Anyone reconsidering their European cruises?

[DisneyWishes14]

We are currently booked on the DCL Magic B2B 7-night Portugal/Spain and 12-night Med cruise for July/August 2016. We did a Norway/Iceland/Scotland B2B this past summer and LOVED it! We were very much looking forward to the cruises in 2016, however, recent events overseas are beginning to make me nervous. I was already nervous about the stop in Kusadasi, but I have reservations about the whole cruise now. There is also a stop in Nice. I feel like these tourist sites may become prime targets.

We are now looking at possibly going to Asia on an Adventures by Disney trip instead, which my husband and I will love, but DS8 will miss the DCL kids club

I'm just wondering if anyone else is rethinking their Med cruises in particular? I wouldn't feel so nervous if we were headed back to northern Europe.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Any place has its risks. Disneyland (and most of California) could have a major earthquake and disappear into the ocean over night. Japan also has earthquakes all the time.

It's really too soon to tell what's going to happen in the Med next summer. I would wait til closer to your paid in full date to make a final decision.

We did a cruise of New England less than a month after 9/11, leaving from Boston. It was rather scary flying into Boston Logan (where some of the doomed flights originated) and seeing armed National Guardsmen on duty. About 1/3 of the cruise passengers were no shows. Before 9/11 small boats could come up next to the cruise ships to wave bon voyage. On our cruise the coast guard came between the small boats and us, warning them off with guns aimed at the well-wishers. At one of the Canadian ports, divers inspected the hull of the ship to make sure no explosives had been planted. But we still had a great cruise.

 

[kaseyC]

No.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Any place has its risks. Disneyland (and most of California) could have a major earthquake and disappear into the ocean over night. Japan also has earthquakes all the time.

It's really too soon to tell what's going to happen in the Med next summer. I would wait til closer to your paid in full date to make a final decision.

We did a cruise of New England less than a month after 9/11, leaving from Boston. It was rather scary flying into Boston Logan (where some of the doomed flights originated) and seeing armed National Guardsmen on duty. About 1/3 of the cruise passengers were no shows. Before 9/11 small boats could come up next to the cruise ships to wave bon voyage. On our cruise the coast guard came between the small boats and us, warning them off with guns aimed at the well-wishers. At one of the Canadian ports, divers inspected the hull of the ship to make sure no explosives had been planted. But we still had a great cruise.

I hear you. I used to live in NYC and was there on 9/11 and, of course, will never forget that day or the days that came after.

We probably will wait until closer to our PIF date. I know there is no way of knowing what will happen. Turkey, in particular, just feels very risky to me right now.

 

[dclpluto]

If you change your plans because of the terrorists than they have won. Keep your plans enjoy your cruise.

 

[C6PT7]

No. You cannot allow them to win by changing your plans.
That is what they want. Fear.

 

[Ofinn]

We are currently booked on the DCL Magic B2B 7-night Portugal/Spain and 12-night Med cruise for July/August 2016. We did a Norway/Iceland/Scotland B2B this past summer and LOVED it! We were very much looking forward to the cruises in 2016, however, recent events overseas are beginning to make me nervous. I was already nervous about the stop in Kusadasi, but I have reservations about the whole cruise now. There is also a stop in Nice. I feel like these tourist sites may become prime targets.

We are now looking at possibly going to Asia on an Adventures by Disney trip instead, which my husband and I will love, but DS8 will miss the DCL kids club

I'm just wondering if anyone else is rethinking their Med cruises in particular? I wouldn't feel so nervous if we were headed back to northern Europe.

I don't blame you for having second thoughts. I would hold off canceling, and give it some time. Europe has a history of terrorist attacks this is nothing new. I don't think your allowing anybody to win by not going. There are times when it's just not safe to go to certain areas of the world. If you feel more comfortable going to Asia there is nothing wrong with that.

 

[ASchwa]

No, I am going to cruise Norway fjords next summer. I live in NY metro area, been to Israel numerous times that included being a few blocks from a bomb going off. No one was hurt but a store window was shattered. I was near the World Trade Center the day before 9/11. Things happen, but it isn't everyday and usually 99% of the time you are safe.

