Middle east Situation

Would you book a cruise which travels via Suez Canal?

Would you book a cruise which travels via Suez Canal?

Absolutely.

The cruise lines are in business to make money, and they would likely lose money if they took their passengers somewhere unsafe.

Sure, what is your specific concern?

Sure, what is your specific concern?

Who have booked the Special Anniversary Cruise December 2015 said they are not booking this fabulous 48 day trip I have booked due to the Middle East situation.

Not sure what you mean. Has the cruise line cutoff new bookings due to the conditions there? or has someone wold you they will not book it?

Are you talking the Princess cruise from London to Sydney via Suez? Assuming you have an FCC, you can essentially book and no cost and evaluate when final payment is due.

Not sure what you mean. Has the cruise line cutoff new bookings due to the conditions there? or has someone wold you they will not book it?

 

Are you talking the Princess cruise from London to Sydney via Suez? Assuming you have an FCC, you can essentially book and no cost and evaluate when final payment is due.

I had to cancel my December 3rd booking due to the fact this 48 day is so expensive so I asked others if they would join.I did have an answer from a member who said they would not due to the middle east situation,another regular agreed....Heather

No way...At this time, I would not go to anywhere in that region. There are PLENTY of things to see elsewhere in the world. I'm not going to someplace where I KNOW i'm a target. The cruise line can think it's "safe" all they want....I know it's NOT safe for Americans.

No way...At this time, I would not go to anywhere in that region. There are PLENTY of things to see elsewhere in the world. I'm not going to someplace where I KNOW i'm a target. The cruise line can think it's "safe" all they want....I know it's NOT safe for Americans.

I agree, even though the canal isn't really part of the unrest area, I do not intend on going anywhere in the region or even the Med area. I feel sorry for the cruise lines, yes they are loosing money on these itineraries, but my life and the few years I have left are more important to me and my family than trying to protect the cruise industry or the airline or hotel industry.

No way...At this time, I would not go to anywhere in that region. There are PLENTY of things to see elsewhere in the world. I'm not going to someplace where I KNOW i'm a target. The cruise line can think it's "safe" all they want....I know it's NOT safe for Americans.

But you are a target (just as we all are) whether at home or abroad. There has been terrorist activity in most countries of the world:cool:

But you are a target (just as we all are) whether at home or abroad. There has been terrorist activity in most countries of the world:cool:

Be different by the time I cruise in Sept 2016.Princess will reroute if they think there is trouble. I cannot imagine any Captain of a ship willing to cruise in a

troubled area.

The only certainty about the Middle East situation is that it is uncertain! It took me years to convince DW to take a trip to Egypt (which we did 8 years ago) and once in Egypt (where we traveled all over the country for two weeks...by ourselves) we both really enjoyed the country and its extremely friendly people. In fact, as a Jew traveling independently in Egypt I had my own doubts, but all we heard from the Egyptians was "thank you for coming to my country." It was the same with Israel. It took a long time to convince DW but once there we both enjoyed the country.

So now you wonder about the Suez which is an Egyptian issue. And at the moment, Egypt looks relatively stable with the type of military dictatorship that seems to work well in keeping the peace in that country. We would not hesitate to book a future trip through the Suez as well as visiting Jordan with the knowledge that the situation could change resulting in a change in our plans.

Hank

But you are a target (just as we all are) whether at home or abroad. There has been terrorist activity in most countries of the world:cool:

Some are in more danger than others by virtue of nationality. Americans and Israelis always have a bullseye painted on their back in ME. Terrorists don't believe in fairness and equality.

No way...At this time, I would not go to anywhere in that region. There are PLENTY of things to see elsewhere in the world. I'm not going to someplace where I KNOW i'm a target. The cruise line can think it's "safe" all they want....I know it's NOT safe for Americans.

This is rather foolish over hype. You are probably safer going through the Suez than just about any place else in the Middle East (other than Kuwait and Dubai). The ships are all convoyed through there, most with a HUGE military presence.

