Texas Cruisers Advised: More Popular Destinations ‘Not Safe’

Almost every itinerary that sails out of the Port of Galveston includes a stop somewhere in the Caribbean. Unfortunately, for cruise guests from Texas and the surrounding Gulf South states who choose to embark on their vacations out of the Lone Star State.  it is getting harder and harder to find a destination that will allow you to "relax" while on a shore excursion.

I do want to clarify that cruise lines that sail from Galveston, namely Carnival, Royal Caribbean, MSC, Princess, Norwegian, and Disney all take extraordinary steps to ensure their guests have not only an amazing vacation while at sea but also enjoy safe and rewarding accommodations at the many ports of call these vessels serve.

So any uncertainty you might have about booking a cruise should be satisfied, you will be safe while on board. But if you choose to disembark in several Caribbean ports of call I would strongly encourage you to stick with your cruise-sponsored tour groups or if you do go ashore without supervision, I would not go alone or even in pairs. I would opt for the safety in numbers platitude.

U.S. Department Of State Updates Travel Alerts for Several Popular Ports of Call

On Monday the United States Department of State updated travel advisories for Americans who have travel plans to Honduras and Costa Rica. The travel advisory for Honduras was elevated to a "Level 3". That means "reconsider travel".

That Level 3 "reconsider travel" advisory was aimed at the area around Gracias a Dior. In that part of Honduras homicide, armed robbery, kidnapping, and sexual assault crimes as well as gang activities have been noted to be widespread.

Cruise guests who might visit other locations in Honduras namely Roatan, Utila, and Guanaja can take some comfort in knowing those parts of the country are better policed and there is a stronger concentration of law enforcement resources. So those areas are a little safer.

Costa Rica is now under a Level 2 Advisory for the Department of State. While the threat is not as severe as in parts of Honduras, it's still not safe for travelers to explore without taking extra precautions. Travelers should leave personal wealth items such as jewelry and watches onboard the ship, they should avoid using ATMs, and they should not walk alone on poorly lit beaches or areas near the entertainment districts of this port of call.

For other travel advisories in destinations that are popular with American cruise guests and tourists who make other travel arrangements, you may see that complete list from the United States Department of State, here.