Captain Schettino Gets Day in Court or Not

Costa Concordia Trial

Scheduled to Begin

July 9, 2013

It has been 18 months since the Costa Concordia accident which claimed the lives of 32 people off the coast of Giglio, Italy.  After pre-trial activities completed, including plea bargains for Costa Cruise Line, Captain Francesco Schettino arrived at the temporary "court house" in Grosseto, Tuscany ready for his day in court.

But Wait ...

As is customary in Europe, approaching labor strikes are pre-announced. As anticipated a nationwide Lawyers Strike, scheduled to start today, caused a delay in the Costa Concordia trial.   The judge had no choice but to delay the trial until July 17th.


Upset lawyers had called for a strike after the Prime Minister passed a decree attempting to streamline jury trials.  The PM accused the lawyers of blocking reforms. 

We have been covering the entire Costa Concordia accident, including the cleanup and legal proceedings.   For complete details, see our anchor article:  Costa Concordia Listing after Deadly Accident

Meanwhile, salvage operations continue.  It is now expected that the parbuckling project can be completed by early September, 2013.   See our article:  Costa Concordia Salvage Begins
 

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.

Workers Strike in Norway May Impact Vision OTS

State Workers in Norway Strike

May Impact Sailings

Schools, day care centers, and other public institutions are closed in Norway due to an indefinite strike called Thursday.  Striking workers include port pilots which would impact sailings.

Norway is currently experiencing a period of economic growth, and state workers are looking for their share of the pie.   Their wages have lagged behind that of the private sector triggering the work stoppage as talks broke down.

Must Have Port Pilot to Enter Harbor

According to Maritime law, a cruise ship must have a pilot onboard the vessel as they enter the port. If the strike continues, ships would not be able to dock in Norway ports, including Oslo.

Pilots & Pilot Boat Skippers Strike Over

According to Norwegian Coast Guard Web site Kystverket, the pilots reached an agreement Friday night, June 2nd, ending a week long strike which had impacted cruise line itineraries.

• Brilliance of the Seas, which departs Amsterdam today, will sail its original schedule
• Vision of the Seas is still turning around in Gothenburg today, instead of Oslo as was originally planned
• No word yet on Fred. Olsen Balmoral's altered itinerary

This is excellent news as the popular Norwegian Fjords cruise season is just getting into full swing.  Cruises typically combine the British Isles and Fjords.  Another option includes a cruise to North Cape and the Arctic Circle.

If you've never sailed to Norwegian Fjords, we highly recommend adding that to your bucket list.

Cruise Destination: 
Norwegian Fjords

Impact of Strike Widens

With all 42 of the Port of Oslo's pilots on strike, a number of cruise ships were turned away or forced to cancel calls.

These include Emerald Princess, which was forced to turn away from the port last Friday, Star Clippers' Star Flyer which cancelled a call on Saturday and Royal Caribbean's Vision of the Seas which was diverted to Gothenburg on Sunday.  

Upcoming calls in Tromsø or Alesund in the next week include:   P&O Cruises's Adonia, Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas, MSC Cruises' Magnifica and two Holland America Line  Eurodam and Rotterdam.   

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Balmoral will sail to Kiel Canal, Warnemunde, Copenhagen, Gothenburg, will be at sea on June 4, visit Zeebrugge June 5 and return to Southampton on June 6.

The only line that has ships in the region that isn't impacted is Hurtigruten, which sails the coastal waters year-round between Bergen and Kirkenes.  They are not required to carry a pilot.

Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas June 2 Sailing

UPDATE:

Since the port pilots are on strike, and they are required to enter and leave the port, Vision of the Seas will be unable to dock in Oslo on Saturday, June 2, as originally planned. Because of this, it is necessary to modify Vision of the Seas’ boarding and debarking process. On Saturday, Vision of the Seas will arrive in Gothenburg, Sweden, and guests will be transported to and from Oslo via motor coach. Guests on the Saturday, June 2, sailing of Vision of the Seas should proceed to Oslo as originally scheduled.

