Sharkie
June 11th, 2006, 01:38 PM
Early in the year we booked 2 itineraries back to back on the
Prinsendam. Personal considerations caused us to cancel the first, but
we still wanted to go on the second, departing Lisbon Aug. 14, 2006.
The price went up hugely, since we got a good discount for the back to
back, but we still wanted to go, particularly since the cruise had 2
calls in Libya.
Our travel agent sent us confirmation of deposit which we received on
Thursday, and the price was slightly over $6800 for 2 people on an
inside guarantee. This seemed high to me, and I checked the HAL
website. Inside cabins on Thurs. were slightly over $1700 per person.
I immediately called our TA, who checked with HAL. They would not give
us this new price without the addition of a $1700 penalty. I have
always gotten best price offered prior to departure, and was not happy
with this. My travel agent was not notified that the price had
changed. We have spent 71 days on this line, and I felt
mistreated.....in short, I was angry enough that we cancelled, although
it is costing us something over $2K to change plans.
I checked *************.com on Friday, and discovered that a balcony
stateroom was being offered for a lower cost than we were paying for
inside!!
And worst of all, there was a note that US citizens will not be allowed
to disembark in Libya and that HAL will not allow anyone with an
Israeli stamp on a passport to embark on the cruise at all. This was
the first I heard of this, although they had accepted our deposit, they
had not notified us of these facts.
Am I wrong to be appalled? As it is now, I do not ever want to travel
with them again.
I will appreciate hearing the input of experienced cruisers here,
especially TAs. Have you had similar experiences?
Thanks,
ray77
June 11th, 2006, 06:51 PM
The following article from March, 2006, suggests that the cruise lines' visa problems with Libya have ended.
Enjoy your time ashore in Libya, but review the personal safety information on the State Department's consular web site for further information. This may be a place to explore in groups, and during daylight hours.
Cruising: Sailing into new waters
(16 March 2006)
http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/assets/getAsset.aspx?ItemID=2563Since Libya accepted responsibility for the Lockerbie bombing, turned its back on weapons of mass destruction, the image of Colonel Gaddafi’s heartland as a terrorist state has started to disappear.
Tony Blair visited Libya in 2004, and in the same year, the US Treasury Department lifted its restrictions on US companies doing business there.
The tourism industry in Libya was born again. And with cruiselines constantly on the lookout for new ports and excursions, it wasn’t long before luxury liners began easing into Libyan waters.
Libya has been described as an open-air archaeological museum with dozens of hidden treasures, ruins and remains dotted about its stunning landscape. And the cruiselines are taking full advantage of these unexplored hotspots. Passengers can explore lush lowland hills and striking mountain ranges or enjoy its parched desert vistas, Roman ruins and dazzling blue coastlines – all in the knowledge they got there before the hordes arrive.
Crystal Cruises will be visiting Libya for the first time this year on its World Cruise, calling at Tripoli. An end to visa problems for US citizens means Silversea is now running all its 2006 Libya cruises, which it reports are proving to be best sellers. Oceania, which had to drop four Libyan port calls when the visa problem arose, now has three cruises scheduled for Libya this year.
Silverseas vice-president sales and marketing UK Trudy Redfern said: “We have eight voyages now that include Libya and last year, our first year there, was an astounding success with our clients. The country is a big draw for those with a military or historic interest, because of the World War II connections.”
MSC Cruises was one of the first lines to include Libya and in 2006 MSC Melody’s 11-night Classic Mediterranean and Mediterranean Memories itineraries will call at Tripoli and Tripoli and Banghazi respectively. MSC Sinfoniawill call twice into Tripoli during an 11-night Mediterranean Odyssey cruise.
UK director Peter Pate said: ”We are convinced the ancient historic sites in this country are some of the best preserved in the world and have huge appeal for our repeat clients looking to cruise to places that are veritable treasures of ancient civilisations.”
Meanwhile, Holland America Line has announced Prinsendamwill visit Tripoli in April 2007 during its 56-day Grand Mediterranean and North Africa voyage; and Tripoli and Banghazi in August and October.
Other cruiselines easing into Libyan waters are Clipper, Hebridean Island Cruises, Voyages of Discovery and French small ship specialist Compagnie des Iles du Ponant.
Hebridean Island Cruises sales and marketing director Peter Williams said: “Libya plays an integral part in the exotic and inspirational range of cruise itineraries we offer. Guests are treated to exclusive shore visits such as the World Heritage site in Sabratha or a guided city tour of Tripoli as part of the ‘Jewels of Tripolitania’ itinerary – perfect for soaking up the local atmosphere and gaining a real insider’s knowledge of the country.”
Tripoli
The excursions: the building work in this emerging tourist area doesn’t detract from the stunning classical architecture, statues and mosaics. Cruiselines offer tours of the city including Green Square, the Church of Santa Maria, the 18th-century British Consulate, the Arch of Marcus Aurelius and the mosques and souks of the medina.
Many operate day trips from Tripoli to Al Khums to see Leptis Magna, the world-renowned Roman site with its theatre, forum, baths, sports ground, nymphaeum and temples. The Roman ruins at Sabratha is also an excursion option, with its jawdropping theatre, built in 161-192AD with a wonderful backdrop of columns. Also worth seeing there is the Temple of Liber Pater, the Basilica of Justine, the Capitoleum, the Temple of Serapis, the Temple of Hercules and the Temple of Isis.
Benghazi
The excursions: about 130 miles from the port is the archaeological site of Cyrene, founded in the 6th century by Greek immigrants and now an amazingly well-preserved city giving passengers an insight into ancient North Africa. Mosaics are still visible underfoot and temples, baths and public buildings remain, standing high above lush green countryside.
The Sanctuary and Temple of Apollo in lower Cyrene are also usually included in excursions, as well as Ptolemais, a once-important ancient port reached via the scenic Green Mountains.
In Roman times, this was the administrative centre of the Cyrenaica area and today the ruins stretch over a vast area, much of which is still uncovered. Passengers should look out for the Roman palace, a Byzantine basilica and a gymnasium under which lies a network of water cisterns.
Ships may also offer excursions to the ruined town of Tocra, built in 510BC and some 42 miles northeast of Benghazi. Passengers can pick their way through ruins to see Roman tombs cut into the rock wall, a necropolis, a gymnasium and various ruins of religious buildings, some with visible inscriptions.
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