Anyone reconsidering their European cruises?

[bceagle76]

You need to do with what you are comfortable with. You going or not going is not going to decide the War on Terror.

I travel 2-3 times a month . Flying 2-3 times a month. I do it try not think about it because I need to do it for my job.

We were booked on 12 day Blatic last summer. My wife got feet because of some of the unrest going on and we canceled. She has no fear of going NYC or flying . But idea of being in Europe last year made her uneasy.
So we didn't go. We going on the 7 night eastern on the Fantasy instead. Nothing happen during 12 day Baltic sounds like from the board everyone had a great time. Could something happen on our cruise/trip. Anything is possible in today's.
My office in NYC is 1 block from times Squares , my hotel the same. There is major public park across the st from my office. Any of these could be a target. But I have complete trust in NYPD that they will do the best to keep us safe.

But it is up to you to decide. You need to do what you are comfortable with. Hopefully our leaders will make the correct choices to win this war.

 

[keaster]

If there is serious danger, DCL (or any cruise line) would drop a port altogether. We did a DCL Mexican Riviera cruise a few years ago, they cancelled the stop in Mazatlan because of a huge outbreak in drug trade violence, instead we did two days at Puerta Vallarta. Tunis was one of the stops on our DCL Med cruise in 2010...they have since dropped that port due to the unrest in the Middle East. I'm glad we got to see Tunis when we did, it is a beautiful city culturally and architecturally.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I did the DCL Baltic including St Petersburg twice, no issue.
I did the DCL 12 night Med in 2014 and would do it again.
I work and live in London every day.
I wouldn't go to the USA or cruise from there at the current time.

Complete reversal, same reasons.

USA is not immune.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I lived through 9/11 and watched the towers burn. My father's business was in the meatpacking district, and my brother's and mine was on the NJ side of the George Washington Bridge. It was the most horrifying day of my life. One cannot describe the feeling of being there. SHEER HORROR, especially when the second plane hit. We were covered with white soot.

I WOULD NEVER ALLOW anyone to alter my life and make me afraid. Then THEY WIN...

Life goes on, and I intend to live every moment to the fullest.

The States persevered after 9/11. Europe persevered after Hitler. The Brits fought the SS FOR YEARS (I'll say it - VIRTUALLY ALONE) before the US even entered the war. My point... Be tenacious, and LIVE YOUR LIFE!!!

As I've now mentioned several times, I lived in NYC on 9/11 and lived there for many years afterward. I was just in NYC yesterday. NYC is probably one of THE most secure cities in the US. We are on HIGH alert. Can anything happen anywhere? Of course!

You mention that we persevered "after" 9/11. Europe persevered "after" Hitler. The Brits fought the SS for years. Yes, of course! But I don't think Europe is in the "after" phase quite yet (France just declared war and they obviously have internal security issues) and I would not have vacationed in England during WWII. Would you really want to be vacationing in Brussels today?

So, yes, I will and I do live my life. There are other places we would like to visit and I do not think this is the best time to visit continental Europe. My other concern is, it appears Schengen may collapse (it now seems for good reason) and I'm concerned traveling freely throughout Europe is going to get more difficult. I do not want to have to continuously turn in our passports and collect them throughout a 19 night cruise. That's not a vacation to me. The purpose of our vacation is not to prove some point. It's to try to have a vacation.

I did the DCL Baltic including St Petersburg twice, no issue.
I did the DCL 12 night Med in 2014 and would do it again.
I work and live in London every day.
I wouldn't go to the USA or cruise from there at the current time.

Complete reversal, same reasons.

USA is not immune.

Absolutely, we are not immune at all and I don't blame you!

 

[Ofinn]

I think every one feels a little anxiety visiting a foreign county, state or even city. I think its comletely normal. Am I safer in my hometown than I am in London .....maybe, maybe not. Do I feel safer?....of course because its "home" and I feel more comfortable in a familiar environment. I do think the US has better security, and where I live most people have guns. Am I right to feel this way? Maybe, maybe not. None of this would stop from visiting or vacationing somewhere I really wanted to visit.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I think every one feels a little anxiety visiting a foreign county, state or even city. I think its comletely normal. Am I safer in my hometown than I am in London .....maybe, maybe not. Do I feel safer?....of course because its "home" and I feel more comfortable in a familiar environment. I do think the US has better security, and where I live most people have guns. Am I right to feel this way? Maybe, maybe not. None of this would stop from visiting or vacationing somewhere I really wanted to visit.

