Really Bad News...Montreal

[sail7seas]

Originally Posted by mamaofami

<snip>
\

Sail, I too am surprised to hear you canceled your Maasdam B2B which you do every year.

Yes, this will be the first time in years we will not do this cruise. BUT we are booked already to do it next year.

[Louise sail]

We live in a Montreal suburb and have read newspaper reports of the student marches.Last night was the first time we have gone downtown in a while.We were inconvenienced by construction delays on the roads saw a few more police cars then usual but did not see any students marching or rioting.We parked in Chinatown had dinner went to the Old Port to see the Cirque du Soleil's new show,walked arround the port and Old Montreal until 11PM.At this time I would just stay away from where students marching and enjoy your visit.

[COLLEYBERRY]

We have the right to protest here in Canada.....I am quite sure the students protesting higher tuitions to the universities ,would find it very amusing we are concerned about interuptions of cruise plans.

Montreal is a beautiful city...always has been and always will be...there's nothing to worry about folks.

[mmemichele]

I live in Montreal it is still a great city the students are not completely wrong re their protest however for tourists do not worry plenty of fun things to do here we are peaceful peoplemontreal has loads of fun planned for all summer
Ignore the media they really like exaggerating to make news
I. M sure all maasdam cruises will not. Be affected ....summer kids are off school

Michele

[solocanadian]

Originally Posted by Typhoon1

The media tends to hype these stores.

I suggest you take them with a grain of salt.

NOT SO!. The student strife in Montreal has been on the nightly TV national news. It's no joke. Even with new legislation these students are behaving like anarchists. They are just thumbing their noses at authority. I would not care to go out in down town Montreal in the evening during all this nonsense. It's a crying shame what is going on there right now. I used to love visiting Montreal when I lived in Ottawa.
Once again. the problems in Montreal are NOT MEDIA HYPE.

[solocanadian]

Peter: Sorry to read about your surgeries. Sure hope they did the trick. When all this student rioting started in Montreal, I wondered why you weren't commenting on CC. Glad you are home & recovering.

[COLLEYBERRY]

We have several friends who live in Montreal....they have assured us it is indeed media hype.....and from first hand accounts by our own CCers who are actually enjoying Montreal as we debate this issue....I feel quite confident the cruise ships will be sailing into Montreal this summer.

[laurette1]

We live in this wonderful,vibrant city,we marched with over 100,000

people on may 22nd,all of us endorsing the students' demands for an education

that will not result in unmanageable debt levels.The march brought together

elders,young families and students.It was awesome,joyous and peaceful like

most of the students' protest marches...and yes,a few hotheads will always

get all the media attention..unfortunately.Be reassured,Montréal is one of

the safest cities in the world...and it's"joie de vivre" very contagious!!

[Jo-Bob]

Well....I'm on my way to Vancouver tomorrow. Can't wait But....I'm so nervous. What if a Stanley Cup riot should break out? Maybe it's still going on

Those riots are STILL on the news....almost daily.....it must surely be unsafe for me to travel as a tourist for the next few days! And I'm going to be at BC Place on saturday night! That's basically across the road from GM Place...home of the Canucks!! It could erupt at any second!

Sorry for the sarcasm. Montreal is A-ok. Really. Make sure you keep your head on straight and you'll be just fine. It's a wonderful place.

(and I am sooooooo going to enjoy Roger Waters...not sure I'd even notice a riot)

[Sunshine91]

Hmmmm............

Just a few thoughts - Granted, I haven't researched a bit about what's happening in Montreal. All I know is what I've read here on this thread. But every Canadian here has indicated that the activities are occurring in the evenings. Doesn't Maasdam usually depart her port cities before 6pm or so? And if Montreal is a terminus city at the beginning/ending of a week-long cruise, Maasdam is only going to visit once every 14 days. So this whole thing could be resolved by the ship's next visit. Or not. Anyone who's going to the city should keep tabs on the situation, visit the US State department website, & don't be stupid when travelling, especially at night.

John & I were in London in March 2003 when the war in Afghanistan broke out. There were huge protests in the city, mostly in Parliament Square. To prevent damage, all the statues were boxed up. It was actually very interesting to see how another country reacted. Especially fascinating was the difference in the media coverage. The BBC simply reported what was happening. And then they showed the wild, out-of-control American media orgasm of coverage. "Over-egging the pudding" they called it. A spot-on phrase.

