Syria Crisis Impacts Cruise Itineraries

Photo courtesy Holland America Blog

Holland America Noordam

Skips Israel Ports

The crisis in Syria has had its first impact on cruise line itineraries as Holland America Line skipped calls in Haifa and Jerusalem this week citing “the uncertainties of possible military action against Syria and the potential of resulting Syrian attacks on Israel.” as reason for the itinerary changes.

The line replaced these calls with visits to Bodrum and Antalya, Turkey, and Nafplion, Greece.

We previously reported, in Must be Summer - Egypt Calls Canceled, that Noordam had replaced port calls in Port Said & Alexandria with these ports in Israel due to the unrest in Egypt.

Unrest in the Region

As tensions rise in the region, cruise lines and governments will be closely monitoring developments and making adjustments and recommendations as warranted.   As always, regardless of where you are traveling, citizens of the United States and all countries, should be vigilant of their surroundings while abroad.

Here are some resources to help you stay up to date on developments:

Israel, the West Bank and Gaza Country Specific Information

Egypt Country Specific Information

Syria Country Specific Information

International Travel (U.S. Dept. of State)

 

Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) 

 

 

POPE FRANCIS CALLS FOR WORLDWIDE DAY OF PRAYER AND FASTING FOR PEACE IN SYRIA, IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND IN THE WORLD. ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7th

 

The Pope is calling on people of all faiths to unite in prayer this coming weekend for peace in Syria, Middle East, and the world.

 

 Read More: THE POPE CONVOKES A DAY OF PRAYER AND PENANCE FOR PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

We will continue to monitor this developing story as unrest continues to impact the travel industry.

Oceania Riviera Maiden Voyage Date Changed

Photo Courtesy Oceania Cruises

Riviera Floated Out At The Fincantieri Shipyard in Genoa

Oceania Riviera

Currently Under Construction

Oceania Riviera, the latest ship to be commissioned by Oceania Cruises, is currently under construction by Fincantieri Shipyard in Genoa, Italy.

Last month, Riviera completed a successful float from the construction dock to the fitting-out pier that will be Riviera's home for the next nine months.  Thousands of craftsman now begin fitting out and finishing her magnificent, designer interiors so that she can join her sister ship, Marina, in European waters.


Maiden Voyage Date Changed

Oceania Cruises announced the rescheduling of the maiden voyage of the Riviera.   The 1,250-passenger ship is now scheduled to sail on April 24, 2012, 10 days later than originally planned. According to Oceania Cruises, the delay will “allow additional time for the staff to familiarize themselves with the ship’s facilities and fine-tune the countless details required to deliver the acclaimed Oceania Cruises experience.”

The Riviera's inaugural voyage will be a 12-day Ancient Grandeur cruise from Athens, with calls at Alexandria and Port Said, Egypt; Haifa and Jerusalem, Israel; Alanya, Rhodes and Patmos, Greece; Kusadasi, Turkey; and an overnight stay in Istanbul.

Since the maiden voyage is now 10 days later and 2 days longer, Oceania Cruises is allowing guests to modify their plans if they desire.  Guests have the following options:

• Keep reservation -  receive 2 bonus days at no extra cost & $250 per guest in shipboard credit
• Book a different voyage - receive $250 per guest toward a future cruise
• Cancel cruise - receive a full refund

Oceania Riviera Ship Profile | Itineraries & Pricing | Deck Plans | Ship Reviews | Photos
Riviera: Debuts in 2012 Tonnage: 66,084 Length: 785 feet Beam: 106 feet Maximum Draught: 24 feet Stabilizers: Yes Cruising Speed: 20 knots Guest Decks: 11	Total Decks: 15 Electric Power or Voltage: 110, 220 AC Guest Capacity: 1,250 (Double Occupancy) Staff Size: 800 Guest to Staff Ratio: 1.57 to 1 Nationality of Officers: European Nationality of Staff: International Country of Registry: Marshall Islands

 Watch for more posts about Oceania Riviera as construction continues. 

Royal Caribbean 2012 Venice Italy

Composed of 117 islands in the Venetian Lagoon and held together by a series of canals, Venice is like no other city in the world. Established more than 1,000 years ago by seafarers and Roman refugees, this magnificent city continues to be the heart of Italian culture as well as a mecca for hopeless romantics.

2012 – Summer Europe & Transatlantic Sailings 


 VOYAGER of the SEAS®

Ship Profile | Itineraries & Pricing | Deck Plans  Dining Menus | Wine Lists | Kids Programs | Ship Reviews | 360 Tours | Photos

On April 14, 2012, VOYAGER of the SEAS® leaves New Orleans, Louisiana on a 16- Night Transatlantic Eastbound to Barcelona, Spain.   A special 11-Night Mediterranean cruise follows which transitions the ship to Venice, Italy for the majority of the Summer 2012 season.

On October 26, 2012, a special 8-Night Mediterranean cruise transitions back to Barcelona, Spain where the ship will cross the Atlantic back to New Orleans starting November 3, 2012.


