State Department Issues Travel Warning For Disney Hot Spot

When you’re traveling, the last thing that you want to think about is being the victim of a violent crime. But traveling in the United States the previous year may have been the safest time to do so. The U.S. saw a 10 percent decline in murders in major cities across the country.

The two cities closest to Disney properties, Los Angeles and Orlando, were not in the top 20 of murders per capita in the United States. Your trips to Walt Disney World in Central Florida and Disneyland in Anaheim were reasonably safe. But now the United States State Department has issued a travel warning for a Disney Cruise Line hot spot.

Related: After Threatening Disney With A Prison, DeSantis Threatens to ‘Flatten’ A Disney Cruise Hot Spot

The State Department has issued a travel warning for Nassau in the Bahamas after the nation’s capital saw 18 murders since the state of the New Year. The rise in violent crime in the vacation paradise has been attributed to an increase in gang activity and retaliation.

The State Department Warning said: 

In Nassau, practice increased vigilance in the ‘Over the Hill’ area (south of Shirley Street) where gang-on-gang violence has resulted in a high homicide rate primarily affecting the local population. Violent crime, such as burglaries, armed robberies, and sexual assaults, occur in both tourist and non-tourist areas. Be vigilant when staying at short-term vacation rental properties where private security companies do not have a presence.

The U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas urged travelers to:

• Exercise extreme caution in the eastern part of New Providence Island (Nassau).
• Use caution when walking or driving at night.
• Keep a low profile.
• Be aware of your surroundings.
• Do not physically resist any robbery attempt.
• Review your personal security plans.

This travel advisory could potentially impact guests on Disney Cruise Line ships that dock in Nassau for guest excursions. While Disney Cruise Line has its own island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay, according to Disney’s website, it has several cruises that include Nassau as a port of call.

Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis said his administration would institute “more intrusive policing” to ensure all citizens and tourists are safe in Nassau. The State Department travel advisory remains at a level 2, so you should exercise additional caution. The State Department has similar warnings for the Dominican Republic, Italy, Germany, Costa Rica, and France.

It is important to note that none of the violence has happened to any tourists in the city. Royal Caribbean and Carvinal Cruise lines, which also sail to Nassau, told the Orlando Sentinel that they have no plans to change their itineraries but are monitoring the situation. Disney Cruise Line did not release a statement on the matter.

We will continue to update this story at Disney Fanatic.