NCL cancel future calls to Tunisia

[Benita]

Excellent decision on the part of NCL.

[hawkeyetlse]

There was a case of a Saudia flight that had mechanical difficulties and had to land for emergency in Israel. Every Arab had their passports stamped by Israel, who otherwise insured their safety and helped them on their way. When the flight returned to Saudi Arabia, everyone, even the native Saudis were not allowed in their own country. All had to leave and get new passports outside the country.

Do you know when this happened?

I agree with NCL.... however, our stop in Tunisia was replaced with another day at sea. So now in 11 days 3 are at sea....might have to rethink this cruise if they don't replace it with a port before the cancellation date.

Sounds like an improvement to me, personally. The Jade's Western Med itinerary always seemed too port-intensive to me. 3 sea days in 11 days sounds about right. (I live in Europe, so all of these places are a short flight away and I could go there any long weekend; I totally understand that people who only come to Europe once every few years might prefer to maximize the number of ports.) Edited March 11, 2014 by hawkeyetlse

[Educators2]

Nice to see a decision based on principle. Kudos to Kevin Sheehan.

[seaofwonder]

I agree with NCL.... however, our stop in Tunisia was replaced with another day at sea. So now in 11 days 3 are at sea....might have to rethink this cruise if they don't replace it with a port before the cancellation date.

 

 

I feel the same. I haven't booked the cruise yet, but ncl is almost the only game in town over Christmas.

 

 

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[kirin]

The government of Tunisia refused to allow Israeli nationals the right to disembark Norwegian Jade in the Port of La Goulette, Tunis on Sunday, March 9, 2014. In response to this discriminatory act, Norwegian Cruise Line announced today that it has cancelled all remaining calls to Tunisia and will not return.

 

“We want to send a strong message to Tunisia and ports around the world that we will not tolerate such random acts of discrimination against our guests,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s CEO. “We are outraged by this act and the fact that we were not notified in advance of this practice. We apologize sincerely to our guests who were affected and want them to know that we have taken the appropriate action in response.”

 

No foreign nationals have any "right" to disembark in any country. Entry into any given country is at the discretion of local Immigration officials.

 

No one on this board claims to be an expert in Middle Eastern politics. No one seems to know the current state of relations on a political or diplomatic level between the two countries.

 

As the Tunisian government has not issued a statement (that I can find), we can only go on the statement by NCL, which does not detail any particulars as to why the passengers were denied entry into the county.

 

The Tunisian government may well have a good reason for denying this group permission to disembark, but this is not taken into consideration on this board. The politically correct stance seems to be........"Arab" country denies Israelis permission to enter.........discrimination.

 

Wonderful PR coup for NCL in their handling........taking Tunis off their itinerary will stand them in good stead with all politically correct cruisers.

 

Kate

[cruzsnooze]

Thumbs up to NCL for their boycott of Tunisia :D

[happy trailer]

No foreign nationals have any "right" to disembark in any country. Entry into any given country is at the discretion of local Immigration officials.

 

No one on this board claims to be an expert in Middle Eastern politics. No one seems to know the current state of relations on a political or diplomatic level between the two countries.

 

As the Tunisian government has not issued a statement (that I can find), we can only go on the statement by NCL, which does not detail any particulars as to why the passengers were denied entry into the county.

 

The Tunisian government may well have a good reason for denying this group permission to disembark, but this is not taken into consideration on this board. The politically correct stance seems to be........"Arab" country denies Israelis permission to enter.........discrimination.

 

Wonderful PR coup for NCL in their handling........taking Tunis off their itinerary will stand them in good stead with all politically correct cruisers.

 

Kate

 

Um- there are Israelis on this board, and we are pretty much up to date on the 'current state of relations on a political or diplomatic level between the two countries'.

 

But you don't have to be Israeli to be fully aware of why a group of Israelis was denied entry into Tunis. I highly doubt they were smugglers.

 

Just out of curiosity- why do you think they might have been denied entry?

 

Personally -and as someone who has been living in the Middle East (and whose husband has been working in several countries in the region) for 15 years- I can say with confidence that rather than being the 'politically correct' stance to call Tunisian's actions discriminatory, it is actually correct politically to do so.

[swisstwins]

Proud to be sailing on NCL this summer!!!!:)

[I-Cruiser]

Respect to NCL:)

Hopefully other cruise lines will follow.

[kjbacon]

Agreed! Well done, NCL!

[karoo]

I think NCL has done the right thing, but hopefully they will replace Tunisia with another port. What about Malta? I did this itinerary in January. I loved it because it was port intensive. Not everyone can get to these places on a short flight. With ports nearly everyday you have choice. If you don't want to have a port day you can just stay on the ship. You don't have to get off. People who like ports have something to do. I found on the sea day there wasn't a lot of engaging activities to do during the day and it absolutely dragged. It's also too cold to be using the pool deck. I think I did a line dance class and a zumba class and that was it. I'm not interested in visiting a smoky casino, playing bingo or attending art auctions, folding serviettes or listening to a so called health talk that's designed just to sell products. The afternoon just dragged. So for me -I always try to choose cruises that are very port intensive. I do enjoy the nightlife on ships, dinner, wining and dining, plus all the music and dancing around the ship, but a sea day-definitely not my favourite day!

