Alaska allows flight changes to more Mexico resorts due to hurricane

Posted by Kristin Jackson

blogs.seattletimes.com

Damage on a Los Cabos beach from Hurricane Odile as seen on Monday.  (Oscar Ramirez photo / EPA)

Alaska Airlines, one of the major carriers to the Mexican resort of Los Cabos from Seattle and California cities,  has extended the no-penalty period for canceling or changing flights through Sept. 19 because of the hurricane that has devastated the area. It’s also dropped the change/cancellation fess for other western Mexico resort cities that will be affected by the massive Hurricane Odile.

On Monday afternoon, Alaska  extended the no-penalty flight-change policy to other western Mexican cities that face heavy rain.  Alaska spokeswoman Halley Knigge said they include Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Manzanillo and Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. The Los Cabos airport remained closed Monday, and Alaska has canceled all flights to/from Los Cabos on Tuesday.  Get details at Alaska’s website.

Damage to Los Cabos, a major Mexican tourist resort at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, includes widespread power outages, blown-out windows and roofs, and flooding after torrential rains. Alaska canceled all of its 10 flights Monday (and six flights on Sunday in advance of the hurricane which struck Sunday night). Eight flights also were canceled for Tuesday; it’s unclear when the airport will reopen.

The hurricane churned northward Monday up the Baja California peninsula on Monday, but its effects also are stretching out onto the west coast of Mexico (and resorts there)  and it’s expected to bring torrential rain later this week to Arizona.

Visitors due to travel soon to hard-hit Los Cabos should check directly with airlines and hotels about cancellations and refunds. As of Monday, hotels  and the regional government still were assessing damage, and hotel cancellation policies were not yet set. But visitors due to travel in the coming weeks to Los Cabos should double-check on hotel damage, repairs and possible closure of amenities such as hotel pools or restaurants.

A state of natural disaster has been declared in Baja California Sur (the southern part of the peninsula), according to La Tribune de Los Cabos, a local newspaper, and people were being urged to stay inside Monday because of the danger of downed power lines and hurricane debris that littered streets.

Raimundo Diaz Cruz (left) and his wife Graciela Castillo salvage wood beans and bricks Monday to rebuild their house after it was destroyed by Hurricane Odile in Los Cabos. (Victor R. Caivano /AP photo)

Tourists in Los Cabos spent a long, fearful night Sunday in hotel ballrooms and hallways, or in the bathrooms of their hotel rooms, to be safely away from windows which could and did shatter during the hurricane. Damage was still being assessed in local fishing villages and other communities.

Thousands of tourists, many of them American, were in Los Cabos when the hurricane struck. Alaska said it will “seek to accommodate” its passengers who want to get home as soon as possible.

Southwest Now Offering New Routes Between the States and Mexico

jaunted.com

August 19, 2014 at 10:33 AM | by kjb

Good news from the folks over at Southwest Airlines, as the airline has announced several new routes between the States and Mexico.  

The carrier has been adding over the border destinations this year, many to the Caribbean, and now it's flying to a couple new spots down in south of the border. These are all flight paths that have been inherited from its acquisition of AirTran Airways, so rather than totally new routes, they’re kind of like revamped routes.

Southwest is now doing the nonstop thing between Orange County—the one in California—and Los Cabos, Mexico. If the west coast isn’t where you call home, it's got the other side of the country covered as well, flying to Cancun from Atlanta and Baltimore/Washington. Finally, we can’t forget about our friends in Milwaukee, where Saturday-only service has started up between the Brew City and Cancun.

Southwest's schedule is now open through March of next year, so if you’re looking for a warm weather getaway this winter, head over and take a look.

[Photo: Aero Icarus]

Southwest officially enters Mexico market with Los Cabos flight

Mexico News Daily | Sunday, August 10, 2014

Southwest Airlines began operating flights into Mexico today following its purchase in 2011 of Air Tran. The first flight by Southwest, the main discount airline in the United States, landed in Los Cabos, marking its official entry in the Mexican market.

The route had been operated by Air Tran. Its new owner is in the process of phasing out the Air Tran brand. It will cease to exist as of November 2 following a gradual transition.

Southwest Airlines will be going head to head against competitors such as Volaris, operating nine of 21 routes between the U.S. and Mexico. Javier Romo, an analyst with Sigmun Research, said at the time that Southwest didn’t represent a threat to Mexican airlines.

“What it’s doing is increasing the number of passengers in Mexico.”

In June it began offering fares up to 11% lower than rivals, and permitting two carr-on bags rather than just one. It was also offering flight changes with no additional charges.

Last year about 1 million passengers traveled from the U.S. to Los Cabos.

Source: El Financiero (sp)

- See more at: http://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/southwest-officially-enters-mexico-market-los-cabos-flight/#sthash.qSh9xWaj.dpuf

GET READY FOR A FIESTA ON MEXICO CRUISES IN 2014-15

hollandamericablog.com
BY: HAL DESTINATIONS TEAM

Stunning sunsets await at Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

 

From a traditional Mexican fiesta to ziplining through a lush canopy of trees, the 2014-15 Mexico season has exciting itineraries that showcase seven ports along the Mexican Riviera.

