The Mexican city of Merida will be later this month home to a meeting of the Committee of the Florida Caribbean Cruises Association (FCCA), an organization that gathers the presidents of America´s top cruise companies. This encounter in Merida reflects the tremendous interest that the Yucatan Peninsula is drawing in the U.S. deluxe vessel industry, said Carolina Cardenas Sosa, tourism secretary in that Mexican state.

Carnival Corp. enjoyed a first-quarter earnings surge of 70 percent, thanks to higher ticket prices and improving business. However, the world´s largest cruise company warned earlier this week that soaring oil prices could make it hit a few snags in the future. For the past three months, the Miami-based company earned $345 million, compared to $203 million netted in the first quarter of 2004.

Norwegian Jewel, the newest ship in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet, will begin calling at Antigua from November 6 this year. The company´s Vice President Lania Rittenhouse said the boat will be delivered in August. After highlighting that cruise passengers in Antigua and Barbuda increased by 35% in 2004, reaching a total of 522,705, Antigua´s Minister of Tourism, Harold Lovell, recognized the importance of partnership with Norwegian Cruise Lines which is one of the most pioneering and dynamic lines in the industry with high spend visitors to the region.

Paradise, Pacific Princess, Norwegian Spirit, Pride of America, Silver Shadow, Insignia, MSC Opera and Disney Magic are some of the cruise liners expected to cross the Panama Canal this year and make calls at seaports in both oceans. Officials from the Panama Tourism Institute (IPAT) believe cruise passengers coming to the Central American nation this year could spend as many as $20 million in purchases and services.

Although Grenada’s hotel inventory currently stands at 55% as properties renovate and repair following Hurricane Ivan last fall, Grenada’s cruise picture is very bright. Cruise passengers are expected to top 280,000 this year, a 20% increase over 2004 and well above figures for 2003 as well. A tourist board spokesman said that the high volume indicates that Grenada already is benefiting from the new cruise port, which opened last fall after the hurricane.

An initiative to amend Article 15 of Mexico´s Federal Act of Gambling and Lotteries is under discussion at the United Administrative and Tourism Commissions of the House of Representatives. The proposal will give cruises the green light to dock in national seaports for gambling sessions while they remain anchored next to local piers.