Breaking: Cruise crew member dead in Cozumel

by Chris Owen on

While foul play has not been ruled out, the drowning death of a Royal Caribbean crew member in Cozumel brings the safety of Mexican ports of call back into focus along with the broader issue of cruise passenger safety in general.

The body of Monika Markiewicz a musician on Royal Caribbean International’s Allure of the Seas. 32, was recovered from the ocean off the southern part of the island Saturday. An autopsy determined the cause of death to be drowning but Markiewicz also suffered a blow to the head. Police are investigating.


“Tragically, we recently became aware that the crew member was a victim of a violent crime while ashore in a remote area in Cozumel,” said Royal Caribbean spokesperson Cynthia Martinez. “We extend our most sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of our crew member.”

The topic of Mexican ports of call is a hot issue with cruise lines and Mexican government officials alike. The tragic death of a crew member in Mexican waters, regardless of the reason, brings safety back into the spotlight.

Cozumel is a popular port of call for cruise ships, far removed from the drug gang violence in Mazatlan, a center of Mexican drug cartels. Cruise lines, always vigilant regarding the safety of passengers and crew recently and dropped calls to Mazatlan due to crimes against passengers and crew members.

Disney Cruise Line, Princess and Holland America dropped Mazatlan as a port of call on Mexican Rivera cruises last month. Mexican government officials responded with a cry of “no fair” saying their ports were safe, meeting with cruise line officials and promising a safe experience for cruise passengers.

“We highly value our long-standing relationships within the cruise industry, and are dedicated to ensuring that Mazatlan remains among the top cruise destinations on Mexico’s Pacific Coast. Mazatlan has hosted nearly 1.5 million cruise passengers since 2008 and is widely regarded as one of the safest destinations in Mexico.” said Julio Birrueta, spokesperson for the Mazatlan Tourism Trust.

Newly relocated Disney Wonder, bumped to the West coast when new Disney Dream took over in Florida was scheduled to visit Mazatlan on a series of seven-night sailings through April. Instead, that time will be spent in what is believed to be a safer Cabo San Lucas.

Just last week, cruise lines returned to Mazatlan after they believed safety issues had been addressed. The Mexican government bolstered its tourism police force with a special unit of plain-clothes security personnel in the main tourist areas, including shore excursion sites.

Still, crime involving tourists is an ongoing problem in Mexico. Tourism officials have been accused of attempting to minimize the issue. The US Department of State has urged caution visiting Mexico issuing a Travel Warning in September of last year saying “It is imperative that U.S. citizens understand the risks involved in travel to Mexico.”

A cruise line crew member being found dead, for whatever reason, is indeed cause for concern in an ongoing look at the safety of ports around the world.

Last week, chaos and demonstrations in Cairo, Egypt sent cruise lines sailing in a different directions and land tour operators cancelling booked tours.

Cruise lines are modified itineraries for ships calling in Egypt and Tunisia, canceling all port calls in these two countries. While unrest/chaos continues in the area, cruise lines are playing it safe by keeping ships and passengers out of harms way.

Most recently, citing a “changing political environment” Disney Cruise Line as well as land tour operator Adventures by Disney is dropped Tunisia from all land and sea tours. They are just the latest of a growing number of cruise lines and tour operators to pull out of the troubled region.

“We continually evaluate our itineraries, and the decision to modify this itinerary was made in part due to the changing political environment in Tunis and the recent Travel Alert issued by the U.S. Department of State for Tunisia,” Disney spokesperson Christi Erwin Donnan told USA TODAY.

Indeed, cruise lines constantly monitor the situation at every port they call on, most commonly skipping ports for weather related reasons. More difficult to monitor but equally important, changing political environments and crime ashore too are a cause of concern regarding the safety of passengers and crew.


Virgin America lets loose in Cancún

by Stephen Greenwood on

Virgin America just can’t sit still these days. In the past two months, they’ve launched service to Dallas/Forth Worth (and added frequency from both LAX & SFO), placed an impressive order for 60 new A320’s (to be delivered starting in 2013), said adiós to Toronto for the time being, and launched service to two cities in Mexico; Los Cabos and now, Cancún.

Everything about Cancún seems like a good fit for the airline. It’s sunny. It’s flashy. It’s exotic. It attracts a young crowd and has high seasonal traffic with a significant need for competitive nonstop options from the West Coast.

