State Dept. updates ‘reconsider travel’ advisory for cruise port

Many cruise ports remain under travel advisories from the US State Department. There's a big difference, however, between the types of advisories issued.

A Level 1 advisory is a common sense "Exercise normal precautions" warning. That could apply nearly anywhere, but the State Dept. will offer some specific places or areas of concern.

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A number of cruise ports that are visited by all the major cruise lines are under this type of warning. The US government isn't saying not to visit; it's just suggesting that you pay a little more attention to your surroundings.

Level 2 warnings call for people to "Exercise increased caution." That's a little more serious, but you have to actually read the warning. The Bahamas, for example, home to multiple popular cruise ports has been under a Level 2 warning for quite a while, but the actual danger is fairly specific.

"The majority of crime occurs on New Providence (Nassau) and Grand Bahama (Freeport) islands. In Nassau, practice increased vigilance in the 'Over the Hill' area (south of Shirley Street) where gang-on-gang violence has resulted in a high homicide rate primarily affecting the local population," the State Dept. shared. "Violent crime, such as burglaries, armed robberies, and sexual assaults, occur in both tourist and non-tourist areas."

That's a warning worth paying attention to, but it's not as strict as a Level 3 advisory, which asks Americans to "reconsider travel" to the destination. The agency has issued a new Level 3: Reconsider travel warning for Nicaragua, home to the popular San Juan, Del Sur cruise port, which has traditionally been a stop for Royal Caribbean.

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State Dept. updates Nicaragua travel advisory

Royal Caribbean lists San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, as a port, but it has not been stopping there and currently shows no cruise with it as a port. In better days, however, the cruise line's website describes a port that would have been a desired stop.

"Once a sleepy little fishing village, this idyllic beach town in Nicaragua has garnered a little more global attention lately thanks to its easygoing vibe, budget-friendly activities and stunning natural splendor. That said, a cruise to San Juan del Sur still feels very off the beaten path. You won’t find crowds of tourists here — just avid surfers chasing world-class waves, expats living out their dreams along the area’s golden shores, and a mix of sun-seekers and savvy celebrities craving a low-key tropical getaway," it shared.

The US State Dept., however, has been clear that Americans should reconsider visiting Nicaragua under any circumstances. The Level 3 Travel advisory comes with the following top-line description:

"Reconsider travel to Nicaragua due to arbitrary enforcement of laws, the risk of wrongful detention, and limited healthcare availability. Exercise increased caution in Nicaragua due to crime," the State Dept. shared.

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Nicaragua has targeted Americans

The State Dept. made it clear that some of the dangers were specific to Americans:

"In the past year, the Government of Nicaragua has subjected U.S. citizens to arbitrary entry and exit bans, expulsions, arrests, revocations of Nicaraguan citizenship, and other actions," it shared.

The agency offered significant further warnings sharing that the Government of Nicaragua may:

• Arbitrarily deny entry or re-entry to Nicaragua or departure from Nicaragua to U.S. citizens and Nicaraguan citizens. The government is not required to provide a basis for its denial.
• Search personal phones, computers, social media accounts, and documents for anti-government content.
• Limit photography.
• Seize personal devices.
• Target individuals for political reasons, regardless of nationality. These can include former allies, political activists, business representatives, religious and charity groups, clergy, missionaries, human rights advocates, civil society leaders, academics, and journalists.
• Target pro-democracy advocates and their family members.
• Confiscate privately owned land, residences, financial assets, or personal property. They may do this without warning or due process.
• Arbitrarily detain, accuse, and charge individuals with terrorism, money laundering, or organized crime offenses. They may do this without fair or transparent processes.

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The US agency also shared the following health and safety warnings:

"Government hospitals are understaffed, and some hospitals throughout the country may not be able to assist in emergencies. Tap water is not reliably potable. Drink only purified bottled water," it added.

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This story was originally published December 13, 2024, 9:35 AM.