Cozumel. Ferry travel dangerous?

We received a message on our door this morning saying the us government put a ferry travel warning for Cozumel. That was unexpected. Further the ship cancelled all ferry excursions. Not sure what is going on as no ship people are talking. Is other excursions safe? This is very disturbing

 

 

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As a post mentioned below, I also read on a cruise blog but do not know if it is fact, that the warning and the cancellations are due to one excursion boat exploding. It was determined there was an exploding device on it and that another device was found on another boat.

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We are booked on a RCCL excursion to Playa Mia, end of April. Excursion states we are taking a boat ride to and from the location. Does anyone know if this involves the ferries, or a private boat company? We haven't recieved any change info from RC yet on it as maybe they are hoping it will be resolved by then or they will switch us to a bus if possible?

The U.S. State Department announcement is below.

For anyone with a port stop in Cozumel, please note that all cruise lines have ceased all tours on the mainland of Mexico from the island because all the ferries that sail to the mainland are either stopped or off-limits to tourists. Playa del Carmen is the mainland city where the ferries come from and go to Cozumel. This is based on a recent drug cartel bombing of a ferry and another ferry bomb detected prior to detonation.

Several cruise lines are considering replacing Cozumel with another port...BUT THOSE DECISIONS HAVE NOT YET BEEN MADE as to IF OR WHEN that might happen. If you have a tour scheduled in that region (other than COZUMEL island itself), you may want to check with the cruise line to see if they have any more current information as to their plans for the Cozumel port stop and tours.

 

 

Security Alert - U. S. Embassy Mexico City, Mexico (March 7, 2018)

 

Location: Playa del Carmen, Mexico

 

Event: On March 7, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City received information about a security threat in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Effective immediately, U.S. Government employees are prohibited from traveling to Playa del Carmen until further notice. The U.S. Consular Agency in Playa del Carmen will be closed until further notice.

 

Actions to Take:

· Be aware of your surroundings and exercise caution.

· Purchase travel insurance that specifically covers you in Mexico and includes medical evacuation insurance.

· Contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate if you need assistance.

 

Assistance:

U.S. Embassy Mexico City, Mexico

(011-52-55) 5080-2000

ACSMexicoCity@state.gov

https://mx.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/

 

State Department - Consular Affairs

888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444

Thanks for sharing this additional information.

Keith

I just checked the Royal Caribbean website to see whether any official statement has been posted. I was surprised that I didn't see anything at all.

Thanks for sharing the additional info.

Sailing 3/17...stopping in Cozumel. I haven’t seen the excursions with the ferry involved removed from the cruise planner...yet. I’ve been watching.

Thanks for sharing the additional info.

With all the great information here that I've enjoyed over the years...it's nice to Pay It Forward from time to time...even when it's not all good news.

I wonder how all this will affect cruises out of Galveston since most go to those locations?

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Good Morning America reported this morning that the state dept ordered its employees to stay away from this area. I read in a local news report that it is now considered Narco-Terrorism. They said it is more than ferry travel that is unsafe. They recommend avoiding the area altogether.

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I'm wondering how this will affect our December cruise since that is one of our port stops. But I think it is better to be safe than sorry.

I wonder how all this will affect cruises out of Galveston since most go to those locations?

Good Morning America reported this morning that the state dept ordered its employees to stay away from this area. I read in a local news report that it is now considered Narco-Terrorism. They said it is more than ferry travel that is unsafe. They recommend avoiding the area altogether.

I'm wondering how this will affect our December cruise since that is one of our port stops. But I think it is better to be safe than sorry.

Since the decision to restrict travel in the named area is very new, it will likely be a while before anyone knows how the cruise lines will react for cruises later this year.

For cruises in the near term...there are probably meetings going on to determine their "plans". They might decide to change the port destination of Cozumel to another port or else limit excursions in that location. Hard to say at this moment.

