Mariner of the Seas to Leave Mexican Riviera

Royal Caribbean International will pull the Mariner of the Seas off its Mexican Riviera itinerary, a further blow to a region that will see a major reduction in cruise traffic over the next year.

The Mariner, based in Los Angeles, is the largest cruise ship operating Mexican Riviera itineraries. In January 2011, the ship will offer a short South America season before redeploying to the Mediterranean. The Mariner will be Royal Caribbean’s 11th ship in Europe in summer 2011.

The Mariner will sail seven- and 12-day Mediterranean cruises from Civitavecchia (Rome) from March to October 2011. The ship replaces the Splendour of the Seas, which will sail 10- and 11-day Greek isles/Turkey cruises from Venice.

The Mariner will return to North America for the 2011-12 winter season, operating seven-day Western Caribbean itineraries from Galveston, Texas, replacing the Voyager of the Seas. The Voyager will redeploy to New Orleans in winter 2011-12, also offering seven-day Western Caribbean cruises, marking Royal Caribbean’s return to the Big Easy.

The Mariner will sail its final roundtrip Mexican Riviera itinerary from Los Angeles on Jan. 9, 2011. Other cruise lines also plan to remove ships from the West Coast. The 2,240-passenger Norwegian Star will move to Tampa in October 2011, and the 2,052-passenger Carnival Elation will move to Mobile, Ala., this May. Princess Cruises has eliminated 15 Mexican Riviera cruises for this year and next.