Help...Mexican Riveria question

[macfam5]

I am deciding on whether or not to cancel our Mexican Riveria cruise on the Wonder..Due to all the crime happening in Mexico, I really would appreciate any feedback on cruisers that have done this specific cruise lately..Did you feel safe taking your kids off the ship in ports?

 

[chrisrunty]

I am deciding on whether or not to cancel our Mexican Riveria cruise on the Wonder..Due to all the crime happening in Mexico, I really would appreciate any feedback on cruisers that have done this specific cruise lately..Did you feel safe taking your kids off the ship in ports?

We sailed in April, and only did DCL excursions. We felt very safe our family of three.(with a small child) We had so much fun we are going again this month.

 

[over50visits]

We were there in January. Cabo felt absolutely safe, clean, fun, and easy to walk around the port area. It is built for cruise ships/tourists, and I think the city should be proud of that area. Definitely tender in and enjoy shopping, eating, strolling, sitting and enjoying the view etc.

As for the other stops, not quite as nice port areas, but as with the previous poster we did DCL excursions and didn't experience a single thing that worried us.

For exploring town on your own, as always when visiting anywhere new in the US or abroad, just be aware and smart, and things seem to work out fine. Ask the CMs what they think (in PV they left the ship in droves to shop at the WalMart across from the dock!). If it doesn't feel right, for whatever reason, turn around and walk back. No need to worry on vacation!

 

[DesignerDestinations]

I travel to Mexico a couple times per year. I have never felt unsafe at all. I just got back from a week stay in Cabo, took taxis, toured the city and felt 100% safe. I think if you use your head, don't walk streets late at night while drinking, dont go down dark back ally's just as you wouldn't do in your own home towns, you will be fine.
A person should always be cautious no matter what city you travel to. Probably the most dangerous city on the whole Mexican Riviera Cruise is Los Angeles.

 

[Jackson's grammie]

we will be going on Dec 11. In PV we will stay very close to the dock area if we get off at all. In Cabo we will take a land taxi to Mandano Beach so that Jack can play in the sand on day one and then on day two shop just around the dock area. We will only use cash not credit cards and are planning on using small denomination bills. If we get off the ship and feel unsafe we will get back on. We have friends who just came back from Cabo they felt safe and these are not particularly risk taking people.

 

[Disney Dreams]

It is a question that I am very surprised has not been discussed a lot more here on DIS.

FWIW ... DH and I have cruised on the Wonder a few times so far and we LOVE Her. We returned from Alaska in late May and have been scheming and plotting some way to afford to go back to Her.

We booked our upcoming cruise (we leave on Sunday ... AHHH!) relatively last-minute with really no interest in Mexico, coupled by concern over the safety due to recent events. Let's face it, there is a reason Mazatlan has been removed and some other cruise lines have pulled out of Mexico completely.

So, we made pact with each other that we do not go into PV. At all. Not even on a DCL excursion. We MIGHT get off the ship just to be on solid ground for a half hour, but we will not be going through the cruise terminal or to the other side of whatever security checkpoint is in PV, essentially we will just go to the end of the gangway.

Cabo has not been in the news at all with any issues so we have booked a DCL excursion there, but still one that is at sea and not in Cabo much longer than just getting to and from their boat. We have one other quick outing planned in Cabo, but to. A very touristy place and that's it. I would love to do more in Cabo since it is supposed to be such a wonderful place, but we just do not feel that we are 100% comfortable .... So, nope.

We are looking at this cruise as more of a week at our favorite floating resort than a cruise to Mexico.

Of course, when it comes to personal safety, everyone has their own comfort levels and must make their own decisions, but there is nothing in PV that we feel is important enough to us to risk anything, given that there have been issues there (unlike Cabo) which has not been in the news at all.

... Probably the most dangerous city on the whole Mexican Riviera Cruise is Los Angeles.

Hmmm... Given the drug cartel issues in recent history (the last year or so) in Mexico, I have to strongly disagree with this statement. Very strongly.

But everyone has their own point of view.

HTH,
Dreams

ETA: Many people (100,000s) will visit various parts of Mexico this year and return saying they "felt safe," but those who were attacked at gun point, will not. They are the minority, but to us, it's just not worth the risk. Many people feel trip insurance is not needed and they are "fine without it," until they miss their flight and their ship and are wondering what happened. To US, there is nothing in PV that is THAT important for us to see/do.

 

[Mcky36]

This topic was discussed here alot at the beginning of the year when the Wonder first started going to the MR. If you do a search, I'm sure you will find a bunch of threads about this.

I can add, that we went to the MR in February with DCL. I too, was concerned prior to our trip, but we had so much fun we rebooked onboard and we're going back next February. We had no issues or concerns about safety in either Cabo or PV. We had two small children with us and felt safe the entire time.