I have spent a good portion of the last 8 years in and out of the Middle East for work. I thought my great adventure was over last year because we were pulling out of Afghanistan. Now, I just signed another 1 year contract which will require at least 3 trips to Afghanistan in the next year. To fly to Afghanistan, you fly through Pakistan (NO THANKS-that is dangerous) or fly through Dubai or Kuwait. So I have to go through at least 1 Middle Eastern country that is stable before flying into the war zone. I LOVE Kuwait!!! And they love Americans. We saved their country. They built a huge, very, very fancy military base for us and in downtown Kuwait City, they built the FREEDOM TOWER which is dedicated to the US for saving their country.

The Saudis/Egyptians will most likely get the Yemen situation under control very shortly. And sooner or later, there is going to be a coalition of countries that will move into Iraq and wipe out a good portion of ISIS.

Is it dangerous? Only in certain areas. I wouldn't be flying into Damascus, Tripoli, Baghdad or Saaana right now, even with the heavily armed escorts I am provided per my contract. But most of the rest of the Middle East??? Wouldn't think twice about it if the travel is not contradictory to US Military regulations. No more dangerous than being at the wrong place, wrong time any place in the world when the terrorists decide to ignite a bomb.

Guess, in the interest of full disclosure, we should have mentioned Yeman since that country is certainly in a location that can disrupt traffic headed to or from the Suez Canal. We are not so sure we would want to be going through these waters today, next week, or even in a few weeks. But once you look forward more then a few weeks it is impossible to know what will happen in this country. So we would not hesitate to book a Suez Canal cruise for the future.

Hank

No way...At this time, I would not go to anywhere in that region. There are PLENTY of things to see elsewhere in the world. I'm not going to someplace where I KNOW i'm a target. The cruise line can think it's "safe" all they want....I know it's NOT safe for Americans.

I am not sure what you are seeing in the world, but mostly the Caribbean on cruises, as you've posted in the past that you don't have a passport.

Guess, in the interest of full disclosure, we should have mentioned Yeman since that country is certainly in a location that can disrupt traffic headed to or from the Suez Canal. We are not so sure we would want to be going through these waters today, next week, or even in a few weeks. But once you look forward more then a few weeks it is impossible to know what will happen in this country. So we would not hesitate to book a Suez Canal cruise for the future.

 

Hank

I've been getting email from Kuwait and other Middle Eastern countries for two days. All from military or military contractors who are actually there and are seeing what is going on. I particularly pay attention to emails from the security contractors because they are keyed in to a lot of stuff with other nation's special forces.

Truthfully, I think this is probably one of the safest times to transit the Suez. Egypt has moved 4 warships through the canal. Kuwait is sending it's Navy and some planes (all US stuff). Jordan, Sudan (I was personally surprised by this one), Pakistan, Morocco, Qatar and UAE are all sending planes. Saudi is actually sending up to 150,000 ground troops if needed. And the US is doing all the targeting, proving intel and communications plus a lot of behind the scenes stuff. All countries are securing their oil facilities. Kuwait's army is on full alert and has been stationed at oil platforms in country and in other countries where Kuwait has strategic interests.

I bet the Kuwait army is really happy-they rarely get to do anything except hang on their base. The Kuwait base is directly adjacent to Camp Arifjan, the huge Kuwaiti built installation for the USA. When I was in Kuwait last for any time, I would drive by their base daily on the way to my house and they all looked so bored. Just out there cleaning, cleaning, cleaning. Now they actually get to do something because "big brother" is not stepping in.

And at both ends of the Canal, you have the full complement of US warships ready to put a stop to any nonsense which would threaten the oil. We have had a continuous presence in Djibouti for quite a while to ward off the pirates out of Somalia and to protect our US military installations in the area.

I am soooooo glad the Saudis stepped up. Here's to the new king!!! This will be over very shortly with that kind of firepower.

