Mexico Ferry Bomb Sparks Government and Cruise Warnings

The Canadian government is warning against taking ferries in the Riviera Maya region following an explosion last month on board a ship that travels between Cozumel and Playa del Carmen.

“On Feb. 21, 2018, an explosive device detonated on a popular tourist ferry in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo,” the Canadian government noted on its travel advisories page for Mexico. “The explosion injured over twenty individuals, including tourists.”

The government noted that just a few days ago, on March 1, 2018, local authorities found another explosive device on a ferry also operating out of Playa del Carmen.

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“Some cruise lines have cancelled excursions using ferry services in Playa del Carmen. Avoid tourist ferries travelling in the region until further notice, be vigilant and monitor local media (including social media),” Ottawa officials noted.

Cozumel is wildly popular with Canadians, and next week’s March Break school vacation marks a hugely popular time for visits to the Riviera Maya and Cozumel.

Areas of Mexico have had other problems with safety and drugs, but the Riviera Maya has largely avoided such incidents. Finding bombs on board ferries that are popular with tourists could be costly for hotels, cruise lines and attractions in the region, which saw an increase in visits from Canadians after hurricanes damaged parts of the Caribbean last fall.

The U.S. government also has warned citizens about the ferries in the Riviera Maya region.

The website seatrade-cruise.com is reporting that both Royal Caribbean and Carnival have cancelled shore excursions that use the ferries between Playa del Carmen and Cozumel and are “strongly urging passengers” to avoid ferries to the Mexican mainland.

The website cruisecritic.com said not only had the above lines cancelled such excursions, but that the same moves were made by Princess Cruises Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises.

Cozumel is the busiest cruise destination in the Caribbean.

“We have canceled all ship-sponsored tours that make use of ferries between Cozumel and Playa del Carmen and we are strongly advising our guests that ferries from Cozumel to the mainland be avoided,” a Carnival spokeswoman said, according to seatrade-cruise.com.

'In an abundance of caution, we are cancelling sponsored shore excursions that involve tourist ferries only,” the site quoted a Royal Caribbean spokesman as saying. 'We are also discouraging our guests from taking part in independent excursions that involve ferry travel.”

CruiseCritic.com quoted Princess officials as saying the cruise line “would not take our guests and crew to a port -- or operate a shore excursion -- where we had any indication there may be an undue risk to safety and security. As a precautionary measure, we have cancelled all tours that make use of ferries and strongly advise that ferries from Cozumel to the mainland be avoided.

"Guests with pre-paid excursions impacted by this change will be issued a refund to their shipboard account,” Princess officials said. “We will continue to monitor the situation closely. As always, we work closely with government officials to ensure our guest's security at all times."