To help U.S. citizens make informed decisions when deciding to take a trip abroad, the U.S. Department of State issues four levels of travel advisory alerts based on safety and security conditions in each country.
Before booking a cruise or departing on one you booked well in advance, it’s a good idea to check the current travel advisories for the cruise ports you plan to visit. You can do so on the State Department website, which also offers an interactive, color-coded world map view.
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The State Department considers a number of factors to set the travel advisory level for each country, such as crime, civil unrest and likelihood of a natural disaster. Travel advisory levels range from Level 1, the lowest advisory level that advises travelers to exercise normal precautions, to Level 4, the highest advisory level that warns U.S. citizens not to travel to the country due to greater likelihood of life-threatening risks.
Travel advisories are reviewed on a regular basis and this week, the State Department updated their warnings for multiple islands in the southern Caribbean that are recovering from recent hurricane damage.
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Travel warnings updated for Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
On Nov. 12, the State Department updated its travel advisories for Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines to reflect Hurricane Beryl’s impact on the Grenadine Islands in the Lesser Antilles. Beryl hit the islands as a Category 4 hurricane in July, causing significant destruction.
Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines are set at level 1 travel advisories, but the State Department wants travelers to be aware that the islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinque in Grenada, and Canouan, Mayreau, Palm Island, and Union Island in St. Vincent and the Grenadines are in varying stages of recovery from Hurricane Beryl.
For Carriacou and Petite Martinque, the State Department advisory includes the following update:
“In July 2024, Hurricane Beryl damaged buildings on these islands. Restaurant and other food options were affected. Until repairs are complete, fewer hotels may be available. Internet service was severely impacted by the hurricane and may be unreliable or unavailable.”
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For Canouan, Mayreau, Palm Island, and Union Island, the State Department advisory says:
“In July 2024, Hurricane Beryl damaged many buildings on these islands. Until repairs are complete, fewer hotels and transportation options may be available.”
The State Department recommends travelers contact their destination before traveling to any of these islands. Cruise lines with upcoming cruises to Carriacou include luxury lines Oceania Cruises and The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, which also stops in Port Canouan Island. Certain niche cruise lines also visit Mayreau and Union Island.
A number of other cruise lines visit the main islands of Grenada and St. Vincent on Southern Caribbean itineraries including MSC Cruises, Norwegian and Princess Cruises.
Does a State Department travel advisory mean, ‘don’t travel here?’
A State Department warning about a destination doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t travel there, but it’s important to read the advisories and follow the department’s advice.
The State Department provides the following descriptions of each of its four safety levels:
- Level 1 - Exercise Normal Precautions. This is the lowest advisory level for safety and security risk. There is some risk in any international travel. Conditions in other countries may differ from those in the United States and may change at any time.
- Level 2 - Exercise Increased Caution. Be aware of heightened risks to safety and security. The Department of State provides more advice for travelers to these areas in the Travel Advisory. Conditions in any country may change at any time.
- Level 3 - Reconsider Travel. Reconsider travel due to serious risks to safety and security. The Department of State provides additional advice for travelers in these areas in the Travel Advisory. Conditions in any country may change at any time.
- Level 4 – Do Not Travel. This is the highest advisory level due to greater likelihood of life-threatening risks. The U.S. government may have very limited ability to provide assistance, including during an emergency. The Department of State advises that U.S. citizens not travel to the country or to leave as soon as it is safe to do so. We advise that you write a will prior to traveling and leave DNA samples in case of worst-case scenarios.
It is quite common to travel to countries with Level 1 warnings as long as you take the proper precautions. For Level 2 or higher, it's important to listen to your cruise line as it will offer specific guidelines for where you are visiting.
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Royal Caribbean, for example, still calls on its private destination, Labadee, Haiti, despite Haiti having a Level 4 warning. That's a situation the cruise line actively monitors, but Labadee is nowhere near Port-au-Prince or any other population center.
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