Just days ahead of its first trip, Victory Cruise Lines has canceled an itinerary of small luxury ships that would have traveled to Progreso and other ports of call in Yucatan.
The arrival of the exclusive cruise ships to the Peninsula had been announced in February.
According to Alicia Lara Alcocer, head of Promotion of the Integral Port Administration in Progreso, the shipping line was sold to new operators who are not interested in the Yucatan Peninsula.
On its website, Victory Cruise Lines still advertises travel to Canada/St. Lawrence, Cuba, the Great Lakes and New England.
The “Great Mayan Experience” was, like its other itineraries, aimed at travelers 65 and older, and with deep pockets.
The company was led by industry veteran Bruce Nierenberg, who has for years promoted a ferry connecting Progreso and Yucatan.
In November, the American Queen Steamboat Company announced a definitive agreement to acquire the Victory Cruise Lines brand and its ships. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
The inaugural trip had been scheduled for Jan. 4, 2019, leaving Miami aboard the recently remodeled Victory II. It was to welcome new passengers every 15 days.
Between 200 and 400 passengers would have paid between US$5,000 and $8,000 for the voyage.
The 10-night land-and-sea itinerary was planned to start in Key West, Fla., before heading to Puerto Morelos, then overnight in Valladolid and Chichen Itza, and then to Izamal and Progreso.
Passengers would have flown back to Miami from Merida.
With information from Punto Medio
