An increase in crime has prompted Royal Caribbean to issue a warning to its passengers about traveling in Nassau, Bahamas.
A letter was reportedly sent to passengers aboard Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas urging guests to be aware of nonviolent crimes such as theft of personal items.
According to a report from Cruise Radio, the letter signed by Captain Srecko Ban advises passengers to:
- Leave valuables and irreplaceable items inside your stateroom safe.
- Avoid wearing obviously expensive jewelry.
- Carry only the cash or credit cards that you will need on each outing.
- Use discretion when handling cash publicly.
- Keep your belongings, especially expensive cameras or phones, secure and in sight.
The letter from the captain continues by stating how “thousands of visitors have routinely traveled to Nassau without incident” and that visitors to Nassau, like visitors to all major foreign cities in the world today need to be mindful of their personal safety.
Lastly, the letter points out that if anyone happens to be confronted by a criminal, to note that money and valuable can be replaced. The letter reminds tourists that “your safety and security, and that our crew members, is always foremost in our minds.”
While there’s an increase in nonviolent crimes, Cruise Radio is reporting that the Bahamas has seen a decrease in violent crimes.
A total of 89 murders were reported in the Bahamas this year, down from 122 during the same period last year.
Armes robberies are down 16 percent compared to last year, and shootings are down 20 percent compared to 2017.
The last travel warning from the State Department was issued earlier this year when officials warned tourists to “exercise increased caution in The Bahamas due to crime.” According to the travel advisory, violent crimes, such as burglaries, armed robberies, and sexual assault were common in tourist areas.