Traveling to Greece During Crisis

What to Know

The State Department alerts U.S. citizens residing in or traveling to Greece of the possibility of disruptions to banking services – including credit-card processing and servicing of ATMs – throughout Greece in light of developments within the local economy.

U.S. citizens are encouraged to carry more than one means of payment (cash, debit cards, credit cards), and make sure to have enough cash on hand to cover emergencies and any unexpected delays.   Greece US Embassy

 Demonstrations & Other Risks

The alert also cautions about being aware of your surroundings at all times.   There might be scheduled and unscheduled political demonstrations as well.  Whenever you are traveling, you should follow this guideline anyway.

It is common knowledge that travelers are being advised to keep extra money with them, which increases the chance of being a target of unsavory individuals or groups looking to take advantage of the situation.    There are various safety methods that you can put in place to keep you and your money safe.

• Divide the funds among members in your group
• Only carry enough with you that you will need that day
• Leave extra money in safe of cruise ship or hotel room
• Use money belts to hide money on your person

Travel Insurance

Hopefully you purchased travel insurance when you booked your cruise or land vacation to Greece.   In our recent blog post, Insurance Awareness Day 2015, we talked about the value of travel insurance protecting against the unexpected.   You might be tempted to cancel your trip, but be aware that unless you purchased a "cancel for any reason" policy, this would most likely NOT be a covered event.   Even so, there are other benefits of the insurance policy which could come into play during your trip, if you were to lose valuables or be injured for example.

Potential Itinerary Changes

As of this writing, cruise lines with upcoming cruises have not altered their plans but we are certain they are keeping a close watch on developments.   The cruise lines number one priority is the safety of ships, passengers, and crew, so should there be any escalation in the wake of the bank closings, plans could be altered.     In similar situations like this, sea days or alternate ports were substituted, often with very little notice.   Be sure that you have provided contact information to your travel professional or cruise line as appropriate.   Should there be cancellations or changes that we become aware of, we'll share that information with you.

Additional Resources

One of the more important ways that U.S. Citizens can keep informed while traveling abroad is by  enrolling in the U.S. Department of State's STEP service.

The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service provided by the U.S. Government to U.S. citizens who are traveling to, or living in, a foreign country.

STEP allows you to enter information about your upcoming trip abroad so that the Department of State can better assist you in an emergency.

Additional travel information can be found on International Travel (static tab on blog) and Travel Tools (on our website). Topics include: Tips for Traveling Abroad, Travel Warnings, Country Specific Information & Travel Alerts 

We encourage all cruise passengers to be familiar with travel alerts, warnings, tips, and country specific requirements before leaving home.  Make sure that you leave your itinerary with someone at home and that you are adequately protected by travel insurance.

Enjoy Your Cruise to Greece

We were fortunate to travel to Greece a few years ago during our 12-night Mediterranean voyage.   For information about the ports we visited see our blog post:  Diary of Cruise with Chris to Greek Isles

Safe Travels

We highly suggest that you monitor the situation in Greece before and during your visit there.  We wish you safe travels, and for the wonderful people of Greece, we hope that this current financial situation can be resolved quickly.

Winter Weather Hampering Travel

Anyone Else Thinking About Escaping to the Warmth of Alaska?

Wave Season is in full swing now and thoughts turn to warmer climates and those where it isn't snowing.   Usually one would exclude Alaska from the list of candidates, but ironically when we checked the weather tonight, we found that Ketchikan was in the mid-40s at 9:30 PM while our temperatures had fallen below zero.

Accidents, Flight Delays, Cancellations, Stranded Travelers

Tonight's newscast featured arctic temperatures in our region, up to 2 feet of snow for those unlucky enough to be near the lake front, more cold, and more snow still on the way.   This weather isn't limited to the Chicago / Indiana area, but also extending to the East Coast where a new snow storm cancelled flights and caused nightmares for those trying to travel across the country.

The following headlines tell the story - no need to repeat them here (you can click on the links to read details on the various news sources):

Nearly 3000 US Flights Cancelled As Snow Hits Northeast
Thousands of flights canceled (again) by snowstorm
Thousands Of US Flights Cancelled - Business Insider 
Flights cancelled as Northeast braces for polar vortex 2 | New York ...
LIVE: Snowstorm Dumping Heavy Snow on I-95 Corridor

Live Airline Flight Cancellations Info & Statistics FlightAware
 


Protect Your Vacation

When our guests book their trip with us, we highly recommend they purchase travel protection insurance in the full amount of their trip.  We've heard all the reasons why that doesn't seem to be necessary - "there's no way we aren't going on this trip - we've planned for it so long" is a pretty common one.


