Istanbul canceled?

[Yankee_]

Good morning,

 

The family and I will be boarding the Royal Princess in May for a Western Med + Agean medley cruise, which includes a stop to Istanbul, and we've noticed a strange situation when looking at our itinerary.

 

You see, I was looking at our cruise following the terrorist attack on German tourists near the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, wondering if they were going to cancel Istanbul as a stop (must like Tunis was canceled). And sure enough there seems to be indications that such a cancelation will occur.

 

Specifically, starting yesterday the itinerary map shown in the cruise personaliser is now showing a new map, which does not include Istanbul or Naples as destinations, but now include Messina and Valetta instead.

 

The problem, however, is that the itinerary breakdown itself still shows the old destinations.

 

My thinking is that Princess must be in the process of rolling out an itinerary change to its cruises, and we're catching it midway through. But I was wondering if anyone else was going on a med cruise and seeing changes like this as well, or otherwise had any info concerning Princess canceling Istanbul as a destination.

 

Here's the cruise details in question. It's a little strange, since you can buy tickets for a cruise whose itinerary map conflicts with its textual breakdown.

 

http://www.princess.com/find/cruiseDetails.do?voyageCode=1613A

 

Thank you for any assistance/information.

 

Yankee

[Colo Cruiser]

Welcome to Cruise Critic....

 

 

Its been changing for the last year......

Istanbul was removed from our Med cruise in Nov.

We were supposed to visit on election day.

We were pretty much the last Princess ship that would have visited for the season.

After boarding we noticed that no changes were mentioned. However I checked our onboard account in the first 2 days and noticed a refund for port charges so I put 2 and 2 together and figured that Istanbul was taken off. They did not say a word until about 4 days left in the cruise and 2 days before our visit to Istanbul. They knew about these changes many weeks if not months before. (starting with the attack in June and bolstered by another attack in September).

 

 

Does not matter what the map says, they reserve the right to change the itinerary.

Its for the passengers safety.

Edited January 15, 2016 by Colo Cruiser

[Yankee_]

Welcome to Cruise Critic....

 

 

Its been changing for the last year......

Istanbul was removed from our Med cruise in Nov.

We were supposed to visit on election day.

We were pretty much the last Princess ship that would have visited for the season.

After boarding we noticed that no changes were mentioned. However I checked our onboard account in the first 2 days and noticed a refund for port charges so I put 2 and 2 together and figured that Istanbul was taken off. They did not say a word until about 4 days left in the cruise and 2 days before our visit to Istanbul. They knew about these changes many weeks if not months before. (starting with the attack in June and bolstered by another attack in September).

 

 

Does not matter what the map says, they reserve the right to change the itinerary.

Its for the passengers safety.

 

Well, we were told to call next week. I figured it was to give them time to roll out any changes.

 

Main concern is we want to plan out our excursions, which is hard to do. :)

 

That said, while I'll miss Istanbul (especially the Hagia Sophia), getting to see Sicily and Malta seems like a fair exchange. :)

[spyro1952]

It's been a long time coming. Princess does not make as many calls to Istanbul as HAL and some others but my friends and I have been waiting for all cruise lines to cancel this port. Not safe at all.

 

It will also be interesting to see how they handle the Syrian refugees that will no doubt inundate Med waters during the summer months. No Med cruise for me.

[Colo Cruiser]

Well, we were told to call next week. I figured it was to give them time to roll out any changes.

 

Main concern is we want to plan out our excursions, which is hard to do. :)

 

That said, while I'll miss Istanbul (especially the Hagia Sophia), getting to see Sicily and Malta seems like a fair exchange. :)

 

 

As I stated we did not find out until a few days prior. I would not count on getting any firm accurate info from Princess this far out.

We went ahead and made private tour plans anyway and just rolled with the changes. Were we bummed, yes but it is what it is and I trust them to make the right decision when it comes to the safety of the ship and its passengers.

 

 

Its not just Princess....

