Thread: BEWARE of DORADO JEWELRY Shop in CABO

This is part of a review and I think it's very important that anyone getting off the ship in Cabo reads this!!!


Ports:Here's where it gets interesting.

Cabo: We tendered in Cabo and got off the ship about noon. We walked around the port, looked in the shops along the way and then decided to follow the signs to CaboWabo. We ordered margaritas--which were very good. We didn't plan on staying there for a long time but this band started playing and they were very good. We ended up staying there for a few hours. We had about two hours until the ship sailed so we started to make our way back to the port.

My daughter wanted to go back to this jewelry store that was right around the corner from the No Worries bar--which is on the far side of the port. It was pretty hot and I was over shopping so I said to my kids: You guys go back to the store, I'm gonna sit here in the shade. Meet me here in 45 minutes. 45 Minutes came and went. I waited another 15 and then decided we must have missed each other so I walked back to the tenders and went to the ship thinking they would be in our cabin. WRONG.

I called to see if they were on the ship and was told they were not but there was one more tender. Well, they weren't on that one either and I FREAKED out. I tried calling her cell phone from the phone in the cabin and a strange man answered. He spoke limited English but told me he wanted money to let me talk to the kids. Two staff came to the cabin as we were sailing away and I was on the phone with this person.

Long story short, my kids ended up with the Port Agent. Both of my kids were drugged in this jewelry store and my daughter was robbed. Her cell phone, an expensive camera and her PASSPORT were taken. Apparently, the people in the store asked them if they wanted a shot of tequila. Would I have taken it? No way. But at age 22 or 24 I probably would have.

The drug did not have a lot of impact on my son as he is 6'6 and about 250. My daughter is tiny.. about 120 pounds. They purchased jewelry and left the store and started walking back to the port. My son said he was hurrying because they didn't want to be late and he got a few steps ahead of her and when he looked back she was gone. So he started looking for her.

My daughter doesn't remember a whole lot--she remembers being pulled into an alley and then taken to an ATM machine where the man told her to get money out of her account but she was too messed up to work the machine. So then the guy took her bag and handed her off to another man and he took her through alleys behind the stores and she ended up in the back of the No Worries bar where her brother found her. They went back to the tender area and of course the ship was gone.

In the meantime, Josel from NCL was with me and talking on a ship to shore line with the port agent. She was wonderful--not only during this time but for the rest of the cruise. At some point, she got a call saying the port agent had the kids. We were sailing but I could still see the lights in Cabo. They said we were too far away to send a boat and the Port Agent would find them a hotel and get them to the airport so they could meet the ship at the next port. I had to give him my credit card number to pay for this.

Two days later the kids met the ship in Puerto Vallerta. They couldn't get a flight to Mazatlan so they flew to Mexico City and then PV where they spent another night in a hotel. We had tickets for the Dolphin Swim in PV but they did not want to get off the ship til we got back to the US. Can't say as I blame them.

We had to spend hours with the Senior Security guy on the ship. The port agent told my kids NOT to contact the police or the US Embassy. He took my son's passport and didn't give it back until they got to the airport. (He also kept a necklace my son bought for his girlfriend) The Security guy kept saying but why didn't you go to the Embassy. They were scared and they listened to the Port Agent. They were both without passports at this time and my son said he was afraid they would get picked up and thrown into a Mexican jail.

Also, the Port Agent KNEW the people in the jewelry shop (DORADO is the name of the place) He called them while my kids were at the port telling their story and they told him that my kids bought drugs and didn't pay for them and they took my daughter's stuff instead. I know my children are not perfect but I do know they did not try and buy drugs. So the Security Guy on the ship is treating me and my kids like criminals. It was horrid.

At Immigration when we got back to LA, they took my daughter to a private area and seriously interrigated her. She was crying when they brought her back. The guy told us that an American Passport goes for between 5 & 25k in Mexico. They made all kinds of phone calls and then finally we were allowed to leave.

But of course, as we're walking through the warehouse we get stopped by 2 more immigration guys. They take us to another room where all of our luggage is searched. I don't mean just looking through it, I mean they took everything out, pulled back lining on the suitcases, swabbed everything with some sort of chemical, Of course, they didn't find anything.

We had problems at the airport but not anything major. We did have a copy of the report we gave to the ship. I was never so glad to be home in my life.

We are now disputing $410 worth of charges on my daughter's cell phone bill. The charges were incurred over three days. My credit card was used for charges of almost $2000 I never made---so that's also under investigation. And we have to worry now about someone stealing my daughter's identity.

As I said Jocel from NCL was wonderful. She did everything she could for us, However, the ship was completely unprepared to deal with this. They didn't know who or how to report a stolen passport to or what the procedure was when we got back to the states. How we would handle the airline? Maybe I'm off base, but you would think they would have some sort of guide or training or something. We cannot be the only people this had happened to.