You always have to exercise some discretion - but you should not overdo the caution. Tunis, of course, was tragic, but they have a pretty good grasp on things - even Paris had trouble. But Egypt has a strong military and does not want to let what is happening in Syria ruin them. There are too many major powers interested in keeping Suez open to think that a scheduled cruise should be cancelled. It is hard to predict, but there seems to be something of a coming together in the Middle East to put an end to ISIS. Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt realize that they need to lead the fight to save themselves.

There are, of course, areas of obvious high risk: I will have to postpone revisiting the Crusader castles in the Levant, and will think carefully about certain other areas, but I will not lock myself in some bunker for the foreseeable future.

In any event, you cannot be 100% safe anywhere - suppose you wanted to watch the Boston Marathon, or shop in a small Parisian grocery, ride a Spanish train, fly from Barcelona to Düsseldorf, or dine at a Greenwich Village Asian restaurant? All of those activities which should be commonplace had their risks - your choice: run scared or live your life.

Greatam, I respect your opinion and assessment. What's happening in Yemen is tribal warfare that has been going on dating back to the 60's. This is not the first time Egyptian army got itself involved in Yemen and it didn't fair too well the last time it was there. One thing about Arab armies is that they may be well equipped, they may be numerous but are they experienced and competent enough to win this COIN in Yemen? I believe the jury is still out on this one.

I would not want to be that close to Yemen trying to transit the Suez Canal at this time. I wouldn't consider such a voyage.

Didn't the Saudi's start bombing Yemen this week? :eek::

Not my idea of a fun vacation.

We all have different tolerance and for the 'sure I'd go crowd' to be negative to the 'no way I'd go crowd' seems a bit insensitive and intolerant of others' opinions.

I applaud those who are fearless or willing to take more than moderate risk. I am not in that group but maybe because I've seen and done most of the exciting and adventurous travel I desire. My travel desires now that I have lost my very dear DH are more relaxing and cautious journeys and I am not the only one who has seen and done and is satisfied with taking fewer risks, these days. In the days when we did 'heavy duty travel' and saw much of the world, travel was quite different. Of course, there has always been risk but not the hot bed the world is today.

For the young 'uns,,,,,,,,, IF you are really lucky, you will grow old one day and some of you will see a different perspective. The only alternative to growing old is to not have any more birthdays.

For those who will sail the Suez Canal this summer, PLEASE come back and tell us about your adventures. Those of us who love travel will be eager to hear all about it.

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I certainly would not rely on Arab armies to protect my real end. That's for sure.

I certainly would not rely on Arab armies to protect my real end. That's for sure.

Sadly, that is what the "civilized" West is doing right now. Maybe we have no politically or practically viable alternative - but at this point we are relying upon "Arab armies" to quash the threatened new Caliphate which, in brief, ihopes to put an end to Western Cuvilization.

I have booked my 48 day trip for September 2016 and am looking forward to it very much indeed.A trip of a lifetime for me anyway via Suez Canal..:)

Congratulations. Hope you have a wonderful time. Travel safely.

Who knows but that by September 2016, things may have quieted down considerably.

A calm and peaceful ME? One can hope but I highly doubt it. People over there don't like each other and/or the west. Many grievances also go back in centuries. Why change now?

This is rather foolish over hype. You are probably safer going through the Suez than just about any place else in the Middle East (other than Kuwait and Dubai). The ships are all convoyed through there, most with a HUGE military presence.

 

Now, I will admit that its been several years since my last Suez transit, that being during the firs/second Gulf war. Even during times of active war, there were no military presence in the canal whatsoever. I think you are mistaking the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aden, where there are US warships stationed (Gulf of Suez) and escorts (Gulf of Aden) for the canal itself. The reason ships are convoyed in the canal is because traffic is only one way, and the northbound and southbound convoys need to meet in the lakes to allow passage. That is not to say that the Egyptian military is not near at hand on shore or at airbases, but there was no overt military escorting of ships.