I will say that I read these boards nearly every day and I honestly haven't come across a single post since the beginning of the year by anyone who actually had safety concerns in Cabo or PV once they were actually there. It seems like most people who have concerns pre-trip come back and say it was mostly a bunch of hype! Nearly everyone who has pre-trip concerns returns with comments about how smoothly the excursions went and how surprised they were with how safe they felt when they were there.

 

[lmhall2000]

Now I need to state that I was in your same thinking this time last year...

We took our own three children, 2 nieces and a friend of my son's...5 teenagers and one 12 year old...

We had a BLAST!!! Felt completely safe and honestly am happy they cancelled Mazatlan....Acapulco is having a horrific time of it...I would not want to go there. We just negotiated low rates for the water taxis to the beach in Cabo and had a great time...For Puerto Vallarta, I am not sure if I would take a long trip from there..but we felt perfectly safe taking a taxi right outside of the port (where men stand guarding with machine guns) for the five minute ride to our whale watching excursion. We had a private boat to ourselves and a marine biologist/oceanographer with us who gave us such amazing information and amazing pictures!!

And why it was worth it:

So, yes, we'd go again!

 

[yukongirl123]

We did the MR cruise in March this year and again in September. In PV did the city tour in March and the Pirate ship excursion in Sept, both with DCL.

In Cabo, we got a water taxi, did a little tour to the arch, went to the beach and wandered around town on our own-felt very safe in both places. We also did the Vancouver to LA Repo cruise that had a stop in Ensenada and I have to say if I went on another cruise that stopped there, I would stay on the ship

 

[LKFan]

It is a question that I am very surprised has not been discussed a lot more here on DIS.

It has been discussed quite a bit on this board. Remember, the Wonder was only in cruised the MR Jan - Mar this year. It just returned last week for the first cruise this season.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2568311&highlight=mr+safety

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2590585&highlight=mr+safety

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2543143&highlight=mr+safety

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2530834&highlight=mexico+safety

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2529745&highlight=mexico+safety


This website has a lot of info on crime in Mazatlan. Locals thing they over sensationalize things but you can make up your own mind. http://mazmessenger.com/

 

[Ladyshopper]

Been discussed lots.

Disney are not going to take you anywhere thats considered unsafe, hence why Matzatlan was removed from the itinery.

I'm a single Mum, did our own thing in Puerto Vallarta and Cabo, and didn't feel unsafe at all. Cabo in particular is stunning, and it would be a real shame not to get off the ship.

 

[SanDeeKath]

Ditto here. Have been to the MR 5 times in the last 1 1/2 years (Princess, RCCL too). I would definitely not take my children anywhere I would think they would be in danger. We are heading back in December on the Wonder. No worries! It's perfectly fine as long as you don't do something dumb -- like wander off into back alleys late at night waving a wad of cash and jewelry.

Katherine

 

[Disney Dreams]

It has been discussed quite a bit on this board. Remember, the Wonder was only in cruised the MR Jan - Mar this year. It just returned last week for the first cruise this season.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2568311&highlight=mr+safety

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2590585&highlight=mr+safety

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2543143&highlight=mr+safety

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2530834&highlight=mexico+safety

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2529745&highlight=mexico+safety


This website has a lot of info on crime in Mazatlan. Locals thing they over sensationalize things but you can make up your own mind. http://mazmessenger.com/

It has not been discussed RECENTLY here. Every one of those posts is from 2010.

- Dreams

 

[LKFan]

It has not been discussed RECENTLY here. Every one of those posts is from 2010.

Yeah, sorry if I didn't make myself clear. There was a lot of discussion before the Jan - March cruises. The discussion died down after people returned and trip reports were positive. Then DCL left LA and headed north to Vancouver and the focus was on Alaska. The ship only returned to LA two weeks ago.

 

[DesignerDestinations]

To Disney Dreams,
If I felt as anxious and worried as you stated, I would really question as to why even take the cruise? I truly go to CABO many times a year, I am a Travel Agent and would never recommend it if I felt like you do. It is much more hype. Yes, Mexico in certain areas are dangerous, as many places in the U.S. are the same. There are many places in LA that I would not visit late at night. San Pedro being one! So it really is quite interesting to me. I am glad they took Matzalan off their itinerary. I feel it has gotten bad, but CABO and PV, I feel are safe.
And yes I am sure if you asked the tourist which were held at gunpoint would state different. But these travelers are on back desolate roads. Just like visiting Compton in LA at night. So for those sailing..Enjoy and as I tell all my clients, JUST USE COMMON SENSE IN EVERY PLACE YOU TRAVEL TO. TOURIST ARE VULNERABLE IN EVERY COUNTRY. EVEN OUR OWN.

 

[ddd100]

Thanks Imhall2000 for your photos. The Whale shot is Amazing and I so hope that we get to see some Whales on our MR Cruise.

We are really looking forward to the excursions in Mexico. We have only booked DCL excursions, so we don't feel unsafe about what we have chosen.

