Cruise ships are expected to be homeporting in Rocky Point (Puerto Penasco) for the first time this winter. Unfortunately, the long-awaited cruise port in this beach town will not be finished on time.
Construction started back in 2013 on Puerto Penasco (aka Rocky Point, as it is known to Arizona visitors). The project has been stalled for years, and the cruise port will not be open when the first voyage embarks in December 2019.
According to Hector Platt Mazon, assistant coordinator for Sonoran tourism commission, cruise ships often call at towns without a cruise port. For the time being, smaller boats (tenders) shuttle cruisers and provisions to/from the 550-passenger Astoria, operated by CMV-Cruise and Maritime Voyages.
Platt added Sonora was still investing in building the cruise port in Rocky Point, but funding was an issue. He hoped the launch of Sea of Cortez cruises was a step toward securing federal support to finish the port.