Sailing roundtrip from San Diego, Calif., where ships conveniently dock near downtown, the seven and 12-day cruises visit Mexico in October, November and December, then return in March for a month of sun and fun.

Westerdam and Veendam sail seven-day cruises that call at Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta, and also feature scenic cruising in Bahia Magdalena. Cabo, as it is simply called by those who frequent this beautiful port, lies along the southern tip of Baja California. It is the entertainment hub and the end of the road, where the peninsula goes off a cliff into the sea. San Jose del Cabo is the old town, and exudes classic Mexico. In between the two cities, the resort-fringed coast is slathered in sunshine. Cruise visitors will find that Cabo is fine, the shopping divine, and the beaches all shine. Lover’s Beach is a great place to see the arch at Land’s End. Medano and Chileno beaches are placid and lovely. Las Playitas is a series of mini-beaches tucked into weathered coves.

Clockwise from left: Divers soar from the cliffs in Mazatlan, Cabo’s famed “El Arco” and beautiful Puerto Vallarta from the rooftops.

At first, Mazatlan may appear like a cosmopolitan western Mexico beach city serving up great weather, venerable iglesias and an array of beaches. But immerse yourself a little bit and the city gets ever more remarkable. Cliff divers wait at the top of a rocky outcrop for the right wave then plummet 45 feet into the sea. Sunlight filters in through myriad panels of stained glass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Waves crash on the esplanade along Olas Altas beach, providing a soundtrack for an evening stroll. And, mmm, the shrimp. Mazatlan serves it up fresh: Try some al mojo de ajo (with garlic) or in the shell with a tangy squeeze of lime.

Puerto Vallarta squeezed into the thin space between Banderas Bay and the verdant folds of the Sierra Madre. It’s no longer the well-kept secret of the artists, writers and Hollywood stars who first “discovered” it in the 1960s, but “PV” (as it is affectionately known) still retains the essence of the fishing village it once was. Viejo Vallarta, the old town, is a mix of red-tiled buildings, cobbled streets, chic shops and busy open markets. Other highlights include Mismaloya Beach, Gringo Gulch, and Conchas Chinas, the Beverly Hills of Vallarta. Head inland for more adventure, up into the rugged canyons and luxuriant jungles of the mountains.

Westerdam sails this itinerary Oct. 3, 2014, while Veendam cruises the seven-day route Nov. 8and Dec. 20 and 27, 2014, and March 7, 14, and 21 in 2015.

Guests looking for a more in-depth exploration of Mexico can embark Statendam for a 12-day Mexican Riviera cruise departing Dec. 3, 2014. In addition to scenic cruising in Bahia Magdalena, the ship calls at Cabo, Pichilinque (La Paz), Loreto, Guaymas, Topolobampo and ends with an overnight call at Puerto Vallarta.

A tranquil way of life abounds in La Paz, which means “peace.” Among its simple pleasures: strolling the palm-shaded malecón, lazing on the beautiful beaches of nearby Pichilingue Peninsula, snorkeling sapphire seas at lovely Los Islotes, home to a colony of inquisitive sea lions.

La Paz, left, and Loreto are two pretty ports featured on the 12-day Mexico itinerary.

Loreto is a peaceful seaside community, founded in 1697 by Jesuit priest and explorer Juan Maria Salvatierra. Interestingly, it was the first European settlement in the Californias. Stroll the cobbled plaza to the Mision Nuestra Se ora de Loreta, burnished with years of devotion, and commune with nature as you snorkel the crystal-clear lagoons of Isla Coronados.

Guaymas lies in a quiet bay in the sparkling Sea of Cortez. Step back in time as you tour the neoclassic San Fernando Church and the Moorish 13 de Julio Plaza in the historic town center. Explore the popular beaches and picturesque bays in nearby San Carlos. Visit a world class pearl farm or journey to magical Las Barajitas Canyon, home to three separate ecosystems.

Have you heard of Topolobampo? Good, don’t tell anyone. Holland America Line is the only major cruise line to call on this peaceful port on Mexico’s Sea of Cortez. Awaiting your arrival: playful bottlenose dolphins; the mansion of Don Diego de la Vega, “El Zorro”; grand visions of the Chihuahua-al-Pacifico Railway and a luxury train through Mexico’s scenic Copper Canyon.