[Chuck2810]

Great stance NCL! While I would love to visit throughout the Middle East, I suspect my personally held beliefs would get me in hot water. I just fear we'll see more like this and much closer to home.

 

 

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[bluesea777]

I agree with NCL.... however, our stop in Tunisia was replaced with another day at sea. So now in 11 days 3 are at sea....might have to rethink this cruise if they don't replace it with a port before the cancellation date.

 

Do you know when this happened?

Sounds like an improvement to me, personally. The Jade's Western Med itinerary always seemed too port-intensive to me. 3 sea days in 11 days sounds about right. (I live in Europe, so all of these places are a short flight away and I could go there any long weekend; I totally understand that people who only come to Europe once every few years might prefer to maximize the number of ports.)

 

Nope, not 3 sea days, but 2. Originally it was 1 (one) sea day, now 2.

[bluesea777]

Please NCL, can we go to Malta?

 

Or overnight in Calgliari???

 

:D:);):rolleyes::p

[bluesea777]

I think NCL has done the right thing, but hopefully they will replace Tunisia with another port. What about Malta? I did this itinerary in January. I loved it because it was port intensive. Not everyone can get to these places on a short flight. With ports nearly everyday you have choice. If you don't want to have a port day you can just stay on the ship. You don't have to get off. People who like ports have something to do. I found on the sea day there wasn't a lot of engaging activities to do during the day and it absolutely dragged. It's also too cold to be using the pool deck. I think I did a line dance class and a zumba class and that was it. I'm not interested in visiting a smoky casino, playing bingo or attending art auctions, folding serviettes or listening to a so called health talk that's designed just to sell products. The afternoon just dragged. So for me -I always try to choose cruises that are very port intensive. I do enjoy the nightlife on ships, dinner, wining and dining, plus all the music and dancing around the ship, but a sea day-definitely not my favourite day!

 

I agree. We like sea days when it's warm, but in the winter time we like port intensive cruises. We live visiting ports to sightsee.

Edited March 12, 2014 by bluesea777

[$hip$hape]

No foreign nationals have any "right" to disembark in any country. Entry into any given country is at the discretion of local Immigration officials.

 

No one on this board claims to be an expert in Middle Eastern politics. No one seems to know the current state of relations on a political or diplomatic level between the two countries.

 

As the Tunisian government has not issued a statement (that I can find), we can only go on the statement by NCL, which does not detail any particulars as to why the passengers were denied entry into the county.

 

The Tunisian government may well have a good reason for denying this group permission to disembark, but this is not taken into consideration on this board. The politically correct stance seems to be........"Arab" country denies Israelis permission to enter.........discrimination.

 

Wonderful PR coup for NCL in their handling........taking Tunis off their itinerary will stand them in good stead with all politically correct cruisers.

 

Kate

a different slant from Tunisia News:

http://www.tunisia-live.net/2014/03/11/israeli-tourists-denied-entry-during-port-stop-in-tunis/

 

"It is unclear, however, if the Israelis had obtained a visa before arriving.

Israeli citizens have been allowed into Tunisia, although a previously-obtained visa is required.

Israel and Tunisia do not have formal diplomatic relations."

“There was no visa requirement that we are aware of,” AnnMarie Mathews, vice president of public relations for Norwegian Cruise Lines

told Tunisia Live in an email Tuesday.

Edited March 12, 2014 by $hip$hape

[seaofwonder]

Nope, not 3 sea days, but 2. Originally it was 1 (one) sea day, now 2.

 

 

No, the Christmas cruise that they are speaking of now has THREE sea days.

 

 

 

 

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[Zubsin]

Nope, not 3 sea days, but 2. Originally it was 1 (one) sea day, now 2.

 

Days at sea... Dec 25th, Dec 29th & Dec 31st... that would be three days at sea

[bluesea777]

No, the Christmas cruise that they are speaking of now has THREE sea days.

 

 

Days at sea... Dec 25th, Dec 29th & Dec 31st... that would be three days at sea

 

Oh, okay - your Xmas cruise itinerary is different from the others in the winter - you'll be at sea on Xmas Day rather than calling at Monaco. All other cruises with same itinerary during Winter 2014/5 will stop in Monaco and will have 2 sea days.

[kirin]

a different slant from Tunisia News:

http://www.tunisia-live.net/2014/03/11/israeli-tourists-denied-entry-during-port-stop-in-tunis/

 

"It is unclear, however, if the Israelis had obtained a visa before arriving.

