"Ferry service between the Port of Tampa and Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula will begin by the second half of 2012, according to an executive starting the service."
This report does not state that talks are under way or that negotiations are taking place between the Port of Tampa and interested parties. It says "will begin by the second half of 2012." "This is a no-brainer," said Bruce Nierenberg, chairman and chief executive officer of United Caribbean Lines.
The report goes on to say that one ferry would generate $300 million a year in economic impact and create at least 100 shoreside jobs. I'm assuming this means jobs for the Port of Tampa, but it would also be good news for Mexico - more jobs in Yucatán and countless tourist dollars.
Service to Mexico would accommodate 1,000 to 2,000 passengers and up to 600 cars. The cost for a round trip ticket would be around $195.00. I'm certain that transporting a car would cost an additional fee. Travel time is around 27 hours.
I suppose we can't actually celebrate until we see a published schedule, but this news seems more concrete than any in the past.
Read it for yourself from the Tampa Bay Business Journal and Tampa Bay Online. The TBO site states that the ferry will run from Tampa to Cancún while earlier articles referred to the Progreso Port. Either way this is a win-win for those of us on the Eastern Seaboard. Now we just have to believe that they will accommodate pets.
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| Happy Carnaval, Mérida |
Once we get the ferry, we can start praying for direct flights from anywhere on the East Coast!
ReplyDeleteWow this is great news and we sooooo hope it come to fruition. It will be just in time for us to bring all dogs down for a visit to the newly built house...we are praying along with you (even though I don't pray!)
ReplyDeleteThis can't happen soon enough!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds great we will be one of the first to book when a schedule comes out
ReplyDeleteThey keep pushing the date back, now saying next year, but who knows? I really do not want to have to drive through the border areas to get our dogs there.
ReplyDeletewen this going to hapen? is for real? we are in dicember and i like to know i this is working or not?
ReplyDeleteSo far, there is no ferry. It will not happen this year.
DeleteEasy on the dogs. We have too many dogs that are brought down and later abandoned. Adopt a dog HERE and help the problem not add to it.
ReplyDeleteHurry up with the ferry, lots of folks want to go North as well as South.
Our dogs are part of our family and we would never abandon them. Unlike many, who adopt a dog and then realize that they have to actually care for them, we love our animals and are rewarded immensely with their unconditional love and loyalty. We hope to add another dog to our family, once in Merida, and will adopt from one of the shelters. I do understand your point, though. It's a huge problem and not just in Merida, but asking us to leave our dogs behind would be like asking someone to leave their child behind.
Deletesure would love to have the ferry....any word?
ReplyDeleteNada
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