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President's Cruise to inaugurate Victory's 2019 Yucatán program

MAP: Victory Cruise Lines
Victory Cruise Lines is celebrating the inaugural season of its Yucatán Land & Cruise Safari series with a President’s Cruise, hosted by Hans Lagerweij, president and CEO.

$1,500 early booking discount

The first of five land-and-sea, in-depth explorations of Mexico’s Yucatán peninsula departs Miami Jan. 23. A $1,500 early booking discount is available on reservations made before Dec. 15, 2018, for any of the Yucatán departures.

The 11-night President’s Cruise & Land Safari fare includes a nine-night cruise aboard the 202-passenger Victory II, a two-night stay at Campeche, Mexico, return air from Campeche to Miami, beverages and all shore excursions.

The itinerary features a call at Key West, Florida; an overnight at Puerto Morales, Mexico (for excursions to Xcaret and Tulum); landside tour of Valladolid with an overnight at Chichen Itza and tour of Izamal; an overnight call at Progreso for tours to Mayapan, Mérida, Nolo Mayan Village and Hacienda Sotuta de Peon; a two-night hotel stay in the colonial walled city of Campeche and flight back to Miami.

All-inclusive pricing

'Working closely with local governments and tourism organizations, we have crafted an immersive cruise and safari package unlike anything else offered in Mexico by a cruise line or tour operator,' Lagerweij said. 'Combine that with our all-inclusive offer—complimentary beer, wine and cocktails, fine dining aboard and ashore, exclusive tours to some of the most incredible sites, hotels, transfers and airfare—and you have an unforgettable experience and an unbeatable value. I am excited to join our guests on the first cruise and share this adventure with them.'

President’s Cruise programming includes a cocktail party hosted by Lagerweij, a special wine tasting and a President’s Round Table question and answer session.

The subsequent four cruise departures—Jan. 30, Feb. 10, Feb. 17 and May 2 (a 12-night cruise with an extra call at Havana, Cuba—will alternate embarking Victory II at either Miami or Campeche. For example, the Jan. 30 Yucatán Cruise & Land Safari begins with a complimentary night at a Miami hotel followed by a flight to Campeche for two days of exploration. Travelers then board Victory II at Campeche for a reverse of the President’s Cruise itinerary that ends with a stop at Key West and disembarkation at Miami.

Sunrise at the pyramids

A highlight of the Yucatan Cruise & Land Safari is an overnight stay at the Mayaland Hotel at Chichen Itza, the first hotel built within a Mayan archeological site. The adventure includes a 'Chichen Itza Noche de Kukulkan' sound and light show, followed the next morning by an 'Exclusive Sunrise at the Pyramids' experience for Victory Cruise Lines travelers only.

Other high points include visits to the Frida Kahlo Riviera Maya Museum, the 'Mexico Espectacular' dinner show at Xcaret, Casa de Los Venados and at Valladolid (the City of Museums), the famous cenote at Hacienda Selva Maya, the Museum of the Mayan World in Merida, Sotuta de Peon—the last working hacienda on the Yucatan peninsula—and Campeche, named by UNESCO as a model of colonial baroque city planning.

Prices for the 11-night Yucatán Land & Cruise Safaris start at $4,499 per person, double occupancy, however, with the early booking discount of $1,500 the all-inclusive base fare is $2,999. Port charges of $429 and gratuities of $15.50 per day (per person) are the only additional charges.