But Cancún is a destination that has a way of polarizing travelers. For most Americans born after 1975, it’s notoriously synonymous with Spring Break, loud nightclubs, and excessive resorts as far as the eye can see. For some vacationers, these are the only reasons to go. For others, they are the reason to never even consider going. Yes, the beaches may be spectacular and the attractions plentiful, but the rush to develop and commercialize both has left most of the city devoid of a single trace of ‘authentic’ Mexican culture – a fact that managed to earn Cancún the top spot on Gadling’s list of places not to go in 2011.

With that in mind, allow me to be the mediator here and tell you exactly why you should go (or at least fly to) Cancún in 2011…

Simply put, Cancún is an affordable, accessible, and a safe gateway to the larger Yucatán peninsula. Yes, it may be an overdeveloped tourist mecca with little soul or culture in the eyes of true travelers. But the vivid blue waters, white sand beaches, and Mayan ruins of the outlying areas offer an entirely different world that’s only six hours away.

Before taking Virgin America’s inaugural flight from LAX to CUN, the farthest I’d ventured in Mexico was Puerta Vallarta. I didn’t really have high expectations for the Mexican Riviera, since my association of it was a blur of generic beach scenes from a decade-old MTV Spring Break broadcast. Which is ironic in hindsight, considering that our flight was the backdrop for an episode of VH1’s Top 20 Countdown; complete with an in-flight performance by the Goo Goo Dolls.

The 5 hour flight itself was great. The margaritas were festive and the atmosphere was as playful as all Virgin America’s inaugural launches are. The only hitch that passengers will encounter in the ‘complete’ Virgin America experience is the lack of in-flight WiFi after crossing the US-Mexico border – an issue that Gogo and Aircell will hopefully address with coverage expansion in the coming years.

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Upon our arrival, our Virgin-worthy accommodation was the gorgeous and brand-new Live Aqua. If you’re accustomed to hotels with two white Rolls Royce Phantoms parked outside, chic interiors filled with hip ambient music, extensive spa services and an array of tasteful eateries, then this is the place you’ll want to stay. It is plausible that you could forgo leaving the hotel grounds and be perfectly content with relaxing by the beach for your entire trip. And for the price of an all-inclusive stay, that’s exactly what I would do.

But, it turns out there are actually things to do around Cancún besides lounging and clubbing. Escape the herds of tourists and head south to quieter beaches at Playa del Carmen, where you can hop across to Cozumel and explore Mayan ruins. Or venture west and check out the ‘authentic’ colonial town of Tizimín on your way to catch a boat to the tiny but charming Holbox Island (and swim with whale sharks in the summer).

If you’re short on time but looking for adventure, then look up one of Cancún’s best day trips; Selvatica’s zip-line & ATV jungle excursion. In the span of a half day, you can fly through the trees on seven different zip lines, drive your own ATV, and swing from ropes into a beautiful blue cenote (Spanish for giant swimming hole).

I can understand why people dislike Cancún. It’d be very easy to come expecting authentic Mexican charm and leave never wanting to lay eyes on another beer-toting American again. But keep your time in the developed area of Cancún short, and you won’t be dissapointed.

Needless to say, my only regret is that I didn’t have more time to explore the outlying areas of Cancún. For a sub-$500 flight that’s just under 5 hours from LAX, or roughly 6 hours from SFO, it’s an easy trip that I certainly plan on making again. Especially if Virgin America can keep their fares low, which they usually do for recently launched destinations. Better yet, enter to win one of three VIP trips that the airline is giving away right here.

If you have your own crazy stories or suggestions about why or why not to go to Cancun this year, leave them in the comments section below!

Mazatlan to cruise lines: We want you back

by Chris Owen on

Earlier this week, major cruise lines played it safe, skipping a port in Mexico, fearful of passenger safety when going ashore in Mazatlan. Attacks on passengers and crew caused Disney Cruise Line, Princess and Holland America to drop the city as a port of call on Mexican Rivera cruises. But Mazatlan tourism officials are not buying it.

“We highly value our long-standing relationships within the cruise industry, and are dedicated to ensuring that Mazatlan remains among the top cruise destinations on Mexico’s Pacific Coast. Mazatlan has hosted nearly 1.5 million cruise passengers since 2008 and is widely regarded as one of the safest destinations in Mexico.” said Julio Birrueta, spokesperson for the Mazatlan Tourism Trust.

