Cozumel, Q.R. — Local authorities welcomed Celebrity’s Xcel cruise ship as it made Cozumel its first port of call. The new ship, which is on its debut tour, stopped at the island of Cozumel Tuesday.
Governor Mara Lezama and Mayor José Luis Chacón Méndez lead the welcome ceremony for the cruise ship. With the arrival of the majestic Celebrity Xcel cruise ship, considered a jewel of the Edge class, Governor Lezama and Mayor José Luis Chacón Méndez, led the traditional exchange of plaques with the ship’s captain, Kyriakos “Kirk” Matragkas.
Mayor José Luis Chacón Méndez welcomed the captain and crew and expressed his gratitude for choosing Cozumel as their first port of call.
He noted that this beautiful island, known as the Island of Swallows, owes its name to its Mayan origins and the history of ancient navigators who arrived to worship the goddess Ixchel, deity of love and fertility, praying for their families and the joy of parenthood.
He emphasized that it is an honor for the people of Cozumel to receive visitors from around the world with the hospitality that distinguishes the town, and he thanked Governor Lezama for her constant support of Cozumel’s development and her commitment to shared prosperity that strengthens the island’s present and future.
The Celebrity Xcel has a capacity for 3,836 passengers in addition to a crew of 1,400. During the ceremony, the governor and the mayor were accompanied by state and municipal authorities and representatives of the port and shipping sector.
Xcel arrived at Cozumel at 6:00 a.m., docking at the SSA Mexico pier before heading south at 8:00 p.m. to continue its Caribbean journey.
