Bad News on Costa Mediterranean Cruise

[Boreus]

The following is from the first page of the Travel section in the Sunday Washington Post:

 

COMINGANDGOING

 

Sunday, January 22, 2006; Page P01

 

Cruise Interrupted

 

On Day 2 of a planned seven-day Mediterranean cruise from Genoa, Italy, Jim and Okyul Harris of Vienna got nightmarish news: Because his wife's American passport had a stamp showing she'd visited Israel , she would be kicked off the Costa Cruise ship before a scheduled stop in Tripoli, Libya .

 

 

Most Islamic Middle Eastern nations ban travelers whose passports bear Israeli stamps, with the notable exceptions of Egypt and Jordan. But Costa had warned only that such passengers would not be allowed ashore during a brief stop.

 

But the third day out, the couple was dropped in Malta and left to figure their own way home -- a job that took three days and cost well over $2,000.

 

Later, un able to find a Costa complaint center , Harris sent a complaint to Carnival, Costa's sister line, with no apparent result. After several days of calling, CoGo finally tracked down the right person, and wheels turned quickly.

 

Saying in an e-mail to CoGo that Costa is committed to service "above and beyond," Costa North America President Lynn Torrent said the line had launched a "full investigation" into the "unfortunate incident." The root of the problem, she added, is that Libya "continually revises its travel policies regarding Americans."

 

Meanwhile, said spokesman Robert Cadogan, a refund of the full cruise fare and onboard charges was being immediately credited to the Harris's credit card, and they will be reimbursed their airfare from Malta, as well as hotel and meal expenses .

 

Torrent added that the line is changing its Web site's customer contact page so that "guests may more readily reach us."

 

Israel does not reciprocate in this policy, according to a spokesman at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, so you can visit there even if your passport shows you've been elsewhere in the Middle East.

 

© 2006 The Washington Post Company

[itsmlf]

This actually is old news.......and if people would carefully read documents etc they would have known that was a possibility. Its a real shame and such bad publicity when it happens. We were in Jordon and Israel several years ago and were warned not to have our passports stamped when we left Jordon or any arab country or we could not exit the same way.

[grandsix]

Why would Costa want to go to a country that is regarded as a terrorist nation by most people?? Why would I as a guest have to hide the fact that a traveled to a specific country?

[GOLDENBONNY]

Why would Costa want to go to a country that is regarded as a terrorist nation by most people?? Why would I as a guest have to hide the fact that a traveled to a specific country?

 

Good question! My best friend mother went to Iran with Iranian pasport,then after 5 month she wanted to go to US(from CAnada)with Can pasport,guess what,she was toooo honest to tell them about Iran they did not let her in US!!!And she is Canadian citizen for 15 years !she dose'not need even a visa to US!!!

[itsmlf]

Grandsix it has always been that way between Israel and Arab countries. Israel has arranged for people to have a piece of paper stamped with their country stamp which can just be inserted in your passport because if the passport itself is stamped you cannot go back into the arab country. Blame the Arabs..........and why should you go is because many of the arab countries are very very interesting to visit....and safe.

[cruisin4eversezme]

This actually is old news.......and if people would carefully read documents etc they would have known that was a possibility. Its a real shame and such bad publicity when it happens. We were in Jordon and Israel several years ago and were warned not to have our passports stamped when we left Jordon or any arab country or we could not exit the same way.

Okay, here is what the Costa web site says [today]:

 

Furthermore, if your passport contains an Israeli stamp you will not be allowed to go ashore.

 

There is a huge difference between "not being allowed to go ashore", versus being unceremoniously dumped at the quay in Malta and told to find your own way home.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=273577

[Verystormy]

Why would Costa want to go to a country that is regarded as a terrorist nation by most people?? Why would I as a guest have to hide the fact that a traveled to a specific country?

 

Firstly, Lybia is one of the most facinating countries in the world to visit (assuming your idea of holidays insnt to lay on a beach for the duration) Secondly, lets not forget, that while there are certainly "issues" with Lybia, the US and UK goverments, have behaved in a way that is reprehensible to any reasonably educated person, including the fact the both appear to have decided that they are exempt from international law. So before we start bashing other countries, we need to put right the mess in our own back yards

[GOLDENBONNY]

Okay, here is what the Costa web site says [today]:

 

Furthermore, if your passport contains an Israeli stamp you will not be allowed to go ashore.

 

There is a huge difference between "not being allowed to go ashore", versus being unceremoniously dumped at the quay in Malta and told to find your own way home.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=273577

 

 

THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING,HOW WOULD SOMENE IN LIBIYA KNOW ABOUT THOSE PEOPLE PASPORTS,IF THEY WOULD 'N GO ASHORE?DOSEN'S SHIP CONSIDER AS A TERRITORY OF US(PANAMA OR VAREVER?)SOMTHING VERY STRANGE HERE:confused:

[GOLDENBONNY]

Grandsix it has always been that way between Israel and Arab countries. Israel has arranged for people to have a piece of paper stamped with their country stamp which can just be inserted in your passport because if the passport itself is stamped you cannot go back into the arab country. Blame the Arabs..........and why should you go is because many of the arab countries are very very interesting to visit....and safe.

 

 

Interesting to visit maybe,but safe?????It's not safe even in any country in Europe any more.:mad:

[mscheff]

Bravo StormyBoy - I agree completely.