PhilRSchultz

1 hour ago, Mike07 said:

Sheesh, if timing worked out, I would be happy to take some of y'all's state rooms if Viking is offering a deep discount on said rooms. The itineraries still look interesting. I also would never have done the Holy Land by Sea because there are many land tour operators.

 

Be advised, the Russians likely have nuclear armed subs operating in that region well before this current Hamas Israeli war. There is a lot of scary stuff in this world beyond some homemade rockets in Gaza.

 

The United States has two carrier groups operating in that region, and POTUS just visited Israel. If you talk to actual Israelis, some of them wonder why anybody would ever travel to LA because of all of the gang violence and shootings.

People like to go to “I’m just as, or more, worried about violent crime in American cities so why are you worried about traveling abroad”.  I find this to be too simple of a take.  When an American is visiting, living in an American city they are surrounded by millions of fellow Americans and melt as just one another American citizen into the background.  When traveling abroad to varying degrees and depending on the destination, one becomes one of a “few” Americans traveling and standing out from the surrounding population while visiting predictable places.  Does that mean you should be terrified/suspicious of every citizen of this foreign destination?  Of course not.  But it does mean that those that want to seek out and harm Americans have a much smaller pool to choose you from and knows exactly where an American tourist might likely to be.  A very different situation than driving through L.A.

1 hour ago, hurwitz5 said:

We are on the December 6 cruise.  Malta is an interesting port.  Not sure how I feel about Cyprus because it is close to Israel and Lebanon.  Also, is there much to see for 2 days in Cyprus.  I would appreciate comments and/or recommendations re: Cyprus.

I initiated an online chat w/ Viking inquiring about “new” port times which they proceeded to email me.  Looks like we arrive Cyprus at noon on one day, then have the whole next day.  My guess is the shore excursion you already booked before the itinerary change will still occur that second full day.  The question is whether or not additional shore excursions will be offered for that first half-day.  If so, any excursion would have to be limited to a 4-hr excursion so my guess is it would be something in and around Limassol, probably something like The Crusader Kolossi Castle built by The Order of St. John.  If you hadn’t already booked an all-day excursion, while tastes vary, I was choosing between their Paphos excursion or Nicosia and chose Paphos, a town who’s history extends back into The Bronze Age, through the Greeks and Romans, while also featuring in Biblical history (see Paul).  If I hadn’t done that, I would’ve done Nicosia strictly for the national museum.  

Initial thoughts and reactions: (1) There might be (2) days of excursions in Cyprus and on Malta; (2) We visit Heraklion, Crete on a different day than was originally scheduled.  Question: On original itinerary, we only had (6) hours in port in Heraklion which REALLY restricted what you could do (no way previously to visit both Knossos & The Heraklion Archaeological Museum for example).  Might we have more time in port with this rescheduling?; (3) Malta’s a decent substitute; (4) The fact that they are avoiding Turkey probably means Viking intends to avoid all Muslim countries.  That said, was slightly surprised that they didn’t nix Cyprus, but actually added another day there despite its proximity to the conflict.  They nixed the sea day between Rhodes and Cyprus which sarcastically, but perhaps in reality, is Viking trying to make that sea crossing under cover of darkness 😀

For Nov. 14th Cities of Antiquities & The Holy Land Viking departure: 

“Worldwide” travel warning for Americans to be specific.  Also news breaking that Yemeni Houthi rebels fired missiles at an American naval vessel off its coast.  https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/19/politics/state-department-worldwide-alert/index.html - State Dept worldwide travel warning for Americans

https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/19/politics/us-navy-intercept-missiles-yemen/index.html - Yemeni Houthi rebels fire missiles at U.S. Navy

Monitoring so that I’m notified of any further posts in this thread

8 minutes ago, IAcruising said:

 

Welcome to CC. A post like this, so early, isn't going to get you anywhere. No one claims to be police, but they do comment on those who waltz in here with an attitude.

 

What you paid for is exactly what RD told you, a cruise of xx number of days. Your speculation, and how you feel about itinerary changes, means nothing.

 

Look!  Another one!  Like I said, as the paying customer I’ll be the judge of that.  What I purchased was access to various destinations.  The cruise ship was just the taxi.  And I fail to see how my original post that his highness, RD, responded to displayed attitude.  How did the earlier poster characterize your type?  Oh yeah, “snarky”.  Indeed

1 hour ago, RD64 said:

What it may mean to you may be far different than what the cruise lines are able to provide. You signed up for a cruise of XX days, and that is what you will receive - regardless of what you deem to be comparable quality.

I didn’t realize my posts were subject to the self-appointed cruise message board police, but, foolish me, this is an internet message board so what did I expect?  Thanks for the advice……. but I think I’ll be a far better judge as the paying customer in this matter in regards to whether I’ll feel I received what I paid for.