Mexico says they have taken steps to insure the safety of cruise passengers and are taking that message on the road.

Tomorrow, state and local government and law enforcement officials along with tourism and port authority executives will meet with cruise industry leaders. On Monday, government officials will meet with executives from the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA).

“Tourism is very important to Mazatlan and its residents. The destination plays host to nearly 2 million visitors per year from all over the world and the number has increased steadily for the past five years” added Birrueta

Flickr photo by Renee Silverman

The ultimate pre-wedding party: Off & Away offers $22,500 bachelor / bachelorette auction

by McLean Robbins on

Ever wonder what happens to the palatial pads used in MTV’s “The Real World” after the season is over? In at least a few instances, they’ve been turned back into their original hotel suites, available for show devotees or high-rollers to rent by the night.

Luxury hotel deal purveyor Off & Away is offering their highest-priced acution to date with the ME Cancun suite apartment that housed The Real World: Cancun‘s housemates during the 22nd season.

The three-night package includes accommodations in the Real World suite for up to ten people.

The suite features four bedrooms, all with ocean views, two Jacuzzis, three private balconies, a full kitchen, six showers and six bathrooms, a private laundry room, computer, iPod docking stations, Wii and Rock Band equipment, massage chairs, pool table, and a jellyfish acquarium.

Suite amenities include:

  • Round-trip airport transfers
  • Champagne on arrival
  • Personalized en-suite check-in
  • Tropical fruit upon arrival
  • Buffet breakfast is included for all registered Suite ME guests
  • Complimentary non-alcoholic beverages throughout the stay
  • Twenty-four hour room service
  • One complimentary international newspaper each day
  • Personal staff of Aura-Experience manager, housekeeper and chef* (chef available upon request for additional cost)

Valued at $22,500, the auction package is part of their romance themed “Whole Lotta Love” series, combining romantic wedding, engagement, honeymoon and bachelor/bachelorette packages. The auction series will begin on February 11 and run through February 14.

Off & Away operates on a different model than most flash-sale sites. Members buy bids ($1 each) and increase the price of a given room, suite or experience in small increments, 10 to 15 cents at a time. Each bid also adds a few seconds to the countdown clock. The top bidder when the clock reaches zero wins the prize, and unused bids can be applied as a credit towards Off & Away’s preferred network of partner hotels. We’re big fans of this model, which, while time consuming, can allow users to win luxury hotel experiences at upwards of 90% off, a significantly larger discount than many other flash sale sites.

To join Off & Away, click here.

Ten destinations to skip in 2011

by Grant Martin on

The new year breeds thousands of new top ten lists. The top places to see from the geniuses at the New York Times. The top best cruises from the cruserati at Frommers. Top bloggers with top status opining on the top new places that you should visit. Hey, we’re guilty of that at Gadling too, but we have to go where the hits lead us.

Fact of the matter is though, you can have a great time in almost any destination. Find the right people, open the right bottle of wine, dig through enough piles of tourists and eventually everyone finds their comfort zone, whether in Wichita or in West Africa.

That said, there are corners of this planet that we, as well-heeled travel writers are just darn tired of. Whether it’s from overexposure from the media or personal experiences, certain places just make our skin crawl, and in 2011, we’re steering clear.

Bear in mind: everyone interprets a destination differently, and your experiences and opinions may be completely out of sync with ours. Take a look at Gadling blogger’s top 10 destinations to skip in 2011, and contrast them with your own in the comments below.10. Calcata, Italy — as told by our sociable and lovable foodmonger, David Farley

Go to Calcata, a medieval hill town near Rome perched on 450-foot cliffs, only if…you like crystal-rubbing Italian hippies, tales of the Holy Foreskin that once had a home in the local church, and smoking hash on the intimate marble-bench-lined square. Go at your own peril. You’ve been warned.

9. Kansas — as told by blogger and cruise extraordinaire Chris Owen:

Basically, there’s really nothing there to see attraction-wise. There’s the biggest ball of twine in the world somewhere there in Central or Western Kansas, I forget which one. Even the people who live there admit this. This is no secret. Off and on over the years promoters have wanted to build a “Land of Oz” theme park that never went anywhere. No interest. Even NASCAR has had limited success. I know, I lived there for half a century and always traveled elsewhere on vacation. Most people who live there do.

