O/T Israel visit

[redrobo]

My wife and I are due to visit Haifa in Israel in approx 5 weeks time.

To date our Tour Company TUI / Marella Cruises have provided no info as to whether the cruise will be cancelled or re routed despite numerous emails from us over the last few days.

The UK Government are advising all non essential travel to Israel to be put on hold.

If TUI re route to say visit Alexandria or even cancel there appears to be no info anywhere that suggests that we may get our money back.

Have any fellow SVers experienced a similar problem in the past whilst scheduled to visit other countries who have experienced political unrest or even acts of terrorism.....

[Bare bum]

https://blog.cruise1st.co.uk/cruise-tip ... cancelled/

Google's your friend Neil.

[redrobo]

https://blog.cruise1st.co.uk/cruise-tips/what-happens-when-port-stop-cancelled/

Google's your friend Neil.

Thanks for that but already got that info.

TUI will not respond with answers to our concerns which is annoying as other cruise lines have already cancelled stop overs to Israel.

Evidently not their role to provide update as we booked through a TUI Appointed agent and not via their web site despite all emails and conformation details coming from their Customer Services team who appear to want to pass the responsibility....

[Scouseport_Shrimp]

https://blog.cruise1st.co.uk/cruise-tips/what-happens-when-port-stop-cancelled/

Google's your friend Neil.

Thanks for that but already got that info.

TUI will not respond with answers to our concerns which is annoying as other cruise lines have already cancelled stop overs to Israel.

Evidently not their role to provide update as we booked through a TUI Appointed agent and not via their web site despite all emails and conformation details coming from their Customer Services team who appear to want to pass the responsibility....

Your contract is whoever you booked with.....one of the dangers of not booking direct.

Haifa will no doubt be cancelled, and I cant't see Alexandria being the substitute.....it's a dump anyway.

More than likely Alanya in Turkey.

Have a look on the FB Marella page, and see what's going on on there, also perhaps on Cruise Critic or Trip Advisor.

[Phoenix Shrimp 2017]

https://blog.cruise1st.co.uk/cruise-tips/what-happens-when-port-stop-cancelled/

Google's your friend Neil.

Thanks for that but already got that info.

TUI will not respond with answers to our concerns which is annoying as other cruise lines have already cancelled stop overs to Israel.

Evidently not their role to provide update as we booked through a TUI Appointed agent and not via their web site despite all emails and conformation details coming from their Customer Services team who appear to want to pass the responsibility....

Your contract is whoever you booked with.....one of the dangers of not booking direct.

Alexandria will no doubt be cancelled, and I cant't see Alexandria being the substitute.....it's a dump anyway.

More than likely Alanya in Turkey.

Have a look on the FB Marella page, and see what's going on on there, also perhaps on Cruise Critic or Trip Advisor.

I've been through Alexandria and although it sounds OK it is a dangerous dump which is basically a large slum. In the port, cruise ships are protected by machine gun toting security officials positioned on roof tops around the harbour. Guided tours such as when we went to Al Alamein are escorted by plain clothes Police carrying pistols.

Shame that trips to Israel are being cancelled. It is a beautiful historic country. Jerusalem is amazing and I would urge anyone to visit if they get the chance. Fascinating place but it looks as though it will be off limits for travellers for some time to come thanks to the terrorists.

[redrobo]

TUI Customer Services would not provide an answer to our question.

Finally spoke to Marella Cruises and to date no decision about whether they are making the planned stop over in Haifa Israel despite majority of other cruise lines having taken the decision to cancel their Israel visits.

Have to say that TUI Customer Services do NOT provide any assistance despite being their to help clients out if they have a problem or need help.

Last year had a cruise with Celebrity and their Customer Services where excellent.

[Gone_Shrimping]

I would think travelling anywhere in the world where there are large Muslim populations is going to be risky for the foreseeable future. Not that many years since the mass murders in Bali.

Israeli security will have been tightened up after the terrorist attacks so Haifa probably safe but not really a relaxing sort of place to stop.

[Scouseport_Shrimp]

TUI Customer Services would not provide an answer to our question.

Finally spoke to Marella Cruises and to date no decision about whether they are making the planned stop over in Haifa Israel despite majority of other cruise lines having taken the decision to cancel their Israel visits.

Have to say that TUI Customer Services do NOT provide any assistance despite being their to help clients out if they have a problem or need help.

Last year had a cruise with Celebrity and their Customer Services where excellent.

You didn't book direct though, for whatever reason you booked through a Third Party. You've got a contract with the Third Party, so any questions should be channelled through them. That will be set out in your Booking Confirmation [contract].

TUI Customer Services are excellent if you book with them, but you never. You are a client of a Third Party, simple as.

When you sailed with Celebrity I assume you booked direct with them.

No doubt Marella will cancel Haifa and other ports they deem to be a possible security problem due to the conflict.....patience is a virtue though as amending programmes isn't just done at the touch of a button.

[redrobo]

We booked through a TUI Team member @tui.co.uk.

Evidently TUI Customer Services only will deal with clients who book directly on line with them.

TUI Shops and TUI Team Members are a separate entities and in both cases it now transpires that you have to deal with them directly.

What I and others find ridiculous and baffling is that all documentation and payments are handled via Customer Services including Seat Allocation, Trips whilst in Jordan and bookings for specialist dinners.

Seems absolutely crazy that on the documentation and booking confirmation details the contact at TUI are........Customer Services which you are encouraged to call or email if you require any information.