Additional Cruise Ship Impact

Should the strike continue and include all port pilots in Norway, Brilliance of the Seas’ next sailing will be unable to call to any of the Norwegian ports of call on its itinerary. Royal Caribbean has been diligently working to prepare an alternative itinerary should the strike continue, which will include port calls to Copenhagen and Aarhus, Demark, and Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany.

We encourage guests on the Saturday, June 2, sailing of Brilliance of the Seas monitor this website for any additional updates. 

Royal Caribbean Updates:   IMPORTANT UPDATES

Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas May 27 Sailing

Royal Caribbean International has issued an advisory that Vision of the Seas, which is currently scheduled to conclude its sailing in Oslo on Sunday, May 27, may be unable to enter the port.  RCI is currently preparing contingency plans in the event the strike continues and Vision of the Seas is unable to dock in Oslo.

They encourage guests on the Sunday, May 27, sailing of Vision of the Seas to monitor the website for any additional updates. 

Since the port pilots in Oslo are on strike, and they are required to be onboard in order for us to enter the port, if the strike continues Vision of the Seas will be unable to dock in Oslo on Sunday, May 27, as originally planned. Because of this, it will be necessary to modify Vision of the Seas’ boarding and debarking process on Sunday. Vision of the Seas will arrive in Gothenburg, Sweden, on Sunday, and guests will be transported to and from Oslo via motor coach. 

Qantas Resumes Flights After Court Action

Qantas Airline Grounded 

Entire Fleet

 Disrupting Air Travel 

Across the Globe 

Causing Woes 

For Cruise Passengers

A surprise grounding of all Qantas flights on Saturday caused a nearly 48 hour disruption of service in Australia, Los Angeles, and elsewhere. Flights resumed after an Australian court ruled on the bitter labor dispute which prompted the walk-out.

The Australian government called an emergency court hearing on Saturday night to end the work bans for the sake of the national economy.  There had been no advance warning of the labor action.

Qantas is the largest of Australia's four national domestic airlines, and the grounding affected 108 planes in 22 countries. About 70,000 passengers fly Qantas daily, and would-be fliers this weekend were stuck at home, hotels or airports, or even had to suddenly deplane when Qantas suspended operations. More than 60 flights were in the air at the time but continued to their destinations, and Qantas was paying for passengers to book other flights according to the airline.

Cruise Passengers Scrambling

Royal Caribbean, Princess and Holland America all have ships sailing in the region and are evaluating the situation. Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas is scheduled to sail from Perth, Australia, on Monday evening, meaning that many passengers are likely scrambling to make alternate travel arrangements. 

It will be 24 to 48 hours before Qantas returns to normal.  See the following link for Latest information about resumption of scheduled Qantas services.

Top 10 Reason For Trip Insurance

This airline strike is unfortunately another example of an unexpected situation that can cause your vacation plans to go awry. We always highly recommend you purchase travel insurance for these unexpected events. We want you to have a worry free vacation, so the small cost of the insurance should be reason enough for peace of mind. The priceless component is that there is someone you can turn to should an emergency situation occur.

This weekend alone, insurance companies, like Travel Guard, were helping stranded passengers due to Tropical Storm Rina, the snowstorms on the East Coast, and this Qantas strike.   And those are only the ones that made front page news.  The most common excuse I hear for not purchasing insurance is "I don't need it, I plan to go no matter what."   As you can see from these examples, you aren't always in control.  

Pink Buses Back on Streets

Bermuda Bus Strike

Sent to Arbitration

A familiar site disappeared from the streets of Kings Wharf, Hamilton, and other parts of Bermuda on Wednesday.  Missing were the pink buses that normally shuttle locals and tourists around the island country.

Bus drivers called a strike Wednesday when a female driver was terminated for failing to take a mandatory drug screening following an accident.  She refused to take the test five times since the June accident.  Bermuda government policy requires drug testing following an accident and is a condition of continued employment.

Click here to learn more about Cruising to Bermuda

According to Bernews.com citizens were against the strike and were urging the driver to take the drug test. The buses are an integral part of the transportation system which also includes taxis and a ferry system. Officials were concerned about the safety of island inhabitants and tourists as they became stranded by the strike.

This is a busy time in the island country as cruise ships bring many passengers to the island country. The ships dock primarily at Kings Wharf or Hamilton, which then becomes the base of operations for touring.   The pink sand beaches and other nearby attractions are the perfect summer get-away destination.