10-Night Greece and Turkey

Venice, Italy • Dubrovnik, Croatia • Cruising • Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey • Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul, Turkey • Cruising • Athens (Piraeus), Greece • Chania (Souda), Crete, Greece • Cruising
Venice, Italy

11-Night Greece and Turkey

Venice, Italy • Dubrovnik, Croatia • Cruising • Rhodes, Greece • Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey
Istanbul, Turkey • Istanbul, Turkey • Cruising • Athens (Piraeus), Greece
Chania (Souda), Crete, Greece • Cruising • Venice, Italy

2012 EUROPE CRUISETOUR DEPLOYMENT

 Get a local's view of the great cities and sights of Europe, as well as its hidden treasures. 

13-Night Italian Lakes & Venice Cruisetour #5EB

Featuring an 10-Night Greek Isles & Turkey Cruise &
3-Night Pre-cruise Escorted Italian Lakes & Venice Land Tour

May 8, 29; June 19; July 10, 31; August 21; September 11; October 2; 2012

Day 1: Milan/Como, Italy
Day 2: Como, Italy
Day 3: Como/Venice, Italy
Day 4: Venice
Days 4-14: Voyager of the Seas®
10-Night Greek Isles & Turkey Cruise
14-Night Italian Lakes & Venice

Cruisetour #5EB

Featuring an 11-Night Greek Isles & Turkey Cruise &
3-Night Pre-cruise Escorted Italian Lakes & Venice Land Tour

May 18; June 8, 29; July 20; August 10, 21; September 21; October 12; 2012

Day 1: Milan/Como, Italy
Day 2: Como, Italy
Day 3: Como/Venice, Italy
Day 4: Venice
Days 4-14: Voyager of the Seas®
11-Night Greek Isles & Turkey Cruise

Royal Caribbean Holy Land Deployment 2011

Let History Come Alive

On a Holy Land Cruise

This year there are many opportunities to visit the Holy Land where you can see places like old Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, Masada, Bethlehem, the ancient of city of Petra, St Catherine's monastery - the oldest in the world, the Pyramids and the Sphinx of Giza and the ancient cities of Luxor, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings in Egypt.  These cruises often include other ancient cities that played important  roles in the history of the world.

Royal Caribbean Holy Land Cruises 2011

Mariner of the Seas®


11-NIGHT MEDITERRANEAN HOLY LAND
July 11, 2011
Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy • Haifa, Israel
Ashdod, Israel • Piraeus (Athens), Greece
Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey • Rhodes, Greece
Chania (Souda), Crete, Greece • Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy

12/13-NIGHT MEDITERRANEAN HOLY LAND
April 5, 29; May 23; June 16; September 20;
October 14, 2011
Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy • Messina (Sicily), Italy
Piraeus (Athens), Greece • Haifa, Israel • Ashdod, Israel
Rhodes, Greece • Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey
Chania (Souda), Crete, Greece • Naples, Capri, Italy
Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy

12-NIGHT HOLY LAND
September 24; October 6, 18, 30, 2011
Venice, Italy • Haifa, Israel • Ashdod, Israel
Alexandria, Egypt • Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey
Venice, Italy

Vision of the Seas®


10/11-NIGHT HOLY LAND
September 16, 26; October 7, 17, 28, 2011
Istanbul, Turkey • Alexandria, Egypt • Ashdod, Israel
Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey • Istanbul, Turkey

Vision of the Seas
Itineraries & Pricing | Deck Plans | Dining Menus | Wine Lists  

| Kids Programs | Ship Reviews | 360 Tours | Photos

Mariner of the Seas
Itineraries & Pricing | Deck Plans | Dining Menus | Wine Lists 

| Kids Programs | Ship Reviews | 360 Tours | Photos

Navigator of the Seas 2011 Mediterranean

 Ship Profile | Itineraries & Pricing | Deck Plans Dining Menus | Wine Lists | Kids Programs | Ship Reviews | 360 Tours | Photos

Navigator of the Seas®

2011 MEDITERRANEAN DEPLOYMENT

13-Night Transatlantic
Fort Lauderdale, Florida • Tenerife, Canary Islands • Palma De Mallorca, Spain • Ajaccio, Corsica • Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy

7-Night Eastern Mediterranean
Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy • Sicily (Messina), Italy • Athens (Piraeus), Greece • Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey • Chania, Crete • Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy [Sicily (Messina), Italy is replaced with Sicily (Palermo), Italy on some sailings]

Splendour of the Seas 2011 Mediterranean

Ship Profile | Itineraries & Pricing | Deck Plans  Dining Menus | Wine Lists | Kids Programs | Ship Reviews | 360 Tours | Photos

Splendour of the Seas®

2011 MEDITERRANEAN DEPLOYMENT

7-Night Western Europe
Lisbon, Portugal • Gibraltar, United Kingdom • Cartagena, Spain • Barcelona, Spain • Nice (Villefranche), France • Florence / Pisa (Livorno), Italy • Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy

