With spring travel season well underway, the U.S. State Department just updated and reissued a serious Level 3 travel warning for a country included on a number of upcoming cruise itineraries.
To help U.S. citizens get up-to-date information and advice about safety risks to consider when traveling abroad, the State Department regularly updates its advisories, which range from Level 1 — exercise normal precautions, to Level 4 — do not travel.
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Although a Level 3 travel advisory does not state that U.S. citizens should not travel to the country, the warnings it provides certainly should be taken seriously. A Level 3 advisory recommends that travelers reconsider plans to visit a destination due to significant safety and security risks.
On April 17, the State Department updated and reissued its Level 3 travel advisory for Colombia to add information on civil unrest and kidnapping occurring in the country that cruise travelers should bear in mind.
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Panama Canal cruise itineraries often include visits to Cartagena, Colombia.
Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Cartagena, Colombia is a common port of call on Panama Canal cruises
The South American country’s popular Cartagena cruise port is visited regularly by cruise ships sailing Panama Canal itineraries. Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, and Carnival Cruise Line all have upcoming calls to the port on ships sailing repositioning voyages through the Panama Canal before beginning new seasons of cruises from their summer home ports.
Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas, for example, will visit Cartagena on April 23 after leaving its winter home port of Tampa to sail a voyage through the Panama Canal as it repositions to the West Coast ahead of its Alaska cruise season.
Travelers with upcoming plans to visit Cartagena on a cruise should be aware that the State Department’s reissued advisory recommends that travelers reconsider travel to Colombia due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping. Some areas have an increased risk.
“Violent crime, like murder, assault, and robbery, is common in many areas in Colombia. In some places, organized crime is rampant. This includes extortion, robbery, and kidnapping,” the advisory states. “There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity, in Colombia.”
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The advisory warns that terrorists and criminal organizations in Colombia may attack with little or no warning. These attacks typically target:
U.S. government facilitiesLocal government facilitiesTourist areas and attractionsTransportation centersShopping malls and marketsMilitary and police facilitiesHotelsClubsRestaurantsAirports
The advisory also cautions that political demonstrations are common throughout Colombia and can:
Shut down roads and highways without notice or estimated reopening timelines.Lead to road closures that reduce access to public transportation.Interrupt travel within and between cities.Become violent and result in deaths and injuries.
Is it safe to visit Cartagena, Colombia on a cruise?
Cartagena is generally considered safer for tourists than other parts of Colombia, but risks do exist and street crime does happen.
To reduce your risk of being targeted by criminals when visiting Cartagena or other cruise destinations with crime warnings, it’s a good idea to book shore excursions directly through your cruise line.
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Cruise passengers visiting Cartagena should make sure to follow the State Department’s guidance on ways to stay safe when visiting Colombia, which include:
Avoid demonstrations and crowds.Check local media for breaking news. Be prepared to adjust your plans.Keep a low profile.Do not display signs of wealth, such as expensive watches or jewelry.Stay aware of your surroundings.Travel only during daylight hours.
It’s also important to look at any information your cruise line provides and listen to the captain for any announcements.
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Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me’s Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at [email protected] or call or text her at 386-383-2472.
