Leading American cruise companies are rerouting their vessels away from certain Mexican destinations following deadly confrontations between drug cartels and government forces that claimed nearly 60 lives.
The violence began after Mexican military forces conducted a raid that resulted in the death of notorious cartel boss Nemesio Oseguera, widely known by his alias “El Mencho.” The operation sparked retaliatory attacks across the country, with criminal organizations establishing more than 80 burning vehicle barricades spanning over a dozen Mexican states.
Government officials reported that the confrontations resulted in the deaths of at least 25 National Guard personnel and 34 individuals suspected of gang involvement during clashes that followed Sunday’s early morning military operation.
In response to the security situation, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings announced that its vessel Norwegian Bliss, which carries 4,000 passengers, would cancel its scheduled Wednesday stop in Puerto Vallarta. The company stated that passengers would receive direct communication regarding any additional modifications to Mexican port visits.
Carnival Corporation also made adjustments to its sailing schedules. The company’s Royal Princess cruise ship avoided Puerto Vallarta on Monday, instead extending its stay in Cabo San Lucas by an additional night before proceeding to Mazatlán on Wednesday. Additionally, Carnival’s Holland America subsidiary redirected its Zuiderdam vessel away from Puerto Vallarta, substituting the port call with an extra day at sea.
Royal Caribbean has maintained its current itineraries without changes but indicated that both passengers and travel representatives would receive immediate notification if schedule modifications become necessary.
