Has Oceania been cancelling Istanbul and Ephesus stops due to Middle East violence?

[borabora4]

We are considering a Spring 2007 Eastern Mediterranean cruise to include Istanbul and Ephesus stops. We are considering Oceania and Celebrity. There are Celebrity posts to this website that Istanbul and Ephesus have been cancelled and substituted Dubrovnik and Messina. The Oceania cruise we are considering is the "Crossroads of History" (12-day; Athens/Istanbul). What have you Oceania voyagers experienced please?

[Druke I]

We are scheduled to board Nautica 11-26-06 in Istanbul, for a trip through the Suez to Singapore.

Oceania accepted our final payment a couple of weeks ago, so they must still be planning the trip.

US State Dept has not yet advised US citizens to avoid Turkey.

[drwong]

We've found that when Oceania cancels a port call, they usually schedule an alternative that is just as interesting (IMHO). If the substitute is a port Oceania has used before, they'll have a whole slew of shore excursions lined up. If it's a new port, things might be a little more disorganized, however.

Royal Caribbean initally cancelled port calls for the Splendor and the Brilliance (and because its parent corporation is RCCL, Celebrity's Galaxy also cancelled), but a week later after determining it was a isolated incident, things were (or are) back to normal.

If you're genuinely worried, purchase travel insurance. It's a small cost compared to the money you're putting down for the cruise, and it brings a world of peace of mind. Some companies provide greater or expanded coverage if you purchase the insurance within 14 days of making your initial deposit, instead of waiting until the last minute.

[pschmitt22]

We are considering a Spring 2007 Eastern Mediterranean cruise to include Istanbul and Ephesus stops. We are considering Oceania and Celebrity. There are Celebrity posts to this website that Istanbul and Ephesus have been cancelled and substituted Dubrovnik and Messina. The Oceania cruise we are considering is the "Crossroads of History" (12-day; Athens/Istanbul). What have you Oceania voyagers experienced please?

We just returned from the 9/2 cruise from IST to ATH. Our Turkey ports of Istanbul and Kusadasi(Ephesus) were not cancelled, but a Celebrity Ship was in some other ports that we visited. They cancelled IST and KUS. Some of the passengers were disturbed that their stop was cancelled and we were able to go. I think it has to be a difficult decision for the management of the cruise line.

[TudorSue]

DH and I are booked on Nautica 11/15 (Rome-Istanbul). Among other things, a deviation from Istanbul disembarkation would complicate our return air travel, which we booked independently.

And what of the Pope's scheduled visit Turkey in November? I don't know the specific dates, nor whether the visit will actually happen in light of the furor over his recent remarks.

[Napi's Mom]

DH and I are booked on Nautica 11/15 (Rome-Istanbul). Among other things, a deviation from Istanbul disembarkation would complicate our return air travel, which we booked independently.

And what of the Pope's scheduled visit Turkey in November? I don't know the specific dates, nor whether the visit will actually happen in light of the furor over his recent remarks.
Sue I don't think we'll be cancelled, since there is another cruise leaving the 27th on Nautica, That would cause way too much confusion in their scheduling ! Now I hope the Pope doesn't visit because that would start another area of trouble...their bombings etc. were ethnic not religeous (sp?) problems. Don't need to stir up the hornets nest any more!
Hope your trip to Alaska was really great.

[nparmelee]

Looking at the Europe boards, even RCCL has returned to Turkey since cancelling some of their stops there, and apparently only one or two cruises were affected. I would think that you are pretty safe there. Turkey is one of those places that is very good to experience, so I hope O would keep doing what they do.