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Dream Vacation Turns Into Nightmare For Cruise Passengers Robbed At Gunpoint

LONG BEACH (CBS) — A dream vacation turned into a nightmare for almost two dozen cruise ship passengers who were robbed at gunpoint by a band of thieves.

According to our CBS Affiliate in Florida, where Carnival is based, the cruise ship sailed out of Long Beach last Sunday.

On Thursday, 22 passengers of Carnival Splendor were on a bus returning to the ship following a ship-sponsored excursion when a gang of masked assailants stopped the bus, according to Mexican media reports and MSNBC.

The bandits made off with money, jewelry, cameras and other valuables. No one was hurt.

The incident apparently happened in the well-known tourist destination of El Nogalito.

We spoke with CBS Travel Editor Peter Greenberg by phone who says this is the first crime of its kind in a tourist destination in Mexico.

"They basically targeted a group of people, not individuals that were being escorted. So this is highly unusual. Normally the kind of street crime that happens in any major city is directed against individuals traveling on their own. Not necessarily in large groups, certainly not on a bus," he said.

In a statement, Carnival apparently apologized for the "unfortunate and disturbing event" and said it is working with passengers to reimburse them for their lost valuables.

The tour in question has been suspended, our CBS Affiliate in Florida reports.

The ship is expected to dock in Long Beach on Sunday.

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