by Donald Wood
Last updated: 8:52 AM ET, Thu January 3, 2019
After issuing a warning to passengers about an increase in crime in Nassau, Bahamas, Royal Caribbean International has agreed to halt its recommendations to customers after working with the island's tourism minister.
According to the Sun-Sentinel, Bahamas minister of tourism and aviation Dionisio D'Aguilar told local media outlets that he used "gentle nudging" to rescind the "unwarranted" passenger advisory for those making excursions in Nassau.
D'Aguilar reached out to the cruise line after a letter signed by Anthem of the Seas' captain Srecko Ban was released to the public warning passengers regarding the dangers in the Bahamian city.
"I don't know of any major or significant crime happening to a cruise passenger in quite some time," D'Aguilar told the Sun-Sentinel. "I don't know about petty crime, but in my humble opinion Nassau is as safe as any other city."
The letter warned passengers to avoid taking valuables with them when making shore excursions in specified areas of the Bahamas, including the Over the Hill and Fish Fry regions. The letter signed by the captain echoed advisories recently issued by the United States and Canadian governments.
Both countries list armed robberies, burglaries, purse snatchings, theft, fraud and sexual assaults as the most common crimes against travelers. In response, Royal Bahamas Police Force Commissioner Anthony Ferguson said overall crime dropped 14 percent and violent crime is down 22 percent.
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