[the english lady]

It's been a long time coming. Princess does not make as many calls to Istanbul as HAL and some others but my friends and I have been waiting for all cruise lines to cancel this port. Not safe at all.

 

It will also be interesting to see how they handle the Syrian refugees that will no doubt inundate Med waters during the summer months. No Med cruise for me.

 

We cruise with P and O and did 2 med cruises last year ...2015, and did not see anything untoward either at sea or in port.

Even people on rivet cruises in Europe have not reported seeing anything.

[spyro1952]

We cruise with P and O and did 2 med cruises last year ...2015, and did not see anything untoward either at sea or in port.

Even people on rivet cruises in Europe have not reported seeing anything.

 

Obviously the Turkish authorities didn't see anything either until after the attack happened. Really not safe for Westerners to be traveling to Muslim countries. :eek:

[Wadsy]

My first cruise on Princess originated in Istanbul...It is a shame because it a fabulous city. However, I would not feel safe there now!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[SCHappilyRetired]

Glad we were able to see Turkey and Egypt when we did. They both have so much history and beauty. Unfortunately, neither country is where I would want to be now.

[jacketwatch]

My first cruise on Princess originated in Istanbul...It is a shame because it a fabulous city. However, I would not feel safe there now!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

So true. We once took a cruise that began in IST and its a lovely city with great attractions which are mostly in one area and its fairly money friendly too. Its such a shame what is happening now.

[spyro1952]

Crystal just announced that they are canceling all calls to Istanbul. I do think that most cruise lines will do the same either publicly or behind the scenes.

[Montrealais]

Obviously the Turkish authorities didn't see anything either until after the attack happened. Really not safe for Westerners to be traveling to Muslim countries. :eek:

 

After the attacks in France and the US (California) I guess those two countries should also be be avoided ...:D

[cherylandtk]

Yankee, I agree that it is likely that Istanbul will be canceled. As to when they formally announce that..who knows? The 7 day cruise on the Royal which is a subset of the Western Med + Aegean cruise still shows the original map, including Istanbul. Clearly, they cannot do both.

Edited January 15, 2016 by cherylandtk

[Shogun]

Hi All,

 

Cruise lines must do what they think is best for our safety, however its only

 

a matter of time before the news reports another attack, now could be a lone

 

wolf suicide attack, or a well planned attack like India etc,

 

Now if you try and list countries that been attacked and cross them of your list

 

you would not only not travel but immigrate to the North Pole, UK, Australia,

 

USA, Canada would all have to be crossed off, and could be attacked again.

 

Istanbul and Turkey have much to offer, would I travel there yes, would I

 

be 100% relaxed not likely, travelling with thousands of fellow tourists makes

 

me more likely to be a target so most likely will go out of season as part of a

 

small private tour.

 

yours Shogun

[mattie00]

So sad to hear about the latest terrorist attack. We visited Turkey, including 2 days in Istanbul, last April and just love the people and the country. We do not have any problems visiting Muslim dominated countries....the majority of Muslims are peace loving people.

[cherylakers]

I just checked our 7/2 sailing of the Royal and Istanbul is still listed both on the map and on port listing. I am hoping we can go but if not another Greek island would be great.

[Colo Cruiser]

I just checked our 7/2 sailing of the Royal and Istanbul is still listed both on the map and on port listing. I am hoping we can go but if not another Greek island would be great.

 

 

Ours was listed until days before we were supposed to arrive while onboard.

[likeadisguise]

Good morning,

 

The family and I will be boarding the Royal Princess in May for a Western Med + Agean medley cruise, which includes a stop to Istanbul, and we've noticed a strange situation when looking at our itinerary.

 

You see, I was looking at our cruise following the terrorist attack on German tourists near the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, wondering if they were going to cancel Istanbul as a stop (must like Tunis was canceled). And sure enough there seems to be indications that such a cancelation will occur.

 

Specifically, starting yesterday the itinerary map shown in the cruise personaliser is now showing a new map, which does not include Istanbul or Naples as destinations, but now include Messina and Valetta instead.

