New travel advisory NOT for Cozumel

Before people start to panic this was issued for Playa NOT Cozumel. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/playa-del-carmen-mexico-us-travel-warning/#ampshare=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/playa-del-carmen-mexico-us-travel-warning/

This article was written by a Cruise Critic editor.

(Updated March 4 at 12:34 p.m. EST) -- Several cruise lines have canceled shore excursions in Cozumel, Mexico, that require the use of a ferry.

The cancellations -- so far made by Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises -- come in the wake of a security alert issued by the U.S. Embassy on March 1, due to the seizing of undetonated explosive devices on a ferry between Cozumel and Playa del Carmen.

"On March 1, undetonated explosive devices were found by Mexican law enforcement on a tourist ferry that operates between Cozumel-Playa del Carmen, Mexico," the alert on the U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Mexico's website states. "On February 21, an explosive device detonated on a tourist ferry in Playa del Carmen resulting in injuries, including to U.S. citizens. U.S. Government employees are prohibited from using all tourist ferries on this route until further notice. Mexican and U.S. law enforcement continue to investigate."

Passengers on Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas received a letter on Friday that said it was canceling all shore excursions that required ferries, Cruise Critic member applehazar posted to Cruise Critic's Royal Caribbean forums this morning.

The line also discouraged passengers from booking independent excursions that would require a ferry.

The letter, issued by the ship's captain, said: "We feel it is important to make you aware that the U.S. State Department today published a safety warning discouraging travel on tourist ferries in Cozumel.

"The. U.S. Department of State remains confident of the Mexican government's efforts to ensure the safety of all tourists in the country. However, in an abundance of caution we are canceling sponsored shore excursions that involve tourist ferries."

Other Cozumel shore excursions operated as scheduled. Those whose tours were canceled received a full refund in the form of onboard credit.

Similarly, Carnival -- which has multiple ships scheduled to call at Cozumel throughout the March -- canceled all ship-sponsored tours that required ferries between the port and Playa del Carmen.

In a statement, the line said: "The U.S. State Department has issued a travel ban for all government personnel from travelling on tourist ferries between Playa del Carmen and Cozumel. "As a result, we have cancelled all ship-sponsored tours that make use of ferries between Cozumel and Playa del Carmen and we are strongly advising our guests that ferries from Cozumel to the mainland be avoided." Compensation details have yet to be disclosed.

Princess Cruises also canceled all Cozumel shore excursions involving ferries. "We would not take our guests and crew to a port -- or operate a shore excursion -- where we had any indication there may be an undue risk to safety and security," the line said in a statement. As a precautionary measure, we have cancelled all tours that make use of ferries and strongly advise that ferries from Cozumel to the mainland be avoided.

"Guests with pre-paid excursions impacted by this change will be issued a refund to their shipboard account. We will continue to monitor the situation closely. As always, we work closely with government officials to ensure our guest's security at all times."

Norwegian, MSC Cruises and Costa have also canceled tours involving ferries and are refunding passengers for their tour tickets.

It is unclear how far in advance shore excursions have been canceled. Several other cruise lines have ships scheduled to call at Cozumel in March. They include Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line, Disney Cruise Line and Silversea Cruises. Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises report that they have no tours affected, but Regent is encouraging passengers on Seven Seas Explorer's March 3 call on Cozumel to avoid independent excursions that involve a ferry trip.

Cruise Critic has contacted all of the lines and will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.

--By Gina Kramer, Editor

https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=8447

These ferries run BETWEEN Playa and Cozumel. It's like taking a ferry from New Jersey into New York City. If you're making the trip, you're going to be in both locations.

These ferries run BETWEEN Playa and Cozumel. It's like taking a ferry from New Jersey into New York City. If you're making the trip, you're going to be in both locations.

But you aren't required to take a ferry anywhere! Cruise Ships PORT in COZUMEL. You stay on the island in Cozumel and you have no problem.

.

Really belongs on the Playa board.

The advisory applies to the city of Playa del Carmen, not to the ferries. The US Consulate has temporarily closed in the town.

Really belongs on the Playa board.

 

The advisory applies to the city of Playa del Carmen, not to the ferries. The US Consulate has temporarily closed in the town.

A lot of people consider them one in the same they go to Cozumel they go to Playa

Our cruise isn't until Nov, but we were hoping to do the ferry over to playa and do the cenotes excursion.

Will have to wait and see. Plenty of cruise pax take this ferry, so this is germane to the Cozumel board.

Don

Thanks for the information.

Keith

Really belongs on the Playa board.

 

The advisory applies to the city of Playa del Carmen, not to the ferries. The US Consulate has temporarily closed in the town.

not really, several excursions go to Playa from Coz, it certainly pertains to Coz as well.

I signed up with the State Department to let them know we'd be traveling on our cruise in a few weeks. You tell them everywhere you're going, and they alert you if there's anything you need to be aware of. I just got an email about BOTH of the situations covered in this thread - the Playa del Carmen neighborhoods in question, and the separate issue of the ferries. This is copy-pasted from that email from the US Embassy in Mexico City. It says in relevant part:

Actions to Take:

· U.S. citizens should avoid those neighborhoods in Playa del Carmen listed above until further notice.

· U.S. citizens should not use ferry services operating between Playa del Carmen and Cozumel.

· Be aware of your surroundings and exercise increased 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.

I would recommend registering to anyone who travels internationally - we do it for cruises and for land-based vacations. It's called the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, and you can sign up here:

https://step.state.gov/

The USA embassy in Mexico changed its initial notice, the facilities will reopen next Monday and the travel restriction is only to some neighborhoods of Playa del Carmen.

