Looking at a Mexican Riviera cruise for next year, but I'm reading a lot about the drug cartels taking over towns, killing each other, police on strike, and military troops taking over towns. What the H? Should I even be considering what looks more and more like Nicuaragua, El Salvador, Columbia, etc?

Welcome to cruise chat, psychocruiser!

Ah, the Mexican Riviera; good question about the safety of the region. I'm booked for 3/16/08 and have some similar concerns. Certainly, if you take any excursions, be sure the company is reputable, and I'd be cautious about taking anything more than a mile or 2 inland. As the date of our cruise gets closer, I'll be looking very closely at the political tenor of the region; check the state department's travel advisories, as well.

The good news is that it does not appear the ports are in the middle of the war zone or in the middle of the "hot" smuggling (drugs and humans) transportation routes into this country. They are on routes into the country, but not yet "hot" routes...

Hi psycho, welcome to cruise-chat. The safety of the passengers is one of the biggest concerns of the cruise industry. One of our cruises was scheduled to stop in the Dominican Republic years ago, they cancelled the port due to a coup. Goin' cruising has some great advice and I strongly suggest sticking with an excursion. On all ships they have advice on the ports you are visiting, most of it is shopping, but they do offer safety tips as well. They even play the video on the ship's station on the tv in your cabin. I really think you'll be fine. Best wishes and have a wonderful cruise!

Yo-

We have done the Mexican Riviera five times since 1986-

One thing that always impresses me - is the very obvious presence of military around the ships and in the towns-

99.9% of what you see in the news is on the borders - and the ports are nowhere near the borders-eh!

Mike

Drug gangs aren't stupid. They know that a great way to get real pressure brought to bear is to start messing with the tourist areas.

With all due respect, Dave, I think those might be rose colored glasses out of which you're viewing. The cartels don't give a rip about the tourist economy and will do whatever it takes to further their purposes. The police in Mexico are underpaid and underarmed, and in many locations, bought by the cartels. The police are worthless which is why the adminsitration sent in the army late last year to fight the cartels (all the while, iring civil rights groups in Mexico!). The Mexican military has its hands full as the cartels are armed as well if not better than the military!

There is also a human smuggling train well entrenched that begins in El Salvador that makes its way up through Mexico and in some locations, along the coast. This train is "managed" by the cartel.

So, again, no offense, but the cruise lines (translation: tourist) will have no impact on the cartels any time soon. At the same time, knowing what I know, I'm still going to the Mexican Riviera next year.

<ahem> So if a bunch of drug war killings started happening in Cozumel you think the Mexican government (and the U.S.) would simply stand by and do nothing?

My glasses may be rose-colored but I think yours need some adjusting too.

Didn't say that, Dave. In fact, quite the opposite. The Mexican military is already involved in other locations. In other words, despite intervention, Mexico, in certain locations is already far more dangerous than any gang zone in the US. All I'm saying is the cartels are not going to be deterred, which, could very well make our favorite places to go, too dangerous to visit. It's not the case now, but it's not out of the realm of the possibility.

And, I'll give it to you that perhaps my vocation for the past 24 years has skewed my vision to some degree. I may be hypersentitive to what I see happening; but, when in Mexico, if I'm to err, it will be done so on the side of caution.

By the way, psycho, just wanted to reiterate; go to the Mexican Riviera, just stay close to the beaten path.

Most of the money that is being produced by this trade has to be cleaned so it is invested in a lot of cases in the local tourist industry, so for drug related gangs disturbing this is counter productive, freedom fighters target tourism to put on economic pressure E T A in spain, various factions in egypt, although you should take care and good advice the only thing that worries me in South american countries would be kidnapping, it was a problem in Sardinia many years ago, a number of tourist were taken, we spent 6 months working for various client in costa smerelda, fredo the hill sheperds of nuoro, the cheese with maggots, maybe I should come out of retirement, or maybe not, just take care, be safe

Thanks, all, I think.

Psycho, I think what we're trying to say is enjoy your cruise, stay with groups, and rest assured that the cruise line will do everything in its power to make sure they don't dock somewhere unsafe. Best wishes!

Psycho, We did the Mex. Riv. in February. No problems whatsoever. Stay with organized tours or excursions offered through the ship as Penny stated. We were in Cabo and Mazatlan. Trouble can follow you anywhere. Even in the good ole' U.S. of A.
A'ndrea

Psycho, I agree with the above that staying with a cruise line excursion should allay any fears. We made a Mexican Riviera cruise in 2005, stopping in Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta, and it was among our best cruises. Enjoy!

want to get a cheap thrill? Just go up to the mexican army guys standing by the checkpoint to the pier..you know the ones with the machine guns and the bored looks on thier faces. with a completely serious face ask them to repeat the phrase "we don't need no stinkin' badges" they love it trust me. It's a great way to spend time before you jump back on your big safe ship...you can tell the federal guys from the local cops because they carry machine guns. they are usually posted outside the stores that sell rolex or other high dollar trinkets.

On a more serious note I think the chances of getting in the crossfire of a drug war while on vacation there are no more than if you walked around outside LAX or JFK or any airport in a big us city.
I did read a story about a busload of tourist, in costa rica i think, that fought off a gang of bandits that were trying to rob them...some ex-military senior citizen got shot, kicked some ass and ran them off. the tour bus took him to the hospital and he was all right. the local cops busted the bandits. That and the african pirates that attcked that one cruiseliner, another band of morons. those are the only attacks I have heard of lately but i guess they really downplay any that do happen.

Psycho, how's that cruise to the Mex. Riv. coming along?

A'ndrea

Thanks for asking, Andrealovescruising. I've taken in what y'all have to say about the safety of the trip and I think we're probably going to go. I'll do a little more research on the specific regions where the ship goes and I'll contact the state department to see if there are any travel advisories for the region.

Hopefully I won't go "psycho" during the planning process.

Psycho,
Sounds like you have it all under control.
And, please don't go "psycho" when planning your trip. That wouldn't be good. Stay calm, cool and collected and your plans will come together nicely.

A'ndrea

So, psycho, if you do decide to go, and you choose the 3/16 date on Vision of the Seas, look me up. I'll be the one at embarkation from whom wine is being confiscated.

Psycho,

You have indeed livened up the forum and are intuitive, wise and often times hilarious but remain somewhat of a mystery man/woman. What part of the world do you come from?