Quantcast
  

Thursday, May 24, 2012         

 Print   Email   Comment | View Comments   Most Popular   Save   Post   Retweet

22 cruise ship passengers robbed in Mexico

By Rong-Gong Lin II

Los Angeles Times

POSTED: 06:39 a.m. HST, Feb 27, 2012
LAST UPDATED: 06:40 a.m. HST, Feb 27, 2012

Share



LOS ANGELES >> Twenty-two guests on a Carnival Splendor cruise ship out of Long Beach, Calif., were robbed at gunpoint in Mexico last week as they traveled by bus from a nature hike in the jungle to the Mexican port city of Puerto Vallarta, according to cruise ship officials and Mexican media reports.

Hooded gunmen intercepted the tourists’ bus about 5 p.m. Thursday as it returned from the pueblo of El Nogalito, known for its trail through the jungle, according to the Mexican newspapers El Norte and La Jornada. The gunmen took cameras, money, watches and other valuables before fleeing into the countryside, the papers said.

“Carnival sincerely apologizes to its guests for this very unfortunate and disturbing event and is providing its full support and assistance,” Miami-based Carnival Cruise Lines said in a prepared statement. No one was injured and guests returned safely to the ship.

The tourists were part of a weeklong cruise that left the Port of Long Beach on Feb. 19 and returned Sunday morning, said Carnival Cruise Lines spokesman Vance Gulliksen, who could not provide details of the robbery.

The cruise line has suspended the nature trail tour where the robbery occurred. “Carnival is working with guests to reimburse them for lost valuables and assist with lost passports or other forms of identification,” the cruise line said.

The Carnival Splendor ship generally carries more than 3,000 passengers and operates year-round weeklong cruises from Long Beach.

As of last fall, one cruise line had decided to suspend stops in Puerto Vallarta, a popular port of call, because of the country’s ongoing drug war. That decision was made by Santa Clarita-based Princess Cruises, which, like Carnival Cruise Lines, is a unit of Carnival Corp.

Carnival itself did not cancel stops on its namesake cruise line in Puerto Vallarta, and Princess Cruises was set to resume visits to Puerto Vallarta this month.

A port just north of Puerto Vallarta has also experienced problems. After a February 2011 shooting left two dead in a hotel parking lot in the tourist area of Mazatlan, several cruise lines began canceling stops, including Carnival Cruise Lines. Gulliksen said Carnival’s cancellation of visits to Mazatlan remains in effect.

“We are working with local officials as the investigation continues, and we do not have any itinerary changes as it relates to Puerto Vallarta at this time,” Gulliksen said.






 Print   Email   Comment | View Comments   Most Popular   Save   Post   Retweet

COMMENTS
999
You must be subscribed to participate in discussions
By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have read and agreed to the TERMS OF SERVICE. Any violations of these terms may result in account suspension or deactivation. Please keep your comments civil and in good taste. To report a comment, email commentfeedback@staradvertiser.com.
Leave a comment
Please login to leave a comment.
Classic_59Chevy wrote:
Stay the heck away from Mexico. Be wary of the illegals as most are from Mexico.
on February 27,2012 | 06:23AM
allie wrote:
Good for Hawaii tourism. Sad to say it but it is true
on February 27,2012 | 09:52AM
dpinsacto wrote:
Police: Tourists robbed at gunpoint at Waikiki hotel By Star-Advertiser staff POSTED: 08:23 a.m. HST, Jan 31, 2012 LAST UPDATED: 07:52 p.m. HST, Jan 31, 2012 Three tourists told police that they were robbed at gunpoint in their Waikiki hotel room Monday afternoon. The victims -- a man, 39; a woman, 61; and another woman, 30 from Canada -- said a man forced his way into their hotel room at 1:30 p.m. The suspect threatened his victims with a handgun and then took items from the room. The police did not identify the hotel where the robbery took place. Police are looking for a suspect, but have not released a description.
on February 27,2012 | 04:21PM
Living_Large wrote:
Lucky we live Hawaii! :-( Time for the state to fix HRS 134 and allow law abiding citizens to arm themselves so both locals and tourists can protect ourselves.
on February 27,2012 | 07:33PM
bigtaiho wrote:
Jose can see
on February 27,2012 | 07:12AM
Vivgie wrote:
FUG mexico and their evil people. They're just human trash. Tourists are always targets so carry cheapo Long's watches and fake jewelry you can afford to lose. Carry an old discarded wallet and put a few pesos in it. I always carry my credit cards and cash in a cloth velcro wallet I can wrap around my ankle or calf. Expect to be robbed in poor countries like the Philippines, Africa, and muslim coutnries. You don't have to be polite when you travel.
on February 27,2012 | 07:45AM
johncdechon wrote:
Expect to be BEHEADED in the Moro-occupied parts of the Philipines (they DO like their barong and kris) -- even the Fillipinos are afraid of them, always have been for hundreds of years. As for Mexico, they have nothing there that's worth being kidnapped or killed for...such is the drug violence in that sorry country.
on February 27,2012 | 08:38AM
NanakuliBoss wrote:
And so many were saying, hawaii is too expensive, I rather go to Mexico. Aloha.
on February 27,2012 | 08:56AM
allie wrote:
How much is your life worth hon?
on February 27,2012 | 09:53AM
808warriorfan wrote:
What's the use of working with the "local authorities" ..... they are probably part of the punks that robbed the tourists !!!!! The cruise ship companies should boycott Mexico until they get their act together
on February 27,2012 | 12:32PM
Carang_da_buggahz wrote:
I hear people all the time raving about their Mexican vacation, and I have to wonder. Just WHAT is the attraction in Mexico? Going there because of the favorable exchange rate is really no reason to put yourself at risk. Unfortunately, this thing will become more and more common as lawlessness increasingly intimidates "Law Enforcement". The Mexican political hierarchy is paying the price for allowing corruption to flourish, just so long as they get their cut. Now, the "slaves" are becoming the "masters". I really have NO desire to go to that dirty, filthy cesspool of a country whose citizenry floods our shores (Yes, even here in Hawai'i) to export their "culture" of thievery, violence, and language upon rightful citizens of this country. They can have it!
on February 27,2012 | 12:33PM
Grimbold wrote:
Auwee they are coming here in masses !
on February 28,2012 | 07:48AM
entrkn wrote:
Mexico is losing its tourism industry, fast.
on February 27,2012 | 01:31PM
tutunona wrote:
NO MORE CRUISES FOR ME.........TOO MANY PROBLEMS
on February 28,2012 | 07:38AM
saveparadise wrote:
Bleeding heart attitudes towards criminals has bred a new culture that is growing. It's time to toughen up and give no tolerance to criminals.
on February 28,2012 | 07:40AM
Grimbold wrote:
Look at our liberal democrat Legislators. They don't want to hear the word punishment, because many of their relatives and voters havealso criminal background.
on February 28,2012 | 07:47AM
Grimbold wrote:
Too bad we have an avelanche of immigration from that failed state.Ever noticed how many of our criminals have mexican names and are here illegally? But our Honcho Obama wants to legalize 10 million Illegals again to encourage a flood of more of them, They know eventually after they COLLECTIVELY ruined their homeland they can stay here and spoil the USA with their foul culture too.
on February 28,2012 | 07:45AM
Breaking News
Columns
Blogs