Safety concerns prompt Princess to cancel Mexican Riviera ports

Safety concerns prompt Princess to cancel Mexican Riviera ports

In a major development for Mexico Riviera cruising, industry giant Princess has canceled calls in Puerto Vallarta for the rest of the year, citing safety concerns. Based on the continued violence in Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan, Princess made the decision to calls to these ports.

The move comes three months after Princess and several other lines pulled out of nearby Mazatlan, Mexico, also over safety concerns.

While several lines have dropped calls in Mazatlan this year, Princess is the first major operator to cancel calls in Puerto Vallarta, and the move raises questions about the viability of the Mexican Riviera as a cruise destination.

Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas are the three ports that have been at the core of Mexican Riviera cruises for years.

The big question now is whether other major lines such as Carnival and Holland America will follow Princess in dropping Puerto Vallarta.

Princess has just one ship visiting Puerto Vallarta this year, the 2,670-passenger Sapphire Princess, and the cancellation will affect just three seven-night sailings on Nov. 19, Dec. 10 and Dec. 31. The line hasn't canceled Puerto Vallarta calls on sailings beyond Jan. 1, 2012.

The new itinerary for the affected Sapphire Princess sailings will offer just two ports: Cabo San Lucas (for two days) and Ensenada.

You may remember the ABC's popular TV show Love Boat set on a Princess cruise ship Pacific Princess. The original 1976 made-for-TV movie was set aboard a cruise liner called the Pacific Princess and the TV show that followed, was usually sailing the Mexican Riviera including Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan. The show and this itinerary was a major boost to Princess Cruise lines it’s sad that the unrest in Mexico is destroying this very popular destination.