cbb Posted March 28, 2011 #1 Share Posted March 28, 2011 We are leaving on O April 23 on Wonders of the Ancients. Ports scheduled are Syria, Jerusalem, Haifa, Alexandria and Port Said (Cairo). HAL, RC, NC, and X have all announced they will not be cruising into Egypt for most of 2011. O has issued a statement saying they are monitoring the situation. My question to you who know O much better than I; will we know our itinerary before we leave Rome? I am quite concerned about current events and others on our roll call don't know whether to continue booking private tours. There is also quite the discussion on Ports of Call/MidEast "travel to Egypt". I guess I'm awaiting a decision by O that might not come until just days before that port. Thanks for any help! c Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
potterhill Posted March 28, 2011 #2 Share Posted March 28, 2011 Call your TA or O if you booked direct. We are on a similar cruise in Nov and are pondering our options. Mo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbb Posted March 28, 2011 Author #3 Share Posted March 28, 2011 My TA's response was that he doesn't think O will cancel the cruise (potentially 6 of 14 days not going where we had hoped to go) but that they might announce the changes to itinerary before we leave. He said all we can do is wait. At this point he's in the dark as much as we are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimandStan Posted March 28, 2011 #4 Share Posted March 28, 2011 I cannot believe that a savvy traveler like you is even considering private tours in Egypt at this point in time! :eek: It may be chafe, but you MUST organize things with an eye to NOT getting there. Anything else is sheer denial. Personally, for those ports (and I'm including Israel here), I'd book everything through Oceania and let them do the head scratching and refund chasing, if need be. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted March 28, 2011 #5 Share Posted March 28, 2011 I thought they had a notice a while ago about changes Here is what was on the website when I just checked Maybe it is still undecided but I would not count on stopping in some of those ports in the current state of unrest EGYPT UPDATE FOR INSIGNIA, APRIL 23, 2011: Dear Guests and Travel Agent Partners, As the political situation continues to unfold, we wish to provide you with an update on the status of your upcoming voyage. As the safety and security of our guests and crew is our #1 priority, we will amend the itineraries as needed to ensure the safety of all onboard. We are receiving regular updates from our security personnel and our ground operators in Egypt and we will continue to monitor and assess the situation. This situation, as with others in Africa and the Middle East, tend to be extremely fluid and can resolve themselves rather quickly. As such, we have not made a final decision as to whether or not we will alter the itinerary at this time but wanted to provide you in advance with the alternate itinerary we have planned. Date Current Itinerary Alternate Itinerary Apr 23 Rome Rome Apr 24 Sorrento Sorrento Apr 25 Taormina Taormina Apr 26 Zakinthos Zakinthos Apr 27 Sea Santorini Apr 28 Alexandria Aghios Nikolaos Apr 29 Cairo Antalya Apr 30 Haifa Haifa May 1 Ashdod Ashdod May 2 Ashdod Ashdod May 3 Limassol Limassol May 4 Tartous, Syria Tartous, Syria May 5 Alanya Alanya May 6 Kusadasi Kusadasi May 7 Athens Athens We are hopeful of being able to call on Egypt as currently scheduled, but if we do decide to operate the alternate itinerary, we will notify everyone at that time. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us at 800-531-5658. Carlos Ortega Vice President Sorry the text went out of line Do check the webpage for the cruise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbb Posted March 28, 2011 Author #6 Share Posted March 28, 2011 Darling Jim and Stan, There is no way I'm planning any optionals without Oceania; this girl is going ship's tours all the way. (The folks on our roll call were having the discussion of private/ships tours in Egypt and Syria--not me!!!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbb Posted March 28, 2011 Author #7 Share Posted March 28, 2011 Darling JimandStan, There is no way I'm planning any optionals without Oceania; we're going ship's tours all the way!!! The folks on our roll call were having the discussion of private/ships tours in Egypt and Syria--not me!!! The way things are right now I'm thinking we stay on board for many of the 6 days I'm concerned about. (Have you guys ever taken one of the world trips by private jet?) LHT28, I saw the O message and my TA had also forwarded it to us as well so we are fully informed of the potential changes. Of course, they haven't addressed the attack in Jerusalem nor Syria's current port "situation". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted March 29, 2011 #8 Share Posted March 29, 2011 LHT28, I saw the O message and my TA had also forwarded it to us as well so we are fully informed of the potential changes. Of course, they haven't addressed the attack in Jerusalem nor Syria's current port "situation". I am guessing if there are still problems at the ports they will not be stopping there Lyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billie5 Posted March 29, 2011 #9 Share Posted March 29, 2011 One should understand that Oceania is doing its best to maintain the schedule which passengers originally purchased, not making a definitive decision until the situation becomes impossible. I would guess that all of us believe Egypt and Syria are going to be out. Israel, however, seems still likely, unless the situation deteriorates further. I don't understand why everyone says private tours are out. Many private tours do not demand pre-payment, and do not expect payment if the ship does not arrive. I have been on many such private tours. Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaimedia Posted March 29, 2011 #10 Share Posted March 29, 2011 Another one bites the dust. The Syrian government just fell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judyumcer@aol.com Posted March 30, 2011 #11 Share Posted March 30, 2011 This is no the time to go. We went last Sept. and used a private tour with other roll call passengers. It was all good. But, We were escorted in a convoy from Port Said to Cairo, complete with a military escort armed with AK47s. All intersections were blocked off for our convoy to pass. I was not afraid and everythig seemed calm. However, this was BEFORE the big uproar. I am happy we went when we did. I'd wait another year before returning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare PaulMCO Posted March 30, 2011 #12 Share Posted March 30, 2011 Another one bites the dust. The Syrian government just fell. The Syrian government did not fall. The dictator still rules. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbb Posted March 30, 2011 Author #13 Share Posted March 30, 2011 yes, al Assad remains but the cabinet has resigned. State of emergency which has been in place since the 1960s also remains. Of more selfish concerns is that troops are in some port cities and western scholars predict more demonstrations. From what I gather, it is a Sunni, Shi'ite situation: Sh'ia (offshoot) are in power but are the Syrian minority and Sunni majority feels powerless. Tricky stuff for cruisers to figure out, except that we might not feel safe and therefore reluctant to go ashore and boost the economy. Even though we purchased the visas I think this is another port we'll remain on board for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanny18 Posted March 30, 2011 #14 Share Posted March 30, 2011 You can check out the State Dept's website about travel warnings. Luxor, Aswan, Sharm El Sheikh are calm; no one should travel by themselves and be around demonstrations, even peaceful ones. We're leaving in 2+ weeks for Dubai and our papers tell us where going to Egypt...we have 4 private tours scheduled and I'm sure we won't be taken to any places where we're not wanted. I have full faith in our private tour guides!! Arlene Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruin Steve Posted March 30, 2011 #15 Share Posted March 30, 2011 Book Egypt through Oceania... When we did this on Nautica in July 2009, we booked a 6 passenger van with driver and guide for a full day tour out of Port Said...You get the advantages of a private tour (rather than a big bus shorex)...and you also get the logistical benefits of doing it through Oceania--so, if they cancel the port, you've got a full refund with no hassle...no need to scramble to try and find your guide service, etc. The real question with Egypt right now is whether the current political status enables the government to provide tourists the kind of security they have in the past. For a long time, they have guarded tourist convoys from the ports through to the tourist sites in Cairo/Giza...mostly nothing to do with politics, rather concerns about crime, safety, etc. But, with all going on in the country, can they continue to do this? And are the criminal elements more aggressive considering all of the upheaval? Pay attention to US State Department advisories on the situation...That has more to do with it than anything...Oceania and other cruise lines are insured, but venturing into ports with a State Department advisory may violate the risk provisions in their policies leaving them uncovered. I, personally, would not worry about booking private tours in Israel...a very different situation. And, I, personally, found the shorex discriptions fairly unsatisfying...far too general and hard to accomplish much with 40 people getting on and off a bus...and a lot of tourist trap filler...Find a good private guide and customize a small group tour... With any private tour, make sure there are reasonable cancellation provisions in the agreement...and, in Israel, you should be able to set something up where you pay at the time of the tour (though, possibly a small up front deposit--but, make sure it is refundable if the ship cancels the stop)...also, always keep the contact phone number AND email address for your tour guide...in case you have to cancel or change from the ship...When we did the Med on Nautica in 2006, they changed the order of ports for some quasi-arbitrary reason--switching the dates on Santorini and Athens...and didn't tell us until we were already on the ship...We had to contact our Athens guide and change our arrangements--and he was already otherwise booked for the new date and had to find us a colleague to take over our tour booking--not great, but best we could do under the circumstances...It's just one of the risks one takes with cruise itineraries and private tours--the cruise line can change the itinerary at any time for any reason... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbb Posted March 30, 2011 Author #16 Share Posted March 30, 2011 Someone on another roll call but with same ports stated that he/she had called O yesterday asking about Egyptian and Syrian ports of call and was told that it was a very fluid situation and that port decisions might not be made until shortly before they were to leave embarkation port. Our TA just called and said that TAs are still making reservations for Egyptian river cruises and overland tours but he said to sit tight because a decision will have to be made soon. We'll see what transpires........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare PaulMCO Posted March 30, 2011 #17 Share Posted March 30, 2011 yes, al Assad remains but the cabinet has resigned. State of emergency which has been in place since the 1960s also remains. Of more selfish concerns is that troops are in some port cities and western scholars predict more demonstrations. From what I gather, it is a Sunni, Shi'ite situation: Sh'ia (offshoot) are in power but are the Syrian minority and Sunni majority feels powerless. Tricky stuff for cruisers to figure out, except that we might not feel safe and therefore reluctant to go ashore and boost the economy. Even though we purchased the visas I think this is another port we'll remain on board for. Having just comeback from Bahrain (on business) in February with the smell of tear gas still fresh in my mind and seeing Tanks running down the streets - I would not subject my love ones to any danger in the region. From today's speech by the dictator -- I expect the military to crack down on the protester's in Syria on Friday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbb Posted March 30, 2011 Author #18 Share Posted March 30, 2011 Paul, I'm glad you were able to return home safely. Looking at our itinerary I see that we are in Cairo on a Friday and from what I understand, Fridays have become the day of protest. It looks increasingly as if my dream cruise to places of religious and historical significance will be spent on board. I wonder if the TSA will question my kevlar undies!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare PaulMCO Posted March 30, 2011 #19 Share Posted March 30, 2011 Paul, I'm glad you were able to return home safely. Looking at our itinerary I see that we are in Cairo on a Friday and from what I understand, Fridays have become the day of protest. It looks increasingly as if my dream cruise to places of religious and historical significance will be spent on board. I wonder if the TSA will question my kevlar undies!! Kevlar undies. :) .. Yes Friday is the Sabbath - so after morning prayers are when the protests occur. Though my friends in both Egypt and Bahrain said that things are quiet there now and business is getting back to normal. My Egyptian customer's will be visiting me after the 1st of May and they have interviews for their VISA on Sunday (soo.... things ARE getting back to normal) I am heading to Dubai and then Jordan next week on business. I will do the must see in Petra. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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