Key Aspects:

• Amendments to Mexico’s wildlife laws now prohibit some signature interactions with captive dolphins, with Royal Caribbean now informing booked guests.
• Less intrusive activities with dolphins will still be available and tours are still being offered.
• These changes are not unlike other laws to protect sloths and monkeys in Honduras or other wildlife, such as sea turtles, in many cruise destinations.

Dolphin encounters, swims, and interactions can be amazing experiences for cruise travelers, creating lifelong memories and inspiring a love of these special marine mammals.

With a new law now in effect in Mexico, however, the exact interactions guests are permitted on these tours have to be scaled back. This is to safeguard guests as well as the wildlife, but it can be disappointing for travelers who have looked forward to the experience.

Royal Caribbean has reached out to guests booked on impacted tours to alert them to the changes, so it is no surprise that the activity has been altered.

“Recently, the tour operator for your ‘Dolphin Swim & VIP Experience All-Inclusive’ tour in Cozumel, Mexico informed us that adjustments have been made the the excursion,” the notification read.

“Effective immediately, the General Wildlife Law has been implemented and enforces new operations standards for dolphin habitats across Mexico. As a result of this change, several high-impact interactions in our tours offered are now mandatorily removed.”

The activities that have been removed from dolphin visits include:

• Grabbing or holding on to the dolphin’s dorsal or pectoral fins
• Belly rides astride the dolphin while holding its fins
• Boogie board interactions where the dolphin pushes the board
• Foot pushes with the dolphin propelling a guest
• Dorsal tows of any length or duration

This may not be a comprehensive list of the types of interactions now prohibited, and different tour operators may call these types of interactions by different names.

Royal Caribbean is giving guests the opportunity to change their excursion choices if they no longer wish to participate in the impacted tours. There is no indication whether or not cancellation fees might be waived for imminent tours.

According to the cruise line’s excursion FAQ, cancellation fees may apply depending on when guests opt to cancel.

“Excursions can be modified or cancelled up to 48 hours prior to port arrival without penalty,” the website reads.

Guests can cancel tours from the Royal Caribbean website or onboard by visiting the Shore Excursions desk or the Guest Relations desk.

While the notification email only mentioned tours in Cozumel, the fact that this is a national law and similar tours at other ports of call, such as Costa Maya, are sure to be likewise impacted.

Similarly, other cruise lines may also notify their guests of these widespread tour changes, as the new law is nationwide and not just focused on Royal Caribbean.

What Can Dolphin Tours Still Include?

It will naturally be disappointing for guests to learn that these signature activities with dolphins are no longer possible, but what types of interactions can still happen?

There are many different activities that can be part of dolphin encounters without violating the new amendments to Mexico’s General Wildlife Law, also called “Mincho’s Law.” The law’s adjustments were approved in late June 2025.

While “exploitative” shows and potentially harmful interactions are no longer permitted, simpler activities are still available. This could include receiving “kisses” from the mammals, taking selfies, offering belly rubs, petting the dolphins, and feeding them.

Read Also: Royal Caribbean Amenities You Should Pre-Book (Including Shore Tours!)

Exactly what types of interactions are available will likely vary by tour operator and are always subject to change. The top priority, of course, will always be the animal’s welfare.

This change to dolphin interactions is not unlike laws enacted in Honduras in March 2025, limiting what guests can (and mostly can’t) do with sloths and monkeys, both of which have been popular wildlife attractions.

Similar laws are in place in many areas to protect delicate and endangered species. For example, it is generally illegal to touch sea turtles while snorkeling, though some tours offer limited options depending on the location and type of interaction.

Tours are often adjusted based on changes in local laws, guest preferences, and other factors. While dolphin tours will now be different in Mexico, they can still be a magical and amazing experience for cruise guests.

Key Aspects: 

• The Netflix docuseries “Amy Bradley is Missing” is the second most watched show on the platform globally.
• After watching the now-viral series, viewers have been rallying for justice for Amy and debating how safe cruises really are.
• Ultimately, the likelihood of going missing during a cruise is extremely low and not something most passengers will ever need to worry about.