Tell that to the people spending the night at O'Hare International or one of the other major airports across the country as this bad weather grounded or delayed flights.   Hopefully those stranded will be able to get out tomorrow and still be able to continue their journeys.   If that flight was taking them to their escape from winter weather at some Caribbean resort or cruise vacation, odds are they are now in need of assistance to somehow join that trip now in progress.   Hopefully that have a passport because they may now need to fly into a foreign port and their birth certificate and driver's license will no longer suffice (for those on closed-loop cruises, technically you don't need a passport, but we always suggest you have on).


You may never need to file a claim or call for assistance, but the intangible benefit to travel insurance is that when it counts the most, when you are in need, you have someone to turn to for assistance.  You aren't alone in a "sea" of stranded travelers anymore.  You have the ability to "phone a friend" or "use your lifeline" in the words of a popular game show.

Top Ten Reasons to travel with the LeisureCare Travel Protection Plan

1. You have to cancel your trip due to an unexpected event such as bad weather, an illness in the family or the financial default of your airline, cruise line or tour operator.
2. You have to return home early due to an unexpected emergency such as an illness or death in the family.
3. Your luggage is lost or delayed, forcing you to purchase necessary essentials, or prescription medications.
4. Your luggage or personal effects are damaged or stolen.
5. You become ill or injured and learn that your health care plan doesn't cover you outside the U.S.
6. You need an emergency medical evacuation due to an accident or sudden illness.
7. You run into flight delays and miss a portion of your trip or cruise.
8. Your trip is interrupted due to an unexpected hurricane or storm.
9. You lose your passport, leaving you stranded abroad.
10. You need assistance with replacing a prescription or an emergency cash transfer. 

If the weather is bad in your area and you don't need to travel, stay home - warm and safe. For those trying to get to their vacation destination, we hope that you'll be able to do so and also that you had assistance so that your vacation isn't ruined.

Trasnportation Strikes in Italy

24 Hour Transport Strike

For Italians hearing about a transport strike, they would ask "Where is the News?"   Strikes like the current one have become part of the culture - a fact of life in Italy.  Those on vacation in Italy would see things completely differently.

Paralyzes Rome

Public transport unions' strikes have paralyzed Rome. The strike kicked off at 0830 hours CET and is scheduled to last 24 hours.  Strikes like this are unpredictable, sometimes they never actually happen and other times they end early.

The protest involves all of Rome’s public transport services including buses, trams, A and B metro lines, Cotral coaches and the Rome-Giardinetti and Rome-Civitacastellana-Viterbo light rail links.

According to Rome's transport authorities the majority of the Metro lines stopped running between 0830 - 0900 CET. Buses and trams were running on a looser schedule.  Local transport strikes were suspended between 1700 and 2000 hours to ensure minimum mandatory service. Union rallies kicked off at 0900 hours from Piazza della Repubblica heading for Piazza SS Apostoli.

Elsewhere in Italy

The rail strike in Venice was called off, but the vaporettos (water buses) went on strike. The public sector strikes occurred in Milan, Rome, Florence, Naples, Turin and Genova. 

The 24-hour strike affected Actv water and bus transport, and the Hellovenezia ticketing and call center services. During the strike , buses ran in these time bands: 6.00 - 8.59 a.m.; 16.30 - 19.29. Essential water services also ran during the strike.

Airport handling staff were on strike 22 June at Milan Linate, Milan Malpensa and Venice airports and many flights were cancelled.  Passengers flying to/from these airports should expect delays and/or cancellations and should check with their airline before traveling.  Other airports in Italy appeared to be unaffected.

Know Before You Go


The interesting thing about transport strikes in Italy, and other parts of Europe, is that they are generally pre-announced and follow strict guidelines.  As you can see from above, transportation resumes between peak travel times and essential services are not impacted.   That would be of little comfort to you as a visitor should you find yourself in need of transportation during the active strike hours, so it best to be aware of pending actions before you travel.


Here are some useful resources that can help:

Venice - Actv SpA (water and bus transport)

FCO (UK) Travel Advisory - Italy

U.S. Embassy to Italy - Demonstration Notices

Trenitalia Railway - In Case of Strike

In addition, consult your transportation carrier's website for latest information.

Retracing Titanic Cruise

Titanic Memorial Cruise
Southampton
April 08, 2012

The MS Balmoral set sail Sunday from Southampton, England, loaded with 1,039 passengers, the same as the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Relatives of those who lost their lives, relatives of survivors, historians and journalists were among the passengers on this memorial cruise. Miles Morgan Travel offered two cruises, Anniversary Cruise from New York, and this one, Memorial Cruise from Southampton.

