WhiteRockCruiser01 Posted July 15, 2016 #1 Share Posted July 15, 2016 Message from HAL: "After a thorough review in light of the recent tragic attack at Istanbul Ataturk Airport, Holland America Line has decided to cancel our port call in Istanbul on this sailing. In order to accommodate this change we will also cancel our call to Mytilene, Nisos Lesbos, Greece. However, we are pleased to add new calls to three charming ports in Greece. Thu Jul 21 Piraeus (Athens), Greece 08:00 18:00 Fri Jul 22 Mykonos, Nisos Mykonos, Greece 08:00 18:00 Sat Jul 23 Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey 07:00 18:00 Sun Jul 24 Rhodes, Nisos Rhodos, Greece 08:00 18:00 Mon Jul 25 Iraklion, Crete, Greece 08:00 17:00 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red919 Posted July 15, 2016 #2 Share Posted July 15, 2016 This is quite an itinerary change and very hard on passengers who not only booked becasue of the overnight in Istanbul but will also have to scramble to cancel and rebook private shore excursions so close to departure date, especially as other cruise lines cancelled soon after the actual airport bombing incident. Will HAL offer refunds to passengers who chose to cancel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Vict0riann Posted July 15, 2016 #3 Share Posted July 15, 2016 Not much notice!:eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Despegue Posted July 15, 2016 #4 Share Posted July 15, 2016 We are on this sailing, and although I understand cancelling Istanbul, they have waited far too long with this, while there have been no changes in security briefings for IST since 01 July. Obviously, this will make lots of people having to book ship excursions due to lack of time to organize on their own. I just arrived from my month-long duty in the Middle East, and now can spend the bloody whole night trying to find my family still some nice days on the new destinations. Not a happy camper. By the way, zip, nada compensation offered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeeQuu Posted July 15, 2016 #5 Share Posted July 15, 2016 I'm extremely dissapointed and very upset they claim terror as reason for cancellation. The new ports added are some of the worst places to add on for me. Was very much looking forward to Istanbul and now I can't even cancel on travel insurance since the official reason is terror threat. Cowardly to wait this long to cancel and our first cruise experience is off to a very bad start.:mad: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mek Posted July 15, 2016 #6 Share Posted July 15, 2016 Well it appears HAL is dammed if they do and dammed if they don't. A few weeks ago people were up in arms because some lines were still stopping in Istanbul and now people are unhappy because the cruise line is looking out for their safety and changing the ports of call. Be happy you are safe and alive. I imagine the people involved in any recent terrorist attacks would gladly trade places and have to deal with your problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted July 15, 2016 #7 Share Posted July 15, 2016 That certainly is short notice. Hopefully everyone will be able to sort out everything and get see the new ports. Sadly they are missing a great port -- Istanbul. We spent 4 days there many years ago before we started a cruise from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SC_GAY_Cruiser Posted July 15, 2016 #8 Share Posted July 15, 2016 the news is now coming out on what is going on in Turkey.......an attempted Military coup today that has evidently failed. I would imagine this might be the first of many cancellations to Turkey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freestyling Posted July 15, 2016 #9 Share Posted July 15, 2016 (edited) There is currently an attempted coup occurring in Turkey. I would say HAL is on top of things. Sorry - Posted at same time as SC above Edited July 15, 2016 by freestyling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Pete Cruiser Posted July 15, 2016 #10 Share Posted July 15, 2016 Reports on Msnbc and CNN confirming military activity to confront a coup. I, too, would be upset to miss Istanbul, but not with that happening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heartgrove Posted July 15, 2016 #11 Share Posted July 15, 2016 Well it appears HAL is dammed if they do and dammed if they don't. A few weeks ago people were up in arms because some lines were still stopping in Istanbul and now people are unhappy because the cruise line is looking out for their safety and changing the ports of call. Be happy you are safe and alive. I imagine the people involved in any recent terrorist attacks would gladly trade places and have to deal with your problems. Well said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Despegue Posted July 15, 2016 #12 Share Posted July 15, 2016 I have to recall my previous comment. Military coup currently ongoing in Turkey. Very sketchy information, but night curfew in major cities and blockades of strategic bridges are being reported. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammiedawg Posted July 16, 2016 #13 Share Posted July 16, 2016 I'm surprised some posters still want to port in Turkey. Many cruise lines canceled Turkish ports months ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruiz'nBaers Posted July 16, 2016 #14 Share Posted July 16, 2016 I would salute HAL for cancelling Turkish ports. Sounds like a very dangerous situation to me. Inconvenient in regards to privately booked shore excursions, but it's safety first. Sadly, I may never see the Blue Mosque. Because of terrorism, I'm afraid that many places I long to see are no longer safe. Sad for everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scm1848 Posted July 16, 2016 #15 Share Posted July 16, 2016 We, too, will probably never see it. We spent 2 days there in 2102, and, long story made short, missed it due to the Hop On Hop Off bus confusion and limited time. At that time, we spent a wonderful day and night with our friends from Istanbul that we had met in 2011 on a HAL Panama Canal cruise. We booked our current 24 day Eurodam Cruise, partly because we could spend another 2 days/1 night with them. Sadly, that will probably not be happening now. I'm glad we got to see Ephesus on that trip, as well as Gallipoli (Canakale in Turkish) while we drove through western Turkey in a rental car. What welcoming people. ". . . and I say to myself, what a wonderful world". If only we could all enjoy it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OlsSalt Posted July 16, 2016 #16 Share Posted July 16, 2016 Well it appears HAL is dammed if they do and dammed if they don't. A few weeks ago people were up in arms because some lines were still stopping in Istanbul and now people are unhappy because the cruise line is looking out for their safety and changing the ports of call. Be happy you are safe and alive. I imagine the people involved in any recent terrorist attacks would gladly trade places and have to deal with your problems. Amen, particularly for to those complaining who chose to book private excursions- the chances you take when you do that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaveDiving Posted July 16, 2016 #17 Share Posted July 16, 2016 I'm extremely dissapointed and very upset they claim terror as reason for cancellation.The new ports added are some of the worst places to add on for me. Was very much looking forward to Istanbul and now I can't even cancel on travel insurance since the official reason is terror threat. Cowardly to wait this long to cancel and our first cruise experience is off to a very bad start.:mad: ...And you were expecting WHAT!!! You think HAL should risk the safety of the cruisers? I think NOT!!! Scott & Karen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sapper1 Posted July 16, 2016 #18 Share Posted July 16, 2016 I'm extremely dissapointed and very upset they claim terror as reason for cancellation.The new ports added are some of the worst places to add on for me. Was very much looking forward to Istanbul and now I can't even cancel on travel insurance since the official reason is terror threat. Cowardly to wait this long to cancel and our first cruise experience is off to a very bad start.:mad: I think that HAL should have been given advance notice of the impending coup d'état. I have a feeling you would agree. :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare 3rdGenCunarder Posted July 16, 2016 #19 Share Posted July 16, 2016 (edited) I would salute HAL for cancelling Turkish ports. Sounds like a very dangerous situation to me. Inconvenient in regards to privately booked shore excursions' date=' but it's safety first. Sadly, I may never see the Blue Mosque. Because of terrorism, I'm afraid that many places I long to see are no longer safe. Sad for everyone.[/quote'] I know what you mean. I think some of my bucket list will never get crossed off. I know people say "oh, just go, you'll be OK." But I'm a timid traveler. Like you, I think HAL was right to cancel those ports--especially in light of what happened last night. I know passengers are disappointed, but the cruise lines take safety very seriously. For the people whose independent travel must be reorganized, imagine doing that on the scale of a cruise ship. It isn't easy for them to do when all the cruise lines are scrambling to find alternate ports. And it isn't just finding a port with an available berth. It's also recalculating routes and timing (and fuel consumption if they have to go farther/faster than expected). No cruise line WANTS to change itineraries. They do it when they HAVE TO. Edited July 16, 2016 by 3rdGenCunarder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
from holland Posted July 16, 2016 #20 Share Posted July 16, 2016 Over 160 casualties and people are complaining of missing a few ports? I can not understand all this........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Despegue Posted July 16, 2016 #21 Share Posted July 16, 2016 Just to be correct here, The cancellation of Istanbul happened several hours BEFORE the attempted coup, at a time when there was no changed security briefing for Istanbul since 01/07/16. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare 3rdGenCunarder Posted July 16, 2016 #22 Share Posted July 16, 2016 Just to be correct here, The cancellation of Istanbul happened several hours BEFORE the attempted coup, at a time when there was no changed security briefing for Istanbul since 01/07/16. Hardly matters, because for sure they'd have cancelled the port as soon as the news about the coup broke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruisemom42 Posted July 16, 2016 #23 Share Posted July 16, 2016 Hardly matters, because for sure they'd have cancelled the port as soon as the news about the coup broke. I think it matters in the sense that people are being taken to task for complaining when at the time they posted no one knew about the coup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donaldsc Posted July 16, 2016 #24 Share Posted July 16, 2016 Not much notice!:eek: I am sure that if they knew a month ago that there was going to be a terrorist episode and a coup attempt, they would have made the changes earlier. DON Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Windy56 Posted July 16, 2016 #25 Share Posted July 16, 2016 Over 160 casualties and people are complaining of missing a few ports? I can not understand all this........ I so agree with you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now