8-Night Greek Isles & Turkey 
Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy • Athens (Piraeus), Greece • Santorini, Greece • Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey • Mykonos, Greece • Naples / Capri, Italy • Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy

12-Night Mediterranean Holy Land
Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy • Naples / Capri, Italy • Athens (Piraeus), Greece • Haifa, Israel • Jerusalem (Ashdod), Israel • Rhodes, Greece • Santorini, Greece • Katakolon, Greece • Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy

12-Night Mediterranean Egypt
Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy • Naples / Capri, Italy • Athens (Piraeus), Greece • Rhodes, Greece • Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey • Alexandria, Egypt • Sicily (Messina), Italy • Rome, Italy

7-Night Western Mediterranean
Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy • Florence / Pisa (Livorno), Italy • Genoa, Italy • Provence (Toulon), France • Palma De Mallorca, Spain • Valencia, Spain • Barcelona, Spain

15-Night Westbound Transatlantic 
Barcelona, Spain • Seville (Cadiz), Spain • Lisbon, Portugal • Tenerife, Canary Islands • Salvador De Bahia, Brazil • Sao Paulo (Santos), Brazil

MSC Magnifica Sails to Mediterranean

THE MAGNIFICENT MEDITERRANEAN

7 Night Cruise | MSC MAGNIFICA
Departing from Venice

Ports of call:
Venice, Italy | Bari, Italy
Katakolon (Olympia), Greece | Izmir, Turkey
Istanbul, Turkey | Dubrovnik, Croatia
Venice, Italy

MSC took ownership of MSC Magnifica from STX Europe shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France during a traditional flag ceremony on February 25, 2010. It will be christened later this week, March 6th in Hamburg, Germany.

MSC Magnifica will carry 2,518 passengers, most of them enjoying the luxury of a sea-facing cabin with private balcony. The ship will have a crew of over 1,000.

MSC Magnifica is 294 metres long, 32 metres wide and 60 metres tall, and differs from her three predecessors due to its covered pool, enlarged cafeteria area and many decorative and technological innovations.

MSC’s newly released airfare program features reduced airfare for cruises throughout the Mediterranean onboard MSC Magnifica, the latest fleet addition, MSC Splendida, MSC Fantasia, and MSC Musica.

Airfare starting from $369 pp plus taxes for Fall 2010 sailings.

NOTE: Should you wish to purchase MSC's Air Program, flights are leaving the day prior to beginning the cruise. On the return 1 night post hotel stay in Venice is required.

Azamara 2010 Europe Deployment

Azamara Cruises announced the 2010 Europe Deployment schedule earlier this month.

Azamara Journey Mediterranean Cruises

The schedule includes several 7 and 12-Night Mediterranean cruises departing from several different ports of call. Begin your cruise in any of the following cities:
Barcelona, Spain • Venice, Italy • Athens (Piraeus), Greece • Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy • Istanbul, Turkey

Azamara Journey Copenhagen, Denmark

The round-trip itineraries include 12-Night Scandinavia/Russia • 12-Night Norwegian Fjords • 12-Night Iceland & Fjords • 12-Night British Isles. There are two 12-Night Western Europe cruises that sail between Copenhagen, Denmark and Barcelona, Spain. Start or end in Copenhagen, Denmark depending on when you depart.

Azamara Journey Holy Land and Transatlantic

Depart from Athens, Greece on a 12-Night Holy Land cruise that ends in Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy. This itinerary is offered in October and November, 2010. Following the final 12-Night Mediterranean cruise, the Journey will reposition via a 14-Night Transatlantic from Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy to Miami, Florida.

Azamara Quest Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy

Depart from Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy on a 12-Night Holy Land which ends in Athens (Piraeus), Greece • 14-Night round-trip Best of Italy • 14-Night Ancient Empires which also ends in Athens.

Azamara Quest Athens (Piraeus), Greece

Depart from Athens (Piraeus), Greece on a 12-Night Holy Land which ends in Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy • 10-Night Greek Isles which ends in Istanbul, Turkey • 12-Night Adriatic & Ionian Coast ending in Venice, Italy • 14-Night Ancient Empires ending in Rom (Civitavecchia), Italy

Azamara Quest Black Sea & Western Mediterranean

Depart from Istanbul, Turkey on a 12-Night Black Sea ending in Athens (Piraeus), Greece. There are three different 12-Night Mediterranean itineraries Venice, Italy to Barcelona, Spain • Barcelona, Spain to Venice, Italy • Venice, Italy to Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy.

Cruisetours

Both Journey and Quest offer a number of cruisetours in combination with the cruises. Destinations include Athens & Delphi • Florence and Rome • Cappadocia and Istanbul •
Budapest, Vienna, Prague & Berlin.

More Information about Itineraries

View more details on my Azamara Cruises Itinerary Page. If any of the cruises is of interest to you, let me know and I can provide pricing and additional details.

Read about What's new for Europe in 2010 on my Facebook Page. While you are there, be sure to Become a Fan so that you'll receive my page updates.