Looks like QM2 doesn't go to Alexandria today

[fg_hb]

Hello everybody,

 

looking through the webcam of QM2 I see, the ship is bound to Athens, but she is scheduled for Alexandria, Egypt today from 7 am to 10 pm. Does anybody know the reason?

[guernseyguy]

In case anyone missed it:

 

QM2 was unfortunately unable to dock at Alexandria, Egypt, today due to Gale Force 7 winds being responsible for closing the port. This meant that approximately 1,500 passengers and some 160 crew members were unable to take shore excursions to visit the pyramids and Cairo. There would have been a convoy of (literally) 56 motor coaches making the 3-hour (each way) trip from the port of Alexandria to Cairo.

 

Instead, the ship will arrive early in Athens tomorrow (the 18th) and remain there until the originally scheduled departure time.

 

We have been assured by the Commodore that all possible options were explored for making the stop in Egypt possible, but in the end, it just couldn't happen. All passengers who had booked shore excursions through the ship have already had their accounts credited back for the cost of the tours.

 

While we are naturally disappointed at missing one of the premier highlights of the world cruise, we understand that the weather can always be an issue in making itinerary changes necessary, and we appreciate that the safety of the passengers, crew, and ship is paramount.

[pb82]

Saturday 17th March. We were awakened by the Commodore at 7.00am when he announced that due to strong north westerly gales no shipping was able to enter the harbour at Alexandria. We circled around 35 waiting tankers until 10.00am when the Commodore announced that it was not practical for us to wait any longer as the tours booked for Cairo, the pyramids and Nile cruise would not now be able to complete their journeys. Everyone was most disappointed as it was to have been their big day for many who had not visited Egypt before. I presume the Egyptian salesmen who travelled with us through the canal must have departed with the pilots. We set sail for Greece in a north westerly direction with new plans to arrive in the port of Piraeus around noon tomorrow (18th) ...