Istanbul question??

[jrblach]

we are on WC 2017 that has Istanbul as 2 day visit and a turn around. how likely is the ship to keep this scheduled stop? thanks

[jtl513]

It's anybody's guess right now, but I would bet against it.

[Randyk47]

we are on WC 2017 that has Istanbul as 2 day visit and a turn around. how likely is the ship to keep this scheduled stop? thanks

 

Hard question to have a firm answer to right now. Based in today's situation I'd say they'll go elsewhere. If the situation improves then they might visit. To the best of my knowledge the majority of cruise lines have at this point have dropped Istanbul, and some all of Turkey, for this year and next.

[cruisemom42]

In my opinion it's too early to expect a decision on Istanbul. As others have said, if the cruise were within the next few months I'd have to believe they would cancel and reschedule that day. But who knows whether things in Turkey will improve or deteriorate by then...

 

You might want to keep an eye on the Mediterranean "Other Ports of Call" forum here, where this is periodically discussed and updated in posts like this one:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2387399

[StartrainDD]

At the time of year the WC would be calling there most of the ports are not yet busy. That means there would be lots of easy alternates in the region with space available.

 

We loved our days in Istanbul a few years back and we find it very sad to see what has/is happening in Turkey.

[catl331]

At the time of year the WC would be calling there most of the ports are not yet busy. That means there would be lots of easy alternates in the region with space available.

IMHO Athens is a likely substitute segment breakpoint. Edited August 17, 2016 by catl331

[happyglobetrotter]

HAL will not change a port of call like Istanbul at the last minute because it is a turnover port. Some passengers are getting on and off in that port. There would be too much logistics involved and it would not be feasible because of all the flights and hotels already booked, etc.

 

Last Grand Med on the Prinsendam (2016), the port of Istanbul was cancelled one or 2 days before, another port in Greece was added but we still made the call in Istanbul. The ship docked in the safest area of the port and the people went on and off....The captain said : NOBODY else is allowed ashore. We spent 6 hours there then we went on a scenic cruising along the coast up to the Bosphorus bridge.

 

And the day after, we were in Kusadasi and we stopped there and all went well.

 

Istanbul cannot be cancelled as a stop...maybe though we will have to remain on the ship during disembarkation and embarkation of the passengers on segments. But to think that the route will be changed including Athens....not possible, too far.

 

And it would not be fair to the segment people who have already paid for their cruise and their flight. We personally have a friend disembarking in Istanbul. He booked 2 weeks ago and no mention was given as to a change of itinerary. We have to thrust that HAL knows what they are doing all the rest is speculation.

[jtl513]

HAL will not change a port of call like Istanbul at the last minute because it is a turnover port. Some passengers are getting on and off in that port. There would be too much logistics involved and it would not be feasible because of all the flights and hotels already booked, etc.

 

Last Grand Med on the Prinsendam (2016), the port of Istanbul was cancelled one or 2 days before, another port in Greece was added but we still made the call in Istanbul. The ship docked in the safest area of the port and the people went on and off....

About how many people got off and on in Istanbul? When we boarded the Prinsendam in Barcelona for final segment of the 2015 Grand Med we were two of about 30 people getting on, and I presume a similar number got off. That's 30 or so reservations (15 pairs on, 15 pairs off) that would have had to change flights/hotels if they had decided to change the turnover port to somewhere else in the Med. Not really a huge problem IMO as long as HAL picked up the costs of the changes.

.

Edited August 19, 2016 by jtl513

[Hlitner]

About how many people got off and on in Istanbul? When we boarded the Prinsendam in Barcelona for final segment of the 2015 Grand Med we were two of about 30 people getting on, and I presume a similar number got off. That's 30 or so reservations (15 pairs on, 15 pairs off) that would have had to change flights/hotels if they had decided to change the turnover port to somewhere else in the Med. Not really a lot of hassle IMO.

.

 

We were on that same cruise (Prinsendam) and recall somebody saying there were about 45 passengers getting on and off. But keep in mind we probably had no more then 650 on the ship at that time. But changing flights would have been near impossible. We actually did not change our plans (for the overnight in Istanbul) to less than 4 days prior to getting to that port. Since the decision was made at the last minute, there were likely some folks who were already in Europe on their own, and heading to Istanbul to join the ship. HAL would have no good way to contact these folks. As very independent travelers who have often made our way to various ports in Europe and Asia.....we can say that often our own family does not know where we are on a given day :).

 

Hank

[jtl513]

Since the decision was made at the last minute, there were likely some folks who were already in Europe on their own, and heading to Istanbul to join the ship. HAL would have no good way to contact these folks.

True, but if there were a few pairs of people out of the 22/23 pairs arriving that HAL could not contact, HAL could make arrangements to put them up in a hotel in Istanbul for one night and then fly them to a future port just as if they had missed embarkation anywhere. And for the people getting off, HAL would have to pick up the tab for getting them flights home from a different port. About the only time that could not be done is if the port was the last one before a long T-A sea stretch.

 

p.s. - a typo in post #8: it was the 2013 Grand Med that we joined in Barcelona, not 2015

Edited August 19, 2016 by jtl513

[Hlitner]

True, but if there were a few pairs of people out of the 22/23 pairs arriving that HAL could not contact, HAL could make arrangements to put them up in a hotel in Istanbul for one night and then fly them to a future port just as if they had missed embarkation anywhere. And for the people getting off, HAL would have to pick up the tab for getting them flights home from a different port. About the only time that could not be done is if the port was the last one before a long T-A sea stretch.

 

p.s. - a typo in post #8: it was the 2013 Grand Med that we joined in Barcelona, not 2015

 

Cudda, wudda, shudda :). Funny thing about that day in Istanbul (the weather was not very good). A few of us were sitting up in the Crows Nest (while docked in Istanbul) and DW mentioned that we would love to just jump off the ship and grab the tram into town :). (we have been to Istanbul many times and love the city). That started a discussion where nearly everyone present agreed they would have been fine going off the ship (we were not given that choice). And docked right next to us was the brand new Viking Cruises ship...and their passengers were off the ship enjoying their days in Istanbul. As to Viking, they are a true International organization...but their main Headquarters is in the USA!

 

We do not blame HAL for listening to our State Department,,,and do not blame our State Department for issuing the usual warnings. However, there are still some travelers who understand that the world is now a dangerous place....and we want the ability to make our own decisions regarding where we can and cannot visit. Personally, we would have no problem flying into Turkey (today) and spending a few days (or weeks) in the country. Yes, there is some risk....but there is also risk in Paris, London, Chicago, NYC, etc.

 

 

Hank

Edited August 19, 2016 by Hlitner