 

The problem, however, is that the itinerary breakdown itself still shows the old destinations.

 

My thinking is that Princess must be in the process of rolling out an itinerary change to its cruises, and we're catching it midway through. But I was wondering if anyone else was going on a med cruise and seeing changes like this as well, or otherwise had any info concerning Princess canceling Istanbul as a destination.

 

Here's the cruise details in question. It's a little strange, since you can buy tickets for a cruise whose itinerary map conflicts with its textual breakdown.

 

http://www.princess.com/find/cruiseDetails.do?voyageCode=1613A

 

Thank you for any assistance/information.

 

Yankee

When I clicked on the link, the map had Istanbul as one of the ports. Maybe it was just a web error on Princess's part?

[By The Bay]

Obviously the Turkish authorities didn't see anything either until after the attack happened. Really not safe for Westerners to be traveling to Muslim countries. :eek:

Your statement is incorrect. It could be correct if you said "some" Muslim countries. To label all Muslin countries as unsafe is not helpful.

[rekarlu]

I have been to Istanbul twice in my life: in 1971 and in 2015.

Historic city, sure.

BUT,

the place was one big dump back in 1971 and an even bigger dump in 2015. Especially if you visit off-the-beaten track places.

The only exception is their excellent and relatively cheap public transportation system which surprisingly is very clean.

[Cruisercl]

We were in Istanbul on a cruise last April; I did not like it either.

 

To me it was kind of 'creepy'...to much in your face everywhere we went. Actually quite rude to tourists. This was my experience, no need to go back.

 

Now Kusadahsi (sp) was great; lovely people and lovely place. So to exclude Turkey totally because of something that happened in one city seems a bit excessive. That would be like excluding all places in the USA because of something that happened in one city. JMHO.

 

Happy and safe cruising all!! :)

[Colo Cruiser]

We were in Istanbul on a cruise last April; I did not like it either.

 

To me it was kind of 'creepy'...to much in your face everywhere we went. Actually quite rude to tourists. This was my experience, no need to go back.

 

Now Kusadahsi (sp) was great; lovely people and lovely place. So to exclude Turkey totally because of something that happened in one city seems a bit excessive. That would be like excluding all places in the USA because of something that happened in one city. JMHO.

 

Happy and safe cruising all!! :)

 

 

Not even close.

 

I love both Istanbul/Kusadasi and have been to both many times.

Just too unstable........

Edited January 16, 2016 by Colo Cruiser

[mattie00]

To me it was kind of 'creepy'...to much in your face everywhere we went. Actually quite rude to tourists. This was my experience, no need to go back.

 

Wow...different experience that what we had last April. We just loved the Spice Bazaar with all its colour and smells as well as the Old Bazaar. We expected to be harangued but the opposite was true. We used a guide for our various tours. No one approached us unless we stopped and expressed an interest. Even on the streets generally, that was the case. However, we kept to the main tourist areas so the experience was likely different off the beaten track as it is in even a big Canadian city. Everyone has different expectations when travelling and that is the beauty of travel...something for everyone. Too bad the people who rely on tourism to support their families in the cities affected by terrorism (and there are many all over the world) are suffering because of the evil minority.

[sunsetbeachgal]

We also love both Istanbul and Kusadisi, but glad that we have visited both several times as not sure we would be as comfortable there now.

 

How terribly sad for the folks who make their living in Turkey from tourism. We have had some excellent, well educated, professional tour guides who are so proud of their heritage. My heart breaks for them if tourism significantly declines.

Edited January 16, 2016 by sunsetbeachgal

[RetiredNTraveling]

While this is the latest of several cancellations, it is always best to remember the "MS Achille Lauro". On 7 October 1985, four members of the Palestine Liberation Front (PLF) took control of the liner off Egypt. None of us want that to happen again.

 

I thanks the cruise lines for being vigilant.

 

Just Mike