PARIS ATTACKS-will River Cruises cancel?

[bcirish]

We are on Viking cruising from Bamburg to wurtzburg today. They have said that they are monitoring the situation. They are also monitoring a water level issue. As for our cruise.... They read the posted statement concerning the Paris Attucks and promised information as it becomes available. Will keep you posted as I learn as well. I do not feel unsafe. Quite honestly, the terrorists have made their statement and will now observe the chaos they created....IMO. Security at airport is very tight - checking ALL passports which is different - before..... If traveling within eu - if you are part of eu.... There was no security to speak of even once in eu.... Security for non eu residents was minimal before Paris from airport to airport.

[Hydrokitty]

If you are waiting for Viking to put out some sort of statement that they are able to keep you safe from terrorism you will not get it. Is your local movie theater or mall or restaurant making such statements? There is no controlling terrorists just like there is no controlling a tornado. Sorry to sound so harsh but as a New Yorker I've been dealing with terrorism since the first bombing of the WTC. I'm also a school teacher who has to practice lockdown drills with young children. This is the world we live in.

 

Well said...as a fellow New Yorker, but not a teacher, I agree. It's funny how such attacks effect people. I still go into Manhattan regularly to the theater, Lincoln Center, visit my son....but I won't ride on a subway. I fly to Europe fairly often and feel a twinge of fear every time the plane lifts off the runway....but I still go....I live in a town most people have never heard of...but now I always look around while parking at a mall or shopping in the supermarket. Paranoia? Yes, indeed, but I think a little paranoia in these times is a good thing..... just don't let it dictate your life.

Edited November 15, 2015 by Hydrokitty

[FlyerTalker]

I think being blunt is probably the only way to go here.

 

I doubt Viking or for that matter any of the other river cruise companies are going to be taking any steps to increase security as there are no logical steps for them to take.

DING DING DING....we have a winner.

 

Just what do the worriers want the cruise lines and airlines to do? Provide an armed escort for each and every one of you? Send a scuba team ahead to sweep the dock area at each stop? Give you a bomb-proof safe-room for you to scurry to?

 

The dirty little secret of society is that there is no such thing as "safe". And that's been true for thousands of years. There is only relative safety. You can't 100% protect. Yet many many people want to be "safe" and want others to make them "safe". The truth is that efforts can only, at best, improve the relative safety.

[Coral]

Send a scuba team ahead to sweep the dock area at each stop?

 

I forgot that after 9/11 - they did do this in FLL. I am guessing Miami and San Pedro but not sure.

[JVilleGal]

They do it in Seattle!

[grills]

We flew out of Paris the afternoon of the attacks. We had a magnificent cruise Paris to Normandy. Weather was perfect. The staff was excellent. It was such a moving experience to be in Normandy the day before Veteran's Day. Today, Omaha Beach is beautiful. That I didn't expect since we have those horrific grainy images in our minds. Everything in France just seemed Perfect. There were even Irises and roses still in bloom when we visited Van Gogh's last "home". We docked so close to the Eiffel Tower. We went out after dinner and toasted each other as it twinkled like a Giant Sparkler. I loved driving through the towns and seeing people going about their days, carrying their french bread. Everything seemed so normal there. This made me smile. The people were wonderful and patient with my limited French. Viking staff worked so hard to make each of us feel special. The food, unlimited wine and excursions perfect. We landed in Boston Friday and we were in disbelief at the news of the attacks. Our family was frantic. I will remember the beauty above all of this trip, but will never forget the hopeless feeling when learning of the attacks. My heart goes out to all the Victims and their families, citizens of France and the Viking Spirit Crew. May all who have upcoming cruises, please enjoy every minute of your cruise and God Bless.

