Traveling to Italy (Rome)

[Flscubadiver72]

Hello,

 

We have recently booked a cruise to Rome and plan on spending a few days in each Rome, Venice, Monaco, Switzerland, Paris, and London then taking another cruise from London back to the states. Our methods of travel will be primarily Trains in Italy and then renting a car to travel through France.

 

This is our first European trip and of course we are growing concerned with the recent threats of ISIS to many of our stops. The last thing we want is to be on a ship out in the middle of the Atlantic and be informed that instead of departing in Rome the destination has changed to another port. UK has issued a travel advisory for their residents to be cautious visiting Italy, however the US has yet to post any warnings.

 

In light of everything we are at a crossroads trying to determine if we should postpone our European trip for a later date. Any suggestions or tips? How do cruise companies handle these types of situations?

[SadieN]

Go. Live Life. You could get hit by a bus tomorrow.

 

If there is a major issue the cruiseline will reroute.

 

 

For your trip I'd be more worried driving a car in another country.

[FTLcruisers]

Cruise lines will do whatever they feel is best to keep their passengers safe. They are not going to take any chances with crew or passenger safety nor do they want anything to happen to their multi-million dollar ships!

 

We cruised the Baltic right around the time when all the stuff was going on with Putin and many folks on our cruise did cancel either for safety concerns or not wanting to support Putin's regime. We had no issues nor did I think we would. We also were in Athens and Barcelona during some civil unrest and had no issues in either city. In Athens, the cruiseline did cancel a walking tour that would have taken us near the protests.

 

You must make a decision based on your comfort level. Also, you must realize that, unfortunately, it seems there is always something crazy going on in some part of the world so it may not be any better on a future date.

 

We will be on a TA from Miami to Rome in May and I have no concerns about our safety.

 

Marianne

[grand isle joe]

Go. Live Life. You could get hit by a bus tomorrow.

 

If there is a major issue the cruiseline will reroute.

 

 

For your trip I'd be more worried driving a car in another country.

 

I agree 100%......you have a bigger chance of getting struck by lightning.....No worries.:)

[aquilegia]

To answer your last question first. If there is considered any serious threat to passengers, a cruise line will omit a port. But I believe you are worrying unnecessarily. No cruise lines are omitting any European ports. Governments have a duty to give information to their citizens, but if they think there is a serious risk, they advise against travel to the country, period. In that case, no cruise line would visit that country. The UK government mentions the possibilities of terrorism dangers and indiscriminate attacks on foreigners in its advisories on most, if not all, countries, even including the United States! I was in Italy last week and I certainly didn't give the matter any thought. Go on your travels and enjoy yourself.

[SadieN]

I agree 100%......you have a bigger chance of getting struck by lightning.....No worries.:)

 

Since OP lives in Florida I'd say swallowed up by a sink hole.:D:eek::rolleyes:;)

[chrispb]

Since OP lives in Florida I'd say swallowed up by a sink hole.:D:eek::rolleyes:;)

 

Lol. Now that's scary:eek:

[SadieN]

Just off SKYPE with DD who lives in Rome.

 

Rome has stopped all liquor sales (bars, markets, restaurants) because of the rioting.

The Dutch, THE DUTCH, are rioting in Rome before a soccer game, unbelievable.

 

Who would believe that the Dutch would be the ones to be afraid of???

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2960383/Feyenoord-fans-clash-riot-police-ugly-scenes-Rome-s-Spanish-Steps-ahead-Europa-League-32-tie-Roma.html

[morbihan]

I live in France. Very soon I will be taking the train to Paris to travel to Venice. From there we cruise around a bit, finishing in Civitavecchia. Then it is back on the train to Venice.

 

I know. We love Venice. Then on to Milan. Lake Como and back to Milan for Paris.

 

Never even thought about the terrorists.

 

They are not spoiling my holiday.

 

I suppose I became accustomed to drama living through The Troubles in London. If it happens it happens.

[grand isle joe]

i live in france. Very soon i will be taking the train to paris to travel to venice. From there we cruise around a bit, finishing in civitavecchia. Then it is back on the train to venice.

 

I know. We love venice. Then on to milan. Lake como and back to milan for paris.

 

Never even thought about the terrorists.

 

They are not spoiling my holiday.

 

I suppose i became accustomed to drama living through the troubles in london. If it happens it happens.

 

viva la france!:)

[morbihan]

Merci!

[Hlitner]

Sure go ahead and postpone. But just be aware that there have been world political/violence problems for thousands of years (probably even longer) so the question you need to consider is "postpone until when?" There is certainly nothing that any of us here can say to dispel your fears. But perhaps FDR had it right when he said "there is nothing to fear but fear itself."

 

I can just tell you that DW and I have been world travelers for over thirty years (over 100 countries) and would not even consider postponing or cancelling a trip because of the current unrest. To do so would mean not traveling within the USA (remember Boston), Canada (remember Ottowa), England, France, Italy, Denmark, Russia, Tunesia, Israel, and we could probably go on through a list of nearly every country in the world. And by the way, we live in Mexico (Puerto Vallarta) during the winter :). With all the stuff you read about Mexico, DW would tell you that she feels safer here walking around at night then she would in Orlando, Miami, etc.

