After canceling arrivals to Ensenada, due to safety concerns, the cruise ships are returning to this popular Mexican cruise destination, said Mayor Armando Ayala Robles.
Carnival Cruise Lines has confirmed arrivals to Ensenada with two of its ships, Carnival Radiance and Carnival Miracle, and complete its slate of scheduled arrivals in the coming months, said Robles.
Royal Caribbean has also canceled scheduled stops of the cruise ship Navigator of the Seas in Ensenada, but has yet to resume operations at the port.
Major Cruise lines canceled ports of call after a weekend of vandalism, looting and threats of mass violence in northern Baja, California. Last Friday, Jalisco New Generation Cartel - formerly known as Los Mata Zetas, sent out a warning promising chaos on the streets over the weekend unless some of its members were released from prison.
Local authorities in western Mexico reported roadblocks, burning vehicles, and shootouts between security forces and armed gangs.
On Friday the U.S. Consulate General in Tijuana issued an order for government employees to "shelter in place" in order to avoid cartel violence in Tijuana, Mexicali, Rosarito, Ensenada, and Tecate.
BREAKING: Employees of the US government in Mexico have been told to "shelter in place" until further notice in order to avoid the current cartel violence in Tijuana, Mexicali, Rosarito, Ensenada, and Tecate. pic.twitter.com/7gsIuwAF5v
— BNN Newsroom (@BNNBreaking) August 13, 2022
"Since day one we have been working in collaboration with the corresponding authorities to maintain order in our state, therefore, we thank the special forces of the National Guard whose intervention strengthens the security strategy," said the Secretary of Tourism, Miguel Aguiñiga Rodríguez.
According to the Ensenada mayor's office, Carnival and other cruise lines have announced cancellations of arrivals unless passenger safety measures are stepped up.
"I am very happy that they have confirmed the rest of their planned arrivals and believe in the actions we have implemented," said Ayala Robles.
The mayor said he received assurances from the cruise lines during a conference call Monday afternoon.
El @GobiernoMX desplegó 300 elementos de fuerzas especiales de la @GN_MEXICO_ para reforzar la seguridad tras los bloqueos registrados en #Tijuana, #Mexicali, #Ensenada y #PlayasdeRosarito.
Hay 17 detenidos por la violencia en #BajaCalifornia. Tres son integrantes del #CJNG pic.twitter.com/08E3zJFVJR— Centro Noticias Oaxaca (@CentroNoticiasO) August 13, 2022
"We reiterated the importance of cruise ships coming to our city and that the actions of a few do not reflect the hardworking people and hospitality of our region ... our people work hard every day to help their families prosper."
Cruise ship arrivals in Ensenada recently resumed following the COVID-19 pandemic and a power struggle over control of Ensenada's port brought on by organized crime, something that has plagued many other ports across Mexico.
