Hubby worried about safety in Cozumel

[grammie12]

My DH and I were talking about our upcoming cruise on the Fantasy (Western 9/5) and he said he's not sure he wants us to get off the ship in Cozumel. He's afraid that on our way to and from Playa Mia (on a DCL excursion) our bus could get stopped and we could all be kidnapped or something.

He's not usually fearful, so this just came out of the blue! I know there are many parts of Mexico one shouldn't travel in, but has anyone heard/seen any bad reports about Cozumel?

I told him I would ask on the DIS board bc you all are a wealth of information. He's seriously wanting to cancel our beach day, and I really want to talk him out of it!!

TIA!!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I have been there many times always felt safe you are there in the day not night with thousands of cruisers. I would say the risk is actually " less" than most major USA cities.

 

[crafty91]

Of any where in Mexico that I would be fearful of it would not be Cozumel. We have done many excursions there including driving our own jeep WAY out of town and have always felt safe. For reference, if DCL didn't feel it was safe they would not stop there as a port. We were on at DCL cruise out of LA a few years ago and we didn't stop at Mazatlan for safety concerns. Just be wary as you would in any city and you should be fine.

 

[DVC-Don]

On one recent Disney cruiser one of our table mates was a recently retired FBI agent whose last station was southern California. He told us he would never get off a cruise in Mexico.

We are dong a western cruise this December and have decided Cozumel is going to be a relax on the ship day.

 

[bcwife76]

Remember that Cozumel is also an island, not attached to the rest of the country of Mexico. Acacpulco and Mazatlan - no thank you! Cancun, Playa, Riviera Maya, Cozumel? Travelled several times, always felt safe. It's beautiful there!!

 

[DisMom829]

We've been there several times. Last trip, we rented a jeep and drove around the island with our children. It was so much fun and we never felt in danger.

 

[TheLanes]

If you have to ask the question, you should probably stay on the ship and remain "safe". Those who do get off will appreciate a few less people crowding the island

 

[jdb in AZ]

Los Angeles isn't the safest area either, but that doesn't keep us from going to Disneyland.

If you're part of a ship-sponsored excursion in Cozumel and stay alert to your surroundings, you should be fine.

 

[gotomu212]

Also keep in perspective that while the drug crime in Mexico is horrible and violent their crimes don't consist of stopping tourist buses. Their crimes are contained to groups of rival cartels and people (families/friends) connected to those individuals. Innocents are usually only hurt due to wrong place wrong time stray bullets....and none of that is happening in Cozumel.

They are despicable but it's a very organized and methodical in their crimes. The LAST thing these horrible gangs leaders want is US intervention caused by a bus load of Disney tourists getting hurt. If you are ex-military there is more concern but that would be if you were off on your own for a more extended peroxide of time.

Hope that gives you some rationale into likely risks.

 

[squirk]

Not that I know anything about anything, but it seems like a lot of the incidents involving violence or kidnapping occur on the western side of Mexico or a border city. Perhaps checking the U.S. State Department web site and finding (what I presume to be) an absence of travel advisories for Cozumel will help him feel better.

That having been said, I would agree that if the concern is still there, stay on the ship. How good of a time will you have if you're constantly on edge and looking over your shoulder?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

their crimes don't consist of stopping tourist buses

While the actual perpetrators of this crime are not mentioned, I think it's likely it may have had some drug connection:
http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/26/world/mexico-cruise-robbery/index.html

Or a more recent one:
http://www.laht.com/article.asp?CategoryId=14091&ArticleId=336889

Just saying, crime happens everywhere.

 

[moremouse]

We have been to Cozumel a dozen times since 2003 and we've never encountered any sketchy areas. We usually don't even participate in excursions. We just explore on our own.

I hope your husband gives it a chance. It's really beautiful.

 

[MUN]

My DH and I were talking about our upcoming cruise on the Fantasy (Western 9/5) and he said he's not sure he wants us to get off the ship in Cozumel. He's afraid that on our way to and from Playa Mia (on a DCL excursion) our bus could get stopped and we could all be kidnapped or something.

He's not usually fearful, so this just came out of the blue! I know there are many parts of Mexico one shouldn't travel in, but has anyone heard/seen any bad reports about Cozumel?

I told him I would ask on the DIS board bc you all are a wealth of information. He's seriously wanting to cancel our beach day, and I really want to talk him out of it!!

TIA!!

I wouldn't worry about it. Cozumel is very safe. In fact when I googled "violence in Cozumel" the most recent story I found was 2.5 years old! Tell him that the chances of him being brutally murdered while in Cozumel are very slim.

Enjoy your cruise!

http://www.mexicogulfreporter.com/2013/01/terror-in-cozumel-as-narco-hit-team.html

 

[ImDMous]

Cozumel is pretty rural. Aside from the port area there are very few populated areas, even the beach resorts are isolated. It's not exactly a bustling hub where criminals can get lost in the crowd. It's a very small island. On the PC cruise last year, we stopped in Cozumel, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas and I would go back to any of them. Just beautiful.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Los Angeles isn't the safest area either, but that doesn't keep us from going to Disneyland.

If you're part of a ship-sponsored excursion in Cozumel and stay alert to your surroundings, you should be fine.

I feel less safe traveling to LA than to Cozumel.

 

[SixtoMouse]

Our family went to Nachi Cocom this past March. We went on our own we took a taxi van from port and taxi van brought us back. I felt very safe.
It was really nice. The odds of something happening to you are very slim. I think its more dangerous to walk the streets of Chicago than getting off in Cozumel.

 

[jlemieu1]

Like OP. I've been there a dozen times to. On cruise and off cruise, I have yet to run into an issue. Off cruise the ferry ride to the mainland can get a little rough but I would not recommend for a cruiser.

 

[Mickey4me!]

We've been there several times as well and never felt uncomfortable. There's shopping and restaurants close to the ship so you don't have to venture too far if you're not comfortable.

 

[perditax]

Yes, dangerous, definitely stay on the ship.




More guacamole for me.

 

[AndreAggie]

I booked Playa Mia on our last cruise for my son and me through the cruiseline. My husband and his parents booked independently because it was cheaper. So my 3 year old son and I took the charter bus to Playa Mia and met the rest of the family at Playa Mia. Never had any problems and felt safe the whole way.