I don’t know about you, but the mysterious disappearance of former Royal Caribbean guest Amy Bradley is a case that keeps me up at night as both a cruise lover and a true crime fan.

If you don’t know the story, Amy Bradley mysteriously went missing from Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas on March 24, 1998.

While some leads have occasionally popped up over the years, nobody truly knows what happened and the mystery is still unsolved today.

Thanks to the new Netflix docuseries “Amy Bradley is Missing,” her case is back in the spotlight and sparking fears of meeting a similar fate from modern cruisers.

According to the office of Lipcon, Margulies, and Winkleman, P.A., who are nationally recognized maritime lawyers in the US, the documentary is the second-most watched Netflix show globally, with 12.2 million views in the past week alone.

Not only has this led to a renewed public outcry to find out what happened to Amy and to seek justice on her behalf, but it’s brought up concerns about cruise ship safety.

Since the series premiered, Google searches relating to how often people go missing or disappear from cruise ships have skyrocketed by anywhere from 900% to 3,100% depending on the specific prompt.

Even searches for ‘is Curacao safe,’ which is a popular cruise port in the Caribbean and where Amy was last allegedly seen, has jumped up by 300%.

Meanwhile, social media platforms like TikTok have been flooded with thousands of videos from creators discussing theories, claiming that they will never cruise again, and bashing how Royal Caribbean responded to the crisis.

Most notably, viewers felt that the crew members didn’t make a ship-wide announcement about Amy’s disappearance until it was too late.

In 1999, the Bradley family actually filed a lawsuit against Royal Caribbean, but the case was ultimately dismissed.

The cruise line has always held firm in that it acted appropriately and responsibly at all times.

Going Missing is Unlikely

If you haven’t watched it yet, and you like cruising and true crime like me, I highly recommend “Amy Bradley is Missing.”

The docuseries offers a comprehensive look at the case with direct input from the family, investigators, and Royal Caribbean representatives.

The daughter of Alister “Yellow” Douglas, who is a musician who performed onboard and was seen with Amy shortly before her disappearance, was even interviewed.

It also chronicles how Amy’s family has never given up their quest to find their daughter, who today would be 51 years old.

For example, the family had aged images created to try to generate new leads in 2024, which coincided with Amy’s 50th birthday.

However, it’s important to not let the documentary scare you too much. While Amy’s disappearance is absolutely horrible, going missing on cruise ships is actually quite rare.

While it does happen from time to time, the likelihood is very low considering a record 37.7 people are expected to cruise in 2025 and the vast majority will return home from their vacations.

Read Also: How to Stay Safe and Enjoy Your Cruise Vacation

“Cruise ship travel is generally considered very safe,” Michael Winkleman, a leading Personal Injury & Maritime Attorney, stated.

“While high-profile cases from the past, such as the disappearance of Amy Bradley, have gone viral on social media, thanks to the popularity of Netflix’s recent documentary, Amy Bradley Is Missing, the reality is that out of 30 million people who sail on cruises every year, only about 15-20 missing person reports are filed annually,” Winkleman continued.

Over the past 20 years, an estimated 200 to 400 passengers and crew members have gone missing from cruise ships, which is still a relatively low number.

“While these incidents are extremely rare compared to the massive number of travelers, each one is extremely alarming and emotionally devastating for the families and loved ones involved,” Winkleman concluded.

While cruise ships also have their own security teams and more surveillance technology today than they did during Amy’s ill-fated voyage, cruisers can help keep themselves and others safe.

This means practicing caution while on decks or on private balconies, especially when near railings, avoiding excessive alcohol consumption, and staying mindful of their surroundings.

When I cruise, I personally always practice the buddy system with my loved ones so we are never alone.

If one of us does have to do something solo, we tell our travel companions exactly where we’re going and when we expect to come back.