by Donald Wood
Last updated: 3:50 PM ET, Fri March 2, 2018
UPDATE: 4:50 p.m. ET 3/2/2018
In addition to the other cruise lines, Princess Cruises announced it is also canceling shore excursion involving ferry trips between Cozumel and Playa del Carmen:
Princess Cruises released an official statement:
At Princess Cruises, the safety and security of our guests is our top priority. We are aware of the updated travel warning involving ferry boats that carry passengers between Cozumel and Playa del Carmen, Mexico issued by U.S. State Department.
We would not take our guests and crew to a port - or operate a shore excursion - where we had any indication there may be an undue risk to safety and security. As a precautionary measure, we have cancelled all tours that make use of ferries and strongly advise that ferries from Cozumel to the mainland be avoided. Guests with pre-paid excursions impacted by this change will be issued a refund to their shipboard account. We will continue to monitor the situation closely. As always, we work closely with government officials to ensure our guest's security at all times.
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Original Text
Authorities investigating a February ferry explosion in Mexico announced Friday they discovered what is believed to be undetonated explosives attached to another vessel on the same route.
According to The Associated Press, Quintana Roo state prosecutor Miguel Angel Pech Cen revealed a diver working for the ferry company that sails between Playa del Carmen and Cozumel discovered and reported an object attached to the boat.
The vessel was anchored 500 yards from the Cozumel dock and was not in service when the undetonated explosives were discovered. Members of the Mexican Armed Forces were called to the scene and navy divers removed it before turning it over to the Department of Defense.
As a result of the announcement by authorities, the United States Embassy in Mexico City released a statement that government employees are "prohibited from using all tourist ferries on this route until further notice."
Two cruise companies, Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean, have already announced the cancellation of shore excursions involving the impacted ferries between Playa del Carmen and Cozumel.
"The U.S. State Department has issued a travel ban for all government personnel from traveling on tourist ferries between Playa del Carmen and Cozumel," Carnival senior cruise director John Heald released an official statement. "In an abundance of caution, we have canceled all tours that make use of ferries and we strongly advise that ferries from Cozumel to the mainland be avoided."
"Guests with scheduled tours impacted by these changes will have their tickets refunded to their account," Heald continued. "I apologize for this unexpected change in plans and trust you understand everyone's safety is my number one priority."
The news comes less than two weeks after the initial February 21 explosion on a ferry owned by the same company. The explosion was originally believed to be a mechanical malfunction, but authorities now say it was caused by an explosive device.
In total, the February explosion left at least 19 Mexicans, five Americans and three Canadians injured.
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