November 5, 2025 — The Administration of the Acapulco National Port System (ASIPONA Acapulco) received the Operations Committee of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), of which this Administration is a platinum member, within the framework of an official visit aimed at strengthening cooperation with the main shipping lines of the Caribbean and the Pacific.
The delegation was made up of Michele Paige, Executive President of the FCCA; Vicky Rey, Vice President for Latin America at Carnival Corporation & PLC; Rick Karakadze, Associate Vice President of Global Maritime Safety, Carnival Corporation & PLC; Juan Kuryla, Senior Vice President of Port Development of Norwegian Cruise Line; Yerandys Martell, Director of Security Operations, Carnival Corporation & PLC; Gabriel Avilés, Port Operations Manager of Carnival Cruise Line; and José Arturo Musi Ganem, President of AMEPACT and General Director of COMATUR.
The program began in the Eighth Naval Region, where the delegation was received by Commander Carlos Eduardo L’Eglise Escamilla. The meeting was attended by the Governor of the State, Evelyn Salgado Pineda; the Municipal President, Abelina López Rodríguez; authorities from the three levels of government and special guests.
During the meeting, the strategies and results in tourism and maritime security were presented, highlighting the coordinated actions between the Secretariat of the Navy, the National Guard and state and municipal authorities. Advances in surveillance, visitor service and protection protocols in tourist and port areas were highlighted.
These actions reflect the joint work between authorities and the port community to strengthen the confidence of shipping companies and guarantee a safe and quality experience for cruise passengers arriving at the port.
Later, the delegation boarded the Marinabús Acapulco I maritime transport system, heading to the Jardín del Puerto dock at the ASIPONA facilities. During the tour, the importance of this system as a tourist and logistical engine was highlighted, as well as the scenic beauty of the Bay of Acapulco.
Upon arrival at the dock, ASIPONA Acapulco staff presented the progress of the priority projects of the port area, including the consolidation of the Port Garden as a public, tourist and cultural space, the public parking lot with a commercial front and the Integral Tourism Project that includes the expansion and modernization of the cruise terminal, the construction of a new dock and public areas with recreational areas and natural pools. These actions strengthen the port infrastructure and contribute to the urban and tourist development of the destination.
In this framework, the project of the new dock of approximately 400 meters in length and capacity for deep-draft vessels was highlighted. The shipping companies expressed their interest in considering that this infrastructure will allow to receive new generation cruise ships, with Acapulco being one of the few ports in the Mexican Pacific with these capabilities. This development represents a strategic opportunity to attract larger vessels, increase the flow of visitors and position the port as a benchmark in the region.
Subsequently, the attendees moved to the Board Room of ASIPONA Acapulco for the Pre-Arrival Meeting of the MS Regatta cruise ship, scheduled for November 7, 2025. In this space, logistical, operational and security actions were coordinated between the three levels of government, tour operators and tourism service providers to guarantee an efficient operation and comprehensive attention to visitors.
During the session, the Director General of ASIPONA Acapulco, Retired Vice Admiral Raymundo Sánchez López, thanked the committee for its visit and reported on the progress made by this Administration, reiterating the commitment to promptly follow up on the agreements established at that meeting.
As part of the tour, the delegation visited the facilities of the Center for Attention and Protection of Tourists (CAPTA), where the work of the agency in the attention, orientation and safeguarding of the visitor was exposed.
With this important visit, ASIPONA Acapulco reaffirms its commitment to the cruise industry and its strategic role as a maritime connectivity platform. The collaboration with the FCCA represents a firm step towards consolidating the port as a safe, competitive destination with a renewed infrastructure to receive visitors from all over the world.
