Cancellation of cruise in the Middle East

[ak1004]

6 minutes ago, Harry Lake said:

And I totally agree with you. We've only done handful of cruises over the years, two with O. I will not book another with them...and maybe not with any of the "big boys." Ever. I don't see anyone here, some with 10s of thousands of posts saying that.  What's the expression "Fool me oncee...."

 

Well, this is cruise critic. People just love cruising. Experienced cruisers know that changes happen and are prepared. Making lemonade from lemons is a much better way to live than constantly whining and thinking that everyone is trying to screw you.

 

But then again, this is cruise critic. For some people here constant whining is their second nature.

[davencl]

5 minutes ago, ak1004 said:

 

Well, this is cruise critic. People just love cruising. Experienced cruisers know that changes happen and are prepared. Making lemonade from lemons is a much better way to live than constantly whining and thinking that everyone is trying to screw you.

 

But then again, this is cruise critic. For some people here constant whining is their second nature.

Yes and so far my worst day cruising was better than my best day sitting at home. 🙂 

Edited November 17, 2023 by davencl

[ORV]

14 minutes ago, davencl said:

Yes and so far my worst day cruising was better than my best day sitting at home. 🙂 

I can't really say that. 

[shepherd really]

2 minutes ago, ORV said:

I can't really say that. 

Me neither.  

[Harry Lake]

1 minute ago, ORV said:

I can't really say that. 

Nor can I remember a 17 day TA and a 20 B2B Southern Caribbean. I was ready to jump well before the last day.

[EJL2023]

3 minutes ago, ORV said:

I can't really say that. 

Of course you can!! You read these threads, most posts aren’t based on reality or facts!! I just check in on a couple of them to see how the group therapy sessions are going.

[roninman]

13 hours ago, davencl said:

Yes and so far my worst day cruising was better than my best day sitting at home. 🙂 

I bet destination ports are the primary reason people pick this or that cruise over another.  Cruise lines know that, hence the ads and websites and brochures celebrating the wonders of this or that port.

 

If I just wanted to take a boat over the water I could just ferry ride back and forth from New Orleans to Algiers all day long, or back and forth on the Staten Island Ferry, then disembark and go see some show or bowling alley or casino or fancy restaurant on my own in the evening! 😎   And never have to look over my shoulder in trepidation over what unsuspected change the cruise line might impose next on my powerless self.

 

Edited November 18, 2023 by roninman

[susiesan]

Now ships in the Red Sea are being hijacked:

https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2023/11/19/Israeli-ship-reportedly-hijacked-by-Yemen-s-Houthis-in-Red-Sea

 

Maybe this will get Oceania to call off these 2 cruises scheduled to sail through the Red Sea.

[MMarianne]

45 minutes ago, susiesan said:

Now ships in the Red Sea are being hijacked:

https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2023/11/19/Israeli-ship-reportedly-hijacked-by-Yemen-s-Houthis-in-Red-Sea

 

Maybe this will get Oceania to call off these 2 cruises scheduled to sail through the Red Sea.

I sent the earlier article about drone strikes + threats of attacks to Oceania CEO and others. Could you send this one? Good for them to hear from different voices. 
cortega@oceaniacruises.com

fdelrio@oceaniacruises.com

[kathy49]

55 minutes ago, susiesan said:

Now ships in the Red Sea are being hijacked:

https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2023/11/19/Israeli-ship-reportedly-hijacked-by-Yemen-s-Houthis-in-Red-Sea

 

Maybe this will get Oceania to call off these 2 cruises scheduled to sail through the Red Sea.

I am sure that most of the passengers left on the sailing don't have a clue about recent rise in concerns on Red Sea...motto is if the cruise ship goes it is safe. I tend to think otherwise. Some areas hold more risk than others.  I actually right now would be more comfortable in Egypt than in the Red Sea on a luxury ship...but that is just me. These Houthis and other terrorists are out to make news...sometimes the target is not important.

[MMarianne]

Many of us board November 29 in Istanbul. WE know. I’m taking a big supply of Xanax. 😩

[susiesan]

3 hours ago, MarianneBD said:

I sent the earlier article about drone strikes + threats of attacks to Oceania CEO and others. Could you send this one? Good for them to hear from different voices. 
cortega@oceaniacruises.com

fdelrio@oceaniacruises.com

I'm not on the cruise. Why don't you send the article if you are one of the affected cruises?

 

I've been following along to see how terribly Oceania is handling all this so I know whether or not to book another cruise with Oceania. Right now, it's a big no.

[Jancruz]

3 hours ago, MarianneBD said:

I sent the earlier article about drone strikes + threats of attacks to Oceania CEO and others. Could you send this one? Good for them to hear from different voices. 
cortega@oceaniacruises.com

fdelrio@oceaniacruises.com

What a waste of your time..they know all this way before you do!! Then it goes in the round file..Carlos has nothing to do with the ships and Frank is out of the country..

Jancruz1

[Vineyard View]

49 minutes ago, Jancruz said:

What a waste of your time..they know all this way before you do!! Then it goes in the round file..Carlos has nothing to do with the ships and Frank is out of the country..

Jancruz1

What is your recommendation on what these travelers should do?  Who do you recommend that they contact? 

[Jancruz]

2 minutes ago, Vineyard View said:

What is your recommendation on what these travelers should do?  Who do you recommend that they contact? 

As i said, they know all of this before we do..why do you feel you have to write to them or do anything..believe me they keep  very close tabs on any problems in the world..!! They are just as concerned with your safety as you are..

Jancruz1

[PhD-iva]

1 hour ago, susiesan said:

I've been following along to see how terribly Oceania is handling all this so I know whether or not to book another cruise with Oceania. Right now, it's a big no.

