Vidanta Cruises and the Vidanta Elegant appear closer to an official startup as the vessel has left an extended refurbishment period in Naples and today called in Gibraltar.

A spokesperson for Grupo Vidanta told Cruise Industry News that the company “did not have any updates to share.”

The ship is said to be heading across the Atlantic and then through the Panama Canal on her way to the Mexican Riviera, where the company has port calls booked up and down the coast for the winter 2019-2020 cruise season.

In October of 2018, Daniel Chávez Morán, Grupo Vidanta’s founder, told Forbes Mexico that the comprehensive project would produce a like-new ship on the 1990-built hull.

Following an extensive refurbishment, the ship now features a new aft structure and all new interior spaces.

Grupo Vidanta, a Mexico-based hotel operator with luxury properties, acquired the 1990-built ship in 2017 following the demise of All Leisure Group, where the vessel sailed as the Voyager.

The ship was first worked on in Spain, before moving to Naples.

In mid 2018, Grupo Vidanta started hiring more crew in anticipation of its cruise startup.

Grupo Vidanta is also said to have further ambitions to acquire ships, and has made a number of cruise line hires.

The 1990-built ship had capacity for 540 passengers and was originally built at Union Naval de Levante in Valencia, Spain as the Crown Monarch. Following its refurbishment, it is expected to carry around 300 guests.

A formal announcement is expected shortly.

Photos: Tony Davis