Any how we just wait to see when the visit to Israel will be canceled in line with what other cruise companies have already done.

Thanks for your responce anyhow....

[Scouseport_Shrimp]

We booked through a TUI Team member @tui.co.uk.

Evidently TUI Customer Services only will deal with clients who book directly on line with them.

TUI Shops and TUI Team Members are a separate entities and in both cases it now transpires that you have to deal with them directly.

What I and others find ridiculous and baffling is that all documentation and payments are handled via Customer Services including Seat Allocation, Trips whilst in Jordan and bookings for specialist dinners.

Seems absolutely crazy that on the documentation and booking confirmation details the contact at TUI are........Customer Services which you are encouraged to call or email if you require any information.

Any how we just wait to see when the visit to Israel will be canceled in line with what other cruise companies have already done.

Thanks for your responce anyhow....

Seems odd. If you booked with TUI then there's no Third Party involved. Have you tried going into a TUI shop to see what they say?

I'm sure that your itinerary will be changed as soon as they can, and you'll be informed promptly

My concerns would be which Port will TUI be substituting Haifa with, and how many cruise ships will now be visiting that Port on the same day as your ship. Some Ports are relatively small and can't adequately deal with being swamped with humanity even for one day. If you intend staying onboard that day then no problem, but if you plan on going ashore independently or on an organised excursion then the place will be swamped with cruise ship passengers, many of whom have low tolerance levels if they ain't getting what they've paid for.

[glagys]

Read the other day that TUI’s German arm of the cruises had swapped its two ports in Israel and was going to Marmaris and Santorini

https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-n ... -schiff-5/

[Andy D]

I would think travelling anywhere in the world where there are large Muslim populations is going to be risky for the foreseeable future. Not that many years since the mass murders in Bali.

Israeli security will have been tightened up after the terrorist attacks so Haifa probably safe but not really a relaxing sort of place to stop.

including the UK, mainly larger cities, i was looking at booking Peter Kay tickets for next year in Manchester but immediately thought of my Niece who left early early and had just got into her Boyfriends car and heard a loud explosion and thought not to much of it, until she answered her phone to her Mother at Forton services to find out the horror of the Manchester Terror Attack where Westerners were attacked attending a concert.

and not to mention London, i use to love London and go down all the time as a kid o visit my Grandparents in Chelsea, but not as confident walking around anymore.

[redrobo]

TUI have cancelled stop over at Haifa and replaced it with a stop over at Port Sokhna on the Suez Canal for trips to the Cairo area.

There is a Facecloth page now dedicated to this cruise with more and more wanting to cancel cruise altogether but TUI are not at the moment considering such action as they regard the change as 'not a major alteration' which many dispute.

Personally I'm concerned about our safety in Petra and Jordan and still feel that as and when things get worse in that region that the cruise will be cancelled .....

[Scouseport_Shrimp]

TUI have cancelled stop over at Haifa and replaced it with a stop over at Port Sokhna on the Suez Canal for trips to the Cairo area.

There is a Facecloth page now dedicated to this cruise with more and more wanting to cancel cruise altogether but TUI are not at the moment considering such action as they regard the change as 'not a major alteration' which many dispute.

Personally I'm concerned about our safety in Petra and Jordan and still feel that as and when things get worse in that region that the cruise will be cancelled .....

Are there not different sets of circumstances as to what constitutes a major change of itinerary?

As you plan on an excursion to Petra I'm assuming your cruise ship will be alongside at Aqaba. Aqaba is a fair old distance by road from Petra, so that distance by road could pose all the potential for it being too dangerous.

I'm following with interest.

[redrobo]

TUI have cancelled stop over at Haifa and replaced it with a stop over at Port Sokhna on the Suez Canal for trips to the Cairo area.

There is a Facecloth page now dedicated to this cruise with more and more wanting to cancel cruise altogether but TUI are not at the moment considering such action as they regard the change as 'not a major alteration' which many dispute.

Personally I'm concerned about our safety in Petra and Jordan and still feel that as and when things get worse in that region that the cruise will be cancelled .....

Are there not different sets of circumstances as to what constitutes a major change of itinerary?

As you plan on an excursion to Petra I'm assuming your cruise ship will be alongside at Aqaba. Aqaba is a fair old distance by road from Petra, so that distance by road could pose all the potential for it being too dangerous.

I'm following with interest.

Exactly as some have already pointed out BUT TUI seem confident that all will be well.....

HOWEVER the FCDO are now advising that ALL travel to Egypt should be cancelled unless absolutely necessary. Will TUI take notice.....

[redrobo]

TUI have changed the cruise itinerary and no longer visiting Israel or Jordan replacing them with Cairo and Sharm el Sheikh which we are not interested in going to.

As a result and after a few phone calls we have got a refund of 100% of our total outlay to date.

Have to say that up until this problem TUI have been awful to get any details from BUT all credit to them they have agreed to a total refund.

Avanti Travel Insurance have provided us with a voucher for the total value of our premium that can be used any time within the next 3 years. Didn't expect anything from them as their parent company StaySure have poor track record when it comes to refunds.

Have to say that the loss of Israel and Jordan is a blow but at least we are getting our money back BUT a Facebook page on our tour has posts from other shipmates who are having major problems in getting monies back.

Someone has accepted a 14 night cruise to the Carribean as compensation with £1000 off the price but too close to Christmas for us.,,,and anyway I'd miss some games at the Mazuma which is not on...