By Jeanine Lee Kitchel

Due to Hurricane Dean in late August, the Costa Maya port at Majahual will be closed until September 2008, which means cruise passengers will be detoured to other Mexico and Caribbean ports in the meantime.

The Majahual port opened in 2000 and has become Mexico’s second busiest cruise ship port, following Cozumel. But since the class-5 hurricane destroyed much of the town, the pier, and the tourist complex, port officials say it will take a year to complete the reconstruction at the very least.

Other ports of call will be substituted, including Progreso, near Merida, Calica, just south of Playa del Carmen, Belize City, Belize, and Isla Roatan, Honduras.  For more details on what to expect at these other locations, check the site www.cruisemates.com.