 

[phinz]

With the billions of people there are in the world, the latest insanity is a very, very small thing. Your chances of anything happening to you are so infinitesimal as to be irrelevant. Why cancel your plans just because of it? You're more likely to die in a car accident than you are from some nutcase bent on watching the world burn.

 

[C6PT7]

I don't blame you for having second thoughts. I would hold off canceling, and give it some time. Europe has a history of terrorist attacks this is nothing new. I don't think your allowing anybody to win by not going. There are times when it's just not safe to go to certain areas of the world. If you feel more comfortable going to Asia there is nothing wrong with that.

Europe has a history of terrorist attacks?
So do many continents! Especially one with a documented history longer than in the US.
Europe does not have a RECENT history of terrorist attacks at all....
Look at the continent, not country and do not group all countries together before you post such worrying things.
Educate yourself.

 

[deanimal]

Well, I don't know about France but did you hear that there is this other place where all these crazy tourists are going that sounds even scarier. It had 1697 homicides in just 2014 alone compared to 430 for France despite the fact that France has almost twice as many people. That's almost four time as many! And that was after 40 years of falling crime rates. Can you imagine what sort of horrific place this was in the 80's? Why anyone would want to go to a place like this rather than a nice safe place like Europe is beyond me!

By the way , if you haven't guessed by now, the place with 1697 homicides in 2014 is America's own fine state of California. And no one here is suggesting avoiding a trip to Disneyland because of that.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

We are currently booked on the DCL Magic B2B 7-night Portugal/Spain and 12-night Med cruise for July/August 2016. We did a Norway/Iceland/Scotland B2B this past summer and LOVED it! We were very much looking forward to the cruises in 2016, however, recent events overseas are beginning to make me nervous. I was already nervous about the stop in Kusadasi, but I have reservations about the whole cruise now. There is also a stop in Nice. I feel like these tourist sites may become prime targets.

We are now looking at possibly going to Asia on an Adventures by Disney trip instead, which my husband and I will love, but DS8 will miss the DCL kids club

I'm just wondering if anyone else is rethinking their Med cruises in particular? I wouldn't feel so nervous if we were headed back to northern Europe.

Whilst I have empathy on anyone writing this, anywhere can be a target. Due to recent events, as well as France, the U.K., and USA are prime targets, and something will get through. Kusadasi I visited on a cruise and have stayed there two weeks and I personally will go back there again without worry.

You have the same change of something occurring in the USA as Europe.

 

[laevson4712]

My husband and I are both active duty military living in Germany so I really understand where you are coming from. We are cruising the Med in 2016 and have no plans of cancelling.

I wouldn't make any rash decisions based on the current media coverage. Wait till you're closer to your pay in full date and do your own research!! Make sure you're visiting travel.state.gov and staying up to date on their travel advisories.

If you do decide to travel then make sure you're using good travel sense. Don't be the stereotypical obnoxious American. Keep your head down and blend in. And use situational awareness. Know where you're going and how to exit it. If you even think you see something report it. Better to be wrong than right.

As for Turkey, honestly I wouldn't get off the boat. Currently the military isn't allowed to travel there without jumping through a million hoops. Whenever this happens I tend to avoid it the best I can. Remember that the ports and the boats have had millions of dollars invested in them so the security will be as tight as possible.

Terrorism happens both domestic and international and you can't let them stop you from living your life. Just make sure to always have a plan.

I know you will have a great time whatever you decide to do!!!

 

[Minniesgal]

I am very very sorry to say that I think this style of attack is as likely outside of Europe as in Europe.

I would/will never ever amend my behaviour in response to what terrorists have done. We have no way of predicting the future and no way of knowing where the next attack will be. I wouldn't let the terrorists win by living in fear.

 

[ctnurse]

No way! If we cancel they win, and I refuse to live my life in fear.

And we live 3 hours from Paris.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

My husband and I are both active duty military living in Germany so I really understand where you are coming from. We are cruising the Med in 2016 and have no plans of cancelling.

I wouldn't make any rash decisions based on the current media coverage. Wait till you're closer to your pay in full date and do your own research!! Make sure you're visiting travel.state.gov and staying up to date on their travel advisories.

