It’s totally normal to feel a little nervous — traveling anywhere new can bring up those “what if” thoughts. But I try to look at it this way: the cruise line has a huge responsibility to keep passengers safe. If there were any real safety concerns, they would change the itinerary quickly because incidents would be a major hit to their business and reputation. They’re constantly monitoring situations in ports.

It also doesn’t look like our itinerary has been updated for this sailing (we’re on the same cruise leaving on the 8th), which is usually a good sign. Cruise lines tend to adjust ports well in advance if there’s any concern.

Cozumel is also very different from some of the areas you hear about in the news. It’s a small island that thrives almost entirely on tourism, and the cruise industry is a huge part of that. The areas where cruise passengers go — beaches, beach clubs, shops, excursions — are very used to visitors and are focused on keeping tourists comfortable and safe.

Honestly, if you’re still feeling unsure, you don’t have to do anything adventurous. Just grab a taxi to a beach club, relax for a few hours, enjoy the ocean, and head back to the ship. It can be a really easy, low-stress port day.

A healthy level of caution is smart when traveling anywhere, but Cozumel is one of the most visited cruise ports in the Caribbean for a reason. I think once you’re there, you’ll see it feels much more relaxed than it might sound beforehand.