I will go on my currently booked O cruises (except for the 2025 HolyLands cruise I booked THREE DAYS before this all kicked off). 

I have a Norway O cruise in August 2024, and a Tokyo to Vancouver booked in 2025. That might be it........we'll see. 

[Harry Lake]

5 hours ago, kathy49 said:

motto is if the cruise ship goes it is safe.

I'm on a site for people who travel with a company that does escorted tours. That phrase of yours above here is almost on auto-play. Makes me nuts.

[Vineyard View]

5 hours ago, Jancruz said:

As i said, they know all of this before we do..why do you feel you have to write to them or do anything..believe me they keep  very close tabs on any problems in the world..!! They are just as concerned with your safety as you are..

Jancruz1

I think my point was that if you were booked on this journey, that is now nine sea days in an area of concern, and you were offered a FCC that was rescinded, who do you recommend that they write to?  How and who do you recommend? 

[Harry Lake]

4 minutes ago, Vineyard View said:

I think my point was that if you were booked on this journey, that is now nine sea days in an area of concern, and you were offered a FCC that was rescinded, who do you recommend that they write to?  How and who do you recommend? 

There's some cliche it seems that I can't remember. But if you say nothing then you're being complicit. Scream bloody murder, contact the media (more), etc.

[CurlerRob]

33 minutes ago, Harry Lake said:

There's some cliche it seems that I can't remember. But if you say nothing then you're being complicit. Scream bloody murder, contact the media (more), etc.

 

Perhaps it was "silence = consent"? 🍺🥌

[Harry Lake]

4 minutes ago, CurlerRob said:

 

Perhaps it was "silence = consent"? 🍺🥌

Superb. Make a lot of noise.

 

[Jancruz]

3 hours ago, Vineyard View said:

I think my point was that if you were booked on this journey, that is now nine sea days in an area of concern, and you were offered a FCC that was rescinded, who do you recommend that they write to?  How and who do you recommend? 

OK if you insist on writing someone it would have be Harry Sommer,(go to the top) who I am sure is the  one that said no in the first place..he is the ONLY one that can make that decision..he took FDRs place as CEO reach him or his assistant at  NCL executive offices

Jancruz1

Good Luck

[Harry Lake]

12 minutes ago, Jancruz said:

(go to the top)

Easy enough to hit them all at the same time. As well as all manner of social media and government bodies.

[Jancruz]

9 minutes ago, Harry Lake said:

Easy enough to hit them all at the same time. As well as all manner of social media and government bodies.

Believe me the round file will be full..but do what you feel is best for you..you asked my opinion and I gave it to you..signing off this thread

Jancuz1

Edited November 20, 2023 by Jancruz

[thetravellingta]

Hello all.

I am yet another cruiser on the nov 29th oceania riviera sailing doing research on what my options are in terms of cancellation etc.

Unlike most, I booked my cruise after the change of itinerary that resulted in the days in greece followed by 9 sea days. I was going to be nearby in rome anyhow finishing up a month long trip a few days before this ship sailed, and me and my fiancee had yet to travel to Greece and were vary interested.

In terms of safety concerns, I was not concerned about going through the suez canal and red sea. There is a clear difference between stopping at a port and going through international waters in terms of safety in the area. I also contacted a family member who works high up in USAID, with specific knowledge of Africa & Middle East. At the time (around oct 24th) they also had no concerns about transiting through the area, which brought peace of mind.

I purchased travel insurance through Oceania (which unfortunately does not have a cancel for any reason clause) and proceeded, with the idea that if things got worse and the state department specifically recommended a level 4 avoid travel to an area the ship was going through, the travel insurance would be usable.

However, the hijacking by Houthi Rebels from Yemen of a car carrier a day ago in the red sea has flipped things around for me.

My current thoughts & knowledge; I am very curious to hear from fellow cruisers going on the same voyage as me on their thoughts:
1) Iran & Iranian backed groups have targeted ships before. A ship by the same Israeli businessman that partially owned the company that owned the car carrier had another ship in 2021 that was blown up off the coast of Oman by suspected Iranian's. Iran has targeted ships off its coast, and its been cargo ships, mostly oil, in response to U.S. sanctions, never cruise ships. 
2) One of the only times a cruise ship has had an attempted hijacking in recent memory, was off the coast of somalia by somali pirates, but the quick thinking of the captain and the faster more maneuverable cruise ship (in comparison to cargo ships) ment that the ship got away. The Houthi situation is different. What U.S. officials have said, is that the rebels came down from a helicopter and took control of the ship that way, which is a completely different situation that the speed of a ship cant due much of anything for. 
3) From looking at cruise mappers, there are some cruise ships that have recently went through this very passage, and have come out unscathed.
4) The Houthi's have stated that any Israeli owned ships are targets. Oceania is not israeli owned per my knowledge, and will fly no israeli flag (however, neither did the car carrier, and it was being managed by a japanese company with no israeli crewmembers onboard). This could in theory give me piece of mind, but that would mean I would trust the Houthi rebels to follow their word, and I most certainly do not. 
5) there are hundreds of cargo ships passing through the same area at this very moment, seemingly without issue, but I dont want to be the random ship chosen by these groups.


With all that in mind, the situation is, uncertain. What would give me piece of mind, is to know what security measures Oceania will be taking in the area. After the attack of a cruise ship off the coast of somalia (2005) I have heard that other nearby cruise ships in the following days were then escorted by U.S. military ships through the area. If I knew that the same would be happening for oceania, that would bring me much needed piece of mind. 

The Hebridean Sky passed through the area on nov 17th, and if anyone per chance knowns anyone on the boat, it would be interesting to know what the line did security wise (of course it went through the area before the car carrier seizure)