[Got2Cruise]

We flew out of Paris the afternoon of the attacks. We had a magnificent cruise Paris to Normandy. Weather was perfect. The staff was excellent. It was such a moving experience to be in Normandy the day before Veteran's Day. Today, Omaha Beach is beautiful. That I didn't expect since we have those horrific grainy images in our minds. Everything in France just seemed Perfect. There were even Irises and roses still in bloom when we visited Van Gogh's last "home". We docked so close to the Eiffel Tower. We went out after dinner and toasted each other as it twinkled like a Giant Sparkler. I loved driving through the towns and seeing people going about their days, carrying their french bread. Everything seemed so normal there. This made me smile. The people were wonderful and patient with my limited French. Viking staff worked so hard to make each of us feel special. The food, unlimited wine and excursions perfect. We landed in Boston Friday and we were in disbelief at the news of the attacks. Our family was frantic. I will remember the beauty above all of this trip, but will never forget the hopeless feeling when learning of the attacks. My heart goes out to all the Victims and their families, citizens of France and the Viking Spirit Crew. May all who have upcoming cruises, please enjoy every minute of your cruise and God Bless.

 

 

What a beautiful post. We enjoyed a Seine cruise two years ago and fell in love with Paris also.

[Alberta Quilter]

We have now started our second part of our journey. This morning all pax departed the Pride (she is now out of service) and were transferred from Conflans. We were bussed, via Dijon, to Chalon sur Soane for the Portraits of Southern France cruise. We even travelled a wee bit through Paris for our drive. Other than an excruciatingly long bus ride, with additional stops that many of us felt were unnecessary, it was uneventful. There has not been any increase in security that I've noticed.

 

Viking did arrange an extra tour for yesterday; we got about 45 minutes notice of it. I did not expect it so it was a pleasant surprise. We went to St Germaine de Laye. We could not go into the museum/palace which the tour would normally include; I assume that the museum was closed due to the lockdown of public facilities. Parisians were out in cafes; they were not staying home.

 

Onboard both the Pride and now the Hermod, there does not seem to be any changes. Life goes on. We're in a bubble. We have not watched the news and this is the first time I've been on the internet today so haven't read any more about the attacks.

 

Hopefully our new friends from the Pride have made it home safely and uneventfully.

[rjscott]

Even large hotels don't have you send through your belongings when you enter.

 

 

Actually, the Ritz Carlton in Istanbul does just that. ;) The hotel is on the outskirts of the city, and they do screen incoming guests and your baggage before check-in. We stayed there prior to our Viking Oceans cruise this past April.

The only place I've encountered that.

 

Becki

[abrish]

I just returned on Monday evening from the Viking Paris to Normandy cruise. The cruise was wonderful, and even with the recent developments of this weekend, I would go back again in a minute. This can happen anywhere at anytime. If you choose not to go then the terrorist win.

[Hydrokitty]

AcI tually, the Ritz Carlton in Istanbul does just that. ;) The hotel is on the outskirts of the city, and they do screen incoming guests and your baggage before check-in. We stayed there prior to our Viking Oceans cruise this past April.

The only place I've encountered that.

 

Becki

 

We encountered it at the hotels in Egypt (pre-uprising) and Jordan as well and had to go through airline type security whether you were checking in or returning from a day trip or dinner out. Everyone had to put all any bags, backpacks and purchases on the conveyor to be screened and had to walk through the same scanner as an airport. When we checked out our bags were brought to the bus but were not loaded on the bus until each passenger came and identified their bags and then stood and watched them be loaded before getting on the bus. I think a large part of the problem with respect to the downed plane in Egypt is the "baksheesh"....which is a daily form of life there....I would not be surprised to find that someone working at the airport accepted a bribe to place a package on the plane....not saying he knew what it was....just put it on the plane in exchange for a bribe.

[Coral]

Actually, the Ritz Carlton in Istanbul does just that. ;) The hotel is on the outskirts of the city, and they do screen incoming guests and your baggage before check-in. We stayed there prior to our Viking Oceans cruise this past April.

The only place I've encountered that.

 

Becki

 

Though - if someone is aiming for a hotel, Vegas is where they should go. 10 of the largest 15 hotels (or something like that) are in Vegas.

[Mark_T]

We encountered it at the hotels in Egypt (pre-uprising) and Jordan as well and had to go through airline type security whether you were checking in or returning from a day trip or dinner out.

