Tangoqueen Posted June 7, 2016 #1 Share Posted June 7, 2016 Will Cunard continue to keep Istanbul in its summer itinerary? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36466744 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUT2407 Posted June 7, 2016 #2 Share Posted June 7, 2016 Who knows Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balf Posted June 7, 2016 #3 Share Posted June 7, 2016 UK gov. recommendations haven't changed....yet. Watch this space. https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/turkey David. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare carlmm Posted June 7, 2016 #4 Share Posted June 7, 2016 I certainly hope that Cunard will keep Istanbul in its summer itinerary. I have specifically choosen my upcoming cruise for the stops in Turkey. Terrorist attacks should not deter from visiting Istanbul just like they did not do from visiting New York, Paris or London. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonTowner Posted June 7, 2016 #5 Share Posted June 7, 2016 Unless the FCO ban travel to Istanbul, I would imagine Cunard will continue to visit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cats2010 Posted June 7, 2016 #6 Share Posted June 7, 2016 While cruising the Suez Canal, Cunard recommended not to do excursions. I could imagine that they do the same for Istanbul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertGraves Posted June 7, 2016 #7 Share Posted June 7, 2016 From our experience Cunard has been particularly cautious in such matters. For example, in November 2014 QE dropped La Goulette, Tunis (in favour of Sarante, Albania). We had the chance to remember it when, next March, the attack occurred at the Bardo Museum, killing 9 and wounding 12 cruise passengers of MSC among many others. Several cruise lines announced earlier this year that they had cancelled calls into Turkish ports, including Regent Seven Seas, Crystal, Oceania, Disney, Norwegian, MSC and Costa. Celebrity has cancelled all overnight port calls. Whatever the case, our thoughts are with the Turkish people. Let's hope that stability will return to the region as soon as possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacqueline Posted June 7, 2016 #8 Share Posted June 7, 2016 I was there in February for just a short time. The Kepenski had a metal detector at the entrance. I had a basic room and was given a bouquet of flowers and a wonderful room with a great view. The poor people are really suffering from the drop in tourism. It's a city of what, 14 million people. I'd say the odds of gettting caught I. A terrorist attack are way less than the number of pedestrians being hit by cars in Manhattan . With cruises, we all know we can miss a port, but I think turkey is such a highlight ! I have been to Ephesus twice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tv24 Posted June 7, 2016 #9 Share Posted June 7, 2016 I would add that the chances of getting caught up in a terrorist attack in Istanbul are less than getting shot on the streets of my hometown, Oakland, California. But guns in the US are a whole other story. Anyway, I try to not let terrorism deter my quest to see the world. And I do love Turkey and Istanbul in particular. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeniseAtBeach Posted June 8, 2016 #10 Share Posted June 8, 2016 I too was concerned so today I contacted Cunard Reservations and currently they have not made any decision not to port in Istanbul. They said they would monitor the situation and if any changes are made to our itinerary (Istanbul end Aug) they would send Emergency Notification. I then asked when might 'the call' be made - it could be just a judgement call of the Captain, which means missing that port and spending it cruising the Med or if done in advance, an attempt would be made to try to make arrangements to re-port somewhere else. Certainly, the longer they wait the less likely of an alternate port. FWIW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canoncruiser Posted June 10, 2016 #11 Share Posted June 10, 2016 We called at Istanbul on the QE World Cruise this year. Lot’s of folks went ashore, it was a glorious day. Having been there several times, and trying to avoid spending more money:p I stayed on board.There was a terrorist bombing at a downtown police station-some of us heard the boom over the roar of the city-and the sirens. No one from QE was hurt of even aware of the incident PTL! But things seem to be deteriorating in Turkey and who knows what will come in the midst of the Turkish Theater of the Muslim civil war. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salacia Posted June 13, 2016 #12 Share Posted June 13, 2016 I certainly hope that Cunard will keep Istanbul in its summer itinerary. I have specifically choosen my upcoming cruise for the stops in Turkey. Terrorist attacks should not deter from visiting Istanbul just like they did not do from visiting New York, Paris or London. ...or Orlando, Florida. Madness will not win. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tv24 Posted June 13, 2016 #13 Share Posted June 13, 2016 Today, in the face of the hatred in Orlando, I would feel more safe in Istanbul or Paris than in many places in the US. But if I were in Orlando, I would definitely visit a gay club in solidarity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salacia Posted June 29, 2016 #14 Share Posted June 29, 2016 Will Cunard continue to keep Istanbul in its summer itinerary? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36466744 I can imagine that question has new urgency tonight. With deepest sympathy for the victims of the Istanbul Ataturk airport attack - Salacia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DreamflightPat Posted June 29, 2016 #15 Share Posted June 29, 2016 Will Cunard continue to keep Istanbul in its summer itinerary? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36466744 It is a very difficult question. I charter a 747 aircraft every Orlando to take seriously ill and disabled children to Orlando for a 10 day holiday. Do I cancel it because of the recent tragic events there? The answer is - yes I am still doing the trip. I couldn't disappoint all those children. What a sad world in a way. You never know where tragedy will strike next. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertGraves Posted June 29, 2016 #16 Share Posted June 29, 2016 (edited) BBC coverage: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36658187 Edited June 29, 2016 by RobertGraves Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Austcruiser84 Posted June 29, 2016 #17 Share Posted June 29, 2016 The Australian government today raised the travel advisory for Turkey to 'reconsider your need to travel' (level just under 'do not travel'). For border areas with Syria it has been 'do not travel' for some time now. It is such a shame this is happening for so many reasons. I found Turkey to be such an amazing place and was fortunate enough to visit five different places there on QE in 2014. I'd love to go back, but it doesn't look likely anytime soon. The same with Egypt. I have been wanting to go there for so long, but unfortunately it doesn't look like it will be safe enough to travel anytime soon. The region has so much to offer culturally and historically. I just hope that greater stability comes about so that people can start travelling there again in greater numbers. As pointed out, tourism is the lifeblood of places like Turkey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacqueline Posted June 29, 2016 #18 Share Posted June 29, 2016 I don't know how safe anyone is in most countries outside Australia and Asia. Between Zika, random shootings here in the US a well as the fact that there is not check needed before entering any US airport and there are hundreds of sitting ducks in the TSA lines,terrorism in Europe.... The list goes on. It is so sad ! These are tough times. Unlike land travel, the cruiseline will decide and probably err on the side of safety. As an aside, I would travel to Turkey and Turkish airlines is fantastic for the money. They are lovely people, from a tourists point of view and I always learn so much there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salacia Posted June 30, 2016 #19 Share Posted June 30, 2016 "...Doral-based Carnival Corporation’s Princess Cruises, Cunard Line and Holland America Line are currently evaluating Istanbul stops scheduled for mid-July to August, said spokesman Roger Frizzell. Princess Cruises, which is set to stop in Istanbul next week with its 3,600-passenger Royal Princess, has not yet said if it will move to another port. Carnival Cruise Line ia also assessing a stop on July 17 to Kusadasi, Turkey, about 350 miles south of Istanbul, Frizzell said. A Saturday sailing from Istanbul planned for Carnival Corp. luxury line Seabourn will leave from Athens instead, the cruise line said. Four other departures from Istanbul between July 30 and Oct. 22 currently are slated to depart as scheduled..." Copied from http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/tourism-cruises/article86722352.html#storylink=cpy ---Of interest might be information in the paragraphs under the sub-heading "Travel insurance can help" -S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobby1119 Posted June 30, 2016 #20 Share Posted June 30, 2016 Istanbul will be pulled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare rakkor Posted June 30, 2016 #21 Share Posted June 30, 2016 I'll be sad if Kusadasi is pulled, as Ephesus is on my bucket list and we're due there in October on the QE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindypops Posted June 30, 2016 #22 Share Posted June 30, 2016 (edited) Istanbul will be pulled. We are on the QV due in on 18 July. Think you are probably correct but it will be a shame such an interesting place. Wonder what could be the replacements? Edited June 30, 2016 by Lindypops Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonTowner Posted June 30, 2016 #23 Share Posted June 30, 2016 UK FCO not advising against travel to Istanbul at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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