Royal Caribbean halts travel to Manzanillo due to high murder rates and kidnappings

Cruise ships have stopped setting sail to this city after officials placed the tropical destination under the highest travel advisory level.

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 travellers, according to reports.

“Do not travel due to crime and kidnapping. Violent crime and gang activity are widespread,” the agency advised.

“Most homicides are targeted assassinations against members of criminal organisations. Shooting incidents between criminal groups have injured or killed bystanders. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping.”

A beachside forest in Manzanillo, Mexico. Picture: Supplied

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.

“US government employee travel is limited to the tourist and port areas of Manzanillo,” the advisory continued.

“US 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.

Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas. Picture: iStock

The cruise line describes the city as a lively fishing harbour 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.

Despite the warning, Princess Cruises, a Carnival-owned company, still has ships expected to visit Manzanillo in January and February, the outlet reported.

The State Department uses a four-level warning system which urges tourists to exercise caution during travel. The agency only advises travellers to avoid visiting a location when it issues a Level 4 warning.

Other locations with a similar warning include Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, North Korea, Russia, Ukraine, Venezuela, Haiti and Yemen.

The federal agency also issued a Level 3: Reconsider Travel warning to Puerto Chiapas, the southernmost part of Mexico’s Pacific coast, citing an increased level of crime across the state.

Norwegian, Holland America and Princess Cruise lines generally sail to the Mexican destination, The Street reported, with only Princess Cruise still scheduled to dock there.

“Reconsider travel due to crime,” the agency shared.

“Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout the state.”

The Post reached out to Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruises but the cruise lines did not immediately respond.

This article originally appeared on NY Post and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Royal Caribbean halts travel to Manzanillo due to high murder rates and kidnappings