 

I worked in the hotel industry for a number of years and to be honest I'd be far more interested in what was happening around the back of the hotel rather than at the front.

 

You can give guests the appearance of security by doing what you describe but unless you are also screen all staff in and out, check all deliveries of food, laundry etc. and have every entrance and exit monitored and secure then it is again just a pretty piece of theater designed to make the guests feel more comfortable.

 

Dodging the security checks at Sharm airport required no more than a £20 payment according to several who passed through there recently...

[ThreeTwelves]

We are on Viking cruising from Bamburg to wurtzburg today. They have said that they are monitoring the situation. They are also monitoring a water level issue. As for our cruise.... They read the posted statement concerning the Paris Attucks and promised information as it becomes available. Will keep you posted as I learn as well. I do not feel unsafe. Quite honestly, the terrorists have made their statement and will now observe the chaos they created....IMO. Security at airport is very tight - checking ALL passports which is different - before..... If traveling within eu - if you are part of eu.... There was no security to speak of even once in eu.... Security for non eu residents was minimal before Paris from airport to airport.

Yes, please keep us posted! So your cruise is going from Prague to Paris, we'll be doing the reverse next month on the Odin, will anxiously await your reports. I'm sure you'll be very safe in Paris once you get there, but still, it's going to be a different experience then expected. I hope you're having a great time so far!!! :)

[FlyerTalker]

Though - if someone is aiming for a hotel, Vegas is where they should go. 10 of the largest 15 hotels (or something like that) are in Vegas.

Google "taj mahal hotel mumbai terror attack".

 

Done. Next targets.

[FlyerTalker]

Actually, the Ritz Carlton in Istanbul does just that. ;) The hotel is on the outskirts of the city, and they do screen incoming guests and your baggage before check-in. We stayed there prior to our Viking Oceans cruise this past April.

Are you sure about this? Considering that the R/C is only a half mile from Taksim Square, how can this be "outskirts"??

[rjscott]

Ok, what I meant by outskirts is that it is not in the heart of the city. It is indeed 1/2 mile from Taksim Sq, but it is not an easy walk. Transportation is really required to get to restaurants, shopping or sightseeing.

 

Becki

[id4elizabeth]

Becki - we had the same experience at the Hilton Bosphorus in Istanbul. The whole area has a high fence around it with a manned gate. When our taxi from the airport pulled up to the gate, a fellow got out with a large mirror on a long stick and swept all around the underside of the taxi. He made the driver open the trunk and we had to get out and identify the luggage. Then we drove up to the front door where all our baggage, handbags, etc had to go through an airport-like scanner and we were lightly frisked. Never had experienced this before either. Of course, as Mark T points out, I have no idea what, if any, procedures are taken at the backend of the hotel.

[Liz]

We left this morning for our Danube river cruise. I am sitting in Paris waiting for my connection to Nuremberg. We had a comfortable, uneventful flight. No one here seems nervous or worried. It is a normal travel day. Have a great day everyone.:):):):)

 

Keep us posted on water levels, if possible. Most importantly - enjoy your cruise!

 

Liz

[Liz]

My favorite cruise was in October, 2000. Sailing from Piraeus through the eastern Med. I had not even considered the safety aspect of the itinerary but it was a "different time", pre-9/11. We were diverted from Ashdod due to unrest in the area. The alternate port was Limassol, Cyprus, which turned out to be a lovely place with wonderful people welcoming us to their home. When we arrived in Port Said and boarded our excursion buses we were told to limit conversations with the young man in the front seat. He was our security guard and was armed to the teeth under his tailor-made suit, as was our bus driver. We also had armed escort vehicles to keep an eye on us - and they were amazing when one of our buses in the convoy became separated from the group on return to the ship,late at night. At the end of the trip we were told of the horrible bombing that took place on the USS Cole. Security at the Athens airport was very tight, and we had to fill out "next of kin" forms for the airline - a first for me. A bit of reality check for this naive traveler! Especially poignant for me, since all of these things took place within a nine or ten day cruise.

