Istanbul options if cancelled due to unrest ?

[aussie cruzer]

Istanbul is already out.

 

Greece might be next as other cruise lines are pulling out there as well.

My understanding is Athens sometimes get cancelled because of strikes and demonstrations.

 

Not because of terrorism activities.

 

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[4774Papa]

What is starting to happen in Istanbul is what happened big time in Egypt. In Egypt the radicals Muslims are going after tourist, severely affecting the industry in that country. This is an effort to destabilize the economy and take over the country once more.

 

Turkey may not be as bad as Egypt, but when we were there in 2013, we were told there were over 1000000 refugees there. Surely, there are terrorists seeded in probably a larger number today. Clearly, the risk of travel to Istanbul is higher now. I think it would be foolish to ignore that risk. The President Erdogan is moving to de secularize the country, eliminating the Ataturk legacy. It is a shame. Hagia Sophia has been a museum for decades, but recently it was turned back into a mosque, Emperor Justinian would not be happy.

 

 

Of course, terror threats have increased in Europe and the USA. Asia may be the safest place to travel in the World.

 

Still, if I wanted to cruise the North Cape of Norway or a tour of Ireland, the risks would be very low, as would be an Alaskan cruise.

 

Paris, London, NY, Washington, DC, etc. will be more risky. We still plan to travel, we have a trip to Portugal in May and Alaska in September. However, clearly if you were female, Cologne, Germany would be a problem.

[barnacle_boy]

Perhaps in the past, but the situation has changed. The issue is now migrants and terrorism.

[Bocadude85]

Respectffully, I think that's very naive. You can "be aware" of your surroundings as much as you want to be and you still aren't going to stop a suicide bomber in a tourist area. I spent twenty one years in the military and visited some very dangerous places. That's fine for me and my risk level but I sure am not going to expose my family to that.

 

Is there a chance of terrorism everywhere these days? Sure, of course there is but why go to a location where your odds are exponentially higher? Even the cruise lines don't want to go there and expose their employees or passengers to that environment.

 

If NCL decides to cancel Istanbul as a port of call that is fine with me, I was responding to a question that asked about my lack of concern with a stop in Istanbul. Everyone has their own comfort levels, I would be comfortable still going to Istanbul assuming no other major incidents occur.

Edited January 13, 2016 by Bocadude85

[cruisejunkie76]

I read that for the Star and Spirit NCL changed all cruise that were planed to start/end in Istanbul a month ago.

[zap99]

I think itsbest to avoid Europe ....notpleasant at thispoint

Terrorista are winning if tourists stop going

.

 

Probably a good idea if you are that worried. Canadians boycotting France is a novel thought.

[buddy1755]

I'm glad we went to Istanbul last May, what a beautiful city and ppl, I would be concerned going there now with my family, we also went to Kusadasi, I wonder if they'll drop all of Turkey or just Istanbul, I think.Kusadasi could be a bigger target

[Shawnino]

I'm glad we went to Istanbul last May, what a beautiful city and ppl, I would be concerned going there now with my family, we also went to Kusadasi, I wonder if they'll drop all of Turkey or just Istanbul, I think.Kusadasi could be a bigger target

 

I'm glad we saw Istanbul in February -- such an amazing city, and we had great guides.

[ColinIllinois]

<snip>

 

I really hope 4774Papa is right that the UAE is a place with content guest workers that will stay safe.

 

 

Read this.

 

http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/courts/group-smuggled-weapons-into-uae-1.1620936

[All-ready2cruise]

I'm glad we went to Istanbul last May, what a beautiful city and ppl, I would be concerned going there now with my family, we also went to Kusadasi, I wonder if they'll drop all of Turkey or just Istanbul, I think.Kusadasi could be a bigger target

 

If you look at the NCL.com website - excursions, it appears they've already decided that Turkey is no longer safe for their passengers. Not sure when that happened but for sure in last month or so....

 

PS, I know that some cruises still seem to include Istanbul and Kusadasi as ports of call, however, there are no excursions so it's obvious they'll be removed if IT ever gets their act together.