Another (updated) U.S. State Dept.alert yesterday - limited areas in Playa del Carmen are considered OK to move about...but overall...the situation for tourism is still restricted. Ferry travel to and from Cozumel is also still prohibited for U.S. government employees based on the local terrorist risks.

Cruising passengers can assume (and should get some form of notification) that any Cozumel port excursions to the mainland via ferry are likely to be cancelled for the foreseeable future.

When I was at Nachi Cocom the beginning of March, the Mexican Navy was there practicing. They would come out of the bushes at the end of the beach (but still on Nachi property) with machine guns pointed at sunbathers (not sure if loaded) and wld make their way into small portable boats go out to sea a little and back to Nachi and repeat. If it wasnt for people already there and witnessing it and talking about it I would have had a heart attack. Nachi didnt inform us and it was quite a site.

This was the first time in over 10 years I had witnessed this in Cozumel at Nachi.

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When I was at Nachi Cocom the beginning of March, the Mexican Navy was there practicing. They would come out of the bushes at the end of the beach (but still on Nachi property) with machine guns pointed at sunbathers (not sure if loaded) and wld make their way into small portable boats go out to sea a little and back to Nachi and repeat. If it wasnt for people already there and witnessing it and talking about it I would have had a heart attack. Nachi didnt inform us and it was quite a site.

 

This was the first time in over 10 years I had witnessed this in Cozumel at Nachi.

 

 

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So, over the course of approximately 60 hours spread out over 10 years...this happened only Once? What are the odds?

The western side of Mexico has been plagued by problems with the cartel for some time now. I really hate to see it spreading to the east coast. We love Cozumel and want it to remain safe. But if it becomes like Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco etc. then that will truly be shame and won't be worth ANY risk to my family...:(

We are booked on a RCCL excursion to Playa Mia, end of April. Excursion states we are taking a boat ride to and from the location. Does anyone know if this involves the ferries, or a private boat company? We haven't recieved any change info from RC yet on it as maybe they are hoping it will be resolved by then or they will switch us to a bus if possible?

Playa Mia is a beach 'resort' and it is about 10 minutes drive along the coast road from the pier. Not sure how there is a boat involved in getting there......it's just a strip of beach with food facilities, a pool etc.....?

Playa Mia is a beach 'resort' and it is about 10 minutes drive along the coast road from the pier. Not sure how there is a boat involved in getting there......it's just a strip of beach with food facilities, a pool etc.....?

It has a dock. Seems plausible that an excursion there could involve a boat ride from the ship.

Wonder how land based resorts near Playa Del Carmen like Avenutura Spa Palace are doing. We had a great incentive trip there about 10 years ago.

So, over the course of approximately 60 hours spread out over 10 years...this happened only Once? What are the odds?

Not sure? Just saying what happened my last trip.

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It has a dock. Seems plausible that an excursion there could involve a boat ride from the ship.

No, RC puts you on a bus to Playa Mia.

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No, RC puts you on a bus to Playa Mia.

 

 

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what? get real

what? get real

I'm pretty sure it was meant as sarcasm. ;p

When I was at Nachi Cocom the beginning of March, the Mexican Navy was there practicing. They would come out of the bushes at the end of the beach (but still on Nachi property) with machine guns pointed at sunbathers (not sure if loaded) and wld make their way into small portable boats go out to sea a little and back to Nachi and repeat. If it wasnt for people already there and witnessing it and talking about it I would have had a heart attack. Nachi didnt inform us and it was quite a site.

 

This was the first time in over 10 years I had witnessed this in Cozumel at Nachi.

 

 

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Really nothing new. Mexican police have carried M-16's in tourist areas, in every part of the country for many years. Then just look at USA. I was taking a van from my hotel in Fort Lauder dale in December, was also a family from Norway onboard and they were concerned with just the regular armed security at the port. Normal for us, nothing they are use to. Even the coast guard boats escorting the ships out have M-60 Machine gun on them ready for anything that could happen...

They would be welcome in California.

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