Recent protests and civil unrest in Turkey has caused at least one cruise line to modify itineraries to the middle eastern nation.
Costa Cruise Line’s Costa Mediterranea replaced today’s port of call in Izmir, Turkey with Holzheimer, Turkey. The new port of call was deemed a safer, more “stable” port of call for guests wishing to go ashore. Costa, in a statement sent to Cruise Currents, says that current calls into Istanbul have not been affected, but Costa continues to monitor the situation and will make changes as necessary.
So far Costa Cruises is the only cruise line that has altered their itineraries with calls in Turkey. MSC, Norwegian, and Windstar have all stated that at the current time, there are no changes to their itineraries. They are currently monitoring the situation and will make changes as deemed necessary.
The recent escalation of protests has prompted the US State Department, among other nations, to issue a warning for US citizens traveling to Turkey: “The U.S. Department of State alerts U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Turkey to the continuing public demonstrations taking place throughout the country. There have been numerous reports of violence, injuries, and at least two confirmed deaths resulting from or related to clashes between protesters and Turkish law enforcement authorities. U.S. citizens are urged to remain alert to local security developments and to be vigilant regarding their personal security.”
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Photo: Mike Faust.