Late Friday, the drivers agreed to bring their grievances before an arbitration board and also agreed to resume bus service on Saturday.  We are certain that citizens and tourists were happy to see the familiar pink buses back on the roads again.

Taxi Strike Blocks Athens Port

Cruise Lines Unable

to Make Athens Calls As

Taxi Drivers Blockade Piraeus

Several cruise ships were forced to skip planned calls at Piraeus, the port for Athens, Monday, July 18, and again on Tuesday as striking taxi drivers blockaded the port, preventing passengers from getting to their sightseeing coaches.

Yellow Cabs in Athens Traffic on a Normal Day

Reuters reported today that taxi drivers in Athens walked off the job for 24 hours in the latest protest against the Greek government's EU-driven austerity program, which protesters said would hurt only the poor.  The yellow cab drivers are protesting against deregulation of their industry as part of the economic reforms demanded by Greece's international creditors. They join the ranks of the customs officials who are also on strike which is causing a shortage of gasoline at some Athens filling stations.

Four ships were due in Piraeus yesterday: Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas, Seabourn Odyssey, Ruby Princess and Pullmantur's Zenith.

According to a report on Cruise Critic, Royal Caribbean had arranged shuttle transportation for guests in anticipation of the strike, but due to the blockade, guests were unable to disembark the ship and the passengers on Voyager of the Seas had a day at sea instead.

Cruise Critic reports that Seabourn Odyssey did, however, manage to disembark and embark passengers in Athens with all guests back on board in Piraeus and the itinerary unaffected.

MSC Armonia and Celebrity Solstice were due in port today.  Solstice is spending the day in Crete today instead.   The impact of the strike on MSC Armonia is not know at this time.

Piraeus is the port city for Athens and has been Athens' port of entry for over two millennia. It is the gateway to the historic temples of the Acropolis,  the famed Plaka shopping district, the scenic drive to Cape Sounion, and the stunning 5th-century B.C. Temple of Poseidon, overlooking the Aegean Sea.

Timing for these industrial actions in Greece couldn't be worse, as it's the height of the cruise season, with three or more ships calling at Piraeus every day. In fact, most of the cruise lines have expanded their European presence this year in response to the increasing demand.

The strike is scheduled to be over in time for Wednesday's anticipated  arrival of Regent's Seven Seas Mariner and two more Royal Caribbean vessels, Splendour of the Seas and Navigator of the Seas.  We will continue to monitor the various events in Greece that can impact cruise vacations to that nation.


We have just completed our own adventure to Greece in June this year, as part of a 12-Night Greek Isles & Mediterranean Cruise on Star Princess.   For the passengers that missed their port of call in Athens, we know they must be disappointed, as we would have been.   We can only offer our images in future columns and on our Facebook Fan page as a substitute for the real thing.

This is a very trying time for the people of Greece.  We wish them well as the government tries to make changes to stabilize the economy and protect the future for generations to come.

Air Canada Strike

Airline Strike:  Air Canada

Air Canada is very disappointed that an agreement with the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) leadership has not been reached, leading Air Canada's Call Centre, Airport Check-In and Gate agents at nine Canadian airports (Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto Pearson, Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax and St. John's NL) to take strike action.

UPDATE - Friday, June 17th: Air Canada and CAW Reach Tentative Agreement on New Contract

Air Canada's full schedule will remain in operation and check-in/airport services provided at international and United States airports are not impacted. All of Air Canada's regional airlines, including Jazz, and the airport check-in services they provide are also fully operational.

Starting Tuesday, June 14, 2011, Air Canada has implemented its contingency service plan at airports and Call Centres to minimize impact on customers. In anticipation of longer than usual lines at airport kiosks with limited available personnel:

• customers must check-in online or with their mobile device, prior to arriving at the airport.
• if possible, customers should avoid checking baggage in order to expedite airport processes.
• customers will have access to over 500 self service kiosks for check-in and baggage tagging in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto Pearson, Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax and St.John's NL).
• same day flight changes will be accommodated free of charge, subject to availability, when requested via online check-in or kiosk.

