Itinerary update: Egypt

[caribbeanboy]

RCI has decided to cancel all upcoming port of calls to Egypt thru June!

[drkorcs55]

RCI has decided to cancel all upcoming port of calls to Egypt thru June!

 

That is unfortunate, however I see that it is necessary.

[caribbeanboy]

Mostly affected are cruises done by Mariner of the Seas and basically the revised itinerary will be changed with an overnight stay in Istanbul!! looks like a awesome change to me.

[Lynnees]

It's sad what's happening in Egypt but they have made the right decision. I loved our two days in Egypt in November and are scheduled to go again. It may not happen - I realize that. But the safety of the tourists has to come first.

[lovemylab]

It will be interesting to see whether this affects the 2012-2013 itineraries.

[sidari]

Booked this Mariner cruise today for 11th may and was told of the changes, sadly people on the roll call have already made tour reservations which they now have to change, not helped by also moving one of the other stops to a different day.

 

But safety has to come first .... :)

[pooh3901]

OUR CRUISE ON THE BRILLIANCE ON THE 21st of APRIL WAS ALSO CHANGED, AND NOW WE HAVE 9 CRUISE DAYS BEFORE WE GET TO ROME AND THEN FLORANCE, .A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I HAVE TALKED TO ARE CANX THIS CRUISE AND THE ONE BEFORE TO INDIA. RCCL, LISTEN UP..YOU MAY HAVE AN EMPTY SHIP:mad:

[Lynnees]

OUR CRUISE ON THE BRILLIANCE ON THE 21st of APRIL WAS ALSO CHANGED, AND NOW WE HAVE 9 CRUISE DAYS BEFORE WE GET TO ROME AND THEN FLORANCE, .A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I HAVE TALKED TO ARE CANX THIS CRUISE AND THE ONE BEFORE TO INDIA. RCCL, LISTEN UP..YOU MAY HAVE AN EMPTY SHIP:mad:

 

What do you want them to do????

[Merion_Mom]

OUR CRUISE ON THE BRILLIANCE ON THE 21st of APRIL WAS ALSO CHANGED, AND NOW WE HAVE 9 CRUISE DAYS BEFORE WE GET TO ROME AND THEN FLORANCE, .A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I HAVE TALKED TO ARE CANX THIS CRUISE AND THE ONE BEFORE TO INDIA. RCCL, LISTEN UP..YOU MAY HAVE AN EMPTY SHIP:mad:

 

What do you want them to do????

 

Yes, a very odd post.

 

:rolleyes: :confused:

[Lynnees]

Yes, a very odd post.

 

:rolleyes: :confused:

 

Oh good it wasn't just me that didn't understand.:confused::rolleyes::p

[Merion_Mom]

OUR CRUISE ON THE BRILLIANCE ON THE 21st of APRIL WAS ALSO CHANGED, AND NOW WE HAVE 9 CRUISE DAYS BEFORE WE GET TO ROME AND THEN FLORANCE, .A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I HAVE TALKED TO ARE CANX THIS CRUISE AND THE ONE BEFORE TO INDIA. RCCL, LISTEN UP..YOU MAY HAVE AN EMPTY SHIP:mad:

 

What do you want them to do????

 

Yes, a very odd post.

 

:rolleyes: :confused:

 

Many of those cruisers after final payment.

[Merion_Mom]

Oh good it wasn't just me that didn't understand.:confused::rolleyes::p

 

I understand: They are upset. It will be like a transatlantic..........they will indeed have nine days of cruising in between port stops. But they are covering a long distance...........from UAE to Italy!

[Lynnees]

I understand: They are upset. It will be like a transatlantic..........they will indeed have nine days of cruising in between port stops. But they are covering a long distance...........from UAE to Italy!

 

Yes, I do understand. I haven't looked at what else is available but they certainly can't stop in Egypt. That's why I would like to know what he wants them to do. Have they been given any options for cancellations?

