Recent Cruisers to Italy & Greece-- Seeing migrant issue

[Islandattorney]

We are going to be cruising from Spain to Italy in August and have been wondering, with the tragic news of migrant drownings as people seek to reach Italy & Greece, whether it is likely we would see signs of this. Should we bring binoculars to look for people in distress? Has anyone experienced this on a cruise?

Have any cruise ships assisted in rescues?

[Cachecruiser]

We came back from our Greece & Croatia cruise yesterday. We didn't see any refugee boats or people trying to reach the coasts by swimming.

We did a bridge tour and I asked about the ship's handling about refugee boats. They told us that this season they didn't see any refugee boats, last season they did twice. They assisted the refugees from the overturn boat and brought them to the next port, where the authorities were informed in advance.

[Hlitner]

We are just back (about 3 weeks ago) from a 2 month Med cruise. The migrant situation was at its worst on the island of Lesbos where we saw many just wandering around the island. We were going to hike up a mountain until we got closed to a Mirgrant camp with too many roving teens and young men (who did not appear to be very friendly). We quickly chased our plans and stuck to town. In Pireaus we could see a temporary migrant camp across the bay (near one of the ferry docks) with a tend city right on the concrete quay. We later heard (from a senior crew member) that there about 5800 stuck in that camp. We were also told that any attempt to get close to the camp to take photos....could result in being arrested!

 

Hank