Mexico Tourism Advisory in Effect. Anyone Worried?

[ChicosWife]

The Federal Government has issued Federal Employee restrictions to certain areas of Mexican, along with danger warning in most other tourist areas. We will be stopping in Cozumel, which has a high crime/homicide warning. Anyone else nervous about this?

 

[vacationer1954]

We are, a bit, but since it isn't a ban and the risk doesn't seem to be aimed at tourists, it may not be a reason to concern ourselves, at least not yet.

 

[2forMe]

No

 

[jrabbit]

If you stay on the Island, you're probably a bit safer than if you do any activities in Playa del Carmen (Xcaret, Secret River, XPLOR, Tulim Ruins, etc)

 

[ChicosWife]

If you stay on the Island, you're probably a bit safer than if you do any activities in Playa del Carmen (Xcaret, Secret River, XPLOR, Tulim Ruins, etc)

That's what I was thinking too. We are doing an excursion, not too far from the port.

 

[vacationer1954]

If you stay on the Island, you're probably a bit safer than if you do any activities in Playa del Carmen (Xcaret, Secret River, XPLOR, Tulim Ruins, etc)

It would seem that way initially, but the more I dig into it, the more it seems that the "new" violence might be even more specific than that, i.e., occurring mostly in Cancun, itself. Our plans are to head to Tulum, and at this point I'm not overly worried.

 

[Dug720]

No. When it is your time, it is your time. Being somewhere else won't make it not your time - it will just change the method.

 

[ChicosWife]

No. When it is your time, it is your time. Being somewhere else won't make it not your time - it will just change the method.

Well, that makes a difference too. I would rather die peacefully in my sleep than being raped and murdered.

 

[Dug720]

Well, that makes a difference too. I would rather die peacefully in my sleep than being raped and murdered.

So it's all in preferences. I'd rather die somewhere out exploring the world than holed up in fear in my apartment never seeing anything else but those walls and never experiencing other places and cultures.

 

[GPaLarry]

Perhaps this is the time to rely more on DCL excursions, rather than local ones, for these sketchy ports. We were on the Magic EBPC in 2008 when we stopped (I believe for the first time for DCL) in Cartagena, Columbia. It had been banned by all cruise lines until a short time before we landed. Our excursion was well organized and we felt safe until they did the obligatory market stop at the end. Street vendors came from everywhere and hounded us onto the bus, even pounding on the window (a sure-fire selling point) before we got back to the ship. We have been on eight cruises, three in the Caribbean. Some of the latter ports have become so touristy I don't care to see them again...the charm/interest is gone. DCL, I feel, is concerned with our/cruisers safety and would make sure the ports meet the highest standards. One of our stops on the EBPC was Acapulco and DCL does not go there anymore. There must be a reason. I would look for future itineraries to change as Mexico and other countries struggle with their internal issues.

 

[belac]

So it's all in preferences. I'd rather die somewhere out exploring the world than holed up in fear in my apartment never seeing anything else but those walls and never experiencing other places and cultures.

And what if you had children with you...
I am all for the live and explore within reason, but when a travel warning has been issued (even more so for federal employees - you know there is a serious issue if the government bans their own to go), I would rather not subject my child to that or us for that matter. Yes unexpected horrible things happen on vacations, but to knowingly go and put yourself and family in a forewarned area, Nah, Nope, No way
I will take that apartment Please!

 

[DCLDVC1]

We're also stopping in Cozumel but I'm not worried. We aren't big fans of the port and plan to stay on the ship.

 

[Minnie & Daisy]

I think that if it was a concern for me, then I would just stay on the cruise ship that day. We have already been to Cozumel several times anyway.

 

[AquaDame]

No, from reading a bit it sounds like this is just a rehashed warning than a new one. I'm waiting for the worried call/email from my Mom about it to be sure, but I don't plan on changing anything. We're still doing our excursions in Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta & Mazatlan unless Disney deems it unsafe.

 

[keaster]

When we did the mexican riviera cruise in 2011, DCL cancelled our port stop in Mazatlan due to the safety concerns (It was cancelled I think a couple weeks before the cruise). We did two stops in Puerta Vallarta instead.

So if DCL thinks there is an issue, they will change the itinerary.

 

[quickcat]

I really like cozumel, we will be there in dec and do plan on doing an excursion through the ship.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

So it's all in preferences. I'd rather die somewhere out exploring the world than holed up in fear in my apartment never seeing anything else but those walls and never experiencing other places and cultures.

There is a middle ground. You can leave your apartment and experience the world while still avoiding situations that you know are likely to end in your demise.

 

[NS8VN]

A warning is all fine and good, but does anybody have any actual data to base this worry on? Just this week there are 17 ships scheduled for Cozumel. That's easily 30,000 tourists just from cruise ships in a single week. Did any of them not make it back alive?

There is a fine line between prudent caution and paranoia. I don't know where that line is drawn, but if it were me I would simply stay aware of my surroundings and not venture out from the main tourist areas.

 

[ImDMous]

We're on the Mexican Riviera next month so yes, I am a bit worried. We already have our excursions booked with DCL so we'll just play it by ear. There are specific numbers of murders in the Travel Advisory, between twice as many and 4 times as many as this same time last year for all of our ports. If they change our cruise somehow, we'll go with the flow. I know the port areas themselves are pretty heavily guarded so maybe we'll just do some port shopping. Not sure yet, but we'll still have a good time.

 

[belac]

I'm sure DCL would reroute if passengers were at risk of harm. They have new ships to pay for, they wouldn't want the bad press...even if not their fault the last thing they need is "DCL passenger abducted, killed ..... while on excursion"
The details would't matter.

I will monitor and see, even if DCL pulls into Mexican ports, I may not get off.

Warnings is here:
https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings/mexico-travel-warning.html