[Merion_Mom]

Yes, I do understand. I haven't looked at what else is available but they certainly can't stop in Egypt. That's why I would like to know what he wants them to do. Have they been given any options for cancellations?

 

Let's go crash their Roll Call and find out! :D:D

[Merion_Mom]

From their Roll Call:

 

 

I received the following from RCI today...

 

Thank you for your email. We apologize for the delay in our response.

 

We understand your concerns regarding the unrest in Egypt and appreciate this opportunity to respond. Rest assured that your safety is our highest priority. Royal Caribbean International has security measures in place for every port-of-call, and Egypt is no exception. We constantly re-evaluate our security measures and modify them as needed. We will continue to monitor events in the region and assess their potential impact on the safety of our guests.

 

At this time, no changes have been made to your sailing itinerary. However, if Royal Caribbean International feels it is unsafe for our guests and crew members to visit a particular port-of-call, the appropriate adjustments to the ship's scheduled itinerary will be made. As your sail date approaches, please continue to monitor our website at http://www.royalcaribbean.com for travel updates.

 

We are unable to speculate how an itinerary change will effect your sailing as no announcement has made made.

 

On BBC TV today it showed John Simpson, a well respected TV presenter visiting the tourist sites of the Pyramids and Saqqara, further south. At the Pyramids it is under lock and key and deserted. The small town that owes its livelihood to the Pyramids is also deserted.

 

Venturing south to Saqqara the local people were hostile and agressive, surrounding his car and shouting that he was an Israeli spy. Apparently those in the country have been fed lies from the government that all foreigners are under the pay of Israel and are spys.

 

The police had to intervene and escort them to the police station where a huge crowd gathered outside. Fed by the lies they were demanding revenge for the foreign interference and attack to their beloved president. It seems that in the countryside away from the big cities they are not so anti Mubarak and see this as an Israeli and American aided threat.

 

The police could not control the lynch mob outside and the army had to escort the vehicle away from the town.

 

The cruisers on the Roll Call are saying that they are being told that they can switch to another RC cruise, or a Celebrity cruise, at no penalty. (although if it's more expensive, they have to pay the difference, and if it's less, they'll get the money back.)

 

Others have been told that they can get a refund, but they may be the ones who are not yet past final payment date.

 

Only a couple of frothing-at-the-mouth hotheads.

 

:)

[Lynnees]

From their Roll Call:

 

 

 

 

The cruisers on the Roll Call are saying that they are being told that they can switch to another RC cruise, or a Celebrity cruise, at no penalty. (although if it's more expensive, they have to pay the difference, and if it's less, they'll get the money back.)

 

Others have been told that they can get a refund, but they may be the ones who are not yet past final payment date.

 

Only a couple of frothing-at-the-mouth hotheads.

 

:)

 

They have been given options therefore I would think that the hotheads aren't hearing what they want to hear or getting the offer they want.

 

It's a really difficult situation. I loved Egypt but would not consider going there under these circumstances. You can't get to the pyramids (how would I ride a camel again?) and you can't get into the museum..... there are far too many dangers there.

[Merion_Mom]

They have been given options therefore I would think that the hotheads aren't hearing what they want to hear or getting the offer they want.

 

It's a really difficult situation. I loved Egypt but would not consider going there under these circumstances. You can't get to the pyramids (how would I ride a camel again?) and you can't get into the museum..... there are far too many dangers there.

 

Some seem to expect "compensation" and are annoyed that none has been offered. They are urging onslaughts on Royal Caribbean to make demands for it.

[Lynnees]

Some seem to expect "compensation" and are annoyed that none has been offered. They are urging onslaughts on Royal Caribbean to make demands for it.

 

Wow - I just read the last couple of pages. I wouldn't want to be on the ship with those people. They are having a mutiny and haven't even boarded yet!!!

[Merion_Mom]

Wow - I just read the last couple of pages. I wouldn't want to be on the ship with those people. They are having a mutiny and haven't even boarded yet!!!

