Mexican Riviera safety concerns?

[Whiskers]

Some months ago I booked the Mexican Riviera on the Wonder for a family cruise in March 2011. Last week we returned from a Med cruise on RCCL (14 days on the Independance of the Seas - it was wonderful!) It was our first time non Disney cruise but the Disney Europe prices were too high. Anyway while I was on the Indy I tried to book the Mexician Riviera dates for one of their ships in March 2011 and was planning to cancel the Disney one when I got home. I was told however that RCCL is pulling their ship out of the Mexican Riviera in Jan/Feb of 2011 and will no longer be sailing that itinerary.
The cruise consultant was rather vague when I asked if it was because of safety concerns re Mexico. I still have my Disney cruise booked, just wondering what others are thinking about this itinerary. I plan to take only ship booked excursions anyway....

 

[NancyIL]

I believe RCI is pulling out of doing Mexican Riviera cruises next January because they aren't making any money! I was on Mariner of the Seas in April because it was less expensive than any 7-night RCI cruise out of FL at the same time! (We paid $389 + taxes/pp.) The cruise line will make more money on the Mariner's repo cruises to Brazil, and then the summer 2011 Med cruises than it would've out of LA.

 

[Karlzmom]

There have been articles lately about the oversaturation of available cruises out of LA, outlining how limited the itineraries are due to US law that requires a "touch" outside US territory. So, for anything less than weeks long vacations you are pretty well stuck with the same couple of Mexican destinations...hence lower demand vis a vis the available capacity. So, a number of cruiselines are sailing for more lucrative waters [sorry, couldn't help myself with the pun ]

As I understand it, the violence is pretty well confined to the boarder area, and involves people participating in or fighting against the drug trade. I can't imagine that DCL wants to have to deal with the fallout of having passengers in danger, so I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[NancyIL]

There have been articles lately about the oversaturation of available cruises out of LA, outlining how limited the itineraries are due to US law that requires a "touch" outside US territory. So, for anything less than weeks long vacations you are pretty well stuck with the same couple of Mexican destinations...hence lower demand vis a vis the available capacity. So, a number of cruiselines are sailing for more lucrative waters [sorry, couldn't help myself with the pun ]

I agree that cruise lines are pulling out of the west coast for more lucrative waters, but it's not because of US law or oversaturation. The MR itineraries are not limited by US law, because all of the ports on a roundtrip Mexican Riviera cruise out of CA are foreign ports. There just aren't as many potential ports to visit on a 7-night MR cruise as there are on 7-night Caribbean cruises. There are far more Caribbean cruises out of FL and San Juan than there are MR cruises out of CA, so it's not that there's oversaturation on the west coast. The demand for MR cruises is lower, and that results in lower cruise prices.

 

[calmpets]

Here's an article I found on this very topic: http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=4015

 

[devine5829]

So, I'm guessing that if we get off the boat to do an excursion (and, to my knowledge, Disney has not set up the excursions yet), we should feel safe to do so?? I do not plan on getting off the boat just to wander.

 

[Jareds_mommy]

Some months ago I booked the Mexican Riviera on the Wonder for a family cruise in March 2011. Last week we returned from a Med cruise on RCCL (14 days on the Independance of the Seas - it was wonderful!) It was our first time non Disney cruise but the Disney Europe prices were too high. Anyway while I was on the Indy I tried to book the Mexician Riviera dates for one of their ships in March 2011 and was planning to cancel the Disney one when I got home. I was told however that RCCL is pulling their ship out of the Mexican Riviera in Jan/Feb of 2011 and will no longer be sailing that itinerary.
The cruise consultant was rather vague when I asked if it was because of safety concerns re Mexico. I still have my Disney cruise booked, just wondering what others are thinking about this itinerary. I plan to take only ship booked excursions anyway....

I have been taking my kids to mexico twice a year since DD was 9 months old (she is 6 now) both sides we have never had any problems or felt unsafe ever. We just keep the same wits about is as we would at home, I felt safer there then we did in LA or tampa when we visited those places

 

[tvguy]

You need to be alert whether you are in a foreign country our at home.
There have been problems in St. Thomas, (a cruise ship passenger murdered) which is the U.S., Mexico and the Med. Actually, the biggest problems by a hair have been in the Med. I'd cruise to any of these destinations without hesitation, but always being alert.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

You need to be alert whether you are in a foreign country our at home.
There have been problems in St. Thomas, (a cruise ship passenger murdered) which is the U.S., Mexico and the Med. Actually, the biggest problems by a hair have been in the Med. I'd cruise to any of these destinations without hesitation, but always being alert.

Not to mention the crime in Nassau and DCL still visits 2x/week.
Remember the group on the Segway tour robbed at gunpoint w/tour guide tied up?
Crime happens everywhere.

 

[Karlzmom]

I agree that cruise lines are pulling out of the west coast for more lucrative waters, but it's not because of US law or oversaturation. The MR itineraries are not limited by US law, because all of the ports on a roundtrip Mexican Riviera cruise out of CA are foreign ports. There just aren't as many potential ports to visit on a 7-night MR cruise as there are on 7-night Caribbean cruises. There are far more Caribbean cruises out of FL and San Juan than there are MR cruises out of CA, so it's not that there's oversaturation on the west coast. The demand for MR cruises is lower, and that results in lower cruise prices.

What I meant was that the cruises out of LA are by necessity limited to a handful of ports in Mexico because the law requires they touch foriegn soil, and unlike Florida which is within spitting distance of a wide variety of countries that would fit the bill, there is a perceived "sameness" to the itineraries thereby reducing demand. My apologies for not spelling it all out completely, didn't mean to require you to help me....

 

[Zoom]

Just got back a week ago from MR cruise with RCI Mariner. As others posted, it's true that the reason why Mariner is moving out of L.A is bec they are not making money, When we went, ship was full bec its summer and kids are off school but once school starts then they had to lower down prices to fill up the ship. We booked our own excursions and used public transportation with no problems at all.

 

[AuntAmy]

The stops along the MR itinerary are port cities. The majority of the other people there are from other cruise lines. I've never had any problem with violence as long as you stay smart and don't wander too far in land on your own.

 

[Meghatron]

What I meant was that the cruises out of LA are by necessity limited to a handful of ports in Mexico because the law requires they touch foriegn soil

So the 2-night Cruise to Nowhere is illegal? Interesting.

 

[tvguy]

So the 2-night Cruise to Nowhere is illegal? Interesting.

No, they are legal. IF you stop at ANY ports, at least one of them has to be a foreign port. If you stop at NO ports, the law doesn't apply.

 

["Got Disney"]

I agree it is for the reasons mentioned...dont think they canceled due to what is happening along the border.....if they feel it is not safe they will tell you. I would say however that if you go on excursions go with DCL...dont go on your own. We live in San Diego have been to Mexico zillions of times...driving in through the border and entering through cruises and always do excursions on our own....but this time we would not.

I would feel okay taking a Taxi however into the areas to shop....

Have a great cruise