Edited January 13, 2016 by All-ready2cruise

[old nutter]

Umpy10 you couild do a lot worse than end up going to Cyprus if any port stops get cancelled in the East Med. There is a great deal to see on the island, including some of the best roman mosaics ever discovered near Paphos at the Western end of the island.

 

The scenary in the centre of the island is stunning, especially in the winter period and you can even go skiing on Troodos mountain around this time of year. At Curium, near Limassol, there are roman ruins and a beautiful open roman theatre that has been restored completely and down the road from there. Kolossi Castle is well worth seeing as well.

 

Along the southern side of the island Stavrovouni Monastary has wonderful views and some excellent treasures to see.

 

Add that to the fact that the most people speak English as their second language and you could have a great port stop in Limassol.

[mugtech]

Umpy10 you couild do a lot worse than end up going to Cyprus if any port stops get cancelled in the East Med. There is a great deal to see on the island, including some of the best roman mosaics ever discovered near Paphos at the Western end of the island.

 

The scenary in the centre of the island is stunning, especially in the winter period and you can even go skiing on Troodos mountain around this time of year. At Curium, near Limassol, there are roman ruins and a beautiful open roman theatre that has been restored completely and down the road from there. Kolossi Castle is well worth seeing as well.

 

Along the southern side of the island Stavrovouni Monastary has wonderful views and some excellent treasures to see.

 

Add that to the fact that the most people speak English as their second language and you could have a great port stop in Limassol.

I agree the Greek part of Cyprus is a beautiful place to visit, but stay away from the Turkish side and the DMZ. DO NOT attempt to take any pictures along the 40 year old DMZ, just be amazed at the Mediterranean version of cold war Berlin.

[umpy10]

Umpy10 you couild do a lot worse than end up going to Cyprus if any port stops get cancelled in the East Med. There is a great deal to see on the island, including some of the best roman mosaics ever discovered near Paphos at the Western end of the island.

 

The scenary in the centre of the island is stunning, especially in the winter period and you can even go skiing on Troodos mountain around this time of year. At Curium, near Limassol, there are roman ruins and a beautiful open roman theatre that has been restored completely and down the road from there. Kolossi Castle is well worth seeing as well.

 

Along the southern side of the island Stavrovouni Monastary has wonderful views and some excellent treasures to see.

 

Add that to the fact that the most people speak English as their second language and you could have a great port stop in Limassol.

 

 

Would love to go to Cyprus, being of Greek descent, the language wouldn't be an issue at all. Tho knowing that NCL like to keep their "bottom line" down I wonder if sailing to Cyprus from Athens (our next 2 stops from Athens are scheduled to be Kusadasi & Istanbul) would be a savings in fuel or heart-be-still.... Santorini would be a closer port *wink* *wink* :p.

No matter what happens, we're going to enjoy ourselves no matter where we go I mentioned Dubrovnik and Split earlier only because we're starting in Venice and it would make more sense to me to possibly stop at either or even both ports.

Thank you very much for the info on Cyprus, if we do end up there I now have some places I'll need to visit there.

 

 

cheers...the Ump...:D

[aussie cruzer]

Our Spirit cruise got changed from Istanbul & Ephesus to Crete and Dubrovnik if that's any help.

 

Would prefer Santorini ☺

 

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[umpy10]

Our Spirit cruise got changed from Istanbul & Ephesus to Crete and Dubrovnik if that's any help.

 

Would prefer Santorini ☺

 

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Wife was just saying if we do get changed, she would hope Crete would included ! You just made her day !! LOL thank you !

 

 

cheers...Tasso & Ilene...:D

[suometar]

Our Spirit cruise got changed from Istanbul & Ephesus to Crete and Dubrovnik if that's any help.

 

Would prefer Santorini ☺

 

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We are on the cruise sailing 5/31. Picked this itinerary specifically for Istanbul. I am very disappointed that the ports have been changed. May I ask you where you found this information?

[Cloudyrain]

I agree the Greek part of Cyprus is a beautiful place to visit, but stay away from the Turkish side and the DMZ. DO NOT attempt to take any pictures along the 40 year old DMZ, just be amazed at the Mediterranean version of cold war Berlin.

 

North (Turkish) Cyprus is a lovely place to visit and incredibly welcoming - I have many many friends who travel there regularly and have nothing but positive things to say. I also have a few friends who live there and they love it. I wonder if your experiences are based on what the situation was there many many years ago, or purely on what can be seen over the old borders?

[aussie cruzer]

We are on the cruise sailing 5/31. Picked this itinerary specifically for Istanbul. I am very disappointed that the ports have been changed. May I ask you where you found this information?

 

Sure....It was first posted by folks on the Istanbul to Dubai repo...Ncl clearly told them all Istanbul ports of calls were going to be cancelled for2016/17.

 

I have since had that information confirmed.

[Bocadude85]

Sure....It was first posted by folks on the Istanbul to Dubai repo...Ncl clearly told them all Istanbul ports of calls were going to be cancelled for2016/17.

 

I have since had that information confirmed.

 

We are on the cruise after you. Where did you get the information that the two Turkish ports are being replaced by Croatia and Crete?

Edited January 14, 2016 by Bocadude85

[tammynordan01]

I just called NCL. They are eliminating Turkey - it will be phased out and each ship has a different month that it will be phased out. So far, she said the Spirit phases out in November 2016. I go on September of 2016!

[aussie cruzer]

I just called NCL. They are eliminating Turkey - it will be phased out and each ship has a different month that it will be phased out. So far, she said the Spirit phases out in November 2016. I go on September of 2016!

That is incorrect.

 

No Ncl ship is going their period.

 

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[aussie cruzer]

We are on the cruise after you. Where did you get the information that the two Turkish ports are being replaced by Croatia and Crete?

I said our cruise is going to above....where other ships go I have no idea.

 

Istanbul & Ephesus are no longer on Ncl.com shore Excursion list.

 

I wonder why.

 

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[Bocadude85]

I said our cruise is going to above....where other ships go I have no idea.

 

Istanbul & Ephesus are no longer on Ncl.com shore Excursion list.

 

I wonder why.

 

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OK where did you get the information that your cruise will be going to the ports mentioned above? I called NCL yesterday and spoke to one of the higher ups and was informed that as of right now nothing has changed. Now I am fairly confident that our cruise will not be stopping in either of the turkish ports but they were unable to provide me with any information regarding alternative ports.

[Cuizer2]

I said our cruise is going to above....where other ships go I have no idea.

 

Istanbul & Ephesus are no longer on Ncl.com shore Excursion list.

 

I wonder why.

 

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OK where did you get the information that your cruise will be going to the ports mentioned above? I called NCL yesterday and spoke to one of the higher ups and was informed that as of right now nothing has changed. Now I am fairly confident that our cruise will not be stopping in either of the turkish ports but they were unable to provide me with any information regarding alternative ports.

 

Well, I sure am glad we got that straightened out. :rolleyes:

[kate1970]

OK where did you get the information that your cruise will be going to the ports mentioned above? I called NCL yesterday and spoke to one of the higher ups and was informed that as of right now nothing has changed. Now I am fairly confident that our cruise will not be stopping in either of the turkish ports but they were unable to provide me with any information regarding alternative ports.

 

I also called NCL today and spoke with our cruise consultant. He said a decision has not yet been made to cancel Istanbul or Ephesus for the May 19th Spirit sailing. I find it very interesting reading the different perspectives on Istanbul. It is a terrible thing that happened. But it was one day out of 365. I chose this itinerary specifically for Istanbul. Unless the attacks there become a regular occurrence, I hope NCL doesn't cancel too prematurely. If they do - it will be because of lack of sales - not safety of passengers, unfortunately. That said, Croatia would be a nice alternative. No one can predict where the next suicide bombing will be - but the way they seem to operate - it is likely it won't be in the exact same spot.