Would You Take A Cruise in Pirate Attack Areas ??

[mrsfreelunch]

I want very much to take a cruise that would go into the areas where there has been pirate activity. My husband says absolutely not, but I think it would be OK. But now that he read an Oceania ship was almost attacked by pirates this past weekend, DH is even more opposed.

 

Would you consider taking a cruise in that area?

 

If the DH is nervous/opposed, why would you try to talk him into it? Just pick a place you can both be happy about? :confused:

[dforeigner]

What is your point? The map clearly shows where the greatest danger is. Six incidents in our hemisphere, only 4 on the Atlantic side of the canal, and 2 of those were off the coasts of Columbia and Venezuela, countries much further south than most cruise ships' itineraries. And one of the other two was a yacht. Meanwhile, I can't count the incidents in the Gulf of Aden area without enlarging the map by at 100x. The rationale that it could happen anywhere, so why not go, sounds a lot like cigarette smokers excuse that you have to die of something, so why worry about quitting smoking? Yeah. It can happen anywhere, but I like my chances of living a lot longer by sailing in the Caribbean. Why not volunteer with Blackwater security for a stint in Iraq too if you can't control your adventure fantasies. A dose of reality that is 180 degrees opposite of your assumptions can be a mind changing experience. For example, they say a conservative is a liberal who's been mugged. Likewise, Bravado usually retrenches after it is placed in harm's way or confronted by deadly force.

 

It never seizes to amaze me how people's courage and machismo grows when hiding behind a screen name.

If you only knew what I do for a living, your tone would definitely be a different one. Before you ask, I will not discuss my resume over this message board.

[yellowbird23]

I would go anywhere, anyplace, anytime if I had the money, irregardless of the safety. That is where my religion comes into play. Live life!

[bajaed69]

We boarded the Star Clipper on October 11th in Athens heading for Goa India , our destination. We were advised by the American Embassy to get off at Safaga and get home on our own accord. We are not wimps!! The other passangers whom were German, Canadian, UK, and other didn't any letter except the French, but that is another story.

The Capitan assured us that he had a plan. When we came out of the Suez Cannal we were escorted by an American destroyier DDG 72 until we got to Oman. We also had ship defences which are still highly classified, but known only to the Star Clipper passangers and crew. Pictures available to all if need to be seen of our escort.

 

Ed/Sue

[slotl]

I was reading a news article online titled: "Are you being lied to about pirates?" by John Hart (London)

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/johann-hari/you-are-being-lied-to-abo_b_155147.html

 

But why cruiseships?

[J&K08]

I was reading a news article online titled: "Are you being lied to about pirates?" by John Hart (London)

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/johann-hari/you-are-being-lied-to-abo_b_155147.html

 

But why cruiseships?

 

That was the most entertaining government conspiracy/black helicopter article I have read in a long time. I am really not surprised by the ridiculousness of the article given the website.

The author of the article's portrayal of pirates in the 16th-18th centuries is laughable at best and even more so the comparison of the false portrayal to modern day Somali pirates. Pirates as freedom fighters is like saying Al Qaeda is a human rights group. Pirates were malcontents recruited in unsavory ports of call or sailors captured during attacks on merchant ships. If your choice was to join the pirate ship or get cast overboard then I think most will join the pirate ship. Now there is a difference between pirates and buccaneers/privateers. Buccaneers/privateers were freelance ships given letters of marque by a country, which authorized the buccaneers/privateers to attack the ships of their enemies.

The Somali pirates are criminals who need to be dealt with and the longer the international community lets it go the more brazen the attacks will become. I have no doubt some of the Middle East states (Oman, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Iran, UAE, etc.) are encouraging these attacks because the ransom money has been tracked to Dubai and now they are starting to target oil tankers. The Somalis are willing pawns and should be dealt with accordingly. Especially since the international community attempted to help and they resoundingly rejected that help.