Why cancel non-Israeli ports that were already scheduled?  That seems odd.  Hope that doesn’t happen on my Nov. 14th departure with Viking.  I would not be happy.  My expectations are (3) ports excursions that were supposed to be scheduled in Israel now change to (3) port excursions elsewhere at landings as close as possible in quality compared to what we’re losing in Jerusalem and The Holy Land.  To me, that means adding Ephesus, Santorini, and something else

26 minutes ago, Bowm54 said:

According to Marine Traffic.com Rhapsody of the seas is due to arrive in Haifa in the morning.

https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2023/10/royal-caribbean-cancels-israel-itineraries-on-rhapsody/

I’m on the 11/14 departure.  To answer your question, no I haven’t heard anything directly from Viking yet, just the below statement on their web site from a couple days ago:
 

https://www.vikingrivercruises.com/my-trip/current-sailings/index.html#noscroll

13 minutes ago, October17 said:

We are on the Odyssey, and we were supposed to have two stops in Israel. They changed them to stops in Bodrum, Turkey and Limassol, Cyprus. That also meant the sea days got switched around. So we went directly from Santorini to Bodrum. I’m impressed that Royal managed to scrounge up excursions on such short notice. 
 

I’m adding the info letter we received 

Thanks.  To make sure I’m understanding, are you saying your cruise “shuffled” other existing port dates (besides Israel) to accommodate the new port days in Bodrum & Cyprus because that has been one of my questions in all of this?

6 hours ago, CNSJ said:

On a good note:  HAL picked Alanya Turkey.  A wonderful port!  
 

Not sure why HAL doesn’t use this port all the time!  It’s clean, friendly, great beaches, history within walking distance of ship!  Fabulous!

 

Beats Kusadasi by a wide margin!  All Kusadasi has is Ephesus. 

Different strokes for different strokes, but in my opinion Ephesus and Troy trump all other alternatives for replacing Israel port dates and I hope that’s where my looming cruise changes to

2 hours ago, leishirsute said:

@PhilRSchultz I already sent in my vote to Viking for Sicily if Jerusalem doesn't happen. Of course, they have so much quick logistics changes to manage and maybe by remote chance that area will settle down by 11/14m, though doubt it.

My money would be on some combination of Santorini, Ephesus (Bodrum), with some harder to determine destination (Troy?  2nd port in Crete?).  This is because of the geography of our itinerary which was scheduled for (3) nights in Israel sandwiched between Cyprus and Heraklion, Crete.  All of this assumes Viking will not be changing any non-Israel port dates which of course would give them more flexibility to add a Sicily or a Malta

1 minute ago, Happylady75 said:

We are on the same cruise in Dec. We were supposed to stop at Mykonos but it was changed to Santorini weeks ago. I wonder what they plan on doing. I wonder if they add Turkey instead.

I think it’s a matter of whether Viking keeps all their port dates other than Israel.  If so, then my cruise, which departs Athens and ends in Rome, would have left Cyprus bound for Israel with Crete to follow.  I would assume, they would want to geographically fill the (3) Israel nights with something closer to the Cyprus/Crete ports which would have me betting that they’ll add Santorini and Ephesus (Bodrum).  No idea for the third night (perhaps Troy?  perhaps a 2nd port in Crete other than Heraklion which we’re already visiting?). We’re all just guessing at this point, but I think these are reasonable guesses.  I would assume Sicily is out due to geography and due to where the Israel portion of our itineraries occurs

I’m on Viking’s first cruise that was scheduled to visit Israel departing Athens Nov 14.  I haven’t heard anything from Viking yet, but leaving this here in the event that anyone familiar with Viking’s reaction knows/hears something.  The itinerary is Athens, Mykonos, Rhodes, Cyprus, Israel (3 nights), Crete, Naples, Rome.  I am wondering what they are likely to replace the (3) Israel days with.  Obviously we’re already going to Cyprus, Crete, & Mykonos which I’ve seen other cruise lines add as substitutes so those aren’t it unless Viking adds multiple days at those destinations.  I’m “guessing” Santorini would be a prime candidate, maybe Bodrum which I’ve heard other cruise lines adding.  I’m assuming Troy would be too far north with Heraklion, Crete being the following day.  And I’m assuming if they keep our current Heraklion date scheduled, that that rules out further away places like Sicily.  Anyway, thanks in advance for any info

We depart on Viking’s Cities of Antiquity & The Holy Land itinerary in a little over a month (Athens, Delos, Rhodes, Cyprus, Israel (3 nights), Heraklion Crete, Naples, & Rome and have been trying to figure out what Viking may substitute for Israel should those ports be canceled.  If anyone has any information, I would appreciate it. I’ve seen other cruise lines add the likes of Bodrum, Santorini, and Chania.  I’ve also seen Limassol added to other cruise lines, but guessing since we’re already scheduled for Limassol and Heraklion, that I can assume it wouldn’t be Chania or another day on Cyprus.  I doubt, but wonder if Ephesus might be in play or perhaps Malta/Sicily?  If anyone has an itinerary similar to mine and get news on what their replacement destinations are, please pass that along and thank you in advance

I’m due to stop in Israel via cruise in late November so I’m monitoring how cruises currently in the region react.  Of course, we’ve always known something like this was possible in this region.  My primary interest is how the cruise industries react in the hours, days, and weeks following today’s Hamas attacks.  Interested to learn whether cruise companies will flat out cancel Israel landings for the near future for all of Israel, part of Israel, and where cruise companies tend to visit as alternatives in this event.  I’ll be on Viking Cruises Cities of Antiquity & The Holy Land itinerary which has 1 night in Ashdod, 2 nights in Haifa arriving in Israel from Rhodes/Cyprus and visiting Crete/Naples/Rome after departing Israel