Cruise Ship tourist kills an attacker in Costa Rica

[Sheik]

Things can happen everywhere everytime.

[Lightsluvr]

The fx clavicle is likely not what killed the perp...it was probaby an effective headlock. I'd wager that the tourist is a Korean or Viet Nam vet from the Special Forces or Green Beret. They are trained to snap a neck and it doesn't require superman strength.

 

LL

[PRNole47]

It was a privately purchased tour, not one of the tours sold by the ship. I have noticed that in certain Caribbean and Central American stops, the ship sponsored tours include local security services, on an as needed basis.

[Trvlr37]

Does anyone know which tour this was?

[legalsea]

It was not a ship's tour. They were out on their own.

 

Those three muggers thought they were going after 'easy marks'. They were wrong. Kuddo's to the unidentified former GI in his 70s who not only protected his family, friends and fellow passengers, but also chose to continue his cruise.

 

Of course, what he did was dangerous to the extreme: if one of those other punks had a gun and was willing to start using it it could have turned out much different (I understood the article to mean that the dead mugger had the gun, while the other two had knives).

[Indiana Jones]

I wonder if Carnival will keep doing this port?

 

says a current cruise has changed stop to Roatan due to "security concerns".

 

Read about Limon at Frommer's , Fodor's, etc. and you'll see what they think about walking around town.:eek:

[jjones]

Thanks for setting me straight on scapula and clavicle - but perhaps the translation was wrong and it was really the neck anyway - isn't that cervical?

[LA_FadeAway]

Thanks for setting me straight on scapula and clavicle - but perhaps the translation was wrong and it was really the neck anyway - isn't that cervical?

 

Cervical? LOL!! I doubt the attacker had a cervix.

 

For those comparing Puntarenus with Limon, there is a huge difference between those two ports. Puntarenus is a small port town whereas Limon is a much bigger and dodgier city. Limon has a history of violent crime. There are many areas on that coast of CR worth visiting, just use an organized tour and get out of the city as quickly as possible. These poor people were very unlucky. I'm glad they are all okay.

[DonMar]

I am so upset at hearing about this story. I have just returned from a cruise which stopped at Limon. We did a private tour - had a wonderful experience - and felt very safe.

 

Just as Sheik said, "Things can happen everywhere everytime." When traveling there is always a risk.

[cruzzers]

I found the following quote about this incident:

Carnival Liberty

Carnival Cruise Lines Three muggers attempting to rob a dozen seniors on a tour bus (a privately arranged tour) in Limon (Costa Rica) were foiled. A man, about 70 years of age, put one suspect into a head lock and broke his clavicle -- he died of asphixiation; the other two men armed with a knife and a gun fled after the other senior citizens began defending themselves. In December, a passenger was shot (not critically) in a robbery attempt while on a walk along a boardwalk in a Limon city park.

[retired1998]

My DH and I were on the Oscar Brown tour in Puerto Limon on 2/5/07. Does anybody know with whom these people took the tour? We didn't feel any sense of danger. However, we did not stop at a beach. But, of course, you never know.

[AMYZNG]

my family and I were on the Liberty over Christmas and were on the ship where a passenger was shot while in Limon. In both instances the cruise ship passengers were on "private", not ship sponsored, tours. We did a fabulous white water rafting trip on the Revetazon River, organized through the ship, and never felt anything but safe. A gorgeous country but the real world, folks. You wouldn't wander around DC or New York City or Chicago without having a clue where you were going, let alone not speaking the language to boot. Be real!

[Lightsluvr]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17284416/

 

LL

[Keisele]

I am glad there are "Jack Bauers" in our midsts. To the anonymous U.S. Veteran hero; thank you.

 

What does it take for a cruiseline to substitue a port for another (obviously, outside of poo weather conditions)?

[Keisele]

Does anyone actually think it makes a difference to the thugs who want to rob tourists if it is a cruiseline tour or a chartered tour? 3 thugs v. 12 tourists. They may just get bigger gangs and more guns.

 

Do you think there will be possibly a rebellion against tourists for the death of this thug? I read on the MSN thread posted above that the thug's mother is upset that her son was killed even though her son was the one with the gun.

[Keisele]

Does anyone actually think it makes a difference to the thugs who want to rob tourists if it is a cruiseline tour or a chartered tour? 3 thugs v. 12 tourists. They may just get bigger gangs and more guns.

 

Do you think there will be possibly a rebellion against tourists for the death of this thug? I read on the MSN thread posted above that the thug's mother is upset that her son was killed and is demanding accountability even though it was her son with the gun.

[teegeezfun]

took the tour with oscar brown's brother in law lorenzo. he was very protective of us, even escorting me into a drug store so that could purchase a personal care product...i thought that was a bit wierd at the time, but now i understand, he wanted to make sure i was okay in there...costa rica was so beautiful. the rain forest, the monkeys and sloths...the orchids. what a great place. it would be a shame if this port were discontinued due to these thugs...the gvt. needs to step up to the plate and provide more security for the visitors.

[lexiloo]

We were in Limon, Costa Rica last week and did a private tour with Caribbean Paridise and had a wonderful time. I found the Costa Rican people warm and friendly. Our tour guide Carla did take us in to the market and made sure all was well. I never felt threatened. This is such an unfortunate incident and I'm so glad the cruisers are all ok. The goverment needs to obviously step up their security. It would be a shame for future cruisers not to experience this country. I agree with an earlier poster..I felt more unsafe in Panama and Jamaica.:rolleyes:

[KIDS LUV CRUISIN]

i was on that ship

we never knew about anything for days

costa rica was amazing my group loved it

we also took a private tour

not for a minute did we feel unsafe

enjoy your trip it was great if you need a tip or two just ask

[dzcruisers]

The only time we have had a problem was in Orlando, FL where my husband got robbed of his wallet and we had to spend vacation time with the police, etc, getting picture id sent to us so we could check into the hotel and fly home and feeling really afraid. Wouldn't stop going to Orlando because of this. We are more careful! Things happen especially if you travel to tourists places.

We thoroughly enjoyed Costa Rica and our tour with Charlie two weeks ago. One has to be cautious everywhere. We felt safe. Interesting country. IMHO worth seeing!

[FinelyRetired]

We took a private tour with Oscar Brown in 12/2006. Great tour, never felt threatened.........but we did pass a few areas in town that looked like a USA slum. Like "teegeezfun" Oscar went into a liquor store/bar with my husband to make sure they understood he wanted gin NOT vodka. Oscar seemed to have acquaintances on every corner.

 

We exchanged emails today with Oscar & Carol Brown. Obviously Oscar, just as all the local small businessmen who's livelihood depends on vibrant tourism, is very concerned that this incident will have long term negative impact. But, he mentioned that the government has put in place much more security. And, of course, he and the other respected tour operators will keep lobbying government to make sure some areas are avoided and security is increased. Every city in the world has areas that should be avoided. It's unfortunate that whoever this tour person was did not avoid such an area.

 

The tourism economy is quite a fragile economy.....they realize that one incident can ruin a lot of people and impact the province and the country.

 

The quality tour operators are determined to make sure Limon and its beauty are not bypassed for other ports.