Anyone cruising to Istanbul?

Istanbul is such a fabulous port to arrive into.

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Not sure if it counts but the cruise terminal at Yarralumla was vandalised. Sadly, I think it will be just a matter of time when a major port terminal is attacked.

I agree, as many port terminals, especially those that handle passengers only, are real soft targets with quite poor initial security.

Just heard a report on the radio this morning ..

Last year the number of cruise ships to visit Istanbul equalled 700,

this year 100, and many of those are cancelling and going elsewhere.

In view of the latest events there may now , not be any....:eek:

We were booked on Viking Sea in Aug to embark Istanbul; now changed to Athens. We will still go to Turkey for 7 nites pre-cruise (Istanbul, Cappadocia & Gallipoli) before flying to Athens & will use Ataturk 6 times during this time.

The comments that this could happen anywhere is so true but we are not going to let today's event faze us.

Fitzall would love to hear what you think of Viking Sea on your return, but she looks a treat.

Fitzall would love to hear what you think of Viking Sea on your return, but she looks a treat.

Will do. Not cheap but we like a 'small ship' (930 Pax); no casino or photographers, all rooms have balconies, free wine & beer with lunch/dinner, a free shore excursion in each port, no kids (no-one u18 allowed), spa/sauna/snow room nil charge, free laundry rooms, premium restaurants (nil charge but reservation required). Really aimed at 55+ with the various ports the main focus.

The comments that this could happen anywhere is so true but we are not going to let today's event faze us.

Agree 100% with this comment. So sad for Turkey. We spent a couple of wonderful days there last year.

We were booked on Viking Sea in Aug to embark Istanbul; now changed to Athens. We will still go to Turkey for 7 nites pre-cruise (Istanbul, Cappadocia & Gallipoli) before flying to Athens & will use Ataturk 6 times during this time.

 

The comments that this could happen anywhere is so true but we are not going to let today's event faze us.

I wish you safe travels and look forward to your review.

The day will come when one will not be able to enter an airport terminal building without airline ticket and passport. It is like that now in some places, Lima, Peru for one. No meeters or greeters or farewells. Like a zoo outside the building but.

The day will come when one will not be able to enter an airport terminal building without airline ticket and passport. It is like that now in some places, Lima, Peru for one. No meeters or greeters or farewells. Like a zoo outside the building but.

I would think that if terrorists can get machine guns and explosives that they can get passports and plane tickets.:(

Celebrity today confirmed it is activating their back-up plans to use Athens, replacing all Istanbul visits.

The security for the Ataturk airport was on the outside the airport building to screen people getting in.:(

Celebrity today confirmed it is activating their back-up plans to use Athens, replacing all Istanbul visits.

Unfortunately, there have been riots recently in Athens. Not the most stable region at present.

Unfortunately, there have been riots recently in Athens. Not the most stable region at present.

We should strike Melbourne of the list as well as there has been violent clashes with marches and protests as well.:(

Several cruise lines that are cancelling their calls to Istanbul and other ports in Turkey. Sadly the list is growing.

http://www.cruisecritic.com.au/news/news.cfm?ID=7102

Several cruise lines that are cancelling their calls to Istanbul and other ports in Turkey. Sadly the list is growing.

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com.au/news/news.cfm?ID=7102

Understandable, I feel sorry for the Tourist Industry over there, who employ so many people.

I would think that if terrorists can get machine guns and explosives that they can get passports and plane tickets.:(

They could, but at least they could be vetted by the security authorities.

PS, I am flying from Canberra to BrisVegas on Tuesday for a family wedding at the end of the week, will you let me in?

Several cruise lines that are cancelling their calls to Istanbul and other ports in Turkey. Sadly the list is growing.

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com.au/news/news.cfm?ID=7102

Very sad for all concerned but mainly Turkey.

I'm afraid we may need to acknowledge that this is going to be the new normal for some time to come.:(

We, up until roughly the last 3 decades had been living in a lull time, we have been lucky. We just didn't realise it until recently when events escalated to the point the public started paying attention.

When an ideology has only 10 decades out of it's 140 decade history without such known events recorded, then the history shows us we shouldn't really be surprised - but history is so often ignored nowadays.:rolleyes:

I think port security should be beefed up personally, especially outside the terminals. I feel confident the ships security is good, they are so busy screening luggage for smuggled alcohol & irons that at least we know they are actively on the ball! :D

So sad for people involved. This is a beautiful city full of history and beauty. I found the people I met were warm and welcoming.

This city has a long history of violence, think crusades. The day after I was in Istanbul in 2014 a bomb was let off where we had been.

On my last cruise to the Baltics one of the passengers from the US cancelled her cruise because of the Belgium bombings, it was interesting to note that from when she cancelled to when the cruise left there were at least 7 gun related incidents reported in our newspapers.

Continue to travel, be alert, trust your feelings, if something doesn't feel right get out of there. This won't always help, but staying at home instead of travelling is giving in to terror.

All cruise lines should have pulled out of that port and country ages ago. No use being political here and turning a blind eye. That country is negligently supporting the transit of terrorists to war zones and with that there is bound to be problems. I think the whole country should have been on a black list for cruise lines not to travel to. The only way countries like this toughen their stance against terrorists and take a proactive approach is when they start losing tourists. Personally I would not travel to that country even if you paid me a million dollars.

So sad for people involved. This is a beautiful city full of history and beauty. I found the people I met were warm and welcoming.

This city has a long history of violence, think crusades. The day after I was in Istanbul in 2014 a bomb was let off where we had been.

On my last cruise to the Baltics one of the passengers from the US cancelled her cruise because of the Belgium bombings, it was interesting to note that from when she cancelled to when the cruise left there were at least 7 gun related incidents reported in our newspapers.

Continue to travel, be alert, trust your feelings, if something doesn't feel right get out of there. This won't always help, but staying at home instead of travelling is giving in to terror.

True that Istanbul, previously Constantinople (named after the Roman Emperor Constantine who relocated the seat of the Eastern Empire there in 330AD & called Byzantium prior to that) has a history of violence - the crusades were way late in the picture though - you could go approx. 600 years earlier to the first Arab Siege of Constantinople in 674–678, after the city had been Christian for centuries, or earlier still in 196BC when the Roman Empire first entered the scene there.

Sadly it's probably not a city that will be high on the list anytime soon for Western travellers & Turkey has been slowly moving away from it's more secular stance over the last decade which doesn't help either.

We are booked/paid/confirmed on the Royal in Sept for the 14day Greece,Turkey & Italy Medley.

2 ports are Kusadasi, Turkey (for Ephesus) Istanbul, Turkey.

At this stage Princess are advising us that they will still call at both ports,( I called them last week) with all port excursions fully available.

I must say I'm a little nervous with both port visits but will just wait and see.

Any updates and i will advise.

Cheers

Johhno

Kusadasi will be fine. Istanbul - well, they wont go there if there is any risk. Loved sailing into Istanbul. Its a very special port and a tragedy what is happening there. But throughout history its been a city of challenges. Which is why I wanted to go there.

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Kusadasi will be fine. Istanbul - well, they wont go there if there is any risk. Loved sailing into Istanbul. Its a very special port and a tragedy what is happening there. But throughout history its been a city of challenges. Which is why I wanted to go there.

 

 

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Kusadasi has also had its moments..heres one from a few years ago,

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4688575.stm

Kusadasi has also had its moments..heres one from a few years ago,

 

 

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4688575.stm

You mean like Paris, London, Boston....

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