Israeli citizens have been allowed into Tunisia, although a previously-obtained visa is required.

Israel and Tunisia do not have formal diplomatic relations."

“There was no visa requirement that we are aware of,” AnnMarie Mathews, vice president of public relations for Norwegian Cruise Lines

told Tunisia Live in an email Tuesday.

 

Thank you for the link. It clears up a lot for me.

 

Kate

[hawkeyetlse]

As the Tunisian government has not issued a statement (that I can find), we can only go on the statement by NCL, which does not detail any particulars as to why the passengers were denied entry into the county.

There have been incomplete and conflicting statements from the Tunisian authorities (Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Tourism, Chief of Police of the port of La Goulette). See the HuffPo Maghreb website, if you can read French:

Touristes israéliens: Le ministère de l'Intérieur parle mais ne dit rien

Touristes israéliens: "Ils sont les bienvenus" mais "ils n'entreront pas"?

[karoo]

Coming from Australia we have to obtain visas prior to visiting Tunisia too. As do New Zealanders. If we were on a land tour we would have to do this. However as cruiseship passengers, we were classified as in transit so we were allowed a transit visa, meaning we didn't have to organise one before we came. All passengers on our sailing were allowed to disembark, even Israelis who didn't obtain a visa prior to the cruise. Many passengers however did choose to stay on board that day as there had been unrest prior to our sailing. We also had security guards who met us at the bus and escorted us in the Medina. We were also told by the tour guide to take off and hide all visible jewellery. You could also see barb wired riot barricades all through the town. This was in January.

[$hip$hape]

There have been incomplete and conflicting statements from the Tunisian authorities (Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Tourism, Chief of Police of the port of La Goulette). See the HuffPo Maghreb website, if you can read French:

Touristes israéliens: Le ministère de l'Intérieur parle mais ne dit rien

Touristes israéliens: "Ils sont les bienvenus" mais "ils n'entreront pas"?

Thanks for the articles.

Clears up some questions about past practice, and why the Captain seemed to be caught by surprise.

 

Contacted by HuffPost Maghreb, the spokesman of the Tunisian Ministry of Tourism had mentioned "problem and visa procedures."

A visa problem, however, is unlikely.

Maritime Tunisia, agency responsible for the coordination of these cruise ships confirmed to HuffPost Maghreb

was usually no visa required for cruise tourists, whatever their nationality.

Norwegian Cruise Line said in particular the Maghreb HuffPost that "Israeli citizens" entry had been banned

due to "last minute decision of the Tunisian government."

Vessels in the dock regularly - every Sunday for the vessel in question -

and often carries passengers Israelis.

*No problems had been reported until Sunday, March 9.

 

Saturday, March 8 in the morning, the Police Chief of La Goulette phoned the

agency Maritime Tunisia, which cooperates with several cruise lines, including NCL,

(showed by an employee of the agency on condition of anonymity toHuffPost Maghreb.)

"He told us that passengers with Israeli citizenship will not have the right to land in Tunisia,"

he says,"Without any explanation."

No indication as to the duration of the ban has been given.

 

 

Tunisia Maritime Agency, which is responsible for all landings, confirmed that for these

cruise passengers, who spend only a few hours, highly regulated and secure on Tunisian soil,

no visa is required. "For anyone, even for nationals of countries for which a visa is usually necessary".

Edited March 13, 2014 by $hip$hape

[hawkeyetlse]

Here are two follow-up articles that HuffPost Maghreb published a few days later, after pressing for a few more answers from the Tunisian authorities:

 

Amel Karboul: Généralement, les Israéliens doivent demander un laissez-passer pour venir en Tunisie

(Executive summary: The Tunisian minister of tourism insists that the Israeli passengers needed a visa and that this has to be arranged ahead of time and cannot be obtained upon arrival. And that Israelis were not specifically targeted in this incident; they were just applying Tunisian law.)

 

Touristes israéliens - La décision était politique et préméditée, les autorités tunisiennes nient

(Executive summary: Everything the Tunisian minister of tourism went on record as saying turns out to be completely false.)

[UhOhChango]

Here are two follow-up articles that HuffPost Maghreb published a few days later, after pressing for a few more answers from the Tunisian authorities:

 

Amel Karboul: Généralement, les Israéliens doivent demander un laissez-passer pour venir en Tunisie

(Executive summary: The Tunisian minister of tourism insists that the Israeli passengers needed a visa and that this has to be arranged ahead of time and cannot be obtained upon arrival. And that Israelis were not specifically targeted in this incident; they were just applying Tunisian law.)

 

Touristes israéliens - La décision était politique et préméditée, les autorités tunisiennes nient

(Executive summary: Everything the Tunisian minister of tourism went on record as saying turns out to be completely false.)

 

And neither one of those stories would be even slightly biased and should be believed as 100% true...