All United States Department of State travel advisories are not created equal. The agency, for example, has issued a high-level travel advisory for Haiti, a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” warning.
It explains what that means on its website.
“Since March 2024, Haiti has been under a State of Emergency. Crime involving firearms is common in Haiti. It includes robberies, carjackings, sexual assault, and kidnapping for ransom. Kidnapping is rampant, and US citizens have been victims and have been injured or killed. ..Kidnapping cases often involve ransom demands for victims' families to pay thousands of dollars to rescue their family members,” he shared on September 18.
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That warning led many Royal Caribbean passengers to worry when they saw Labadee, Haiti on their cruises. The truth, however, is that Labadee is a fenced, guarded area of Haiti that is not near a population center.
There are no trips outside of the protected area in Labadee, and if the angry crowd decides to head towards Royal Caribbean's private beach, the cruise line will have plenty of time to safely evacuate passengers and crew.
So, just because the State Department issues a warning about a destination, that doesn't mean you shouldn't go there. However, it is important to read carefully what the US government agency is concerned about so that you can follow that advice.
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What each State Department's travel warning means
The US State Department uses a four-level warning system and the only destinations that tell travelers not to visit the area are when it issues a Level 4 warning. The four levels are:
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Level 1 – Use General Precautions. This is a low level of safety and security risk advice. There are risks involved in any foreign travel. Conditions in other countries may differ from those in the United States and may change at any time.
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Level 2 – Use Increased Vigilance. Be aware of high risks to safety and security. The Department of State provides additional advice for travelers to these areas through a Travel Advisory. Conditions in any country can change at any time.
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Level 3 – Reconsider the Journey. Reconsider travel due to serious safety and security risks. The Department of State provides additional advice to travelers in these areas through a Travel Advisory. Conditions in any country can change at any time.
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Level 4 – Don't go. This is the highest level of advisory because of the high potential for life-threatening hazards. The US government may have a very limited ability to provide assistance, including during an emergency. The State Department advises that US citizens do not travel to the country or leave as soon as it is safe to do so. We advise you to write a will before you leave and leave DNA samples in case of worst-case scenarios.
All four are warnings, but you can see that Level 3 and Level 4 have more difficult words. In almost all cases, cruise lines would not stop at those ports.
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Exercise extreme caution in these 3 cruise ports
On Nov. 7 and Nov. 8, the State Department issued new or updated warnings for three destinations for major cruise lines. That includes one, El Salvador, where the alert has been downgraded from Level 3 to Level 2.
Although crime remains a concern in El Salvador, there has been a significant decrease in gang-related activity and related crime over the past two years. This includes a decrease in violent crime and homicide. US government employees can travel across the country during daylight hours. Mainly due to infrastructure concerns, US government employees will not travel between cities or departments after dark, except on the route between San Salvador and the international airport of El Salvador and between San Salvador and La Libertad. Government employees are also banned from using public buses.
Carnival's Holland America Line and Princess Cruises make stops in El Salvador on Panama Canal cruises, as do Norwegian's Oceania brand and Regent Seven Seas.
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Located on the west coast of Africa, Togo may not be the first destination Americans think of when sailing, but it is a popular stopover for Regent Seven Seas, Oceania, and Carnival's Seabourn brand.
Its level was downgraded from Level 1 alert to Level 2 due to “terrorism, crime, civil unrest and kidnappings,” according to the State Department.
Criminals and terrorist groups are active in Togo, especially in the areas bordering Burkina Faso and Northern Benin. Attacks in these areas may occur with little or no warning, and may target shops, markets, hotels, places of worship, restaurants, bars, schools, government buildings, transportation, and other places where crowds gather. Violent attacks are more likely in the northern parts of Togo than in the southern and coastal areas.
Finally, the State Department has added additional information to its Level 2 warning about travel to South Africa to reflect new information about kidnapping.
Violent crime is common and includes armed robbery, rape, carjacking and robbery. There are also “smash-and-grab” attacks on cars. Violent crime is more common in urban areas, especially after dark…There is a threat of kidnapping across South Africa. In the past, hijackers have targeted US citizens and other foreign travelers.
Cape Town, South Africa, is a port for Norwegian Cruise Line, Seven Seas Voyager, Seabourn, Princess, MSC Cruises, and a number of niche cruise lines.
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