Email & ShareEditor’s Note: We got an email asking us to publish this, yet another survey about the interest in a ferry from Florida to the Yucatan. We know there is a lot of interest, so we’re publishing the inquiry. We are exceedingly aware, however, that this ferry has been promised for years on end and has turned out to be nothing more than that… promises. Still, hope springs eternal, and maybe one of these days, they really will bring it back again. We can dream… and so can you. If you want to fill out the survey, please be our guest!
We Want To Hear From You About the Ferry
The past year has not brought a lot of forward momentum with the ferry project in spite of the interest of 
three different ferry companies and many false start dates. The scandals which precipitated personnel changes at the Progreso Port Authority certainly didn’t help the situation. However, things have been happening behind the scenes and from what I understand a number of feasibility studies have been done in the Tampa area showing the ferry project is viable. So far, the inability to complete a feasibility study within the expatriate community continues to be a stumbling block, especially with investors.
Hopefully, we have learned from the mistakes of the previous ferry services in the area and responses from the previous expat surveys, and we have modified the original plans. Super high speed ferries are now being considered to shorten the crossing times. Other ideas include frequent user plans, and even free vehicle bonuses. A year round weekly crossing schedule with frequency based on use patterns and peak seasons is also being considered. As this service will take some years to become profitable, investor backing will be the key to success.
We know many of you have already completed one or both of the previous surveys but United Caribbean Lines is asking for your input once again. The results will directly influence investors and the more responses the better. Please forward this email and ask everyone you know who may travel this direction to answer the questions and forward their responses to United Caribbean Lines. If you have access to expatriate websites, blogs or travel groups, please have all your members respond and forward the questions on to any other websites and blogs you use anywhere in Central America. Even if you have no interest in using the ferry service please respond. We need to establish how many expats live in the Yucatan and Central America.
If you are comfortable letting UCL know how to reach you, they would like to extend some special courtesies, goodies, discounts and upgrades for helping them, when the ferry service begins. Just put your email address and mailing address in Central America on your answers to the questionnaire so UCL can reach you with the offers when they get started.
Please copy the following questions with your answers in an email and send your responses as soon as possible to Bruce Nierenburg at United Caribbean Lines.
BNIERENBERG [at] AOL [dot] COM
Questionnaire for Expats living in Central America for new Ferry Service of United Caribbean Lines
- Where in Central America is your current home?
- How many family members reside in your Central American home?
- Do you maintain a second home in the U.S. or Canada?
- When you travel to go to the U.S or Canada to visit friends family etc. What is your destination?
- How many times a year do you make this trip?
- If you have more than one place you travel to in the U.S or Canada please list those additional destinations
- How often do you travel to these secondary destinations each calendar year?
- When you go do you drive or fly? If both what is the approx. % for each?
- Do you have pets? Do you take them when you return to the U.S or Canada?
- When you return to the U.S. or Canada do you shop for supplies etc. For your home in Central America?
- When you travel from your home in Central America to the U.S. or Canada are there times of the year you do most of the travel? If so, when?
- Do friends and family come to Central America each year to visit you? If so how often?
- Do you own an RV in Central America?
- Would you take it on the ferry?
- What would be the most important reasons you would take the ferry to Florida?
Please number the following reasons in order of importance for using the ferry. Number 1 is the most important and Number 10 is the least.
- Go back to other homes in U.S. and or Canada ____
- Visit family and friends ____
- Shopping ____
- Vacationing in Florida ____
- I can take my car or RV ___
- Go to Florida to use airports for further travel ___
- Go to Florida to get on a cruise ____
- Just to get away for a short trip ____
- Travel for medical purposes ___
- Other ( please name ) ______
Additional comments or things you would like us to know to help serve you better with our new ferry service:
Your Name and address in Central America:
Your email address:
Thank you from all of us at United Caribbean Lines
—Tamara Magnusson
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As a former online Marketing specialist, my experience is that you will get far more responses if you make this form easy to fill out online and send to you vs. copying and emailing it to you.
We agree, but we’re just the messenger… if they want an online form, they’ll have to create one and we’ll be happy to link to it.
This survey seems to be directed to those who live in Mexico already. What about those of us who would like to reply, but still live in the US? We would love to use that ferry!
I filled this out. I would really like to use a ferry to bring all my belongings to Merida when I move there!
My wife and I have driven to Merida / Progersso area many times and are quite serious about retireing there. Lately my wife does not want to drive there and I hate to fly. Its to inconvenient and I miss my own PU while there. We have many friends who feel the same and refuse to drive because of the games being played for the first 50 miles south of the border. So we stay stateside or travel elseware
I am from Yucatan. I use to travel there 3 to 4 times a year. I used to drive. Now the northern route has become prohibitive, too risky. The ferry from Florida is the ideal solution. To travel by plane and rent a car there, for the length of time I stay there, it is very expensive. To buy a car there is also very expensive. I am for the ferry.. Francisco Colome
I looked into a ferry service from Florida to Yucatan, using a high speed trimaran that can make the trip in 16 hours, eliminating costly overnight cabins. The manufacturer is Australian. From what I can remember, the boat can carry 600-800 passengers and about 100 cars and trucks. I understood at the time that Fonatur might be interested in supporting such a project, but supported a very slow ferry and a service that went bankrupt within a year. The service should likely be between Naples and Progreso where docking and customs services exist. Those ships are not cheap, but occasionally one comes up as a used sale, and one is all you need.
Tamara Magnusson at United Caribbean Lines may have the right idea but doesn’t have any idea of how to gather needed information or to create a questionnaire. To start with, a ferry service needs business at either end of the trip, something that is not addressed. The other is that Mexico is not in Central America, I hope her captains have a better idea.
I think the ferry would be very beneficial in a multitude of ways.. We are currently gathering information on retiring in Yucatan and the Ferry would certainly be a delight for other travels from Florida or ease in going back to the US for a visit… But that survey isn’t for people like us. That ferry would be another check mark on the positive side of moving to the Yucatan!
I agree with Claus Mohr, above, and I can’t imagine that any investor would part with cash on the strength of the mishmash of anecdotal “evidence” that such an ill-conceived survey would gather. Nevertheless, I wish them luck.
Of course, we all know that Mexico is not part of the “isthmus” called Central America.
This survey is only for those who seem to live in central america. I believe the ferry would be of great benefit to everyone who loves to travel and to those like me, who is looking to retire to Merida for various reasons including travel to and from US and Mexico to visit friends, to bring our vehicle, etc. the list can go on.
We are moving to merida soon and really need this.
I think this is a great idea. I am in Florida and plan to retire in Merida Mexico soon, and would love to be able to bring my vehicle and personal household items, this would be great if the price could be kept reasonable.
My family is from Yucatan. I used to drive to Mexico but I am not willing to drive so many hours any more. I love the ferry idea.
Many people would use it. We just need to send mass emails to let people know.