Greek Ports-your recent experiences

[Rocket4Oh]

Have you recently been on a cruise that has stopped at ports in Greece; especially Piraeus? Could you share what the stop has been like as it relates to the economic turmoil in Greece?

We are (hopefully) going in September.

Thanks

[ldog]

I don't know how anyone can answer that question.

 

We were in Athens in October and saw the Acropolis, the new Acropolis museum and walked around Syntagma square etc. We took the subway from Pireaus and all was good.

[cberge]

Have you recently been on a cruise that has stopped at ports in Greece; especially Piraeus? Could you share what the stop has been like as it relates to the economic turmoil in Greece?

We are (hopefully) going in September.

Thanks

Please read this board re Greece/Athens...you will find a wealth of info and many answers to your questions!!!There is a post re the economics in Greece as well.

[Rocket4Oh]

Please read this board re Greece/Athens...you will find a wealth of info and many answers to your questions!!!There is a post re the economics in Greece as well.

Yes I know. I have read them all. The post that you are referring to is all about the economy and how it MIGHT affect travel. I was asking about personal info from those who have just been in the various ports to see if there was trouble that has specifically affected them. Very often what is posted in the papers and the perceptions we get from that is a far different story than what is really happening.

I still seek info.

[Rocket4Oh]

I don't know how anyone can answer that question.

 

We were in Athens in October and saw the Acropolis, the new Acropolis museum and walked around Syntagma square etc. We took the subway from Pireaus and all was good.

You did answer it, thanks! By the info you gave, you didn't have any difficulty at all. However, I'm looking for more recent visitor info.

[aquilegia]

If you get a response from someone whose travelled recently, I don't think it's going to be of much relevance since you're not travelling for another 5 months.

[Rocket4Oh]

If you get a response from someone whose travelled recently, I don't think it's going to be of much relevance since you're not travelling for another 5 months.

Thanks for your advice. The one big reason to ask now is that the day for final payment on our cruisae is rapidly approaching and a definitive decision needs to be made.

As time goes on, if responses come up, the thread will stay current (on top) and hopefully more responses will come in. I am positive that there are others who have the same concerns and this would be good info to share. I did go onto the Trip Advisor Athens Forum. There one can find bloggers who ask/answer all sorts of questions including what they are finding "on the ground".

It never hurts to ask and to ask in a timely fashion.

[cberge]

I realize you are looking for specific info,but in all my travels to Europe and some were iffy at best I have never had a problem being a tourist and doing the usual because,and especially Greece, they need the tourist trade and the money it brings,and people,I feel, I really glad to see "the tourist".Unless something really drastic happens I think you will be just fine.If on the other hand you are really worried about it I would do a different cruise,and go when and if things get better in Greece.Just MHO.If I could travel right now I would be on a cruise in a heartbeat:D

[tom_uk]

If you were an industrialist or an investor or even just someone thinking of buying a holiday home in Greece then you'd have a lot of cause to worry. But as a tourist - no way.

 

In fact as cruise passengers, we're better off than other visitors. We're not relying on infrastructure (ferries, buses, metros, etc) carrying on working - the ship will cary us in and the ship will carry us back off again. Book your cruise and look forward to it.

[cruisemom42]

I realize you are looking for specific info,but in all my travels to Europe and some were iffy at best I have never had a problem being a tourist and doing the usual because,and especially Greece, they need the tourist trade and the money it brings,and people,I feel, I really glad to see "the tourist".Unless something really drastic happens I think you will be just fine.If on the other hand you are really worried about it I would do a different cruise,and go when and if things get better in Greece.Just MHO.If I could travel right now I would be on a cruise in a heartbeat:D

 

If you were an industrialist or an investor or even just someone thinking of buying a holiday home in Greece then you'd have a lot of cause to worry. But as a tourist - no way.

 

In fact as cruise passengers, we're better off than other visitors. We're not relying on infrastructure (ferries, buses, metros, etc) carrying on working - the ship will cary us in and the ship will carry us back off again. Book your cruise and look forward to it.

 

I guess you haven't read about the cruise ship passengers being blocked from boarding their ship at Piraeus earlier in the week?

 

http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/news/news.cfm?ID=3834

[cberge]

I guess you haven't read about the cruise ship passengers being blocked from boarding their ship at Piraeus earlier in the week?

 

http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/news/news.cfm?ID=3834

 

No,you are right I had not seen this as in process of moving across the country,but IMHO this could happen at any time any place re the strikes they have all over Europe on trains,busses and ports.I still feel that tourists will be treated with due respect as long as money is being spent.Thanx for the heads-up though.

[Lyssa78]

Wow, that is really something. I had not heard about that. I did a Greek cruise in 2005, so no comment on the current situation. I will just say that it was a great cruise, the area is so beautiful, and I hope everything works out for you. :)

[aquilegia]

OP I understand why you asked the question now, with your final balance due. But even if there were any problems in Greece, there will be plenty of other ports on your trip. I'd try and relax and look forward to what I'm sure will be a great cruise.

[cruisedad521]

I would agree that one port out of many might should not cause someone to cancel a trip, but the question on recent experience is valid, if only to help plan for when in Greece.

I am booked on the Ruby Princess for this July and although I would never cancel due to issues in one port, I do question whether we should continue to plan to DIY while in Athens. If the strikes planned for this week happen while we are in port I would be more comfortable if I had a private tour rather than relying on public transport or the availability of taxis at the port.