The two cruises were marketed with the slogan "Be part of a once in a life time historical event". The Memorial Cruise planned to sail past France and stop in Cobh, Ireland, before continuing it's Atlantic crossing. The captain planned to reach the Titanic's wreck site in the North Atlantic for a memorial ceremony to mark the moment the liner struck an iceberg on April 14, 100 years ago, where a memorial event will take place.

Doomed by Bad Luck?

The Memorial Cruise has had two delays thus far, and there is a feeling that it might be doomed by bad luck.  The first delay was caused by gales and 30ft waves just hours into its voyage as it crossed the Irish Sea after leaving Southampton on Sunday. After stopping in Cobh, Ireland, the MS Balmoral was heading out into the Atlantic when it had to change course back towards Ireland after BBC cameraman Timothy Rex fell 'seriously ill'. He was experiencing chest pains and it was thought he might have suffered a heart attack. Mr Rex, 56, was airlifted by coastguard to hospital when the ship reached the helicopter's range – 130 miles from land.

Passengers in Period Costumes     Courtesy AP

Reliving History

The Titanic hit an iceberg on April 14, 1912 and sank the following morning, claiming the lives of 1,517 passengers and crew.

During this historic voyage, passengers will gather for a memorial ceremony at 11.40 PM, the time the ship hit the iceberg, and again at 2.20 AM the following morning to mark the moment it sank. After visiting the wreck site, it will go to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where some of the Titanic's victims are buried, and then on to New York, the intended destination of RMS Titanic.

The Balmoral is operated by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, whose parent company, Harland and Wolff, built the Titanic in Belfast.

Europe Travel Woes Continue

Iceland's Ash Cloud  (Credit AP)

Europe Airspace Still Empty

Based on the latest information from the Met Office, NATS advises that the restrictions currently in place across UK controlled airspace will remain in place until at least 0700 (local time) tomorrow, Monday 19 April.  Consult the links below for ongoing updates as this situation is dynamic (based on weather conditions and continued eruptions).

The sky might be blue in the photo above, provided by AP, but the skies over Europe are anything but friendly as Day 3 of the Eyjafjallajökull Volcano eruption continues to ground flights across the globe.  Flights to and from Europe remain restricted until 0700 BST on Sunday.  

Some flights may be able to take off from Scotland and Northern Ireland before 1900 BST on Saturday, but most planes will remain grounded.   British Airways has cancelled all short haul flights on Sunday and is still evaluating long haul services.Flights from other countries, including the United States, have been cancelled during the restricted time period.

Related Post (airport links, details about volcanic ash):  Erupting Volcano Grounds Flights


Latest Updates:    Track Flights Live Over Europe
EUROCONTROL Air Traffic Control        National Air Traffic Control Service (Nats)
Also consult individual airports and airline carrier's websites.    

Nine Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres (VAAC) around the world are responsible for advising international aviation of the location and movement of clouds of volcanic ash.

Current Volcanic Ash Advisories (VAA) from London and Toulouse 
London VAA: Issued advisories | Issued graphics     Toulouse VAA: Issued advisories

The National Air Traffic Control Service (Nats) said Met Office forecasts showed the ash cloud progressively covering the whole of the UK after 1900 BST. A further update is expected at about 2100 BST.

Scientists continue to monitor seismic activity in the region.  See time and magnitude of earthquakes near Mýrdalsjökull (which is the larger ice-cap east of active Eyjafjallajökull) on another map. Note the graph under that map which shows the onset clearly.  Historically, when Eyjafjallajökull is active, so is Mýrdalsjökull.

Icelandic volcano pictures, blogs, and other links

• Picture gallery including the latest satellite imagery
• Volcanic Ash Slideshow
• Map of dust observations
• Forecasters’ blog
• Live: Volcanic cloud over Europe (BBC)
• British Geological Survey (BGS)
• Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland
• YouTube - Eyjafjallajökull - You're doing it wrong! 
• Spotlight on Eyjafjallajökull – Southern Iceland (Global Volcanism Program) ‎

Cruise Line Announcements

• AMAWATERWAYS: Call cruise line for flight or cruise information 
• Avalon Waterways: Europe Airport Closures
• Celebrity Cruises: UK Airport Disruption
• Crystal Cruises: has rebooked flights for affected passengers 
• Cunard : Volcanic Eruption Update
• Disney Cruise Line: ships are mid-cruise so no immediate concerns
• Holland America is working directly with affected passengers
• Norwegian Cruise Line:  UK airport disruption due to Icelandic volcanic eruption
• Oceania Cruises: contact cruise line directly
• Princess Cruises: Update on Flight Cancellations Due to Volcanic Eruption 
• Regent Seven Seas: is unaffected at this time
• Royal Caribbean Important Updates 
• Uniworld: Important Notice about European Airport Closures
• Viking River Cruise:  contact cruise line for assistance

Cruise lines with passengers affected by the flight delays are monitoring the situation.  In some cases, such as Royal Caribbean, rebooking fees are being waived.  In other cases, departure times may be adjusted to allow air-sea passengers to arrive before departure.  Continue to monitor links provided here for updates on conditions and any itinerary changes.