 

Hank

[navybankerteacher]

There are always grounds for concern, but to avoid Europe at this point appears to show excessive caution. Steer clear of Benghazi and Aleppo --- certainly; probably even Donetsk, but Rome?

[dsrdsrdsr]

Hello,

UK has issued a travel advisory for their residents to be cautious visiting Italy, however the US has yet to post any warnings.

If they have, they're keeping pretty quiet about it. There's a bit of general advice saying sometimes the transport workers go on strike, and if you're going skiing try not to get hit by an avalanche. But they probably say the same about skiing in the USA, and I'm not planning to cancel my trip to Chicago.

 

On a similar matter, my airline has issued advice telling me to be cautious about the steps at the airport. It's not putting me off travelling.

 

Seriously, you are not reducing your life expectancy by visiting Europe. I know there is a belief over there that the best bits of Europe is on a par with Ferguson, St. Louis, but it ain't so.

 

PS - your cruise will be going to Civitavecchia. Don't believe any line that says it goes to Rome. And I'd recommend Switzerland before Monaco, and I'm not sure you'd need a few days in Monaco anyway - the HoHo bus covers the whole country and has only 12 stops.

Edited February 20, 2015 by dsrdsrdsr

[cb at sea]

I will take the risk of a sinkhole or being hit by a bus over going into ISIS territory any day. Those folks are totally nuts, and are out looking for hostages they can behead or burn so they can be on the news.

 

You pays your money...you takes your chances.

[scottbee]

We have recently booked a cruise to Rome and plan on spending a few days in each Rome, Venice, Monaco, Switzerland, Paris, and London then taking another cruise from London back to the states. Our methods of travel will be primarily Trains in Italy and then renting a car to travel through France.

 

This is our first European trip and of course we are growing concerned with the recent threats of ISIS to many of our stops. The last thing we want is to be on a ship out in the middle of the Atlantic and be informed that instead of departing in Rome the destination has changed to another port. UK has issued a travel advisory for their residents to be cautious visiting Italy, however the US has yet to post any warnings.

 

I have similar concerns every time I have to visit a country with a high crime/murder rate like that. Luckily we're only in Fort Lauderdale for a few hours this trip. :)

 

Murder Rate (per 100,000 people)

Switzerland: 0.6

Spain: 0.8

Italy: 0.9

France: 1.0

United Kingdom: 1.0

USA: 4.7

Florida: 5.6

[SwissDave]

There are no real issues in Europe at the moment, except high danger of avalanche in the alps as at has been a bit mild the last few days.

 

 

I will take the risk of a sinkhole or being hit by a bus over going into ISIS territory any day. Those folks are totally nuts, and are out looking for hostages they can behead or burn so they can be on the news.

 

You pays your money...you takes your chances.

 

OP is going to Rome in Italy, amongst other cities and countries in Europe. They are not going anywhere near Iraq or Syria, which apart from anything those countries are on a different continent.

Edited February 20, 2015 by SwissDave

[Markanddonna]

I'd be more concerned about pickpockets than being at risk from ISIS infiltrators in Europe. I'd have no hesitancy in going to Europe. Dress in dark colors as much as possible and blend in. Don't stick out like a naïve American tourist with white sneakers, t-shirts with your sports team's logo and your camera at ready around your neck.

 

I agree with others that there is always an element of danger in travel. We were in London about twenty years ago with our teenage daughters and the Tube was evacuated twice while we were on it because of bomb threats. The lovely Londoners saw we were Americans and escorted us to show us how to get to the next station that was running.

 

While that was a bit tense, it makes a good story after the fact. The scariest thing I saw in Europe was the nudist park in Munich. I had no idea that we would stumble upon that. Taught me to do my homework!

[Flatbush Flyer]

I'd be more concerned about pickpockets than being at risk from ISIS infiltrators in Europe. I'd have no hesitancy in going to Europe. Dress in dark colors as much as possible and blend in. Don't stick out like a naïve American tourist with white sneakers, t-shirts with your sports team's logo and your camera at ready around your neck.

 

Also, men should skip the shorts in Italy.

[Hlitner]

Also, men should skip the shorts in Italy.

 

Au Contraire. We have done a lot of travel in Italy (have driven more then 10,000 miles throughout the country) and been there on more then 2 dozen cruises. If it is hot, and I am not planning on going into certain places that do not allow shorts (such as the Vatican) I will wear shorts and DW usually wears Capris. While it is true that most Italian men do not wear shorts (we remember when they would not wear jeans which is now like a uniform) we are starting to even see that change. But in a country that hosts millions of tourists every year, shorts are quite common although they are not generally considered proper dress inside churches (many tourists even ignore this basic rule of decorum).

 

Hank

[grand isle joe]

I would rather see shorts than those Speedos.........:eek: