Preparations on track for first luxury cruise ships to sail the Magdalena River in decades
This week, preparations were made to receive the tourists who, for the first time in decades, will sail the waters of the Magdalena River on luxury river cruises.
ProColombia announced that it toured municipalities such as Calamar, Mompox, Santa Barbara de Pinto, and El Banco, among others, where the two vessels will dock. The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Fontur, Innpulsa, Cormagdalena, and representatives of the U.S. cruise company AmaWaterways, the only one that is planning to enter this market, also participated in the activity.
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“Our purpose was also to identify how ProColombia can further strengthen the offer in order to improve revenues for the communities that will benefit from the arrival of the ships”, said Carmen Caballero, president of ProColombia.
Cruises on the Magdalena River will begin in the first half of 2024
Two luxury riverboats: the AmaMagdalena, with a capacity for 60 guests, will sail the waters of the Magdalena River for the first time on March 30, 2024. The other is the AmaMelodia, with a capacity for 64 guests, which will set sail for the first time on June 19, 2024.
In both cases, tourists will live cruise experiences, with luxury accommodations, panoramic views, and access to the swimming pool, gym, and massage service on the vessels.
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Staterooms range from 22 square meters (237 square feet) to 48 square meters (516 square feet). According to ProColombia, all feature a double balcony design, with one French balcony and one outside balcony.
Two itineraries available
Those who sign up for the Magdalena River cruises will have the possibility of choosing between two seven-night itineraries, in which they will sail between the Colombian cities of Cartagena and Barranquilla.
The first itinerary is called “Magic of Colombia” and the second is “Wonders of Colombia”. In both cases, the localities of Cartagena, Barranquilla, Mompox, El Banco, Calamar, Magangue, Santa Barbara de Pinto, Nueva Venecia, and Palenque will be visited.
The memory of the David Arango
For decades, the Magdalena River was dressed up as a party with the David Arango, an elegant steamboat. In operation since 1924 and the flagship of the Naviera Fluvial Colombiana fleet, this vessel marked the golden age of passenger river navigation in Colombia.
Three-story and built with fine wood from the Far East, it had ballrooms, restaurants, a chapel for masses and weddings, and lavish rooms for the time.
Sort of like the Colombian version of the Titanic, keeping in mind the enormous economic differences between England and Colombia, the David Arango transported distinguished members of the elite. Its arrival at the ports was accompanied by excitement, economic activity, and cultural exchanges.
There are still those who fondly remember their trips on this steamer, thanks to which they got to know their country better, got closer to the cultural and biological richness of the region, and enjoyed pleasant romantic, family, and business dates.
The David Arango sailed between Barranquilla and La Dorada, passing through Barrancabermeja and Magangué, which at that time was the second most important river port in the country.
On January 19, 1961, it sailed the waters of the Magdalena River for the last time, as on that day a fire reduced it to ashes. An iron connected to the wall in an empty room triggered the tragedy, and the 120 passengers on board barely had time to disembark.
Since then, Colombians have been waiting to see a ship of this kind on their great river again, one that would contribute to recovering the lost dynamism of many of the towns along its passage.
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