel or elsewhere, the construction of a fourth pier doesn’t seem like it’s on the horizon anytime soon.
And, given that the Mexican president’s summer retreat is located a stones throw away, the idea that the federal government would allow a cruise ship pier to be constructed near the president’s back-yard ocean swimming pool, seems unlikely.
That having been said, it would be a shame were it to be constructed. The North side of Cozumel is a quiet respite from the thousands of daily cruise ship passengers that disembark on the South side of the island.