 

I will be interested in following any posts about travel issues that occur in the next few weeks to decide how to handle our travel in Athens

[TLCOhio]

The big worry, RIGHT NOW, are the strikes in Greece Tuesday and Wednesday that will be closing their airports, etc. If you read some of the other postings and news stories on this board, you will see that, for RIGHT NOW, the unions and others have to say that they hate so very, very much these IMF and euro controls being forced on Greece in exchange for the three-year $150 billion bail-out.

 

By June and later this summer and fall, that's my hope and view from having studied the history of these things in Europe. We can hope the current mess is not a long-standing, rolling series of strikes, week after week for many months to come.

 

The good news is that most folks are NOT traveling to Greece this week or next.

 

Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

[DanL]

I guess you haven't read about the cruise ship passengers being blocked from boarding their ship at Piraeus earlier in the week?

 

http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/news/news.cfm?ID=3834

 

Unless you have a cruise starting or ending in Athens (Pireaus) there should be no problem.

 

We were on a cruise in 2001 that stoped in Athens & they had a transit strike for one day. So the captain went to Kusadasi for that day then to Athens the next day. He just reversed the port order. All worked out great, even to switching our private tours.

[H2Otstr]

We were on a cruise in 2001 that stoped in Athens & they had a transit strike for one day. So the captain went to Kusadasi for that day then to Athens the next day. He just reversed the port order. All worked out great, even to switching our private tours.

 

If ports were switched at the last minute, how did you contact the private tour companes of your change? We have private tours in almost every port coming up.

[DanL]

If ports were switched at the last minute, how did you contact the private tour companes of your change? We have private tours in almost every port coming up.

 

We did it by email from the ship (Renaissance) as soon as we knew the itinerary change. Both operators were free on the new port days & confirmed. As I recall we had a days notice so there was just enough time. This was in March so it was also a slow time for the tour operators.

[TLCOhio]

If ports were switched at the last minute, how did you contact the private tour companes of your change? We have private tours in almost every port coming up.

 

Good question! Hopefully, you didn't put down a cash, advance payment/deposit on such a tour. Cruise lines will need to be able to adjust schedules and adapt for what's available and where. It's good to check on what travel insurance you have and what it will cover or not.

 

Here is the latest from the AP newswire on the strikes starting today in Athens. This Associated Press story has this headline: "Greek protesters drape banners on Acropolis" with these highlights: "Angry Greeks took to the streets Tuesday and unfurled banners at the ancient Acropolis, the country's most famous monument, to protest harsh new austerity measures as strikes began across the country. About 4,000 teachers and students marched to Parliament to protest the cuts, carrying black flags and holding banners reading: 'Send the bill to those responsible.' Scuffles broke out as they approached the Parliament building, with demonstrators throwing stones at riot police, who responded with small bursts of pepper spray to keep the crowd back. Wednesday's strike is expected to shut down services across the country. Public transport will halt in the morning and evening, government offices will remain closed throughout the day and state hospitals will function with emergency staff."

 

The full story is at:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iXUJvBknZVGqsBenIusBgBvWj5WQD9FG0LQ00

 

THANKS! Terry in Ohio

[DanL]

From Reuters: "Participation in anti-austerity demonstrations has so far been limited to a few tens of thousands, smaller than riots that paralyzed Athens in December 2008 following the police killing of a teenager.

 

But anger is growing, raising questions about whether Prime Minister George Papandreou's socialist government can successfully implement what it has promised."

 

Time will tell.

[nellydean]

Three bank workers killed today in firebomb attack by protesters

[golfcouple]

I am also concerned about our upcoming cruise. We leave Venice on the Crown Princess on May 27, and will be in Greek ports everyday from 5/30 to 6/5, and in Athens on 6/1.

 

Athens is definitely the highlight of our trip, and while I know all the other stops will be terrific, it would be a terrible disappointment to miss it. We own a business and are not able to get away often, so if we went and missed Athens, I don't know if we would ever get back there again.

 

We're scheduled to fly to Venice three weeks from today. We are considering postponing the trip because of the unrest. That kind of adventure was not the type we were looking for!

[xcomet]

Yikes, we scheduled for the Mariner , when swine flu broke out there, now we are scheduled for greek cruise. Anyway, my friend just returned sunday, she said in Athens, no private transporation was allowed at the pier, and when they walked to the end of it to pick up a cab , there were 3 cabs there and they wanted 300 euros for a trip that is normally 25. They said no and walked back to the buses where they were lucky enough to find out there was an opening on a ship tour to the acropolis, and they took it! She said all the other islands, there were no signs of any unrest or trouble!

[Springchicken]

Golfcouple, we leave on the Crown Princess May 15 with hopes of stopping in Athens! We have a prearranged taxi driver to meet us outside the port/customs entrance to take us to the Acropolis. Just hope it settles down in the next couple of weeks. Otherwise, we may just hire him for the day to take us elsewhere around Athens.

[woodworker&knitter]

Have you recently been on a cruise that has stopped at ports in Greece; especially Piraeus? Could you share what the stop has been like as it relates to the economic turmoil in Greece?

We are (hopefully) going in September.

Thanks

We hopefully will be there in August. At present our friends are on the Westerdam, they are in Venice at the moment,and will be in Greece within the next 14 days.

I will be in contact with them the beginning of June, I will find out.I'm actually surprised that no one has kept a blog on this 32 day voyage

 

Barbara