It’s not a very safe world. That becomes obvious when you visit the U.S. State Department website and see how many countries are subject to some form of travel warning.

All warnings, however, are not created equal. The lightest two travel advisories the State Department issues, Level 1: Exercise Normal Caution and Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution, amount to the government telling you to be careful.

Related: Forget Nassau, US adds serious warnings for 2 Caribbean cruise ports

For Level 1 and Level 2 travel advisories, it often makes sense to read the specific warning the department issued. Sometimes it includes areas not to visit or suggestions for how to be cautious in that area.

Cruise lines generally ignore Level 1 and Level 2 warnings because many parts of the world are under them. In some cases the captain might offer advice on where not to go or things not to do in certain ports, but generally little heed to these warnings is paid. 

“Level 3: Reconsider Travel” and “Level 4: Do Not Travel” are much more serious, but even when those are issued, cruise lines do not always follow them. Usually, that’s for special circumstances where a cruise port is far from the area where the warning has been issued.

That’s why Royal Caribbean still visits its Labadee, Haiti, private destination, despite a Level 4 warning for the entire country; and why both Royal and Carnival still stop in Roatan, Honduras, despite it being under a Level 3 advisory.

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One Mexican port is under a ‘Do Not Travel’ advisory

Royal Caribbean has stopped sailing to Manzanillo, a section of Mexico in Colima State that’s under a U.S. State Dept. Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory.

The cruise line still lists the port on its website and describes it as follows: 

“Manzanillo might not be the first place on Mexico’s Pacific Coast you think to visit, but its golden beaches, lively fishing harbor and emerald rainforest will leave memories that will last a lifetime. 

“Frolic on Playa Miramar as seagulls dive into the waves in front of you to catch their lunch, or learn from a local expert how to fish for striped marlin, sailfish or tuna in the depths of the Pacific.”

Princess Cruises, a Carnival-owned company, still has ships set for call on Manzanillo in January and February.

Related: U.S. government raises warnings for two popular vacation destinations

The State Department warning urges not to travel to the area “due to crime and kidnapping.”

“Violent crime and gang activity are widespread,” the agency posted. “Most homicides are targeted assassinations against members of criminal organizations. Shooting incidents between criminal groups have injured or killed bystanders. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping.”

The warning, however, did offer a bit of an exception for the actual cruise port area.

“US government employee travel is limited to the tourist and port areas of Manzanillo,” it added. “US government employees may not travel to other areas of Colima state.

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Puerto Chiapas under Level 3 warning

Norwegian, Holland America and Princess cruises generally sail to Puerto Chiapas, but only Princess currently has cruises scheduled to stop there. 

All the Princess cruises set to stop in the port, which is under a Level 3: Reconsider Travel warning, are longer cruises where the cruise line simply hasn’t yet canceled the port call.

“The southernmost port on Mexico’s Pacific coast, Puerto Chiapas is named for the state in which it is located,” Holland America Line’s website describes. “It is relatively new, built in 1975, and is the primary hub from which the region’s agricultural goods, including coffee, are sent abroad. 

“For travelers arriving by cruise ship, the town of Puerto Chiapas is a jumping-off point to explore surrounding areas, including Tapachula, the second-largest city in the state of Chiapas.”

ALSO READ: Top travel agents share how to get the best price on your cruise

The U.S. State Department has urged Americans to reconsider travel to Chiapas state, which includes the Port of Chiapas. “Reconsider travel due to crime. Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout the state,” the federal agency shared. 

When visiting any cruise port, it’s important to understand whether it’s under a U.S. State Department travel advisory and to carefully read that advisory.

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