Disney drops 4 Mexican Riviera cruises (& Other lines, citing violence)

mercurynews.com ^ | 1/4/2012 | mercurynews.com

[dragnet2]

Disney Cruise Line spokesman Rebecca Peddie says it will allow the company to prepare its 2013 itinerary.

Port business development manager Chris Chase tells the Torrance Daily Breeze that it's a sign of weakening demand for cruises to Mexico, where there has been a surge of violence.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Our first visit was in 1983 or 84. I think there were five or six hotels, a paved street from the airport to the hotel zone and not much else. Gradually, a ramble of little businesses grew up across from the hotels. The last time we spent a week at Ixtapa, there were about 200 small stores and restaurants serving the hotel guests.
We liked the Holiday Inn until it became a condo.

[floridarunner01]

I was once told the reason they have to stop in Mexico is because of US law. Because the Disney ships are registered in the Bahamas it is considered a foreign vessel. And the law states that all foreign passenger vessels that leave a US port must include a foreign port in its itenerary if it is to visit a 2nd US port. The reason has something to do about protecting US ships and their routes somehow. But that would be the reason why Disney and other lines have to stop in a Mexican or Canadian port during their trips.

There are various reasons why the big cruise ships especially are rarely registered in the United States. Taxes is a big one, but also because US law states that the ship would have to be staffed 100% with American citizens along with various other labor laws. As you know, cruise ships tend to have international staffs. The Bahamas has pretty lax rules on that kind of thing and lower taxes. So most cruise ships are registered in the Bahamas or other carribean islands.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Just came back from the Nice Mexico cruise. it avoided the bad towns that are on the drug trade, and visited PV, Cabo, and some nice smaller fishing villages on Baja.

Lines are avoiding ports for safety reasons, but they are cancelling cruises (and diverting to other regions) for FEAR reasons. The fact that they do this the consequence of the fear, not proof of the justification of the fear.

Looking forward to a week living in a nice house in a real neighborhood in PV next month.

[Question Liberal Authority]

I understand that, but Disney has plenty of cruises to Alaska and between ports of call in Hawaii. For that matter, they also have plenty of restaurants, hotels and resorts which are in America. Those are in the USA 100% of the time, so the same staffing issues should apply.

A nice hotel near a nice California beach will run $300 to $500 per night in the summer time, and would charge extra for food, parking, and amenities. So I don't see why they can't arrange a nice 4-5 night California cruise for a family of 4 for about $1,000 to $2,000.

[TheOldLady]

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[Eric in the Ozarks]

What you’re referring to is called the “Jones Act.”
It mandates that shipping from US port to a US port must be done by US built ships staffed by US crews.
This law has been largely defeated by the Canadian National RR after they bought US Steel’s fleet of Great Lakes ore carriers.

[dragnet2]

I want nothing to do with that place

Yep, of all the places I'd like to go to, Mexico is certainly not on the list.

[dennisw]

None of those places are tropical and most are in the mountains. Some people have to get that tropical dose especially in the winter.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks dragnet2. It sez Mexican Riviera, but no low rider jokes please.

[grey_whiskers]

I wouldn’t cross the border into Mexico if ya held a gun at my back.

No, no, see -- that's what happens after you get there.

Cheers!