Safety is always the top priority for the cruise lines, but that doesn’t mean the destinations they sail to are completely without risk.
While a cruise line will never bring guests to a port where they expect their passengers to be in active danger, there are some destinations where passengers may want to exercise increased caution or simply stay on the ship.
Without further ado, here are the 11 most dangerous cruise ports in the world.
In This Article:
Labadee, Haiti
First on the list of dangerous cruise ports is Royal Caribbean’s private destination of Labadee, Haiti.
As the 260-acre resort is owned and operated by Royal Caribbean, it is only called upon by Royal Caribbean cruise ships and sister vessels from Celebrity Cruises. Even so, it’s quite popular among the cruise community.
The US Department of State currently has Haiti under the most severe “Level 4: Do Not Travel” advisory due to “kidnapping, crime, terrorist activity, civil unrest, and limited health care.”
The resort itself is generally seen as a safer destination than the rest of Haiti, as it is far removed from the violent unrest in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, and has its own private security.
Labadee is on a peninsula on the north coast of Haiti in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean Sea, over 100 miles away from Port-au-Prince.
Even so, Royal Caribbean has taken multiple breaks from visiting the destination out of an abundance of caution due to the ongoing unrest.
As of September 2025, the months-long hiatus that was already in place was extended by another six months until at least April of 2026.
Nassau, Bahamas
Nassau, which is the capital of the Bahamas, is one of the most popular destinations to include on a cruise to the Bahamas or the Caribbean.
This is helped by its proximity to Florida. Nassau is only around 185 nautical miles from PortMiami, the busiest cruise port in the world, and 225 miles from Port Canaveral.
Many cruise lines visit Nassau routinely, including Carnival Cruise Line and its sister brands, Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Virgin Voyages, and more.
To put things in perspective, Nassau welcomed a record-breaking 5.6 million guests in 2024, and that number is only expected to grow.
That said, the US Government has a “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution” advisory for the Bahamas in place, which includes Nassau.
Sexual assaults by jet ski operators have been reported at Nassau’s beaches in 2025, and guests should remain vigilant for spiked drinks, taxi scams, and both credit card and ATM fraud.
Especially in less touristy areas, such as when venturing “Over the Hill” to the south of Shirley Street, crime and gang activity is prevalent.
In my experience visiting Nassau twice, local vendors were very pushy and didn’t respect personal space when I explored the areas just outside of the cruise port.
Some tried to grab and open my purse, which was thankfully secured to me as a crossbody bag, and shove souvenirs in my hand to force me to pay for them.
Roatan, Honduras
Roatan is the largest of the Bay Islands, which is a group of islands located in the Caribbean Sea off the northern coast of Honduras.
It is regarded as a popular cruise port in the Western Caribbean that is known for its animal encounters, pristine beaches, and world class diving and snorkeling at the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef.
Roatan’s Mahogany Bay Cruise Port, which is owned and operated by Carnival Cruise Line, and the Coxen Hole Cruise Port welcome over 1.7 million cruise guests every year.
Brands like Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Princess Cruises, TUI Cruises, and Virgin Voyages commonly make appearances in Roatan.
But in the most recent update to the travel advisory in December of 2024, the US government put Honduras under a “Level 3: Reconsider Travel” status due to crime.
Especially in mainland areas, violent crime (including armed robbery, homicide, and gang activity) and both drug and human trafficking are concerning issues.
Acapulco, Mexico
Acapulco, Mexico, can be found in the southwestern part of Mexico in the state of Guerrero, situated along the Pacific Coast.
Once known as the playground of the rich and famous, Acapulco is home to Mexico’s oldest beach resorts and known for its stunning sunsets, beautiful scenery, and delicious food.
Though not quite as busy as other Mexican destinations, many mainstream cruise brands visit the port as part of Mexican Riviera itineraries.
These include Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, and more.
However, cruise guests should be aware that the entire state of Guerrero, including Acapulco, is under the highest “Level 4: Do Not Travel Advisory” due to terrorism and crime.
The region is facing challenges from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs, and other criminal organizations.
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Puerto Vallarta is a resort city that is also positioned on the Pacific Coast. It is located within the Mexican state of Jalisco and is wedged between the Sierra Madre Mountains and Banderas Bay.
As a more popular port on the Mexican Riviera, Puerto Vallarta serves as both a popular port of call and as a homeport for the major cruise lines.
The destination welcomes hundreds of thousands of cruisers each year from brands like Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, and Holland America Line, among others.
But despite its popularity, the entire state of Jalisco is under a “Level 3: Reconsider Travel Advisory” due to terrosim, crime, and kidnapping.
There is a risk of violence from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs, and other criminal organizations, especially when venturing outside of the main tourist hot spots.
Belize City, Belize
Belize City is the largest city in Belize, which is a country in Central America. It is often included on Western Caribbean voyages.
Despite being a relatively small tender port, thousands of cruisers are welcomed into the destination through the Belize Fort Street Tourism Village every year.
From there, cruisers can enjoy attractions like the Xunantunich Mayan ruins, the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, and the Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center.
Cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, and Margaritaville at Sea are frequent callers.
That said, the destination is under a “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution” travel advisory for a reason.
According to the US government, violent crime and gang activity is common – even during the day and in tourist areas.
Jamaica
Jamaica is a well-known country in the Caribbean Sea, located in the West Indies about 100 miles west of Haiti and 90 miles south of Cuba.