Great people live there though. Some of the nicest, most genuine people in America are born and bred in Kansas. They’re a straight-talking bunch who would give you the shirt off their backs once they get to know you. Kansas is a great place live, just not to travel to.

8. Kuta, Bali — as told by urban maestro Jeremy Kressmann:

Take everything good about Bali – its serene temples, idyllic beaches, and mouth-watering food – and chuck it out window, and you’ll have Kuta. Instead replace the scene with packs of drunken tourists, Bubba Gump Shrimp restaurants and an overcrowded trash-strewn beach. By all means, visit Bali, but avoid Kuta at all costs.

7. All things Disney — as told by roving archaeologist, Civil War buff and expat blogger Sean McLachlan:

Where would I skip in 2011? Anything related to Disney. All it has to offer me are long lines, high prices, and movies that distort history and mangle humanity’s oldest legends. Disney debases everything it touches, turning our heritage into a whitewashed, whites-only placebo for that sad, lost, and frustrated group of refugees that is the American consumer class.

6. Waikiki, Hawaii — as told by our favorite McLean, Mclean Robbins

Skip Waikiki. Don’t pass on Hawaii, necessarily, but bypass this much-lauded, mostly overrated strip of hotels piled so closely on top of one another, the beauty of the beach is overpowered by the sheer masses of people who pile their oiled up and newly-married bodies onto it. You’ll see far too many leis, Hawaiian print shirts and Asians in tour groups touting more cameras than your average red carpet lineup. You’ll overpay (for everything from a Coke to your hotel room) and East Coasters will suffer as much jetlag as they would after flying to Europe. But don’t pass on the island chain entirely- opt instead for the less populated North Shore, or islands like Kauai.

5. Nha Trang, Vietnam— as told by urban maestro Jeremy Kressmann:

If beaches and seafood are all you crave, then this Central Vietnamese coastal town is good enough. But the town’s laid-back vibe is increasingly crowded out by mediocre expat bars and sprawl. Instead head to Southern Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island for a taste of some decidedly more low-key sand.

4. Miami, Florida — as told by our sociable and lovable foodmonger, David Farley

I went to Miami a year and a half ago to speak at the Miami Book Fair International. It was my first time in the city and, alas, it didn’t make a very good impression on me. I actually wasn’t prepared for the city, confusing it for a walking city and also putting too much confidence in its public transport system. I ended up having to fork out for taxis every time I wanted to go somewhere that was in a different neighborhood. I did, however, trek up to Little Haiti, hoping to eat some good Haitian. It turned out, though, that decrepit Little Haiti is about one cock fight away from seeming like the real Haiti. There was one restaurant but it looked like it had shut down around the time Jean-Bertrand Aristide was ruling the country. As my wife and I trudged through the dusty streets, men on the side of the road stopped and stared at us. Even though the neighborhood was featured quite prominently in my guidebook (Lonely Planet), I don’t think a lot of non-locals make their way there too often. Which is fine, I guess, but just don’t go hungry.

3. Puhket, Thailand — as told by video captain and tequila master Stephen Greenwood

To me, Phuket feels like the Tijuana of Thailand – packed with loud, garish bars and touts looking to scam innocent vacationers with offers to muay-thai matches and ping pong shows.

There are far better beaches and places to see in Phuket – so skip the crowds and head to the nearby town of Karon instead.

2. The Hamptons, New York — as told by budget czar Alex Robertson Textor

The Hamptons are the Upper East Side teleported to a terribly ritzy stretch of Long Island during the summer. During the season, you’ll find the same exorbitant pricing and annoying people, as well as bumper-to-bumper traffic. If you’re dead set on spending some of your summertime along the Eastern Seaboard, select a quieter corner of Long Island (or elsewhere altogether) and save some money and energy.

1. Cancun, Mexico — as told by jetsetting socialite blogger Annie Scott:

No franks. Unfortunately, when I think of Cancun, I think less of beautiful Mexico and more of drunk Americans in the street. I know it’s perfect for some people, and there’s some great food to be had, for sure, but one of the things I value most about travel is getting an authentic taste of local culture. No offense to Cancun, but if there’s any authentic local culture still there, they’ve managed to shove it under the rug enough that the screaming tourists from around the USA and beyond won’t notice it. I think that’s a shame.

[Flickr images via The James Kendall of Pistoleers and Smart Destinations