In fact on our last two trips to LA in Hollywood ( we are from Australia ) we have been scared from strange drug looking people, approaching us in the street and asking us for money and then following us and not going away and being bothersome. That hasn't stopped us going to America, we love it there.

We can't wait for our cruise!

 

[Disney Dreams]

To Disney Dreams,
If I felt as anxious and worried as you stated, I would really question as to why even take the cruise? I truly go to CABO many times a year, I am a Travel Agent and would never recommend it if I felt like you do. It is much more hype. Yes, Mexico in certain areas are dangerous, as many places in the U.S. are the same. There are many places in LA that I would not visit late at night. San Pedro being one! So it really is quite interesting to me. I am glad they took Matzalan off their itinerary. I feel it has gotten bad, but CABO and PV, I feel are safe.
And yes I am sure if you asked the tourist which were held at gunpoint would state different. But these travelers are on back desolate roads. Just like visiting Compton in LA at night. So for those sailing..Enjoy and as I tell all my clients, JUST USE COMMON SENSE IN EVERY PLACE YOU TRAVEL TO. TOURIST ARE VULNERABLE IN EVERY COUNTRY. EVEN OUR OWN.

To DesignerDestinations,
I never said I felt anxious or worried, so please don't say that I stated such. Thank you. As for your question, "Why take the cruise?" I believe I answered that. We LOVE the Disney Wonder, the experience on the ship, and want to return for more wonderful times onboard.

As for your comments about Cabo, I'm not really sure why you mentioned it in direct comments to me since it's the one port that we agree upon since I stated we were going on ashore while there. As for PV, I am very happy that you feel it's safe and hope you can visit it soon. My DH and I do not feel it is safe and have chosen not to visit it, which is our choice as two mature, informed adults. Your comment about visit San Pedro at night is not relevant because we are not talking about all of Mexico or all of America. We are discussing two very specific ports: PV and Cabo. (For the record, I would not go to San Pedro at night, either. It is simply not wise. People do it. Every day, but we chose not to, just like we are choosing not to go into PV.)

I also think it is extremely important to present the facts correctly. The incidents that influenced my and my DH's decisions were not one that took place, as you stated, "on back desolate roads," but rather others that were in broad daylight in popular areas.

You state that you find it very interesting. I am not sure what that is in relation to, but I don't think there is anything that interesting about wanting to return to a ship that has brought us much joy and excitement time and again. To us, it is a floating vacation resort that we absolutely love. Many people stay onboard ships while in Nassau. We are choosing to do so in PV. Not really sure why that seems odd at all. We are extremely excited about our vacation and the decisions we have made about it, as I am sure you would wish upon any of your clients.

- Dreams

 

[IceSk8ersMom]

To DesignerDestinations,
I never said I felt anxious or worried, so please don't say that I stated such. Thank you. As for your question, "Why take the cruise?" I believe I answered that. We LOVE the Disney Wonder, the experience on the ship, and want to return for more wonderful times onboard.

As for your comments about Cabo, I'm not really sure why you mentioned it in direct comments to me since it's the one port that we agree upon since I stated we were going on ashore while there. As for PV, I am very happy that you feel it's safe and hope you can visit it soon. My DH and I do not feel it is safe and have chosen not to visit it, which is our choice as two mature, informed adults. Your comment about visit San Pedro at night is not relevant because we are not talking about all of Mexico or all of America. We are discussing two very specific ports: PV and Cabo. (For the record, I would not go to San Pedro at night, either. It is simply not wise. People do it. Every day, but we chose not to, just like we are choosing not to go into PV.)

I also think it is extremely important to present the facts correctly. The incidents that influenced my and my DH's decisions were not one that took place, as you stated, "on back desolate roads," but rather others that were in broad daylight in popular areas.

You state that you find it very interesting. I am not sure what that is in relation to, but I don't think there is anything that interesting about wanting to return to a ship that has brought us much joy and excitement time and again. To us, it is a floating vacation resort that we absolutely love. Many people stay onboard ships while in Nassau. We are choosing to do so in PV. Not really sure why that seems odd at all. We are extremely excited about our vacation and the decisions we have made about it, as I am sure you would wish upon any of your clients.

- Dreams

Have a wonderful cruise!

 

[Christy323]

FWIW, we did both PV and Cabo on our own and felt perfectly safe in both ports. Cabo I would have no worries about. As far as PV, if you're really that worried, then just stay on the ship. I had a good time shopping in the mercado but honestly if I hadn't gotten off of the ship I don't feel like I would have missed out on much. I've said this before, but if I did the MR cruise again I'd schedule an excursion for PV and then explore Cabo on my own.

I should temper this with the fact that I currently live in a big city that has both its share of tourists and its share of crime. As such, I am completely familiar with staying smart in an urban environment: no back alleys, no wandering off the beaten path, no handling cash where anyone can see it in public. I also made it a point not to wear anything particularly expensive-looking.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Have a wonderful cruise!

Thanks! I see you have two lined up in the future! Yay for you!

- Dreams