Royal Caribbean cruise ships have stopped setting sail to a Mexican city after federal officials placed the tropical destination under a travel advisory due to high murder rates and kidnappings.
The US Department of State slapped Manzanillo, Colima’s largest city, with a Level 4: Do Not Travel designation – the agency’s strictest travel warning – prompting the popular cruise line to cease all travel to the destination with the area posing a serious and life-threatening risk to travelers, according to reports.
“Do not travel due to crime and kidnapping. Violent crime and gang activity are widespread,” the agency advised.
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“Most homicides are targeted assassinations against members of criminal organizations. Shooting incidents between criminal groups have injured or killed bystanders. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping.”
Colima, a small state along Mexico’s Pacific coast, has a whopping murder rate of 22 slayings per 100,000 residents – five times higher than the national average for Mexico and one of the highest globally, the Latin Times reported.
National data shows that the Mexican state, which is smaller than the state of Delaware, reported 623 homicides between January and October of this year, the outlet reported.
Just last week notorious cartel boss Jose “El Chabelo” Isabel was gunned down in a shootout with police after pulling off a hit at a local cockfight that left two dead and others wounded in Manzanillo.
The travel warning did offer an exception for the actual cruise port.
“U.S. government employee travel is limited to the tourist and port areas of Manzanillo,” the advisory continued.
“U.S. government employees may not travel to other areas of Colima state.”
Royal Caribbean, however, still has the port listed on its website, suggesting that travel could resume once the advisory is lifted.
The cruise line describes the city as a lively fishing harbor with golden beaches and an emerald rainforest that will create “memories that will last a lifetime.”
“Frolic and Playa Miramar as seagulls dive into the waves in front of you to catch their lunch, or learn from a local expert how to fish for striped marlin, sailfish or tuna in the depths of the Pacific,” the cruise line writes, highlighting different activities and restaurants for passengers.