Cruise companies are canceling Puerto Vallarta stops

US travel companies are scrambling to reroute cruise ships and sponsor tourists to Mexico after violence and chaos erupted in several coastal areas of the country following the killing of a gang leader.

The US State Department expanded its advisory for travelers to take shelter in multiple areas of Mexico, including the popular tourist areas of Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, Tulum, Tijuana and Puerto Vallarta.

Violence erupted after the Mexican Army killed New Generation Jalisco Cartel leader Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes. The man known as “El Mencho” led one of Mexico’s fastest-growing criminal networks, which was known for smuggling fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine into the United States and launching brazen attacks against government officials who challenged it, the Associated Press reported.

With roads blocked by burning vehicles, airlines canceled flights and cruise lines rerouted ships to avoid ports with potential problems.

Carnival Company Princess Cruises’ Royal Princess and Holland America Line’s Zuiderdam said they exceeded their planned stops in Puerto Vallarta on Monday. Norwegian Cruise Line She said her ship, Norwegian Bliss, had canceled plans to visit Puerto Vallarta on Wednesday.

MSC Cruises USA said cruises to Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico are currently operating as planned, but shore excursions may be modified or cancelled.

Nevertheless Royal Caribbean CNBC said it currently has no ships in the affected areas, and CNBC has learned that some of its flights in Ensenada, Mexico, have been affected.

Airbnb told CNBC it has activated a “major disruptive events policy” in Jalisco state and other affected areas. This policy overrides a host’s individual cancellation policy, allowing travelers and hosts to cancel reservations without consequences.

“We are monitoring this situation carefully and are focused on supporting guests and hosts in the affected areas,” an Airbnb spokesperson said.

In a note to investors… TRUE Travel and leisure analyst Patrick Scholes wrote life The hotel has the greatest exposure to international brands, with 8.5% of its total rooms coming from Mexico. Marriott It had the second highest exposure, with 3.3% of its total rooms coming from Mexico.

Typical travel insurance policies often include exclusions for terrorism, political violence or civil unrest.

Squaremouth, an online marketplace for travel insurance, warned potential travelers that “violence in Mexico is now a predictable event, or what the insurance industry calls a known event. So tourists can’t buy coverage now in order to cancel their trip.”

However, a Squaremouth spokesperson told CNBC: “If you’re heading to Mexico soon, especially during spring break, buy a CFAR [cancel for any reason] Or Ivar [interruption for any reason] As extras it is a smart decision given the uncertainty.”