Your travel agent or cruise line may need to contact you directly, so be sure they have your contact information.  Contact your travel insurance provider for assistance.

Weather Advisory Port of Baltimore

Photo Courtesy Carnival Cruise Line

CARNIVAL PRIDE ®

Weather Forecast:

Baltimore - SNOWY
Bahamas - SUNNY

Note:  This Blog Post covered a particular event, however, links contained in this article may still be useful during later weather events.     Click (here) for Weather & Travel Links

As the Nation's Capital and surrounding areas endures another blast of winter weather, passengers scheduled to leave on Sunday's departure of Carnival Pride's 7-Night Caribbean, Baltimore R/T anxiously watch the weather and wonder if they will be able to get to the Port of Baltimore in time for their cruise. Forecasts show total accumulation of up to 2 feet of snow in some areas. Snow is expected to taper off in the evening which should allow time for snow removal.

SUNDAY CRUISE PASSENGERS REMINDED TO ALLOW EXTRA
TIME FOR REACHING PORT OF BALTIMORE

The Maryland Port Authority reminds passengers to allow extra time for travel from their homes due to the upcoming snow event. This is not the first snow storm MPA has faced, so they have a plan in place. (Press Release)

“We strongly encourage our cruise passengers to exercise good judgment and use common sense when coming to the Cruise Maryland terminal on Sunday,” said Maryland Port Administration (MPA) Executive Director James J. White. “Comparable to our December snowstorm, MPA personnel will work around the clock this weekend to make sure our parking lots, walkways and pier are cleared of snow and are safe for the public.”

The Port Administration successfully combated a similar storm last December. The snow operations plan that worked last time will once again be implemented for this storm. The plan included round-the-clock snow removal by crews working in 12-hour shifts using heavy-duty equipment to move snow.

IMPORTANT WEATHER LINKS

NWS - Local Weather

NWS - Baltimore, MD

Baltimore Sun Weather Page

IMPORTANT TRAVEL LINKS

Airport Delays

Baltimore/Washington International Airport

BWI Ground Transportation

Port of Baltimore 

Saturday, February 6 at 10:00 AM -- A significant winter weather event is impacting the Baltimore-Washington region on Saturday. Airlines have cancelled all flights, and indicate most Saturday service will be cancelled. Travelers are advised to check with their airlines for information regarding flight delays or cancellations.

Sunday, February 7 at 11:30 AM --Snow removal operations continue at BWI Marshall Airport. Airline cancellations continue, and BWI Marshall expects limited, if any, commercial flight activity on Sunday. Travelers are advised to check with their airlines for information on flight delays or cancellations. Passengers are encouraged to rebook travel by telephone or airline website, rather than coming to Airport.

Monday, February 8 at 6:00 PM --Both of BWI Marshall Airport's main runways are now open for flight operations. Airlines are gradually returning to near-normal schedules. Travelers are advised to check with their airlines to confirm flight status BEFORE heading to Airport. Passengers are encouraged to rebook travel by telephone or airline website, rather than coming to the Airport. Those customers travelling from BWI Marshall this week should consider parking under cover in one of the Airport's garages. Light rail information is available here.

Baltimore/Washington International Airport

BWI Ground Transportation

Carnival Cruise Line has not altered the February 7, 2010, itinerary as of this posting. Should it be necessary for Carnival to alter the itinerary, an advisory would be posted to the following link: Carnival Travel Advisory

Winter storms like this are perfect examples of why to take Travel Protection Insurance. For example: Trip Delay / Missed Connection coverage would potentially cover any additional expenses necessary to join your cruise in progress if you aren't able to get to the departure point on time. There are several other unexpected situations that can occur after final payment. Protect your vacation investment and travel without worries.

No matter what policy you chose, make sure you understand the limitations and coverages so you are not surprised after the fact. It is for this reason that I advise my customers to utilize the insurance company's help desk to get your detailed questions answered.

Safe Travels to all Departing on Carnival Pride - Enjoy Your Cruise