President Porfirio Lobo Sosa presided at a
dedication ceremony for Banana Coast, the first mainland cruise destination to be
developed in Honduras.
The dedication ceremony also recognized the
founding of the city of Trujillo
488 years ago on May 18, 1525, during the Spanish colonial era.
from Left to Right: Randy Jorgensen, Porfirio
Lobo Sosa, Jose Antonio Lainez
The highlight of the event was
the unveiling of a plaque honoring the previous landowners who made the port
project possible.
"To have the first Caribbean mainland cruise port open in the place of my
birth is very gratifying to me personally," said Lobo. "I am honored
to have played a role in the birth of an industry that will provide a future
for the people of the region for years to come."
"It is appropriate that
the dedication of the new cruise port also celebrates the founding of Trujillo," said
Mayor Jose Antonio Lainez. "It symbolizes both the resilience of the
citizens of Trujillo
and the future potential of this historic city."
"Without the cooperation
of the many land owners and their families, this project would not have been
possible," said Randy Jorgensen, general manager of Grande Trujillo
Authoridad. "This spirit has been taken up by the citizens of Trujillo, making Banana Coast
a very welcoming destination for cruise ships."
Themed "Where the
Rainforest Meets the Sea," the $30 million Banana
Coast project is the newest cruise
destination in the western Caribbean.
Construction on the passenger-reception and shopping center was completed in
February and a full slate of shore excursions for cruise passengers has been
designed.
The groundbreaking ceremony
for the port development was held in March 2011, with construction of the
facility beginning in August 2011.
Banana Coast has signed Holland America Line as the first cruise line to schedule
regular calls at the new port. Holland America Line's 1,260-passenger Ryndam is
slated to call at Banana Coast 11 times beginning Nov. 19, 2014 -- Banana
Coast's first scheduled visit by a cruise ship -- followed by the Dec. 17,
2014, call from Silversea Cruises' Silver Cloud and Oceania Cruises' Riveria,
which is slated to call in 2015.
