USA Today – New cruise port to open in Honduras

12:16p.m. EST December 27, 2012

Construction is 80% complete at Banana Coast, a new Western Caribbean port in Trujillo, Honduras.

Silversea Cruises became the first cruise line to commit to making a call at the new port, with the 296-passenger Silver Cloud scheduled to visit Banana Coast on Dec. 17, 2014.

The port will be open long before that. Michael Greve, president of Global Destinations Development, one of the companies partnering in the port project, said that construction at Banana Coast, which began in August 2011, is now 80% complete, and that the facility is expected to have a soft opening in January. The port is hoping to get big ship commitments as well, and is planning to build a two-berth, post-Panamax pier.

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“We have met with several other cruise lines and have hosted site inspections by cruise line executives,” said Greve. “We expect that several lines soon will commit to adding Banana Coast to their itineraries.”

The $20 million Banana Coast project calls for a 50,000-square-foot shopping facility and a transportation hub along a 10-acre beachfront port that is themed “Where the Rainforest Meets the Sea.”

Last year, Banana Coast developers unveiled a series of shore excursions including its signature tour, the Campo del Mar Nature Park & Beach Break, a tram ride through the nature preserve and a stop at the beach, as well as more adventurous excursions such as snorkeling trips; kayaking in the Guaimoreto Lagoon; and a mountain ATV ride. Passengers can also take a private airplane to the Mayan ruins at Copan or a trolley ride through the colonial town of Trujillo.

Future plan phases include creation of the 100-acre Campo del Mar, which will incorporate a wildlife park and nature park where a monkey rescue and rehab facility is already in operation.

 

- USA TODAY

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