State Department issues ominous travel warning for two cruise ports

The latest advisory to islands popular with tourists warns of "serious risks from crime."

May 9, 2025 - 16:44

State Department issues ominous travel warning for two cruise ports

With the Caribbean made up of 13 countries and 30 territories that were adjoined to different European nations during their colonial periods, the majority of islands across the region now serve as popular cruise stops.

The Bahamian capital of Nassau, whose cruise port welcomed a record 5.6 million passengers in 2024, often serves as a the first stop on a wider ship itinerary going on on to islands like Jamaica, Barbados, St. Kitts, Grand Cayman and Trinidad and Tobago.

As the southernmost country in the Caribbean, the latter nation sees fewer international tourists — 107,394 in 2024, according to the numbers from the Trinidadian tourism board — due to the time it takes to sail there. The Royal Caribbean (RCL) and Carnival (CCL) itineraries with Trinidad and Tobago as a stop will typically last at least 10 days.

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'Foreigners have been recent victims of kidnapping,' updated travel advisory warns

This number will also not be helped by the fact that, on May 7, U.S. State Department has issued a new advisory warning American tourists of "serious risks from crime". Trinidad and Tobago remains at a level three "reconsider travel" rating due to elevated rates of violent crime.

"Foreigners and a U.S. lawful permanent resident have been recent victims of kidnapping," the advisory reads. "There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Trinidad and Tobago."

The advisory then goes on to warn that popular tourist locations like markets and open-air malls, hotels, restaurants and Piarco International Airport pose the risk of "attack with little or no warning."

Those traveling are advised to stay aware when passing through isolated areas alone and be especially mindful at night, around banks and ATMs as well as in places outside one's resort.

Pretty much every cruise line calls on Nassau.
Image source: Dan Kline/Come Cruise With Me

Travel advisory to Cuba focuses on power outages and petty crime

In the same string of State Department updates, Cuba was also targeted with a warning of "crime and unreliable electrical power. While Americans traveling to the island nation still face a series of travel restrictions dating back to Fidel Castro's coup in 1959, Cuba is ranked at the lower "exercise increased caution" rating also shared by countries such as France, Germany and China.

International cruise lines such as Virgin and Holland America have Cuban ports like Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba on some of their Caribbean itineraries. Biden's efforts to reverse restrictions on U.S. citizens traveling to Cuba — Americans can still go but need to register their reason as one of 12 non-touristic reasons approved by the government — were reversed by Trump on his first day in office.

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Along with risk of petty crime in popular tourist areas, the latest advisory focuses on a recent string of power shortages both in Havana and resort cities such as Varadero and Cayo Coco that the country has been dealing with since October 2024.

"Some large businesses, hotels, hospitals, and institutions use generators during power outages," the advisory reads. "However, they may have trouble keeping the generators running during a long outage due to the inconsistent and scarce availability of fuel."