Cruising to Mexico...

[LowSpeed_HighDrag]

I HATE having my head cut off, being abducted, or being tortured for political means. With that said, I do really love drinking Pacificos on white sands beaches.

My wife and I would like to take our second cruise in July and need to purchase our tickets ASAP, we have only cruised to the Bahamas before. Both cruises we are considering have port stops in Mexico: Yucatan, Cozumel, and Costa Maya. While I would love to see Chichen Itza, eat the local food, and drink myself silly on the beach, I want to know that it is safe.

Have any of you recently been to these locations? Have the drug warfare issues creeped into these tourist provinces yet? Would I be putting us in danger by going there?

[Ick]

No problemo Señor.

[TehLlama]

Tourism pays too well, all those areas are practically manicured compared to the rest of the area. A lot of the more recent 'horror' stories have an element of people bent on finding stupid games in order to acquire stupid prizes.

[SilverBullet432]

basically its like this: unless youre walking around Acapulco sporting various gold bling, rolex and the sort, you'll be alright. The only ones who get their heads cut off are rival gang members... Also, if any gunfights do break out, they'll usually happen away from resorts in bad parts of town. Definitely watch your 6 at all times, but don't make it obvious. Relax and have fun!

[Ryno12]

Dude, the fact that you even need to ask that question should throw up a red flag. There's too many nice places in the Caribbean to vacation, that nobody should have to put their hard-earned money into that shithole's economy.

[WillBrink]

I HATE having my head cut off, being abducted, or being tortured for political means. With that said, I do really love drinking Pacificos on white sands beaches.

My wife and I would like to take our second cruise in July and need to purchase our tickets ASAP, we have only cruised to the Bahamas before. Both cruises we are considering have port stops in Mexico: Yucatan, Cozumel, and Costa Maya. While I would love to see Chichen Itza, eat the local food, and drink myself silly on the beach, I want to know that it is safe.

Have any of you recently been to these locations? Have the drug warfare issues creeped into these tourist provinces yet? Would I be putting us in danger by going there?

My understanding is the high tourist areas such as those tend to be fairly safe with police presence as they generate income. Harming gringos is very bad for tourism. You can look at usual places, such as state department alerts, etc to see what's up. Having said that, why go to a place it's a question if you don't have to and so many other choices exist? South and Central America are full of interesting countries with ports of call. Personally, I'd look further into other places, but I doubt you're in great risk in those locations in Mexico. Obviously "safe" is a relative term.

[Eurodriver]

Dude, the fact that you even need to ask that question should throw up a red flag. There's too many nice places in the Caribbean to vacation, that nobody should have to put their hard-earned money into that shithole's economy.

I just got back from the Caribbean. All over the Caribbean.

I don't know of these "nice places" you speak. St Thomas, Tortola, Nassau, St Lucia, St Croix - All shit holes of the first order.

In fact, Nassau has a travel advisory out issued by the State Department right now.

[SilverBullet432]

From my experience, (not mil or le, just travel) most of your violence in MX will be along border towns or deep in rural communities.

[Ryno12]

I just got back from the Caribbean. All over the Caribbean.

I don't know of these "nice places" you speak. St Thomas, Tortola, Nassau, St Lucia, St Croix - All shit holes of the first order.

In fact, Nassau has a travel advisory out issued by the State Department right now.

That doesn't surprise me that you'd disagree with me. I'm not sure there's anything that we've ever shared an opinion on. That said, the last time I was in St Lucia, I wasn't the slightest concerned about being kidnapped or beheaded when venturing off the resort. There's dumpy areas all over. Risks of kidnapping/beheading are a little less prevalent in some places versus others.

[Shorts]

My thoughts echo WBs.
No recent info though, last trip was Cancun & Isla Mujeres in '12 (flew in). But generally speaking, don't put yourself in weird places, don't wave your stuff out there for the world to see. I also had the same question, why put my good money to a country that is, well, that. At the end of the day, go where you want. I think vacationing in Mexico is like riding a moped, everyone says don't do it but secretly everyone's done it and they had fun. I enjoyed it. Loved the beaches, cheap food and drink and the getaway. Even rented a moped

My last cruise was in fall of '10 down that way...Progresso, Cozumel and somewhere else, I forget. Again fun, same concerns and opsec.