I agree with part....not all...we do not have widespread guns, so it's harder for terrorists to get guns, we are not immune, but as the USA has guns, to me, it is less safe. When it comes to the USA having " better security " they thought that before 9/11, whilst security was high on international flights, internal flights within the USA had little security, a turn up and go , system. They thought it will not happen to us.

The USA, UK, France and others are taking joint action, therefore we all are joint targets. Where you think it will not happen, is the next target. I hope we all remain safe, but you cannot be immune.

I stopped going to the USA in 2012, re border security , and glad my children went to UK schools where we do not have guns.

As well as no widespread carrying of guns, the fact London, is multi cultural, and there is harmony, and an understanding of each other's beliefs, makes us stronger, as any act, will, also hurt , many communities and cultures.

 

[aggiedog]

To add further nuance to this discussion, I would factor in what, if any, response to the attacks will be. If NATO invokes article 5, if there is a more coordinated response to ISIS through out the world, there may be more targeted attacks, particularly in the short term.

I travel overseas a lot. I've lived overseas, while I was active duty, stationed with a rapid deployment unit, and while I had a Top Secret security clearance. There is a LOT going on in the world that most people have no clue about.

I agree there is risk everywhere, and I agree, to a point, that changing plans is "letting them win." But I also believe in moderating risk, and as was mentioned above, when traveling with your children, there's another level of protection/anxiety that factors in the equation.

We are currently evaluating if we will keep our planned European trip this summer, or perhaps delay it a year.

 

[DisneyNurse19]

I really think we have to be sensible on this. Who knows what is going to happen tomorrow or in 6 months?

Until the government tell people that they should not be travelling to places i am going to then i will continue to go.

I agree with part....not all...we do not have widespread guns, so it's harder for terrorists to get guns, we are not immune, but as the USA has guns, to me, it is less safe. When it comes to the USA having " better security " they thought that before 9/11, whilst security was high on international flights, internal flights within the USA had little security, a turn up and go , system. They thought it will not happen to us.

The USA, UK, France and others are taking joint action, therefore we all are joint targets. Where you think it will not happen, is the next target. I hope we all remain safe, but you cannot be immune.

I stopped going to the USA in 2012, re border security , and glad my children went to UK schools where we do not have guns.

As well as no widespread carrying of guns, the fact London, is multi cultural, and there is harmony, and an understanding of each other's beliefs, makes us stronger, as any act, will, also hurt , many communities and cultures.

I totally agree with you but i have not stopped visiting the US.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Yes, understand, to us , the risk is too high, yes Europe has had recent serious issues, I have not considered changing my next DCL cruise, but transatlantic, and visiting the USA is curtailed at this time.

 

[hanscarlet]

Currently I don't have Med Cruise plans simply because we really enjoy the carribean right now and my kids are too young to appreciate the Med Cruises and Northern European Cruises. However all the European itineraries are totally on my bucket list as they look wonderful. That said I likely would only do a Disney sponsored tour in Turkey or maybe not even get off the ship. I am not sure, I would have to research it more. The Tunisia bombing has me a little bit concerned but again I wouldn't cancel, I would just research what I am comfortable with.

I don't think a reconsideration of European cruises in light of the recent attacks is a "crazy" idea; I think it's prudent in many ways.

I also agree with the notion of "they win" if we rearrange our lives for these barbaric monsters.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Currently I don't have Med Cruise plans simply because we really enjoy the carribean right now and my kids are too young to appreciate the Med Cruises and Northern European Cruises. However all the European itineraries are totally on my bucket list as they look wonderful. That said I likely would only do a Disney sponsored tour in Turkey or maybe not even get off the ship. I am not sure, I would have to research it more. The Tunisia bombing has me a little bit concerned but again I wouldn't cancel, I would just research what I am comfortable with.

I don't think a reconsideration of European cruises in light of the recent attacks is a "crazy" idea; I think it's prudent in many ways.

I also agree with the notion of "they win" if we rearrange our lives for these barbaric monsters.

TBH My thinking is reverse, In Turkey -Kusadasi and in Russia- St Petersburg, I would not go on a tour bus of 55 people with a big sign in its front window saying, Disney Cruise line. I preferred to have a local firm with local decal on it, small group, so not identified as a tourist and a small van that doesn't get stuck down any main street, but can drive off down smaller roads if the driver thinks its better. Advertising you are on a vessel that's clearly identified as carrying Americans, to me, makes it a big target.

