HOME PORT UPDATE MAY 2015
PART XIII: Economic Impact of Home Port on
Puerto Peñasco
by
Joe Houchin on April 30, 2015 in Blog
Just when we thought cruise ships couldn’t get any more
humongous, luxurious and fantasy-laden (like, where are they going to dock
those veritable floating cities?), the latest builds reveal that new technology
and creativity can combine to blow the mind even more than we thought possible.
Hugeness continues with the size of mega-vessels now inching
past each other by meters in length, square footage of cabins, total capacity
and, oh yes, amenities, activities and entertainment.
From water slides that spiral ten decks downward into giant
champagne glass bowls to zip lines that traverse hundreds of meters across the
ship—that’s right, hundreds of meters as the latest ship just launched in Royal
Caribbean’s Oasis class of mega ships is the Harmony of the Seas, the largest
cruisecruise-ship-size-comparison Graphic ship in the world at 362.15 meters in
length (395 yards—1185 feet) which also boasts entertainment that includes full
Broadway shows, bigger than life visual experiences through interactive
moveable walls to completely robot operated bars and up to seven themed
neighborhoods spanning multiple decks with fully operating carousels…and much,
much more.
This graphic of the first Oasis Class ship, Oasis of the
Seas (2.15 meters shorter than the Harmony), will give you a comparison of its
colossal size!
Home Port 4-2015 2 (2)These are interesting, fun facts about
how high technology, unleashed imagination and seemingly fathomless budgets
have taken the cruise experience to heights heretofore undreamed of. But how do
they relate to Puerto Peñasco infrastructure needs and plans?
Perhaps they give us a heads up on how much additional
attention to detail we should put into the design of that infrastructure; to
make creativity a major part of the contractor bid selection, encouraging bids
from companies who can best and most creatively include the latest technology
in their proposals that result in such things as unique lighting, dreamlike landscaping, signage, building
design and every other aspect of the
overall needs to prepare for a market of modern cruisers about to board a
vessel full of surprising new adventures. Perhaps even more importantly, upon
their return, to ease them back into reality so they are still motivated to
make Puerto Peñasco their next land vacation choice.
Maybe we can’t compete with the surreal technology cruise
passengers are being mesmerized with these days, but we could possibly give
them a pleasant contrast by emphasizing the historic and natural beauty of our
part of the “real” world in which they live.
In the meantime, under the category of first things first,
let’s get caught up on what’s happening with the home port project:Home Port
4-2015 3 (2)
Down by the Pier
Here’s the latest from our project insider, Wendy Winzer,
Project Administrator of Home Port construction who tells us that the pier has
now reached a length of 630 meters. It is taking longer to grow in length since
they’ve reached the water depth of nine meters. They are also still shaping the
existing jetty with new rock which they cover with the small one ton cubes so
it will all stay in place.
Home Port 4-2015 4 (2)They’ve poured around 13,000 small
cubes (one ton size) and placed 6,000 of them on the jetty. There are almost
3,000 large cubes (10 tons) poured and waiting to be placed. They are expecting
an even larger crane in about two weeks that will start placing the big cubes
along the jetty. Rocks from the quarry are still being hauled and placed and
they blasted Black Mountain again two weeks ago to loosen up more rocks. Wendy
also happily informs us, ”We have been very busy trying to keep up with our
schedule which is going right on track!”
Wendy reports that she has been giving several interviews to
TV, radio and newspapers. “It seems the word is really getting out there in a
positive way, and with a little help from everyone we will try to give our
small town a positive hope for the future,” Wendy says.
This blog is powered by www.sonoranresorts.mx, Jim
Ringquist, Director of Sales and Marketing.