I was drugged in Costa Maya - Majahual - BEWARE!!

On Wednesday my Carnival cruise stopped in Costa Maya. I took the bus with my sister and a cc friend to Majahual. I had only 2 margaritas and lost most of my memory. This was no alcohol. I began buying buying things I didn't want. My sister did, too. Our cc friend who only drank beer thought we just got weird and wanted to buy stuff. We definitely weren't raped or our friend would know it. He got us back to the ship but all my money was taken out of my zippered side compartment of my bag. I know it was there because I had a lot and plenty of ones for tip money. It was there, we had to go before the ship left without us, I got in the taxi and my money was gone.

There is a lot more to this story. I've been brain dead for days and am only now coming out of the fog. I'm still having difficulty dialing a phone and typing this isn't as easy for me as usual - you all know how I can type.

I want all of you - my RCI and cc friends - to know what is going on in ports in Mexico. I contacted the Jackson Memorial Hospital rape unit in Miami for rohypnol info. They think it might be too late to detect it in my blood but suggested I at least see my doctor tomorrow for a test just in case it's still in me. That way at least we will know for 100% sure. I am 99.9% sure at this point it was rohypnol but would like to know with a positive test result.

I have emailed Carnival about this but would like the blood test to verify it for them.

DON'T leave the immediate port area in Costa Maya. If you feel you must leave, do it with a tour. Or don't drink anything but a bottle beer that you open yourself.

I still feel very drugged. It's a wonder I made it home along yesterday on the plane. :(

WOW! I hope you're going to be better soon! This is too scary. Please know my heart goes out to you. Please let us know what the outcome is...drug given to you. Good Luck to you and your friend~

Oh no....that is really scary!!!!!:eek: I never eat or drink on any island except for diet coke from a can or bottle. Now for sure I never will!!!!!

What did the ship physician say? Certainly your cc friend took you there immediately for evaluation?

So sorry to hear about this! I'm sure it must be very difficult to deal with!

When you feel up to it, maybe you can answer a few questions so that the rest of us can be more educated in order to prevent this type of thing from happening to us.

Where is Majahual? Is it far from Costa Maya? What place did you buy the drinks from? What bus did you take to get there?

Again, I'm just trying to learn so that maybe others can prevent this. Hope you're feeling better soon!

On Wednesday my Carnival cruise stopped in Costa Maya. I took the bus with my sister and a cc friend to Majahual. I had only 2 margaritas and lost most of my memory. This was no alcohol. I began buying buying things I didn't want. My sister did, too. Our cc friend who only drank beer thought we just got weird and wanted to buy stuff. We definitely weren't raped or our friend would know it. He got us back to the ship but all my money was taken out of my zippered side compartment of my bag. I know it was there because I had a lot and plenty of ones for tip money. It was there, we had to go before the ship left without us, I got in the taxi and my money was gone.

 

There is a lot more to this story. I've been brain dead for days and am only now coming out of the fog. I'm still having difficulty dialing a phone and typing this isn't as easy for me as usual - you all know how I can type.

 

I want all of you - my RCI and cc friends - to know what is going on in ports in Mexico. I contacted the Jackson Memorial Hospital rape unit in Miami for rohypnol info. They think it might be too late to detect it in my blood but suggested I at least see my doctor tomorrow for a test just in case it's still in me. That way at least we will know for 100% sure. I am 99.9% sure at this point it was rohypnol but would like to know with a positive test result.

 

I have emailed Carnival about this but would like the blood test to verify it for them.

 

DON'T leave the immediate port area in Costa Maya. If you feel you must leave, do it with a tour. Or don't drink anything but a bottle beer that you open yourself.

 

I still feel very drugged. It's a wonder I made it home along yesterday on the plane. :(

Good grief...this is really quite something, and I'm surprised you were feeling up to typing. I am, nevertheless, glad that it was theft only and not rape as well.....take care of yourself. I'll add a few prayers to the ones I know others are saying.....

Fran in Toronto

That's so scary. We drank margaritas in Majahaul last April :eek: . We loved that place and that just makes it that much scarier. I remember the people there being incredibly pushy, I just can't believe you got drugged in Costa Maya. That'll make me think twice before buying those $1 Coronas in Mexico, too, or at least I'll open mine next time!

What did the ship physician say? Certainly your cc friend took you there immediately for evaluation?

I was not able to think clearly to do this. My sister didn't think about seeing a doctor on board either. Maybe our cc friend who we met on board thought we were just weird drunk or something. I never thought of a doctor until yestedrday. My doctor isn't there until tomorrow. I'm waiting on a local clinic call now but I am afraid 72 hours is how long it takes to clear the body - it's 4 days now. :( I told my table mates. I told my cabin steward on the last night. I talked to other guests on the ship and heard at least 2 other stories from people who thought they or someone else was drugged in port.

This is very sad. You are lucky worse things didn't happen to you.

Like the poster above, I won't eat from street vendors or cantinas in some countries. This is because I have a fairly intolerant stomache and get sick easily. Now I have another reason.

Good luck to you. You do need to let people know where this incident occurred.

Wow sorry to here of this , I pray that you get your memory back and this clears out of your system.

We where in Costa Maya last year on the Glory and had a great time at one of the local bars. Which place did you stop to have a drink at? I guess all it takes is one idiot to try to take advantage of a tourist this is really sad .

Good grief...this is really quite something, and I'm surprised you were feeling up to typing. I am, nevertheless, glad that it was theft only and not rape as well.....take care of yourself. I'll add a few prayers to the ones I know others are saying.....

 

Fran in Toronto

I don't feel too good now and it's 4 days later. DH said I should warn you all so I am.

Why wait. Go to a local hospital and ask for blood work to be done.

