cshim Posted January 12, 2016 #1 Share Posted January 12, 2016 It seems to be a terrorist bomb. Very sad. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35290760 :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dutchclogs Posted January 12, 2016 #2 Share Posted January 12, 2016 It seems to be a terrorist bomb. Very sad. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35290760 :( Latest UK gov travel advice https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/turkey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chairsin Posted January 12, 2016 #3 Share Posted January 12, 2016 How very sad for the Turks and the tourists. Killed and wounded.Istanbul is such a lovely, vibrant city and the terrorists have taken advantage of how many tourists are attracted to the Sultanahmet each year. Our June Seabourn cruise starts there -- I will be waiting to hear from Seabourn over the week or so to hear if they are making any changes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4774Papa Posted January 12, 2016 #4 Share Posted January 12, 2016 Unfortunately, there is more of this to come and not just in the Levant and Middle East. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cantwaitt Posted January 12, 2016 #5 Share Posted January 12, 2016 We were in that spot two years ago on our Med cruise. We are considering another Med cruise this year but I told my wife I would NOT go to Turkey because, unlike the rest of Europe, they not only are potential targets of ISIS, but the Kurds (who they have been bombing) and the Russians (whose plane they shot down). Like Egypt, I'm glad I was already there. Would not go now. Not even sure about the rest of Europe but I live in New York which is on the top of the potential target list. At the end of the day it is being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hansolosmom Posted January 12, 2016 #6 Share Posted January 12, 2016 We were so sad to hear this news. We were there a few years ago and it is such a beautiful city. Prayers for everyone harmed by these actions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare brazilgirl Posted January 12, 2016 #7 Share Posted January 12, 2016 We were just there in June and it is so sad to see this. Such a beautiful , vibrant city. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eclue Posted January 12, 2016 #8 Share Posted January 12, 2016 We are going to be in Istanbul in May unless Princess changes the itinerary - will be disappointed if they do. We love Istanbul - it is one of our favorite places. One must believe it is all about what is meant to be - prayers to the families of those affected by this attack. eclue:rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruisemom42 Posted January 12, 2016 #9 Share Posted January 12, 2016 Very saddened to hear this news. Istanbul is such a wonderful city and has been so welcoming to visitors. I hope that will not change and that visitors will not stay away due to excessive caution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteRockCruiser01 Posted January 12, 2016 #10 Share Posted January 12, 2016 One of the reasons I booked my cruise was to visit Istanbul. I hope an incident like this does stop Holland America from cancelling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanceholt Posted January 12, 2016 #11 Share Posted January 12, 2016 We have been in Istanbul twice in the last two years. It is such a wonderful city, the Turkish people so welcoming, and the sights so unique, that I hope they can come to peace and safety. Unfortunately, this bomb was set off in the middle of Sultanhamet which was considered a very safe place. I know there are people who want their ships to still stop there, but I also know that safety has to be uppermost. I am so glad we saw it when we did, one of the world's most special places. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
epixx Posted January 12, 2016 #12 Share Posted January 12, 2016 visitors will not stay away due to excessive caution. I am not convinced that if visitors stay away it would be from excessive caution; it might be from appropriate caution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanceholt Posted January 12, 2016 #13 Share Posted January 12, 2016 I am not convinced that if visitors stay away it would be from excessive caution; it might be from appropriate caution. I agree. This was aimed at tourists. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flapbreaker Posted January 13, 2016 #14 Share Posted January 13, 2016 Have a cruise planned next August on Norwegian with a stop in Istanbul. Will be interesting to see if they change ports. Not sure what to make of this. Guess it will depend on if this is an isolated incident or if more attacks occur. Sad situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare brazilgirl Posted January 13, 2016 #15 Share Posted January 13, 2016 http://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2016-01-12/dont-hide-from-istanbul?mbid=social_facebook Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eclue Posted January 13, 2016 #16 Share Posted January 13, 2016 Good article - I agree - thanks for posting. eclue:rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garf1108 Posted January 14, 2016 #17 Share Posted January 14, 2016 Talk is cheap - a tourist will stand out in Istanbul. These activities will probably increase especially with the direction that the Govt is taking. An unfortunate situation for a great City. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John Bull Posted January 15, 2016 #18 Share Posted January 15, 2016 (edited) Talk is cheap - a tourist will stand out in Istanbul. . Yes, of course they do. All ten and a half million of them per year. ;) JB :) Edited January 15, 2016 by John Bull Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocoLoco1 Posted January 16, 2016 #19 Share Posted January 16, 2016 I will merely make a World Travel observation for this Forum. We 'Westerners' are a beacon of light and vanguards of Freedom for those less fortunate. Let's not let them down and let the voices of Idiocy and Ignorance prevail. Get out there....carry on. Otherwise, history tells us 'they' will win. I won't be bullied. Locomotiveman Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruisinLow Posted January 22, 2016 #20 Share Posted January 22, 2016 (edited) We are going to be in Istanbul in May unless Princess changes the itinerary - will be disappointed if they do. We love Istanbul - it is one of our favorite places. One must believe it is all about what is meant to be - prayers to the families of those affected by this attack.eclue:rolleyes: I am also scheduled on a Princess cruise in September, 2016 with a a stop in Istanbul. And too am wondering if indeed we will be stopping there or is Princess going to cancel the port. Since you have been there in the past, I would like to get some information from you as to private tours in the City and what we should see. If you would rather, you can contact me via email cruzqueen@verizon.net Thanks Edited January 22, 2016 by cruisin'low Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chairsin Posted January 22, 2016 #21 Share Posted January 22, 2016 We have been to Istanbul three times. Usually we wander around on our own, which is very easy to do, especially if you stay in the Sultanahmet. But on our last trip there in September we took walking tour with Culinary Backstreets as I love Turkish cuisine and wanted to learn more. They do very small groups to make it easy to get in and out of tiny cafes -- our group was 6. We darted in and out of many wonderful places sampling the best of what each had to offer. It was truly one of the best tours I have ever been on and will likely go in another one of their tours when we return this June-- both fun, educational and tasty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tring Posted January 23, 2016 #22 Share Posted January 23, 2016 We were at a holiday show in Manchester yesterday and spoke to someone on the Regent stand. They cancelled all ports in Turkey for this year yesterday. It is reported on the Regent Thread as well. I was told they are substituting ports in Greece (I think he said Islands but not sure) and Malta. A couple of cruises have been reduced a lot, presumably because of that. We have too many hols booked for the next year so could not be persuaded. Such a shame, I feel so sorry for people in countries that have been affected. I think land holidays are where we will be looking in future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruisinLow Posted January 23, 2016 #23 Share Posted January 23, 2016 Check out this link on Cruise Critic yesterday http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=6769 Yes, very much a shame for the local people who will not reap the benefits of the tourists from cruise ships being there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tring Posted January 23, 2016 #24 Share Posted January 23, 2016 Check out this link on Cruise Critic yesterday http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=6769 Yes' date=' very much a shame for the local people who will not reap the benefits of the tourists from cruise ships being there. [/size'] Interesting that Fred Olsen, Saga and Thomson, which are the British run cruise companies that cc spoke to, all said they would follow the FOC advice, so they are not acting at this stage. British cruise lines not spoken to by cc are Swan Hellenic and Voyages of Discovery, whose websites still have Turkey on their itineraries for this autumn. P&O is the other big British brand, but it is part of the Carnival Corporation, and their brands are saying they are just keeping an eye on things at present. We went to Egypt on a P&O ship about 2-3 years ago when the American lines had pulled the ports. This leaves a little bit of hope for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruisemom42 Posted January 23, 2016 #25 Share Posted January 23, 2016 Interesting that Fred Olsen, Saga and Thomson, which are the British run cruise companies that cc spoke to, all said they would follow the FOC advice, so they are not acting at this stage. British cruise lines not spoken to by cc are Swan Hellenic and Voyages of Discovery, whose websites still have Turkey on their itineraries for this autumn. P&O is the other big British brand, but it is part of the Carnival Corporation, and their brands are saying they are just keeping an eye on things at present. We went to Egypt on a P&O ship about 2-3 years ago when the American lines had pulled the ports. This leaves a little bit of hope for us. Yes, I've also found the British lines do not seem to cancel out of an "abundance of caution" (as one mass market line put it) but rather wait and take a measured approach based on what their FOC advise. I mostly sail with Voyages to Antiquity and have also been on Swan Hellenic. A few years ago I was on a VTA cruise at the same time that my parents were on a HAL cruise, both with similar itineraries. HAL pulled the two Tunisian ports due to nothing more than some very isolated activity at the south end of the country, nowhere near the port cities. The VTA cruise did not cancel.... :rolleyes: I suspect the mass market lines with mostly US customers have to make the changes though, as US passengers are extraordinarily risk averse and often seem not to have a great grasp of the geographies involved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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