Several major U.S. cruise lines are rerouting their ships away from popular Mexican destinations amid escalating violence following the death of a prominent cartel leader.
Norwegian Cruise Line has announced that its Norwegian Bliss, which accommodates 4,000 passengers, will bypass the tourist hotspot of Puerto Vallarta on Wednesday.
This decision follows Carnival Corporation’s earlier choice to reroute its Royal Princess cruise, avoiding Puerto Vallarta, where numerous American tourists are currently seeking refuge.
Instead, the Royal Princess, capable of carrying over 3,000 passengers, extended its stay at Cabo San Lucas, located across the Gulf of California, on Monday.
Subsequently, the ship is scheduled to proceed to Mazatlán, situated approximately 280 miles north of Puerto Vallarta, on Wednesday.
Similarly, Carnival’s subsidiary, Holland America Line, made the decision for its Zuiderdam vessel to forgo a stop in Puerto Vallarta in favor of spending a day at sea.
Along with the cruises, major American and Canadian airlines canceled their flights to the Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara airports on Sunday following the death of Jalisco New Generation Cartel drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, known as “El Mencho.”
Oseguera’s death triggered mass attacks across Jalisco and at least 19 other states, with the cartel creating more than 2,500 roadblocks by burning and blowing up vehicles.
Tourists in Puerto Vallarta were subsequently ordered to stay indoors, with the US State Department urging citizens to shelter in place until the violence ends.
