Tell me why you choose ship excursions?

[Heidi13]

On 12/28/2019 at 7:42 AM, dogs4fun said:

Really? Not questioning your veracity just never heard of this before. Where did your ship tour have a police escort and armed guards on the buses? If security is this tight, it will be a port I will want to avoid in the future.

Have experienced police escorts in a number of ports over the past 40 yrs. For armed personnel I have experienced this in Egypt, Israel and Panama.

 

On our next cruise, I anticipate police escorts in Semarang & Luxor/Cairo.

[dogs4fun]

24 minutes ago, Heidi13 said:

Have experienced police escorts in a number of ports over the past 40 yrs. For armed personnel I have experienced this in Egypt, Israel and Panama.

 

On our next cruise, I anticipate police escorts in Semarang & Luxor/Cairo.

We have twice been to Israel for extended stays but never via cruise. We definitely had no armed personnel traveling with us on any of our private tours (we also did things DIY in Jerusalem). Our Israeli guide was not allowed to take us past the check-point into Bethlehem - had to change to a Palestinian guide.

Lots of armed military in the airport and at some sites. I wonder if there is a security enhancement for cruise ship passengers. Anyway, I have since been informed that we did, in fact, have an armed person on our Egyptian tours (I was not aware at the time & to my knowledge, no one mentioned a security guard - at least not when I was paying attention). 

Have no experience with Panama or Indonesia.

Edited December 29, 2019 by dogs4fun

[Markanddonna]

I'm sure we didn't have armed security with us in Israel in Dec. 2019, unless it was the guide or driver. With eighteen people in the van, I knew everyone since I'm the one who arranged the tour. To be honest, I never felt afraid. Now, ask me about Athens... (Just MHO)

 

Edited December 29, 2019 by Markanddonna

[ducklite]

31 minutes ago, Markanddonna said:

I'm sure we didn't have armed security with us in Israel in Dec. 2019, unless it was the guide or driver. With eighteen people in the van, I knew everyone since I'm the one who arranged the tour. To be honest, I never felt afraid. Now, ask me about Athens... (Just MHO)

 

 

We were in Athens during the second election in 2012 and found it to be pleasant and safe.  We were thanked repeatedly for not being scared away by their internal issues, and told that they "love Americans."  That's not something we hear very often, unfortunately.

[Heidi13]

1 hour ago, dogs4fun said:

We have twice been to Israel for extended stays but never via cruise. We definitely had no armed personnel traveling with us on any of our private tours (we also did things DIY in Jerusalem). Our Israeli guide was not allowed to take us past the check-point into Bethlehem - had to change to a Palestinian guide.

Lots of armed military in the airport and at some sites. I wonder if there is a security enhancement for cruise ship passengers. Anyway, I have since been informed that we did, in fact, have an armed person on our Egyptian tours (I was not aware at the time & to my knowledge, no one mentioned a security guard - at least not when I was paying attention). 

Have no experience with Panama or Indonesia.

When cruising the E/Meddy, we were in Haifa/Ashdod every 2 weeks. We also had 1,000 school age kids with about 40 kids and a few teachers per bus. Each bus had a crew member assigned and we knew the status of any locals, in addition to the guide. The fact they were armed was not readily apparent and was most likely not known by the teachers. The number of kids may have caused additional security.

 

Same situation in Egypt.

 

Prior to entering Haifa/Ashdod our hull was inspected by divers and if in port overnight the military continuously patrolled the harbour deploying anti-personnel charges throughout the night. We had an armed security guard on the gangway and throughout the port at regular intervals were a series of young guys in casual attire and carrying small bags. Each of these guys was armed. We felt totally safe, even on the cargo ships when we were in for 2 or 3 days.

 

With the exception of tours, we had similar security arrangements on cargo ships & cruise ships.

[Markanddonna]

1 hour ago, ducklite said:

 

We were in Athens during the second election in 2012 and found it to be pleasant and safe.  We were thanked repeatedly for not being scared away by their internal issues, and told that they "love Americans."  That's not something we hear very often, unfortunately.

Our impressions are shaped on the experiences we each have in a city. In Athens, we were stuck in traffic gridlock due to protests. I have experience dealing with three May day protests in different countries, so I am not new to the issue. Sitting in gridlock and staring at the graffiti filled buildings didn't leave a good impression. 

[cruisemom42]

2 hours ago, Markanddonna said:

ITo be honest, I never felt afraid. Now, ask me about Athens... (Just MHO)

 

 

4 minutes ago, Markanddonna said:

Sitting in gridlock and staring at the graffiti filled buildings didn't leave a good impression. 

 

You seem to be suggesting that you were afraid in Athens?  Just because you were in gridlock and there was graffiti?  Or am I missing something?

 

Graffiti, while certainly something that is ugly and defaces buildings, has a long history in Europe where people have not always been assured the same freedom of speech that we enjoy. Even back in Pompeii there was "graffiti" on many of the buildings that was found by excavators. Nothing really new, and nothing frightening in it.

 

Athens is a big, sprawling city. Like all such, parts of it are charming and parts of it are less so. But after having visited almost annually for the last decade, I have found nothing to be afraid of, even as a solo woman traveler.

 

[Markanddonna]

I wasn't afraid since I was in no danger. Just very unimpressed and wondering how a beautiful country like Greece had lost control on this issue of so much graffiti. 

Protests are a different story.

I was on Las Rambles on Barcelona on May 1 a few years ago  and saw first hand how protests can get out of control. Then I was at the Eiffel Tower when protesters three smoke bombs and the police came swarming. I don't go looking for trouble but just found myself as a tourist in the midst. Things happen. 

 

My most fearful experience was finding myself alone  in a no go zone and being warned by locals to get out. I didn't feel threatened, just warned and left really quickly. I obviously live in a bubble in the USA.