If you do decide to travel then make sure you're using good travel sense. Don't be the stereotypical obnoxious American. Keep your head down and blend in. And use situational awareness. Know where you're going and how to exit it. If you even think you see something report it. Better to be wrong than right.

As for Turkey, honestly I wouldn't get off the boat. Currently the military isn't allowed to travel there without jumping through a million hoops. Whenever this happens I tend to avoid it the best I can. Remember that the ports and the boats have had millions of dollars invested in them so the security will be as tight as possible.

Terrorism happens both domestic and international and you can't let them stop you from living your life. Just make sure to always have a plan.

I know you will have a great time whatever you decide to do!!!

Thank you for this. Yes, my thoughts were, if we go to Turkey, we may not get off the boat. I am waiting to see, too, if DCL changes the itinerary. I'm sure if they felt they couldn't reasonably ensure the safety of the passengers, crew and ship, they won't go. I always read travel.state.gov for updates and see there are travel restrictions in southeastern Turkey where, obviously, we are not going. We travel to Mexico annually and, of course, we stay out of the areas that have travel warnings as well.

I am actually just unsure about Europe in general right now as it appears Shengen is on the verge of collapse and, if it does, traveling freely throughout Europe may become very difficult.

I am not going to let terrorism stop us from living our lives, however, my first and foremost responsibility is to my family and there are plenty of other places in the world that we would like to see. I went to Egypt in 1992, but certainly wouldn't go there now. Does that really mean I've let the terrorists win? As I said, I lived in NYC during 9/11 and continued to live there afterward.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Thank you for this. Yes, my thoughts were, if we go to Turkey, we may not get off the boat. I am waiting to see, too, if DCL changes the itinerary. I'm sure if they felt they couldn't reasonably ensure the safety of the passengers, crew and ship, they won't go. I always read travel.state.gov for updates and see there are travel restrictions in southeastern Turkey where, obviously, we are not going. We travel to Mexico annually and, of course, we stay out of the areas that have travel warnings as well.

I am actually just unsure about Europe in general right now as it appears Shengen is on the verge of collapse and, if it does, traveling freely throughout Europe may become very difficult.

I am not going to let terrorism stop us from living our lives, however, my first and foremost responsibility is to my family and there are plenty of other places in the world that we would like to see. I went to Egypt in 1992, but certainly wouldn't go there now. Does that really mean I've let the terrorists win? As I said, I lived in NYC during 9/11 and continued to live there afterward.

Europe is strong, it's not as bad as it seems, yes there maybe extra border checks, following the horrific events in Paris, -to the level the UK kept, - for good reasons. We went on DCL to Kusadasi during the Crimea issue, and St Petersburg this year. Legit people will continue to travel with minor inconvenience, on my last two DCL cruises in Europe, security was high, passports were required.

The USA may not have been attacked recently, but it's involved, so not immune, and at as much risk of these style of attacks as Europe.

 

[BadPinkTink]

We have been having a similar discussion over on the Disneyland Paris Forum Will The Attacks In Paris Make You Scared To Visit DLP? http://disboards.com/threads/will-the-attacks-in-paris-make-you-scared-to-visit-dlp.3463305

The general viewpoint is that people are not cancelling their trips to Europe/ Paris / Disneyland. People are saying they wont let the terrorist win by changing their plans

 

[mom4fun]

DCL is super strict about safety. They wouldn't stop in Puerto Vallarta last May on our cruise. If things worsen, they won't stop there.

 

[Ofinn]

Europe has a history of terrorist attacks?
So do many continents! Especially one with a documented history longer than in the US.
Europe does not have a RECENT history of terrorist attacks at all....
Look at the continent, not country and do not group all countries together before you post such worrying things.
Educate yourself.

Geez why so nasty. Didnt mean to get you bent out of shape. They have had incidents on the past but it wouldnt stop me from going there. I do realize all countries have had incidents. I am educated but thanks for the advice. My post wasnt meant to worry anyone just the oppsite. Im personally not afraid to go any where but I can certainly understand ops concerns. Things seem to escalating so its completely understandable.