Is the Mexican Riviera Finished?

 Off-limits: the seaside port of Mazatlan, Mexico won't

be seeing the Disney Wonder anytime soon.

Photo © Aaron Saunders

Those who follow this blog know we've written extensively about the rapid decline of West Coast cruises, due in part to restrictive taxes and environmental policies in the Alaskan market and the growing unrest and violence that has increasing plagued Mexico's Pacific coast.

The Mexican Riviera was dealt a blow earlier this week when Disney Cruise Line announced it was suspending Disney Wonder's calls to Mazatlan.  In its place, the ship will call on Cabo San Lucas for an additional day.  The Cabo stop will not be an overnight, though; the ship will set sail in the evening as scheduled, spend a night at sea, and return to the sun-drenched port the next day.

Diplomatically, Disney cited "the changing environment in Mazatlan" as the official reason for the switch.  If you read between the lines, their rationale is clear: they don't want to risk the possibility their passengers could be caught in the escalating drug warfare that saw a British Columbia man shot in the leg on January 17th.  While gang problems have plagued the country for years, violence has spread out of rural inland areas and into major metropolitan centers in recent months.

You can't blame Disney for being concerned - and proactive.  In fact, Holland America Line and Princess have both followed their lead and canceled this week's calls to Mazatlan aboard the Oosterdam and Sapphire Princess, respectively.

However, both lines have only confirmed the change for the sailings in progress; cruises departing this Saturday are scheduled to go ahead with their published itinerary and will be assessed on a weekly basis.

Mazatlan's Zona Dorada (Golden Zone) is popular with

tourists and cruise ship passengers.

Photo © Aaron Saunders 

The area took the first of several major hits in the spring of 2009, when the H1N1 or Swine Flu virus swept the region, prompting airlines to cancel flights and cruise lines to divert ships for weeks.  The economic downturn, coupled with a booming European cruise industry has meant that cruise lines have elected to redeploy their ships to more profitable areas.

This latest move by Disney, Holland America and Princess is just the latest example of an industry that is taking a big step back and reassessing their commitment to the West Coast.  Royal Caribbean pulled its Mariner of the Seas from the Mexican Rivera this month, opting to send her to the Mediterranean instead.  Carnival announced they were redeploying their Carnival Spirit to operate voyages roundtrip out of Sydney, Australia at the end of 2012.

In both cases, neither line has any current plans to re-enter the Mexican Rivera market.

Up north, Alaskan cruises are starting to see their numbers rebound after ships began leaving the region in 2008.  This year will see both Disney Cruise Line and Oceania Cruises sail the region for the first time, and Crystal Cruises will return after a five-year hiatus.

It remains to be seen whether Mexico will be able to lure back the ships - and tourists - that have pulled in their anchors.