The face of the La Cruz Marina; Katrina Liana

Extraordinary service by the face of the La Cruz Marina!

Everyone who visits La Cruz comes from varying backgrounds, using various forms of travel and arriving and staying in various forms of accommodation. Originally known as a sailor’s hangout between travels – going to the sea of Cortez or to the South Seas; La Cruz is a respite between ‘weather’ as I hear the sailors call it. Now La Cruz has many more options from hotels to casitas to condos and more and yes, many folks still live on their floating homes in the La Cruz Marina.

Katrina Liana or Kat as most of us call her arrived on a sailboat. With a smile that melts your heart she’s simply always there for others! She’s passionate about life and finds ways to make being in La Cruz better for those who visit and live here.

I asked a few folks that know her to share how she impacts their life and our community.

Katrina is one of the biggest assets for the marina; she’s the communication between the marina and our clients (most marinas, in Mexico, don’t have someone like this). As a boater herself she knows what kind of activities the clients most appreciate and need. Since 2009 she has volunteered and has been the best person for the marina helping 24/7. She puts together most of the activities for my clients; like seminars, regattas, pool activities, sport activities, beach camping, bon fires, concerts, pot lucks and all the calendar activities.

Kat is so helpful with public relations for the marina and the many activities we present. Lately she has been running programs for kids, transforming our marina into the only marina with a Junior Club program; including such activities like underwater discovery for kids, beach camp nights with bon fires, etc. Kat is the link between the expats in La Cruz and the marina, she knows everyone and everyone loves Kat. ~ Rafael Alcántara Luarte; Harbor Master, Marina Riviera Nayarit.

Kat began organizing cruiser events for the marina years ago and she just keeps doing it! We consider her our concierge; both for the patrons at dock and those anchored out. She arranges very informative seminars for the group such as “women who sail”. She arranges weekly events for boaters both on and off the water. She participates in Wednesday night beer can race with an after party at the pool. Kat arranges Thursday night movies under the stars at the at the marina amphitheater. Her kid’s camp for the families is very popular for cruisers who travel with children. She arranges the Saturday cruiser swap meets. She arranges gifts and a Christmas party for the local children at the orphanage, Manos de Amor. She helps run the cruiser net broadcast every morning at 8:30. She responds to all cruiser complaints which is a full time job in itself I am sure. She makes sushi every Sunday to share with friends. The list goes on. ~ Cheryl Sears boater of S/V BLUE.

With boaters and Marina Riviera Nayarit staff:

After cooking up a storm Kat serves up her fabulous chili… hoping to win the cook-off.

Serving boaters:

Getting the marina pool the perfect temperature.

What Katrina does for the boaters and community is amazing. She was the very first person we met when we arrived in 2013. Kat was so friendly and helpful about informing us of all that is La Cruz. She sat down with me and went over the cruisers map and pointed out where all the restaurants, cruisers comfort, buses and cabs were. She also informed us of when the cruisers net was on each morning. She is the hub of what is going on around the marina and the town of La Cruz. She was the first person I called after our boat had a run-in with a rock and we had to be hauled out for repairs. She led us to Villa Amor del Mar on the beach and we stayed in paradise while repairs were made on our boat.

We fell in love with La Cruz thanks to people like Katrina. We are happy to say this is our third season here and are now buying a condo here and are proud to become part of this wonderful community. We know if we ever have a question or need anything, Katrina is our go to person! ~ Jan Goodhead, owner/boater of S/V Janabanana.

Janabanana’s splash party:

Captain Kat’s credentials are impressive but she has so much fun too; she loves fishing, sailing all kinds of crafts, playing, dressing up and so much more.

She is a great person, we work together coordinating events with the group ‘Woman who sail’; she is very professional. We share a passion in helping the orphanage ‘Manos de Amor’. ~ Lupe of Los Arroyos Verdes and owner/captain of s/v Nueva Luna

Kat share’s her love of La Cruz de Huancaxtle with her brother Pedro who has a business at the Marina serving boaters as well! Read about him here.