Carnival Suspends Stops In Popular Mexican Port
MIAMI (CBS4) - A Mexican resort city located in a state with one of the highest murder rates in the country has been temporarily taken off from Carnival's itinerary.
Due to violence escalating in the city of Mazatlan, Carnival Cruise Line has ceased all stops in the port city. Carnival reported that there have been no incidents involving passengers, but the decision comes as a precautionary measure.
Carnival joins two other cruise lines, Disney and Holland America, who have also suspended stops in the resort city due to the violence.
"We are working closely with the Mexican government and local officials to review their plans to improve security in all of the main tourist areas," Carnival said in a statement.
In the meantime Carnival's ships, Splendor and Spirit, will replace Mazatlan with additional stops in Mexico's Manzanillo and Cabo San Lucas.
Mazatlan is located in the state Sinaoloa. In February, two local men were shot and killed in the parking lot of a popular tourist hotel.
In another incident last week the bodies of five men were found swinging from a bridge over a highway.
(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)