I just read a similiar post on one of the Mexico vacation boards. Parents said their son had a drink and started acting very weird. I love Mexico but that is very scary!

So sorry to hear about this! I'm sure it must be very difficult to deal with!

 

When you feel up to it, maybe you can answer a few questions so that the rest of us can be more educated in order to prevent this type of thing from happening to us.

 

Where is Majahual? Is it far from Costa Maya? What place did you buy the drinks from? What bus did you take to get there?

 

Again, I'm just trying to learn so that maybe others can prevent this. Hope you're feeling better soon!

Majahual is about 5 minutes by bus away from Cosa Maya. The army or guards carry big guns there at the entrance. I went to Cat's Meow and the place just past it where Charlie Brown works. One drink from each place. Who knows what bartender made it. I don't know. I bought the bus ticket at the window in Costa Maya. I got on the bus they told me went to Majahual. All I know the bus sign said was "Tourismo".

The sex assault unit in Miami asked if I was sure I wasn't raped. I'm sure. They said they hear this often about Mexico and cruises but it's not talked about. People are drugged for sexual assault or robbery not always both. I think no one thinks to tell a doctor on the ship. It's too hard to think until later. I know I still can't drive. I would cause an accident.

thats just scary

You really should post this on the Carnival boards, there could be others who experienced this.

Brenda

Why wait. Go to a local hospital and ask for blood work to be done.

I am waiting for a doctor to call from a clinic. The sex assault unit thinks the test will be negative by now and since I was not raped they said I should see my doctor tomorrow. They said I could call pollice if I want to press charges but would need FBI - for Mexico? I can't do all that because I drank in the wrong place. All that is important at this point is to warn future cruisers to only drink at reputable places or from a bottle they open themselves. No preopened bottles in hole in the wall places please.

Why wait. Go to a local hospital and ask for blood work to be done.

I agree. You should have any testing done immediately. The longer you wait, the lower the concentrations are in your blood. You should also contact your local police department and make a report. Be sure you give them all details including the names of everyone that was with you.

Unfortunately, this can and does happen right at South Beach in Miami the night before embarkation, and in various other cities and towns throughout the U.S. You later clarified that the he with you and your friend was simply a CC acquaintance. I would not be so quick to completely exhonerate this person. It would be unusual that someone would attempt to drug women that were escorted by a man. There are too many unescorted tartgets, and these drugs aren't free.

I would also be interested to know how much tequila (if any) that you drank. Combine the sun with several margaritas and or shots, and the effects can be very severe and lasting. I'm not saying you weren't drugged (you certainly may have been), but speaking from unfortunate experience, tequila blackouts can be just as deep as those caused by narcotics, and the lasting effects in some cases just as severe.

That's just horrible and frightening! Bless your heart! I hope you are ok and not suffer any after affects. Please take care. Also..please let us know what your doctor says.

You really should post this on the Carnival boards, there could be others who experienced this.

 

Brenda

I will. There were at least 2 others. But I already know all Carnival ccers from this forum who were on board. One didn't drink her drink. She was also with us for a while. She said it tasted bad and gave it to my sister. Then my sister had another drink with me at the next place. Our other female cc friend didn't get one there. In fact, I forget if she was still there or maybe she left already. I was losing my memory by then.

I will post at Costa Maya forum which is more important than at the Carnival site. All of my cc friends are here which is why I came here first. More people read here than at ports of call I think, too.

Oh, MommaBean ~ I am devastated to hear that this happened to you!! Thank the good Lord in the heaven that the intent seems to be robbery and not sexual assult. To the newbie's on this board, MommaBean is a very trustworthy, long posting wonderful person, so what ever she said happened, DID REALLY HAPPEN. I am so glad you posted this so we can all be especailly careful when traveling to this place. Thank you for posting this. I hope you are feeling your normal self very soon. Sending love your way XXOO. E-Beth

Rohypnol can only be detected in the urine up to 72 hours after taking it. I dare say you are too late.

PS: rohypnol is a legal drug in Mexico.

Even though it is a temptation, we have never drank anything in port from anything but a bottle that we openned ourselves and have never left a drink unattended on port or on the ship. we are just paranoid that way, i guess. This will be our 7th cruise and our 1st to europe--and expect to follow our past decision when we try their marvelous wine. We will watch it be openned at our table. I am a nurse and have read too much on this subject.Better safe than sorry.

Unfortunately, this can and does happen right at South Beach in Miami the night before embarkation, and in various other cities and towns throughout the U.S. You later clarified that the he with you and your friend was simply a CC acquaintance. I would not be so quick to completely exhonerate this person. It would be unusual that someone would attempt to drug women that were escorted by a man. There are too many unescorted tartgets, and these drugs aren't free.

 

I would also be interested to know how much tequila (if any) that you drank. Combine the sun with several margaritas and or shots, and the effects can be very severe and lasting. I'm not saying you weren't drugged (you certainly may have been), but speaking from unfortunate experience, tequila blackouts can be just as deep as those caused by narcotics, and the lasting effects in some cases just as severe.

Guaranteed it wasn't our cc friend. Not a chance. I don't do sun either. I've had melanoma. I didn't go in the ocean or the pool even once. I have no tan. I had 2 drinks. I drank a LOT more tequila last August at the cooking cuisine excursion in Cozumel and never felt like this. Hangovers don't last 4 days either. I know people are drugged in the USA. I wouldn't let someone make my drink other than a bartender. I just think it's highly unlikely the bartender at chilis or outback (I don't go to S. Beach since I'm not a tourist) will drug me. I don't blame majahual. I blame the person in majahual who did it. And me for drinking anything there. Ny cc aquaintance did not do it. He is now a friend. He got us back to the ship in one piece.