Gerel, you are correct about the consulate is still planning to open on Sunday, per an email from the US Embassy in Mexico, but the concerns about ferry travel remain. This is a larger portion of that email from the US Embassy in Mexico:

Absent additional changes in the security situation, the U.S. Consular Agency in Playa del Carmen will reopen for normal operations on Monday, March 12.

The circumstances surrounding the security threat affecting the above neighborhoods is separate from the threat against ferries operating between Playa del Carmen and Cozumel. U.S. government personnel are still prohibited from using ferry services between Playa del Carmen and Cozumel until further notice. U.S. citizens should not use ferry services operating between Playa del Carmen and Cozumel.

Actions to Take:

· U.S. citizens should avoid those neighborhoods in Playa del Carmen listed above until further notice.

· U.S. citizens should not use ferry services operating between Playa del Carmen and Cozumel.

· Be aware of your surroundings and exercise increased 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.

Latest NEWS......arrests have been made, but.... this is a translation, so wording is a bit odd.

"PLAYA DEL CARMEN, SOLIDARIDAD, March 11th.- It is important to apply the law against the alleged perpetrators of the explosion to the Caribbean ship I now that there are detainees because they not only put the lives of the passengers, crew and personnel of the fiscal dock at risk. Playa del Carmen but to the destination in general, which prompted travel alert to his co-nationals of four countries of the main generators of visitors and whose effects are expected not to feel it in the upcoming Easter and summer holidays, considered the president of the National Chamber of the Transformation Industry (Canacintra), Enrique González Rosas.

After announcing that the alleged perpetrators of the explosive attack on the Caribbean I ship were arrested, it states that they could be hired by relatives of former governor Roberto Borge Angulo, after 18 days of arduous investigations by the Criminal Investigation Agency (AIC) ) of the PGR in coordination with the Armed Forces and the Federal Police, receiving advice from the US agencies of the FBI and ATF, the businessman said that the fund should be reached to punish both the material and intellectual actors.

If confirmed the family members of the former president, today imprisoned in the state of Morelos, would be a scoundrel of a family that Quintana Roo has given him so much, a serious betrayal of Quintana Roo, so if the investigations so determine an exemplary punishment must be applied to those who still think of political revenge and who can never again give such an unfortunate event that put at risk the lives of dozens of people and damage the irreversible image as a tourist destination in the Caribbean.

He acknowledged to the authorities in charge of the investigations that the serious event is being clarified and that it serves as a clear message to the United States that it is not a question of terrorist acts or a criminal attack that took place at the city's fiscal pier on February 21st. the Caribbean I ship and the unexploded ordnance in the Caribbean II anchored in Cozumel, so that it can withdraw the travel alert to its compatriots, as well as to Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom, remaining as an isolated incident.

However, Enrique González Rosas recommended the authorities not to lower their guard because there is still a need to fight crime and improve the enforcement of justice that allows impunity, causing serious damage to Mexicans."

Latest NEWS......arrests have been made, but.... this is a translation, so wording is a bit odd.

 

"PLAYA DEL CARMEN, SOLIDARIDAD, March 11th.- It is important to apply the law against the alleged perpetrators of the explosion to the Caribbean ship I now that there are detainees because they not only put the lives of the passengers, crew and personnel of the fiscal dock at risk. Playa del Carmen but to the destination in general, which prompted travel alert to his co-nationals of four countries of the main generators of visitors and whose effects are expected not to feel it in the upcoming Easter and summer holidays, considered the president of the National Chamber of the Transformation Industry (Canacintra), Enrique González Rosas.

After announcing that the alleged perpetrators of the explosive attack on the Caribbean I ship were arrested, it states that they could be hired by relatives of former governor Roberto Borge Angulo, after 18 days of arduous investigations by the Criminal Investigation Agency (AIC) ) of the PGR in coordination with the Armed Forces and the Federal Police, receiving advice from the US agencies of the FBI and ATF, the businessman said that the fund should be reached to punish both the material and intellectual actors.

If confirmed the family members of the former president, today imprisoned in the state of Morelos, would be a scoundrel of a family that Quintana Roo has given him so much, a serious betrayal of Quintana Roo, so if the investigations so determine an exemplary punishment must be applied to those who still think of political revenge and who can never again give such an unfortunate event that put at risk the lives of dozens of people and damage the irreversible image as a tourist destination in the Caribbean.

He acknowledged to the authorities in charge of the investigations that the serious event is being clarified and that it serves as a clear message to the United States that it is not a question of terrorist acts or a criminal attack that took place at the city's fiscal pier on February 21st. the Caribbean I ship and the unexploded ordnance in the Caribbean II anchored in Cozumel, so that it can withdraw the travel alert to its compatriots, as well as to Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom, remaining as an isolated incident.

However, Enrique González Rosas recommended the authorities not to lower their guard because there is still a need to fight crime and improve the enforcement of justice that allows impunity, causing serious damage to Mexicans."

Source?

it was posted on another board, from Cozumel. The translator program used is horrible. But as I have been saying, you have to take the newspaper reports down there with a grain of salt. Yes, there may have been arrests made, but if they are for sure the people involved we just have to take the police reports word for it. No idea what the US gov't will say regarding and whether the restrictions will be lifted.

This whole thing over the ferry is a war between mafia/gang/corrupt political groups. The ex-governor Borge Angulo was a totally corrupt individual and ran the state for his personal gain not unlike his fellow PRIsta, Javier Duarte in Veracruz (also in jail after being found in central america.) For more of his antics, look up what happened in Tulum where he confiscated hotels. Attacking his ferries is just one way to get even and/or eliminate a competitor. It's too bad the business will likely shut down as his ferries were better and faster than the blue ones.

There have been several explosions in Austin, TX.

. . . probably should stay away from there.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums