"John Sisker" wrote:
>Even the cruise lines themselves usually warn passengers to some of these
>West Coast Mexican ports, at the port briefings, of the possibility or
>likelihood of being robbed, and also how to protect yourself. However, we've
>been in many other countries and ports that offer the same warning. Yet, the
>strongest warning we ever personally heard of was while we were in Caracas.
>Even the dining staff was warning us of the problems associated with this
>port. But, the cruise lines still frequent most of these ports, so if some
>precautions and common sense are exercised, one should be alright.
>
There was a discussion on a bulletin board about whether Cozumel was
safe, and a lady who had been there by cruise ship stated that in the
port briefing, they were warned not to stray off the main street
because it was not safe. And they had seen a TV program about someone
who was robbed in Mexico City so they were sure that the briefing was
correct.
I have stayed in Cozumel (while diving -not by cruise ship) and I had
no fears for my safety while wandering around the streets alone -
drinking the water - yes, being robbed - no. I did walk around alone
because my husband was sick (he had some congestion in his lungs which
probably was a type of inhaled water pneumonia - NOT a stomach thing)
and he stayed in the hotel room. I never felt threatened in any way.
My take on the cruise ship warning, which also said that they
shouldn't shop except in the waterfront area, was that the ship
probably got a kickback for steering people to those shops. I know
that you could bargain in the shops that were a block off the cruise
ship 'safe' area, and you could not if you stayed in that main area.
I know there are incidents that DO occur in some places and at some
times. Some of them could have been averted by more awareness on the
part of the victim, and some of them were not predictable.
grandma Rosalie |