Jacksonville, Florida – If you are planning a vacation to the Bahamas Islands, or any country outside of the United States that currently has enhanced travel advisories, there are a few things you should know before booking your vacation.
A dream vacation turned into a nightmare for two women who came forward to say they were raped in the Bahamas after disembarking from a Carnival cruise ship that departed from Jacksonville.
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Amber Shearer and Dongueira Dobson were on a land tour at a resort in the Bahamas when a staff member offered them a cocktail. The women now believe the drinks were laced with drugs, as they said they were barely conscious enough to realize they had been raped.
Later, the Royal Bahamas Police Force issued a statement announcing that two men had been arrested on suspicion of raping the women.
In the wake of the women's incidents, travel experts like Scott Lara are urging travelers to stay informed about the countries they plan to visit.
“At the end of the day, it's up to travelers to be aware and understand what's going on. Yes, the State Department has issued advisories. Yes, we at cruise lines and in the travel media are asking others to “However, it is ultimately up to the traveler to be aware of the various national advisories,” Lara said.
The State Department's website categorizes advisories by level.
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Level 1 means normal precautions should be taken
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Level 2 – Requires extra care
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Level 3 – Travel to certain countries should be reconsidered
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Level 4 – Travel should be avoided
When Scherer and Dobson disembarked from the cruise ship, they entered the country, which is under a Level 2 advisory due to reports of violent crimes in tourist and non-tourist areas of the Bahamas.
Lara said if you're leaving a cruise ship to go on an excursion, make sure you're not alone.
“When you go on a cruise, you go to the shore excursion desk and you go on a shore excursion with 10, 15, or 20 people. Ah, yes. There is safety in numbers. Cruise Ships “If you choose to leave a resort or an all-inclusive resort and go out on your own or have a taxi or someone take you, you do so at your own risk,” Lara said.
Travel advisories also detail specific streets and areas to avoid.
Travelers can also visit step.state.gov to enroll in the Smart Traveler Registration Program and notify their local U.S. Embassy of their trip.
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