The Caribbean country is home to five cruise ports, the most popular of which are likely Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, and Falmouth.
Just to name a few, vessels from Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, TUI Cruises, Viking Cruises, and Princess Cruises are known to visit these ports.
Port Antonio and Kingston Cruise Port (Port Royal) tend to be less busy and are primarily visited by smaller ships from brands like Silversea Cruises and Oceania Cruises.
All in all, this equated to around 1.43 million cruise guests visiting Jamaica between October 2023 to May of 2024, generating $197.8 million in revenue.
Positively, Jamaica’s Level 3 travel advisory was downgraded to a “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution” advisory at the end of May 2025 – which implies things are moving in the right direction.
However, violent crime is still prevalent and Jamaica has one of the highest homicide rates in the Western Hemisphere.
Port Said, Egypt
Port Said can be found in northeastern Egypt, conveniently positioned on the Mediterranean Sea at the northern entrance to the Suez Canal.
The port serves as a gateway for cruisers who hope to visit Cairo and is known for being a duty-free port (no customs duties or taxes required) as well as a tourist resort during the summer.
Just to name a few examples, MSC Cruises, TUI Cruises, AIDA Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises have all visited the Egyptian destination in 2025.
But it’s worth acknowledging that Egypt as a whole is under a “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution” advisory from the US government due to terrorism, crime, and limited healthcare.
Notably, border areas like Port Said are under a heightened “Level 4: Do Not Travel” alert due to military activity.
Port Said essentially connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, which continues to experience unrest and rebel attacks.
Several cruise lines have already pivoted to avoid the Red Sea tensions, and the proximity to the Red Sea certainly isn’t making Port Said any safer.
Barcelona, Spain
As the busiest cruise port in the Mediterranean, Barcelona, Spain, welcomed approximately 3.6 million cruise passengers in 2024 across an expected 806 visits from the mainstream cruise brands.
In fact, Barcelona receives so much cruise traffic, that the local government has imposed cruise ship limitations to decrease pollution and overcrowding.
Unsurprisingly, areas that receive a massive amount of tourists are hot spots for crimes like petty theft and pickpocketing.
Overcrowded and busy areas like La Rambla, which is a pedestrian boulevard known for shopping and its lively atmosphere, and public transportation are havens for pickpockets.
Violent crime is less common, but there have been reports of petty criminals spraying tourists with water as a distraction.
Taxi scams, such as overcharging with inflated fares and taking unnecessarily long routes, are also not uncommon. Using rideshare services like Uber or Lyft can help mitigate this risk.
Athens (Piraeus), Greece
Athens is another popular Mediterranean cruise port. As the capital of Greece, an estimated 1.7 million cruise passengers visited the main Port of Piraeus in 2024.
Visits from popular cruise brands like Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Celestyal Cruises, Windstar Cruises, and more helped to make up that number.
Similar to Barcelona, high-traffic tourist areas and public transportation are a haven for pickpockets.
There have even been horror stories of cruise guests having their passports stolen on their way to the Port of Piraeus, which serves as both a port of call and as a homeport, and not being allowed to embark on their sailings.
Cruisers should also stay vigilant for taxi scams where drivers charge overinflated fees for routes and luggage handling.
Antarctica
Antarctica is commonly known as the “final frontier.” The polar region is beyond beautiful and is a bucket-list destination for many cruisers.
Because of ice and severe weather, cruise ships can only sail to Antarctica during the summer in the Southern Hemisphere, which typically lasts from November to March.
Smaller expedition vessels that are Polar certified most commonly embark on the journey, such as the ships from Silversea Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, Ponant Cruises, and Aurora Expeditions.
These ships also have a smaller capacity that helps them adhere to the limit of 100 guests ashore at a time per landing site that was established by the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO).
Larger cruise ships do occasionally sail to Antarctica, but they can typically only offer scenic cruising.
But no matter which ship cruisers choose, sailing to the remote region comes with its own challenges because of the frigid weather and undeveloped, barren landscapes.
As of July 28, 2025, “the Ice Continent” has been under a “Level 2: Travel Advisory” due to increasingly unpredictable and severe weather patterns.
Additionally, the remote location of Antarctica means that help is far away in an emergency.
Cruisers are encouraged to have a contingency plan in place for emergencies in advance, just in case, including investing in travel insurance that will help cover complicated evacuations.
Staying Safe While in Port
Cruises are amazing adventures, and the majority of travelers do not encounter any issues while exploring different ports around the world.
However, knowledge is power, and knowing what is happening in the cruise ports you are visiting can help keep you safe.
One way to do this is to keep an eye on the US State Department for updated travel advisories and to sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive timely news from US embassies and consulates while sailing abroad.
The cruise lines also have dedicated security teams that are constantly monitoring itineraries for potential issues that may make a planned visit unsafe, and will reroute when necessary.
Read Also: How to Stay Safe and Enjoy Your Cruise Vacation
While visiting a cruise port, it’s also a good idea to travel in a group and stay in well-lit and populated tourist areas.
If taking a shore excursion, try to only book your tour through the cruise line’s vetted vendors or other reputable providers.
Additionally, stay aware of your surroundings and avoid wearing or carrying items that could be taken as a display of wealth in areas where robberies are common, such as fine jewelry and designer bags.
As a final tip, I always make sure that I have local police and emergency contacts saved in my phone so I don’t have to waste time looking for them in the unlikely event that I need them.
