CRUISE NEWS: Passsengers Robbed at Port – What to Know

Editorial Summary

A group of approximately 50 gang members armed with machetes robbed passengers from the Crystal Symphony cruise ship in Mombasa, Kenya. The incident occurred after some passengers disembarked the vessel to visit the Mombasa Tusks monument, which is located a short distance from the cruise terminal. While the ship was exploring the east coast of Africa, this robbery took place during an overnight stop. Although the current travel advisory for Mombasa is listed at level two, port authorities expressed concern regarding the impact of this event on future visits from luxury cruise lines. The area is frequently visited by premium brands such as Viking and Oceania. Prior to this specific robbery, more than 100 suspects had been arrested for similar activities in the region. Following the incident, officials from the Kenya tourism board and the National Police Service boarded the ship to apologize and reassure the passengers. An official stated that while no tourists were injured, many passengers were shaken and chose to cancel their planned excursions to return to the ship. The East African cruise season is expected to resume in September after ending in April.

Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.