Attn NCL Jade Passengers; Near Future Eastern Med Itinerary

[AuntieBarb]

I wanted to pass along this notice we just received as a result of registering our recent travels with the Dept of State. Of course there is no way of knowing if this will affect your cruise since the situation changes from day to day. Merely a heads up!

 

Our visit to Greece was canceled in March due to a transportation strike. Thankfully we didn't miss a port as we were rerouted to Sicily.

 

WARDEN MESSAGE

 

U.S. Embassy Athens, Greece

 

May 7, 2010

U.S. Embassy Athens and U.S. Consulate General Thessaloniki wish to inform U.S. citizens of continued large demonstrations and strikes to protest measures undertaken by the Greek government in response to the economic crisis. Strikes may occur in the public transportation sector and marching protesters may pass the Embassy.

 

While strikes and demonstrations are a regular occurrence in Greece, they are increasingly frequent, called on short notice, and have occurred at tourist sites in central Athens. They are much more common in Athens and Thessaloniki, but they have also taken place in smaller cities. The rallies and marches are generally orderly and lawful; however some do escalate into violence. Riot control procedures may include the use of tear gas. U.S. citizens are urged to avoid the areas of demonstrations, and if they find themselves within the vicinity of protests, they should exercise extreme caution and depart the area as quickly as possible. Information regarding demonstrations are posted almost daily on the Embassy website.

 

You should also keep abreast of news about demonstrations and strikes from local news sources and hotel security. When there are demonstrations, you should avoid places where demonstrators frequently congregate, such as the Polytechnic University area, Exarchia, Omonia, and Syntagma Squares in central Athens, and Aristotle Square in Thessaloniki.

For the latest security information, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs website, which contains current the Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts as well as the Worldwide Caution. U.S. citizens may also obtain up-to-date information on security conditions overseas by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States or Canada, and 1-202-501-4444 from overseas. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). U.S. citizens living or traveling abroad are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department's travel registration website.

 

For up-to-date information regarding Embassy or Consulate General closures, please visit the Embassy's website or the Consulate General's website. In case of an emergency when the Embassy or Consulate General is closed, an American in Greece can call (210) 729-4444 or (210) 729-4301, and ask to speak to a consular officer. For up-to-date information on current security conditions during business hours, U.S. citizens may also contact the U.S. Embassy in Athens or Consulate General in Thessaloniki at the numbers below. Please pass this information on to other U.S. citizens.

US Embassy in Athens

91 Queen Sophias Avenue

Tel 210-721-2951