All of that said - I guess it's safe to say that terrorist activity has been going on for a while. Perhaps we (or I, at least) blew it off because it affected things around me, but not me directly. With our 24-hour news cycle in a post-9//1 world we are more aware of actions than we were before - possibly due to it being a slow news day, who knows?

My question: what do you do, plan to do or suggest to do to "stay safe" and "use common sense"? I don't walk around wearing an American flag to draw attention to myself, but try to be inconspicuous when I travel anywhere, not just in Europe. I'm just wondering if anyone has any ideas, especially for first-time cruisers.

 

Liz

[rjscott]

Becki - we had the same experience at the Hilton Bosphorus in Istanbul. The whole area has a high fence around it with a manned gate. When our taxi from the airport pulled up to the gate, a fellow got out with a large mirror on a long stick and swept all around the underside of the taxi. He made the driver open the trunk and we had to get out and identify the luggage. Then we drove up to the front door where all our baggage, handbags, etc had to go through an airport-like scanner and we were lightly frisked. Never had experienced this before either. Of course, as Mark T points out, I have no idea what, if any, procedures are taken at the backend of the hotel.

 

Elizabeth,

They didn't do all that at the Ritz Carlton. Were you surprised by that? I had seen on the R/C website that we would have to go thru security, so was prepared.

But, as has been said, the guests may be screened, but what about the workers, the delivery people, etc? You really could drive yourself crazy worrying about the 'what if's'. As a cancer survivor, I won't be bogged down by that. ;)

 

Becki

[berrytea]

We left this morning for our Danube river cruise. I am sitting in Paris waiting for my connection to Nuremberg. We had a comfortable, uneventful flight. No one here seems nervous or worried. It is a normal travel day. Have a great day everyone.:):):):)

 

we are to be on the Viking Tor. Please keep us posted! hope the rain helps the levels and you can sail farther! safe journey

[Hydrokitty]

I worked in the hotel industry for a number of years and to be honest I'd be far more interested in what was happening around the back of the hotel rather than at the front.

 

Dodging the security checks at Sharm airport required no more than a £20 payment according to several who passed through there recently...

 

 

Of course that's true and if we could see what when on "behind the scenes" we'd probably never stay in a hotel again! But this is also true with airline security. It's the passengers, the ones actually getting ON the plane, who go through strict security...but the baggage handlers, food vendors, cleaning crew....who are NOT getting on the plane? They don't go through the security we do. It doesn't surprise me that a 20 pound note, or a $20 bill or 20 Euro would get you passed through security without being searched.

 

Becki - we had the same experience at the Hilton Bosphorus in Istanbul. The whole area has a high fence around it with a manned gate. When our taxi from the airport pulled up to the gate, a fellow got out with a large mirror on a long stick and swept all around the underside of the taxi. He made the driver open the trunk and we had to get out and identify the luggage. Then we drove up to the front door where all our baggage, handbags, etc had to go through an airport-like scanner and we were lightly frisked. Never had experienced this before either. Of course, as Mark T points out, I have no idea what, if any, procedures are taken at the backend of the hotel.

 

I had forgotten that.... we didn't have it in Turkey, but in Egypt and Jordan, a guy in uniform with a dog and the long stick with a mirror on the end....searched all around and underneath the bus every time we got on the bus. We also had an armed guard with us every time we left the hotel....he was movie star handsome and dressed to the "nines" in a 3 piece suit....then his jacket slipped open and we saw the AK-47 strapped to his back. I'm not a gun expert so don't call me for the wrong kind of gun, DH said he was probably ex-military and the gun was either Israeli or Russian....all I saw was the biggest gun I'd ever seen in my life! And I felt very safe....

[id4elizabeth]

Becki - yes we were surprised at that level of security. If we hadn't been so jet-lagged we would have probably freaked. I too am a stage 3 cancer survivor and it does put a different perspective on things. Every day becomes a gift!

[rjscott]

Becki - yes we were surprised at that level of security. If we hadn't been so jet-lagged we would have probably freaked. I too am a stage 3 cancer survivor and it does put a different perspective on things. Every day becomes a gift!

 

Amen to that, Elizabeth! :)

 

Becki