Help! Info on Mexico cruise safety please!

[DVCconvert]

Labeling Mexico a war zone due to violence in certain border locations is like labeling Southern California and Disneyland a war zone due to violence in LA and San Diego.

Mike

And your point is.....?????

 

[Goofy4Disney99]

We've been to the Mexican Riviera twice with DCL, the most recent being this past January. We have never experienced a problem. In fact, Puerto Vallarta is our favorite port - we always get a cab to the downtown beach area and go shopping and get some great food. If you do that, do not hesitate to travel the street that is one block in from the beach - lots of unique shops and very safe. In Cabo we typically do a Port Adventure so we are not experienced in seeing the town by foot. We were in Mazatlan several years ago on a RC cruise - hated it - felt very unsafe and never ventured beyond the group of shops by the dock.

 

[lexlaw69]

You are correct - there are extremely bad areas in all of the US where the bad guys primarily shoot it out with each other. However, more people being killed in Mexico than Iraq and Afghanistan. Mexico is truly fighting for its survival with the military patroling the streets (including the ports you will visit). If there is no threat then there is no military necessary.

Also, please let me know in which bad US area that a gang has shot (along with beheadings) large (>25) groups of people including women and children. In Mexico, if one group of bad guys thinks the other group of bad guys (or just one) is in your restaurant - they are killing everyone in the restaurant. I doubt you will be in that restaurant but who knows.

The truth is that Mexico is dangerous to go to. You can try and make yourself feel good by saying that i'm going with the mouse, and that they would not take me anywhere dangerous. I happen to believe that is mostly true, but not entirely true. Kudo's to disney for stopping to travel to one port in Mexico due to the safety situation but there are issues all over.

The poster asked for opinions and i'm just giving mine.

 

[Jennifer in MI]

Mexico is a huge country, filled mostly with good, friendly, hard working people. We have plenty of "war zones" right here in my city and all across the U.S.

Yup! I live right outside Detroit in a nice suburb. Unfortunately, much of Detroit looks like a war zone and probably isn't safe. But, I still go there. It has a LOT to offer!

I'm choosing to cruise to Mexico with my family. Yes, we're aware of the dangers. We'll be very careful. I'm debating whether to book our own excursions or stick with the Disney ones. MOST of Mexico is safe.

And, I just received a phone call from Disney changing our itinerary. They've cancelled Matzatlan for our Sept cruise. I trust that Disney is keeping an eye on things.

 

[MND]

The truth is that Mexico is dangerous to go to. .

 

[traveljen1027]

I think travel to any foreign country has potential dangers - sometimes when we are on vacation we forget that there is still crime, etc. and that we need to be as vigilant and aware of our surroundings as we would were we at home - the increased violence in certain parts of Mexico just makes this even more important. I personally, along with my husband and our two children, am going to Mexico with DCL this October and am very excited - we've been before on two other cruise lines, and always had a great time. With the increased violence going on, it is a good idea to think about where you are going and what you will be doing, should you decide to get off of the ship and go into port. I think we'll be doing DCL-only organized excursions this time, as I think that offers us a little more protection as they are continually tested each time the ships roll into port, and I appreciate that DCL has cancelled the stop in Mazatlan due to safety concerns. I won't rely on DCL alone to keep me safe, but I trust that they are keeping tabs on the situation in Mexico and would not knowingly put us, their staff, or their very expensive ships into harms way (let alone their ability to keep people booking these cruises in the future). Good luck with your decision!! Hopefully you can find a cruise that will make both you and your husband happy!

 

[lexlaw69]

You are right, every destination has its issues. However, not every destination has a war ongoing. If the tour stopped in Northern Iraq you would tell people they are nuts for going there but the safety situation is actually better there than in Mexico.

The only person that is responsible for you and your families safety is you. Disney has no control over the streets of Mexico. Don't be lulled into a false sense of security because Disney is running the show. They are probably more concious of safety than most but there is nothing they can do about drug violence.

You cannot accurately assess the risks by other peoples experiences nor by the fact that DCL visits a certain port.