 You may also visit AirCanada.com for more updates.  

Air Canada to Continue to Operate During Strike by Airport and Call Centre Agents in Canada.
Learn more

With the busy Alaska cruise season in progress, this could impact your travel plans, so be sure to monitor this situation closely and allow additional time at the airport. 

 

Potential Travel Woes for Europe

Cabin crew dispute - ballot result

UPDATE:  MAY 13, 2011 --  CABIN DISPUTE IS OVER

British Airways and Unite, the union representing the majority of cabin crew, reached an agreement to settle the dispute.  The members need to vote, but with the support of the union leaders, the agreement is expected to pass.    This ends the potential threat which could have impacted cruise vacations for the summer holiday months.



Last April, Europe's airspace was empty for days on end due to the volcano in Iceland.   This year, British airspace could once again be void of the usual number of planes if the threatened strike action against British Airways proceeds.

Are You Covered?

As always, our recommendation is to purchase Travel Insurance for your cruise vacation. It may not be too late to take out travel insurance, but check the policy carefully for any clauses on industrial action.  If you have any doubts after reading the policy, check with the insurance company directly to be certain you are covered.

British Airways Plans

British Airways has the following statement posted on their website:

Last updated: 12:00, Tuesday 29 March 2011 (UK time)

Unite, the trade union for British Airways cabin crew, has announced that its strike ballot has closed in favour of strike action.

Unite has not set any dates for the proposed strike action and we remain in talks with them.
If a strike does take place, we have strong contingency plans in place. We will:

• Operate a normal schedule at London Gatwick and London City
• Aim to fly 100 per cent of our longhaul flights to and from London Heathrow
• Aim to fly the majority of our shorthaul flights to and from London Heathrow

More details on our contingency plans

As all our flights are operating as normal at the moment, any changes to bookings are subject to the original fare rules.  Unite must give seven days’ notice of any proposed strike action.

Busy Easter Holiday Time

Could Easter Holiday travel be impacted?   The strike vote was held on March 28th, and any action must be taken within 28 days, or a new ballot would be required.   Since the 28-day period from the last ballot ends on Easter Monday, April 25, there definitely is a chance holiday travel could be impacted.   This year, there are an unprecedented four bank holidays (thanks to the extra one for the royal wedding).

Cruise Line Contingencies 

Royal Caribbean International and other cruise lines, that will be operating ships in Europe at the time, are putting plans in place to help stranded passengers connect with their ships.   In the past, the cruise line has re-booked flights on other carriers or found alternate transport means for their guests on fly-cruise packages.

Unless the strike occurs later, the impact on cruises will be minimal as the ships will just be transitioning from the Caribbean starting in April.   May and June will be the kick-off of the busy Mediterranean cruise season, so any action that takes place later, could impact those passengers.

The fact that the British Airways still plans to fly the long-haul flights, even if a strike occurs, should lessen the impact on overseas guests.

We will monitor this situation, and publish additional details, should the situation drastically change.

Ruby Princess Skips Athens Call

Athens Demonstrations

Cause Itinerary Change

Princess Cruises announced that the current Ruby Princess sailing will alter it's itinerary due to demonstrations in Athens.    Due to the 24-hour general strike and march planned in Athens for May 20th, the day of the scheduled call,  Ruby Princess extended their call in Venice until 10 PM May 18th.   The ship will be at sea on the 19th and 20th and arrive Friday, May 21 in Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey as planned.

Princess felt that the strike would present problems with local transportation, shops and monuments -- much of which would be closed the day of the visit. In addition, it created safety concerns that naturally occur with large public gatherings. Therefore, they did not believe it was in the best interest of their passengers to make a call to Athens.   ( Read More)

Useful Links:

U.S. Department of State:   Current Travel Warnings     Greece Country Specific Information

Recent Embassy Notices for American Citizens

When traveling in a foreign country, it is wise to know about the location of U.S. Embassies

U.S. Embassies (Websites of U.S. Embassies, Consulates, and Diplomatic Missions)
State Department's travel registration website - register travel  with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate

International Travel   (this Tab above has information about traveling abroad including documentation requirements, travel warnings, health, and safety information)