[santa fe]

i took part in a protest march 2 days ago, i am not a student and i am 65 years old, these protest are now become a social issue more than the original issue on the tution fee for university (proposed increase of 87% over 7 years).

This is not a civil war in Montreal and the march is not spread all over the city...the tourist are not the target and could avoid the places were it is held very easily.

[nimiq]

Hello all,

I also live in Montreal and this is not at all like some have said. Yes the students are protesting but come on this is not a war zone. This is getting out of proportion. Actually why would Hal not come to Montreal when most cruise line home port are more dangerous than Montreal on a riot night.

For sure its never fun to see people out in the streets shouting and making noise but all will be back to normal soon.

sea ya
Eric

Hal Westerdam March2012
Coral Princess Sep2011
Ruby Princess Nov2010
Sapphire Princess Sep2010
Rccl Adventure Of The Seas April 2010
Carnival Miracle Feb2010
Rccl Oassis of the Seas Feb2010
Rccl Majesty of the Seas Nov2009
Rccl Navigator of Seas Sep2009
Hal Westerdam Nov&Dec2008
Caribbean Princess Nov2007
Sea Princess Nov&Dec 2006
Diamond Princess Apr2005
Rccl Navigator Dec2004
NCL SUN Nov2004
Visit of QM2 Oct2004
Carnival Victory Nov2003
Golden Princess Apr2003
Celebrity Mercury Nov2002
Carnival Elation Nov2001
NCL SKY Nov2000

[COLLEYBERRY]

[quote=laurette1;Be reassured,Montréal is one of

the safest cities in the world...and it's"joie de vivre" very contagious!![/QUOTE]



I can certainly attest to that....both our children attended university in Montreal(one at McGill and the other Concordia )

We have spent hours exploring this lovely city as a family. Old Montreal is like visiting Europe without the transatlantic flight.

The "joie de vivre " is very contagious in Montreal.Not to mention the women dress beautifully The music ,the food, ..it is a multi cultural city that has much to offer.

Brava to you Laurette.....people protesting should warm our hearts folks, not frighten us.....many people sacrificed much to allow us this right

[sail7seas]

We're are the marches occuring?

Are they up in the area of Le Baie?

[COLLEYBERRY]

Originally Posted by sail7seas

We're are the marches occuring?

Are they up in the area of Le Baie?

No.. they are in the city of Montreal.....Le Baie is miles from
there.

[sail7seas]

McdGill (and other schools) have so many locations throughout Montreal, I could not pinpoint where the marches are.

[wilsonqbc]

Hardly anyone from Mcgill is prostesting anything !!
there is a little parade every night in the St Denis street, Berrie Metro area,
Nothing to get too worried about, only injured people are idiots who tease the police, bit of pepper spay in the face, or a club on the head, have been normally very peacefull but a few nights some of the hard lined idiot trouble makers broke some windows, and torched a police car about a week ago. and threw rocks at the police!! A lot of them have been arrested anyways.
Not the best situation ok, but far from the dangerous place and do not go there warning.
Its not all over the place, and would not effect anyones travel plans or safety! maybe a delay if your driving and ended up in the area.
In Quebec city had a few sit ins, and marchs of a few hundred people.
there was one big one one day but thats about it.
The Media is blowing it out of porportion like usual.
Now people are peacfully marching drumming on Pots and Pans?? lol, Weird!!

Glad you are felling Better Math Guy, yes ok its a bit troublesome reading this in the papers or seeing news footage, but I have been to montreal several times during this and it has not effected me, except a delay on the Bridge one day, as they were protesting in that area, which is near the Park they always gather at "Emilie Gamelin" near Place de Arts.

[iancal]

Vancouver had a shameful hockey riot last year. Is that a reason to boycott Alaska cruises from Vancouver????

[Sea42]

Originally Posted by iancal

Vancouver had a shameful hockey riot last year. Is that a reason to boycott Alaska cruises from Vancouver????

I probably would avoid most cities on the day their teams are playing for the championship in any pro sports. Except Green Bay, of course

[wilsonqbc]

Now its gotten to the point of Protesting the New Law, Bill 78,
Protesting for the Right to Protest, and more older and younger are joining in