 

[Ofinn]

I agree with part....not all...we do not have widespread guns, so it's harder for terrorists to get guns, we are not immune, but as the USA has guns, to me, it is less safe. When it comes to the USA having " better security " they thought that before 9/11, whilst security was high on international flights, internal flights within the USA had little security, a turn up and go , system. They thought it will not happen to us.

The USA, UK, France and others are taking joint action, therefore we all are joint targets. Where you think it will not happen, is the next target. I hope we all remain safe, but you cannot be immune.

I stopped going to the USA in 2012, re border security , and glad my children went to UK schools where we do not have guns.

As well as no widespread carrying of guns, the fact London, is multi cultural, and there is harmony, and an understanding of each other's beliefs, makes us stronger, as any act, will, also hurt , many communities and cultures.

My point was people generally feel safer at home. I dont think any place is particulary safer than others, but I would much rather be home than in a foreign country if something bad were to happen.

 

[LemonNeko]

I would likely wait closer to your date and then decide. If you feel uncomfortable then cancel. Even if nothing happens if your anxious your whole vacation it ruins the joy in it. I think having children changes the risks you are willing to take. I went to Egypt & Jordan in 2005. I saw missiles between Israel and the West Bank and a market I visited was bombed a week after I was there. At the time I felt the experience was worth the risk. Now that I have a young child there is no way I would go there.

I think it won't be long before we see violence in North America but agree with the poster above I would rather be at home (at least a country where I speak the language).

 

[bceagle76]

Everyone has to do what they feel comfortable with. It is not a decision someone can make for you.

 

[bumbershoot]

but as the USA has guns, to me, it is less safe.

I agree.

I stopped going to the USA in 2012

I wish they'd stop letting me in the US, but alas it's not so easy for a homeschooling mom to get citizenship elsewhere. Darn those ancestors of mine. We didn't even leave b/c of the great famine; people just left. Silly of them.

My point was people generally feel safer at home.

If an American feels that way then they are putting their blinders on. The huge thing Rick Steves talks about is the sheer number of murders here. Death is death, gunshots are gunshots. America is where the world seems to keep all the handguns, and we have massive numbers of deaths each year from them. We aren't safe. The OP is from NY, come ON. You might be safER from the world right now, but are you safe from yourselves???


NOw...I would never have planned to go to turkey anyway. Not my thing, not interested.

Although the recent news (after this thread started) seems to show that Turkey TRIED to tell France about some of these guys and they were ignored. When will Intelligence listen? My mom worked, as a low level peon listening to chatter, in that arena in the Langley area, though she died exactly 1.5 years pre-9/11. From early December '99 to 3/15-ish/00 her computer, her systems, the info she was working on, wasn't touched. (found that out when stepdad and I helped her boss clear out her desk and I had to keep turning my back b/c I wasn't authorized). How safe is THAT? Yay, she had loads of PTO donated to her during her illness, but no one was doing her work during that time. That's just scary. (her boss was who told me what she did, and told me that it was totally authorized for mom to talk about it...FWIW...my mom just didn't, so I thought it was religion causing her ot have maps of the middle east all over LOL, nope!)

I thought we learned THEN that we are supposed to listen to what other agencies and countries are telling us. It's sad that the people Turkey tried to tell didn't listen. Maybe people will listen more now. Sigh.

 

[samily]

You may have seen this posted in another thread - a travel alert has been issued for U.S. Citizens:

http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings/worldwide-travel-alert.html

 

[phinz]

Yes, understand, to us , the risk is too high, yes Europe has had recent serious issues, I have not considered changing my next DCL cruise, but transatlantic, and visiting the USA is curtailed at this time.

And yet you went to Russia and Estonia, both of which have significantly higher intentional homicide rates per capita than the United States.

Sounds good to me.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

OP here. Guess I wasn't the only one concerned. Got a call from DCL shoreside concierge this morning letting me know the 12 night Med is no longer stopping in Turkey, Greece or Malta.

 

[SillyInventor]

Yep, no Greece, no Turkey, no Malta:
http://disneycruiselineblog.com/201...ugust-1-2016-12-night-disney-magic-itinerary/

 

[kaseyC]

Interesting. I wonder if the Greece ABD trips will be cancelled too.