Violence in Mexico port forces cruise lines to switch sailings

Monday, 13 May, 2015 0

Citing an upsurge in violence, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises cancelled port calls this week at Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

The 2,170-passenger Celebrity Infinity gave the port a miss on Sunday while Tuesday’s scheduled call by Royal Caribbean’s 2,501-passenger Jewel of the Seas has also been scrapped.

"Jewel of the Seas and Celebrity Infinity’s calls to Puerto Vallarta were cancelled due to the recently experienced episodes of violent civil unrest, stemming from criminal gangs that have engaged in armed conflict with local authorities," said Royal Caribbean Cruises spokeswoman Cynthia Martinez.

Both ships will have an extra day at sea.

Violence has escalated in recent days in the resort city as security forces step up operations against drugs gangs in the city and across Jalisco state.

A scheduled stop today by Carnival Miracle will take place as planned but some shore excursions have been cancelled ‘in an abundance of caution’, Carnival Cruise Line said.

Bev

Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.

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