Could the Mexican Riviera be Cruising's Comeback Kid?

cruisecritic.com

May 23, 2014

In cruising's early years, it didn't get much more glamorous than a cruise on the Mexican Riviera. The popular TV show “Love Boat” showed Princess ships and the B-list celebrities they carried stopping at then-exotic ports such as Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco. Today, you'd be hard-pressed to find Acapulco on a mainstream cruise itinerary; in 2014, only a handful of luxury lines such as Regent Seven Seas, Silversea and Oceania, planned stops at the Pacific Ocean resort town. Concerns about the safety in some ports, along with negative perceptions and increased competition  from destinations elsewhere, moved Mexican Riviera itineraries off some cruise line's calendars all together. The numbers tell the story. Puerto Vallarta went from having a banner year in 2008, when 180 ships arrived,  to a mere 82 in 2013. Mazatlan suffered a significant financial hit when a string of violent incidents prompted cruise lines to pull out completely in 2011, losing all of the 520,000 passengers that had visited in 2010. Even Cabo San Lucas, which experienced a boom in tourists drawn to its hotels, resorts and bars, has seen its cruise business falter. In 2008, nearly 400 ships visited Cabo; this year, that number is down to 112. Those figures sound dire. But this week, the region received a major boost when Carnival announced it would be sailing in the Mexican Riviera year-round in 2015, including several stops at Mazatlan. The ports  have also been taking significant steps to attract more cruise business, including the following: Working Together. With a large expat community and a thriving restaurant scene, Puerto Vallarta has avoided perception problems that have hampered other cities along the Pacific coast. But to keep ships arriving, tourism officials realized it was time to reach out beyond state and local borders. Last year, the three states involved in cruising -- Baja Sur, Sinaloa and Jalisco -- formed an organization called Route Committee for the Pacific, said Carlos Gerard, the Puerto Vallarta director of tourism. The  group met for the first time in December 2013 and again in March 2014 before the cruise industry's biggest conference, Cruise Shipping Miami. At the event, the ports took meetings as a group, working together to entice Carnival, Princess, Holland America, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian to add more Mexican Riviera itineraries in 2015 and beyond. “We used to see each other as competition, but now we need to see each other as a team. What happens  to one port affects the entire team,” Gerard said. “We're willing to work as a whole.” More Port Promotion. Besides developing a better relationship with the cruise lines, the three ports are actively working to promote the itinerary as a whole, Gerard said. This year, each port is contributing $200,000 for promotion and asking for a matching $600,000 from the federal government. “It's something  we should have done before, but it's all about the will to do it,” Gerard said. “The ‘Mazatlan effect' did create  consciousness between the states.” Increasing Communication. When cruise lines left Mazatlan in 2011, getting them back within three years  “seemed almost an impossible task,” said Frank Cordova, secretary of tourism for Sinaloa. “We sell fantasy.  It's hard to sell fantasy when people have a negative perception.” Cruise lines told him it could be five years  before they even considered returning. Despite the bad news, Mazatlan and Sinaloa officials got to work. They hired more police, Cordova said, and paid them better to reduce crime rate. They worked with the Organization of American States in a program that specializes in helping destinations with image problems. And they sent cruise lines bulletins  every month about improvements that were being made and increased press outreach. The first cruise line to consider coming back was Norwegian, Cordova said. After an initial meeting in 2012, the line committed to bringing Norwegian Star to Mazatlan in late 2013 (although Holland America's Veendam was the first ship to return in November 2013). Azamara followed in 2014; in 2015, Princess and Carnival will join those lines. “We've become a model in Mexico and Latin America in how we were able to turn things around,” Cordova said. “For every negative story that appears, we have 30 good stories.” Still, he doesn't think  the port is out of the woods yet. “Whenever anything that could hurt us happens, no matter how small,  people are biting their nails.” Improving Passenger Experience. In Mazatlan, cruise passengers disembark in a busy cargo port, taking a shuttle past containers stacked several feet into the air. Port director Alfonso Gil Diaz envisions a complete revamp of the operation, with a new cruise terminal that provides easier access into the city for passengers. In the meantime, the city developed the “blue line,” a painted stripe on the roads that directs passengers who want to walk into Mazatlan's colonial center. “Blue shirts” -- expats who speak English -- have volunteered their time and meet ships when they arrive to help passengers get their bearings. Each port is also doing more to make sure cruisers understand what makes them special. In Puerto Vallarta, cruise ships are greeted with mariachi bands, a signature of Jalisco (the Mexican state is also  the birthplace of tequila). Next year, all tour operators and taxi drivers will wear the same logo to  promote customer confidence, Gerard said. Highlighting the Culture. Even in Cabo, cruiser tastes are changing; on cruise line comment forms,  some people are complaining that Cabo isn't “Mexican” enough, said Fernando Hoyos Romero,  port facility security officer. The comment makes sense when you consider 20 percent of the population  in Cabo is from the United States or Canada. “Cabo's local dish is fish tacos,” he noted, wryly. To counter that backlash, Romero said he expects operators will start looking into tours that tap into greater Baja culture. That's particularly important as Cabo's Asian tourism base continues to grow; 10 percent of the area's visitors are from Asia, and they are less likely to indulge in Cabo's drinking and party culture. In Mazatlan, officials know many people come for the beach, but it's the history that makes it special.  “We're a real city with roots, tradition and culture,” Cordova said. “If you have enough money, you can build a Los Cabos or a Cancun. You can't build a Mazatlan. How do you build a center square that's 400 years old?” One thing is for sure: The city will celebrate every ship that does arrive. “It's like when you take your wife for granted. We didn't take care of (cruise tourists),” Cordova said. “We didn't take action until it was too late” ---By Chris Gray Faust, Destinations Editor