Despite our problems, you know there is always someone worse off than you are. While we were at the front desk, another man was there and apparently his son was in a hospital in Mexico with his Grandmother and he said.. first the hospital told us they need $4000 in cash now they're saying they need $10000. I hope he made out OK.

Sorry this is so long. But I wanted to warn everyone.

Would I sail NCL again? Yeah I would--just not to Mexico. And I would definitely sail on one of the newer ships.

What a terrible experience! Thanks for sharing this Janice. We all need to be aware of the dangers that await in some of the ports of call.

Originally Posted by Char

What a terrible experience! Thanks for sharing this Janice. We all need to be aware of the dangers that await in some of the ports of call.

After reading this, I am soooo glad we never let our sons go anywhere alone in port, while we were just in Mexico on the Carnival Pride.

OMG, that poor family! There was a report on either NBC or ABC news the other day about problems Americans are having in the environs of Ensenada. One couple had been abducted, and the woman sexually attacked.

I guess the lessons are: safety in numbers, don't let your kids go off without you, don't accept a drink from a stranger...

I hope NCL looks into the matter of that port agent. If he's in league with criminals, he should be canned by the cruiseline. Definitely his name (from the NCL newsletter for that day) should be given to American authorities.

I found some very good tips about traveling and thought that CLF members might like to read them.

You should always use caution anywhere, even here in the USA and trust your instincts yet at the same time, you should not allow fear to dictate your life as it will truly rob you blind.

If you are a woman traveling without a man, you need to exercise 10 times the amount of caution. Sorry, that is just reality. If you are a man traveling with a woman, never let her out of your sight. With that said, people don't grab random strangers, they look for easy targets. Don't be a target.

Never look lost, even if you are. Look like you belong there and know where you are going, especially if you find yourself in an area with little or no foot traffic. Walk like you have a purpose, not like you are lost and scared. Get back to a crowded area as quickly as possible without looking like you are getting there as quickly as possible (if that makes sense).

Always be aware of your surroundings and aware of the people in it.

Always know what or who is behind you. Do random things occasionally like walk across the street instead of staying on the same side.

If someone is staring at you, don't avoid eye contact but don't challenge them either. Be calm, make friendly eye contact and move on.

Lots of lessons to be learned here, and most of them have already been mentioned. Stanford's Girl made some great points...and these are things we can teach kids, too.

I would have definitely called the US authorities, even if security on the ship told me it wasn't necessary. I would want to get US police involved immediately and I would be really concerned if someone on the ship told me it wasn't necessary. Oh yes it is! Have you seen how ship's security has handled some of the 'man overboard' investigations? I suspect they are equally as interested in keeping bad situations low key and avoiding bad publicity as they are in trying to get crimes solved.

Also, don't they make credit cards where you can designate a low limit for a kid ? I am not sure I would let a kid walk around in port with a credit card with a high limit where, if lost or stolen, the thing could be be charged to the hilt. It seems like giving them $50 each (or some set amount) for trinkets, snacks, and souveniers might be a better idea.

Also, I don't think Mexico has the monopoly on creepy bad guys. This could have happened in any city in America, and any foreign port we sail to. We just need to all stay on our toes, travel smart, and watch out for each other!

Great advice.

Often before a trip, when we get travelers cheques, my hubby will get them in $100 denomintations. I rather get smaller ones (like $20) and I think it would make things harder on a robber.

Originally Posted by Texashorselady

I would have definitely called the US authorities, even if security on the ship told me it wasn't necessary. I would want to get US police involved immediately and I would be really concerned if someone on the ship told me it wasn't necessary.

The ships security is the one who said they should have called the police and the US Embassy. It was the Port Agent in Cabo that told them not to contact them. He knew the people in the jewelry store and I think the Port Agent is a very shady character.

Wow Janice, this is an incredible story and I am so glad that you found and posted it. Suddenly reading this makes me wonder about some of the choices that I have made while in ports. Once in Puerto Vallarta Earl and I lost eachother and he was worried for over an hour at the door of the ship, waiting for me to come back, when I had come back and then left and came back again. We should have not seperated or made an agreement if we did.
I have also tasted tequila in Mexico in several cities, sometimes while alone thinking it was OK being close to port. Now I will make sure to go in numbers when tasting, and preferably with a man included.

Thank you again Janice, important information for sure!

I remember seeing liquor sample bottles out in some stores, but never tried any of them, due to booze being a migraine trigger for me (the watered down drinks at ship's parties are pretty safe for me). I guess in the future if I see someone I know about to reach for a sample, I'll try to warn them.