November 9, 2026 — Belize has placed 19 areas of Belize City and nearby communities under a 30-day State of Emergency because of gang violence, but the cruise port and the main tourist zone are outside the affected areas, and no cruise line has changed its itineraries, Cruise Hive reported on November 8.
What happened
Governor-General Dame Froyla Tzalam signed the order on Saturday, October 31, 2026. It took effect on November 1 and runs for 30 days, through November 30, unless it is lifted sooner. The U.S. Embassy issued a security alert on November 4.
Of the 19 Belize City areas covered, 17 are south of Haulover Creek. The north-side areas are Queen Street, Handyside Street, North Front Street, Barrack Road, Victoria Street and Pickstock Street. Ladyville Village in Belize District, and Cotton Tree Village and Unitedville Village in Cayo District, are also covered.
The Belize Cruise Port, Fort Street Tourism Village, the Welcome to Belize sign and Baron Bliss Lighthouse are all outside the emergency zones. The overall U.S. travel advisory for Belize stays at Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution); the south side of Belize City is at Level 3 (Reconsider Travel).
Cruise calls affected
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Cruise calls scheduled in November | 27 |
| Lines scheduled to call in November | Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Margaritaville at Sea, Holland America Line, MSC Cruises, Explora Journeys, Princess, Celebrity, TUI Cruises, Viking |
| Itinerary changes so far | None |
| State of Emergency period | November 1–30, 2026 (unless revoked earlier) |
Cruise Hive summed it up: “no cruise line has adjusted itineraries in response to the SOE declaration.”
What it means for airline travelers
- Belize City is a port of call, not a homeport, so the order does not affect where you fly in or out for your cruise.
- Police checkpoints can slow traffic. If you are booking a tour outside the city, allow extra time to get back; most ships leave by about 6 p.m., and the sun sets as early as 5:16 p.m. in November.
- Stay in the port and Fort Street Tourism Village area if you are exploring on your own, and read the U.S. Embassy alert before your port day.
- If your line changes the call, it will tell you; as of November 8, none had.
Sources
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