 

Oh, only ONE guy sounds rabid. :D

[Lynnees]

Oh, only ONE guy sounds rabid. :D

 

True - but it only takes one to whip up the others. lol Hopefully he'll get to cancel. Of course if he goes he's still going to sue and demand a person servant and everything for free while onboard.

 

If he does behave like that onboard he may find himself waving bye bye to ship as it sails off into the sunset and he's standing on the dock.

[mildew1951]

Mostly affected are cruises done by Mariner of the Seas and basically the revised itinerary will be changed with an overnight stay in Istanbul!! looks like a awesome change to me.

 

Would you like to rephrase that? have a look at the Brilliance cruise out of Dubai on April 21 :(

[mildew1951]

What do you want them to do????

 

Well not 9 succesive sea days for a start and some more interesting ports to substitute for the jewells we have lost in Egypt and Jordan. Everyone's been to Rome.:(

 

I echo the other poster's message to RCL to have a good look at this. mass cancellations are happening as we speak.:eek:

[Lynnees]

Well not 9 succesive sea days for a start and some more interesting ports to substitute for the jewells we have lost in Egypt and Jordan. Everyone's been to Rome.:(

 

I echo the other poster's message to RCL to have a good look at this. mass cancellations are happening as we speak.:eek:

 

I do understand. My question was what would you and the other poster like to see instead. He was yelling but not offering something concrete.

 

I will never defend the cruiselines. There are enough who do that blindly already. But with all that's happening I don't know what they can do. Israel must approve who docks there first and that could be part of the issue. Again, the same holds true with Turkey. It isn't just the cruiseline saying they will change to whatever port. They have to have permission from the country.

 

I certainly see cancelling. I would not want to do 9 sea days in a row either and I would personally cancel or move to another ship.

[mildew1951]

I do understand. My question was what would you and the other poster like to see instead. He was yelling but not offering something concrete.

 

I will never defend the cruiselines. There are enough who do that blindly already. But with all that's happening I don't know what they can do. Israel must approve who docks there first and that could be part of the issue. Again, the same holds true with Turkey. It isn't just the cruiseline saying they will change to whatever port. They have to have permission from the country.

 

I certainly see cancelling. I would not want to do 9 sea days in a row either and I would personally cancel or move to another ship.

 

Israel and Istanbul would have been nice for starters or at least some info about why they chose Italy. If not for CC we still wouldn't know about the changes:mad: We will probably cancel soon as we have the following cruise to this one booked which already has stops scheduled for Rome and Florence (don't want to go there twice within a few weeks).

 

Cheers

[fb0075]

I am not the "hothead" you are talking about!!!

 

What right do you have to "Slander" people that have had their "DREAM CRUISE" changed due to no one's fault--but still airfare/hotels/tours,etc. are non-refundable in some cases. Also, some of these people have planned for over a year and family and work schledules are in place---

 

I, applauded, RCL for making these itinerary changes NOW instead of 2-3 days from now as most of us are still not in final payment--

 

BUT because their is a LARGE contingent of Europeans,there has been a vacuum and alot of miscommunication between RCL and T/A's and them--

 

Again, this just happened YESTERDAY--alot of dreams were dashed and emotions running high--

I, in fact, had a GREAT AFT CABIN but chose to cancel because with the new itinerary of 9 sea days the cost of apx $5000 was ridiculous as most repos or T/A are alot cheaper! I have the luxury of traveling whenever and use miles for air --I am only out 1 hotel night in Dubai--and would STILL GO if RCL reduced this to what it shoul be--

ALSO, RCL should have handled this differently--

We called various depts for the last 3 days and noone returned our calls and emails--we found out by the special postings on the website--would have been nice to recieve a call from them--dont you think?

 

Other lines have changed their itineraries to include Istanbul --Israel,etc.so try and understand the frustration instead of condeming them/us--we purchased a middle east/EGYPT tour and paid a premiun dollar--NOT a repo to Rome and Florence!

 

I think you should go to our site and apologize --

 

THANKS AND HAVE A GREAT DAY FRANK