Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Carnival Cruise Returns to Long Beach After 22 of Its Passengers Robbed at Gunpoint on a Tour in Puerto Vallarta
The "Carnival Splendor" docked in Long Beach early this morning, but its cruise along the Mexican Riviera turned out to not be much of a getaway for passengers aboard the ship.
22 passengers who took a guided nature tour in Puerto Vallarta were robbed while they were on a bus returning to the ship ship. Robbers demanded the travelers to turn over everything they had, while flashing automatic weapons.
Passenger Ladean Hilgenberg retold another passenger's account of the robbery to KCAL: “One had a mask on hanging over his head and he said, ‘you see my automatic gun’ and a knife in his belt and he said it in Spanish. He wanted everything he had. One fellow pulled his money out of his wallet and he said, ‘no, I want everything… backpacks and all.’ And he raised his gun up. And they dropped everything — backpacks, everything.”
Fortunately, no one was injured and all the passengers made it back to the ship. The robbers haven't been caught, according to Mexican press reports. The tour has been suspended until further notice, a spokesman for Carnival told City News Service.
Support for LAist comes from
"Carnival is working with guests to reimburse them for lost valuables and assist with lost passports or other forms of identification," spokesman Vance Gulliksen told CNS. "Carnival sincerely apologizes to its guests for this very unfortunate and disturbing event and is providing its full support and assistance."
Some passengers told reporters that they didn't plan on heading back the Mexican Riviera any time soon. One of those passengers, Steve Nash, complained that Carnival didn't alert the rest of the passengers aboard about the incident. He's angry with the company and decided to cancel future cruises.
CBS Travel Editor Peter Greenberg said that this sort of violence against American tourists is rare. The Los Angeles Times says that the city of Mazatlan has been receiving far more scrutiny recently after a shooting left two dead in the parking lot in a tourist area of the city. Carnival canceled its stops to Mazatlan—a cancellation that will remain in effect Carnival says. Santa Clarita-based Princess Cruises had canceled its stops to Puerto Vallarta, but before this robbery, it was planning on resuming trips to the area this month.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline. -
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
-
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
Best of LAist