Most major cruise lines generally avoid controversial places
when planning itineraries. The safety of
the passengers is paramount. If there is
even a hint of danger, the ship will be rerouted to another destination, or
avoid the port altogether and, instead of 3 ports of call, there would be
two. This is also true with weather
conditions. If there is a hurricane
threatening a port of call, the ship will be rerouted.
That being said, there is a list of countries/ports to avoid
when deciding on a cruise. If you do
travel to these ports of call, it is best to stay on the ship during the time
the ship is docked.
Columbia
This South American country is notorious for drug trafficking
and gang wars, but bribery, extortion and theft are also of concern for
tourists. Insurgents are known to set up
road blocks to rob or even kidnap travelers.
Turkey
Terrorist threats and suicide bombings are commonplace in
this country. More than 200 people have
been killed over the past year.
Venezuela
The crime is critical due to theft, murder, kidnapping, drug
trafficking, and disease control threats.
A cruise passenger was murdered in 2014 on a popular cruise port,
Margarita Island, during a robbery.
Egypt
Most Nile cruises do not have a doctor on board, and there
are restrictions on photographing certain sites, including the Suez Canal. Police detention and harassment are possibilities,
and you can expect civil unrest and sporadic sectarian violence.
Mexico
As beautiful as some places in Mexico can be, they can also be
dangerous for travelers. I am sure you
have heard of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Unfortunately, this is the greatest threat to
personal safety, whether you travel to upscale places or find yourself in lower
income areas. Homicides, assaults and reports
of robbing passengers at gunpoint on their way back to the ship are
commonplace.
Philippines
Militant groups use kidnap-for-ransom as a way to fund their
operations, and unsuspecting tourists are often targeted. As with other unstable areas in this list,
theft, physical assault and robbery are common in urban areas.
Honduras
The level of crime is critical in Honduras. The country has one of the highest homicide
rates in the world. Cruise passengers
have also been victims of armed robbery and carjacking.
Belize
Formerly British Honduras, Belize is a popular tourist
country on the east coast of Central America. But you are taking your chances just getting
off the ship, as there have been recent complaints that Western tourists
disembarking from cruises are offered drugs and then “set-up” for arrest and
payment of a hefty fine. Most
crimes, however, are thefts and result in no injuries, but that is not very
comforting. Gangs are known to operate
in the south side of Belize City. Some
excursions require a military patrol just to view the Mayan ruins.
El Salvador
Crime is at critical levels, with almost a quarter of the
natives were victims of crime. Violence
is unpredictable and victims are often targets of opportunistic
perpetrators. Muggings and armed
robberies are a major concern that even the Peace Corp suspended its program
there.
Ivory Coast
Opportunistic crimes such as muggings, pickpocketing, and
theft are commonplace, especially during the holiday season. Terrorist threats
are also a concern. A beach resort was
targeted in the popular Grand Bassam area, and 22 people were killed.
Guatemala
The most security threat to tourists is theft and armed
robbery, and no area is immune to daytime assaults. The crime rating is critical, and the number
of sexual assaults and rapes has significantly increased, and women are advised
to never travel alone. Tourists should
not wear anything that is or looks valuable.
A cruise line tourist was killed during a robbery in Santo Thomas de
Castilla in 2009.
St. Lucia
The overall crime rate is increasing, and the number of
robberies is on the rise. In 2013, 55
cruise passengers were robbed at gunpoint, and 14 others were victims during a
separate trip.
Mediterranean Countries
ISIS poses a threat to anyone visiting the Mediterranean, and
cruise ships are no exception. All
cruise ships have experienced security staff, and most lines do not allow small
boats to approach them. Don’t be
surprised when Isis gets the reputation for being the “Pirates of the
Mediterranean.”
US Virgin Islands
 |
| The Beautiful Island of St. Croix |
St. Thomas, the best duty-free island in the Caribbean,
closes shops at sundown when the crime rate goes up. Unfortunately, even the beautiful island of
St. Croix is not immune to crime, and is not visited by cruise ships during the
summer months due to safety concerns. Two
years ago a 14-year-old girl cruise passenger was
killed as she was caught in crossfire. Drug-related crimes and robberies are a
major concern.
St. Kitts and Nevis
In 2010, 17 cruise passengers were robbed at gunpoint. Tourists are advised not to walk alone or
away from busy main roads. Sexual
assaults, gang and drug-related crimes are perpetuated by locals against
locals, but foreigners are not immune.
When planning your trip, whether it is by cruise or land
vacation, please be careful and find out everything you can about your
destination. If you are unsure, just
stay on the ship. Contact Travel, Tours & Cruises to plan your dream vacation.
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