 

[traveljen1027]

You are right, every destination has its issues. However, not every destination has a war ongoing. If the tour stopped in Northern Iraq you would tell people they are nuts for going there but the safety situation is actually better there than in Mexico.

The only person that is responsible for you and your families safety is you. Disney has no control over the streets of Mexico. Don't be lulled into a false sense of security because Disney is running the show. They are probably more concious of safety than most but there is nothing they can do about drug violence.

You cannot accurately assess the risks by other peoples experiences nor by the fact that DCL visits a certain port.

My husband is in Afghanistan at the moment and won't be home until October. IMHO, I don't feel he is safer there than in Mexico.

 

[lexlaw69]

My husband is in Afghanistan at the moment and won't be home until October. IMHO, I don't feel he is safer there than in Mexico.

We are all proud of your husband, and I know that it is especially difficult for military families. Thank you and your husband for the sacrifices that you all have made.

It is a fact that there are more drug war deaths in Mexico than US Soldier deaths in Iraq or Afghanistan. Pre drug/cartel war Mexico was a dangerous and lawless place. With all this going on don't you think that going someplace that does not have the risk of major armed conflict occruing around you is a better choice?

I'll also add that I'm an experienced traveler - that often travels to areas of armed conflict. Mexico is one of the only areas where we are required to have an armed guard. My mexican friends are not traveling home to visit family and go to resort areas due to the safety situation. Last, most businesses are only sending people only as a last resort and then only with armed guards. I haven't seen Mickey or Goofy carry a rifle on a tour so you'll be relying on the Mexican military for your safety.

Good and safe travels to you all that go to the MR. God bless you and your husband.

 

[clawmachine]

I have familial ties with people in other parts of Central America (not Mexico) so perhaps that is why I always try to stick up for the vast majority of good people there when these threads pop up. It is truly devastating to the livelihood of many tourist town residents when people become afraid and just stop coming. All I am asking is that you go with safety and research in mind and know the actual risks, not just the perceived ones. If the world as a whole just completely abandoned Mexico their problems would surely get even worse.

Tourist towns (especially islands) have everything to lose if people stop coming, and are often very pro-active behind the scenes to make sure this doesn't happen. We just went to Cozumel on our January cruise with DCL. I thoroughly researched the crime stats before I left and they were FAR lower than every city within 200 miles of my home.

This is just a wild, wild guess, but I bet the risk of dying in an automobile accident while driving to your local mall is higher than being a victim of violent crime while visiting Mexico...

 

[MND]

If the tour stopped in Northern Iraq you would tell people they are nuts for going there but the safety situation is actually better there than in Mexico.

I actually don't think you know what you're talking about. You're labeling the entire country of Mexico as dangerous, and as part of a war zone. I'm not sure what your motivation is, but it's getting very old. It seems like you are trying to scare people and I'm not sure why that is. You are certainly entitled to your opinion, but you are starting to come across as a troll.

Plus, as someone who has family in Iraq, I found your most recent rant to be insulting. I've been trying to hold back, but I decided it was time for me to speak out.

Mike

 

[Makayna]

However, more people being killed in Mexico than Iraq and Afghanistan.

I would love to see those statistics.

Anyways, I am glad that Disney is diligent about canceling port stops when needed. I wonder about the upcoming Repo cruise in September, if they will consider Ensenada an unsafe port. I know that it's not the best port out there, and frankly, I know that I WILL be staying on the ship (mainly because there aren't any port adventures that I'm interested in, and less because of safety), but if they were to stop at a different port instead, it certainly wouldn't hurt my feelings any!

 

[lexlaw69]

I actually don't think you know what you're talking about. You're labeling the entire country of Mexico as dangerous, and as part of a war zone. I'm not sure what your motivation is, but it's getting very old. It seems like you are trying to scare people and I'm not sure why that is. You are certainly entitled to your opinion, but you are starting to come across as a troll.

Plus, as someone who has family in Iraq, I found your most recent rant to be insulting. I've been trying to hold back, but I decided it was time for me to speak out.

Mike

There is no intent to be rude here and I don't appreciate your accusation. You should be able to understand that i'm merely answering the initial question regarding the security situation in Mexico (and opinions about it). For those of you that are insulted by facts i'm sorry.

I'm using facts like the state department travel website which lists the specific dangers in the Mexican states, perform a simple search for "mexico drug war death toll" and you'll find that it is several times larger in size than the casualties of US servicemen and women in the Middle East. There are specific warnings to US citizens in many of the states that the cruise ship visits from the US State Dept. Take a look for yourself - because to do otherwise is to not know the risks involved.

As I mentioned before I work alot in some very dangerous places. I work with police agencies and military from all over the world. I'm telling you first hand how it is perceived by people who are on the front lines.
Factually, Mexico is on a short list by the US State Dept along with Pakistan, Libya, Haiti and Mali (to name a few of the 33 countries on the list). Would you go to any of those countries with your little ones? Tiajuana and Ensenada are probably some of the most dangerous places in the world right now.

I would love to be able to make you all sleep so well at night and say it is safe - like travel to the Caribbean destinations, Med, or the Bahamas but it simply is not safe. Are there dangerous areas and neighborhoods in the US? Yes, and I don't vacation there.

Will you probably be all OK? The answer to that is YES, do you have a higher risk factor in Mexico than other tourist destinations - the answer sadly is also an overwhelming YES.

Last, I don't really get why you would be offended by factually correct information that is widely available. But feel free to live without the truth...

No insult intended but you should do some fact checking before you question mine. Just google it.

 

[nunzia]

You are correct - there are extremely bad areas in all of the US where the bad guys primarily shoot it out with each other. However, more people being killed in Mexico than Iraq and Afghanistan. Mexico is truly fighting for its survival with the military patroling the streets (including the ports you will visit). If there is no threat then there is no military necessary.

Also, please let me know in which bad US area that a gang has shot (along with beheadings) large (>25) groups of people including women and children. In Mexico, if one group of bad guys thinks the other group of bad guys (or just one) is in your restaurant - they are killing everyone in the restaurant. I doubt you will be in that restaurant but who knows.

The truth is that Mexico is dangerous to go to. You can try and make yourself feel good by saying that i'm going with the mouse, and that they would not take me anywhere dangerous. I happen to believe that is mostly true, but not entirely true. Kudo's to disney for stopping to travel to one port in Mexico due to the safety situation but there are issues all over.

The poster asked for opinions and i'm just giving mine.

Agree to a point. I live fairly close to El Paso, Texas which is a sister city to Juarez the murder capital of the world (3,800 dead and counting) and the flashpoint for the Mexico war..which is exactly what it is..and with a third world country level of corruption you cannot expect the government to help you. Still...we are going to an AI resort by Play del Carmen (about 45 minutes south of Cancun) again this year and I'm not that concerned. Cautious yes, but panicked, no. I WILL stay at the resort..debating if I'll go into Playa or take an excursion to Xcaret. I won't wander the are looking for 'local flavor'. Kind of like, in a much more minor way, when on our ABD trip to Hollywood we stayed on the main streets in the tourist areas in broad daylight and didn't wander around off the beaten path. Got a taste of that once years ago trying to find parking for the Pantages theater for a Steve Perry concert..slightly scary (but worth it to see Mr. P..but I digress).
The point is, just be SMART and aware.

Article from Nov 2010:
The Mexican border city of Juarez has already surpassed last year’s record homicide total–with two months to go. The unofficial press total of 2,756 was reached over the weekend after yet another bloody spate of murders. Juarez is adjacent to El Paso, TX and is strategically located along a major drug supply route from Mexico to the U.S. Two rival drug cartels, vying for control, are usually blamed for the violence. [Latin American Herald Tribune]

Related posts:

1.Two more Americans killed in Juarez
2.Mass murder at party on US/Mexico border
3.Massacre of the day: Four dead in mall bar
4.Violence continues unabated along border
5.Crime scene tech among latest border murder victims

 

[nunzia]

I think travel to any foreign country has potential dangers - sometimes when we are on vacation we forget that there is still crime, etc. and that we need to be as vigilant and aware of our surroundings as we would were we at home - the increased violence in certain parts of Mexico just makes this even more important. I personally, along with my husband and our two children, am going to Mexico with DCL this October and am very excited - we've been before on two other cruise lines, and always had a great time. With the increased violence going on, it is a good idea to think about where you are going and what you will be doing, should you decide to get off of the ship and go into port. I think we'll be doing DCL-only organized excursions this time, as I think that offers us a little more protection as they are continually tested each time the ships roll into port, and I appreciate that DCL has cancelled the stop in Mazatlan due to safety concerns. I won't rely on DCL alone to keep me safe, but I trust that they are keeping tabs on the situation in Mexico and would not knowingly put us, their staff, or their very expensive ships into harms way (let alone their ability to keep people booking these cruises in the future). Good luck with your decision!! Hopefully you can find a cruise that will make both you and your husband happy!

Sorry for the OT remark, but my new grandson is also an Asher

 

[kjd469]

I live in Mexico. I leave my house every day and see no military presence anywhere. There are police on the roads like they are in any city anywhere. My kids go to school, my husband goes to work, we shop, eat out, go to the movies and basically live our lives in the normal, everyday fashion that anyone else does. Is there a chance I may die when I leave my home?....of course....being a victim of a random act of violence could happen to anyone, anywhere in any city. I am not involved in the drug trade or out in places I shouldn't be at times I shouldn't be -....common sense for anyone, everywhere.

Would I travel to Ciudad Juarez or any of the northern border areas right now?...no. Many Mexicans living in the U.S. came from those northern border states, and it's no wonder they won't return to see their relatives. However, the majority of Mexico is safe - it is not a "war zone" as some would like you to believe. In fact, most of Mexico is safer than many of the United States, with lower crime statistics in the murders per 100,000 people. Please don't paint an entire (huge) country with the same brush. Mexico is a beautiful country, with so much to offer to those who come with open minds and know the facts.

As far as whether to cruise to Mexico or not...I would absolutely say yes, come, you will be fine so much as you would be fine anywhere else. However, if it makes you uncomfortable, than don't - simple as that.

 

[lmhall2000]

There is no intent to be rude here and I don't appreciate your accusation. You should be able to understand that i'm merely answering the initial question regarding the security situation in Mexico (and opinions about it). For those of you that are insulted by facts i'm sorry.

I agree wholeheartedly with lexlaw...our family went on a March MR cruise with 6 teens..3 who were not our own. There are two things to be aware of, the violence perpetuated through illicit drug gangs and the corruption with in the government. Those two things lead to a potentially volatile situation. There is no comparing their violence/injustice with Detroit/Chicago or even Iraq...yes, there are by far more murders in Mexico than in Iraq..but that's b/c Iraq is rebuilding and has a strong contingency of armed guards scattered throughout the area...people are TIRED of the destruction and honestly working to rebuild..the number of insurgents in Iraq are much smaller than the widespread drug gangs in Mexico...it's a fact not a suspicion.

Our family weighed the risks and went in very keen to the situation....we stuck to excursions that would stay local and really enjoyed ourselves. Guards with machine guns in PV also helped us feel a bit more secure...Now, would that be our first choice for a cruise, probably not, but the value was there with kids sail free and we are all so happy we did it...

Just be wise, stay informed and don't knock those trying to state the facts....it's ultimately there to help you.

Tara

 

[La2kw]

I'm using facts like the state department travel website which lists the specific dangers in the Mexican states, perform a simple search for "mexico drug war death toll" and you'll find that it is several times larger in size than the casualties of US servicemen and women in the Middle East. There are specific warnings to US citizens in many of the states that the cruise ship visits from the US State Dept. Take a look for yourself - because to do otherwise is to not know the risks involved. .

You are comparing deaths of Mexican citizens in the drug war to deaths of American servicemen and women in Iraq? That makes no sense. You need to compare apples to apples, not apples to oranges. Try comparing death counts of Mexican citizens to Iraqi citizens killed in the war, then you will make sense. Compare the number of deaths of American soldiers in Iraq to the number of deaths of American tourists in Mexico, and that would make sense. If you make the proper comparisons, you will see that many more Iraqis have been killed than Mexicans. You will also see that far few American tourists have been killed than American soldiers in Iraq.

Calling a huge country like Mexico (with it's isolated pockets of danger) more dangerous than a country torn apart by a war is just wacky and a bit insulting to the soldiers over there risking their lives on a daily basis, not to mention the thousands who have already given their lives.

I do agree that anyone traveling to Mexico needs to read the warnings our government has issued and then look at a map. You will see the areas with trouble are nowhere near where the cruise ships visit. Then they need to make their own decisions. Calling the entire country of Mexico a war zone because certain areas are dangerous is silly.

 

[lexlaw69]

I really wish this conversation was over but when people call into question FACTS I like to back up my info with sources. Also, keep your teens on an especially short leash there as much can go wrong quickly unrelated to the drug war.

Silly? Tell the State Dept:

You should be especially aware of safety and security concerns when visiting the northern border states of Northern Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas. Much of the country's narcotics-related violence has occurred in the border region.

I'm going to end my commentary on this topic with this quote from a surfing website about travel to Mexico - it sums up my feelings on this issue pretty well:

The bottom line seems to be this: When we as surfers cross the border into Tijuana, we lose everything. All of our U.S. rights are gone. But because Baja is so close to us, both geographically and, as surfers, subculturally, we romantically expect U.S. levels of security, of justice, and of authority to blanket us. Many mistakenly have an “it won’t happen to me” mentality. But when you cross that border line, well, you cross that line.

 

[NHdisneylover]

You are right, every destination has its issues. However, not every destination has a war ongoing. If the tour stopped in Northern Iraq you would tell people they are nuts for going there but the safety situation is actually better there than in Mexico.

The only person that is responsible for you and your families safety is you. Disney has no control over the streets of Mexico. Don't be lulled into a false sense of security because Disney is running the show. They are probably more concious of safety than most but there is nothing they can do about drug violence.

You cannot accurately assess the risks by other peoples experiences nor by the fact that DCL visits a certain port.

Wow--I am not even sure what to say to this but I do think you are totally off base.

My husband is in Afghanistan at the moment and won't be home until October. IMHO, I don't feel he is safer there than in Mexico.

Thank you to your husband and to you (it must be hard to be home and worried).

We are all proud of your husband, and I know that it is especially difficult for military families. Thank you and your husband for the sacrifices that you all have made.

It is a fact that there are more drug war deaths in Mexico than US Soldier deaths in Iraq or Afghanistan. Pre drug/cartel war Mexico was a dangerous and lawless place. With all this going on don't you think that going someplace that does not have the risk of major armed conflict occruing around you is a better choice?

I'll also add that I'm an experienced traveler - that often travels to areas of armed conflict. Mexico is one of the only areas where we are required to have an armed guard. My mexican friends are not traveling home to visit family and go to resort areas due to the safety situation. Last, most businesses are only sending people only as a last resort and then only with armed guards. I haven't seen Mickey or Goofy carry a rifle on a tour so you'll be relying on the Mexican military for your safety.

Good and safe travels to you all that go to the MR. God bless you and your husband.

You keep mentioning Mexican friends who will not travel to Mexico. I admit I find this very odd. My parents both live in or near Puerto Vallarta and neither has seen any violence in the area (there was one issue about a year and a half ago in one village about 45 minutes away--less violent crime than we see in a typical American city by far). My mother lives alone and feels totally safe in doing so. They have plenty of Mexican friends who are fully retired and own homes in the US or Canada or Germany but who still choose to winter in Mexico. The only reason i can imagine to avoid returning would be if a citizen either lived in one of the dangerous areas, or was involved in the drug cartels and therefore a target.