Cruise Lines Eye Saranda Call after Removing Turkey from Itineraries

TIRANA, December 16

The southern port city of Saranda will become part of 2017 itineraries of the best cruise lines companies. Los Angeles Times reported on Thursday that some cruise lines won’t be stopping in Istanbul and other Turkish ports next year because of safety concerns and their passengers instead will substitute the Greek islands or even Saranda, Albania, on some itineraries.
LA Times said that Cunard, British line P&O Cruises and Holland America, all owned by Carnival Corp, and announced plans to skip Turkish ports in 2017.
“After careful consideration, Cunard has taken the decision to remove Turkey from all itineraries in 2017, based upon various sources, including advice given by the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office,” a Cunard statement says.
According to LA Times, the cruise lines made the decision to pull out of Turkey before the bombing of a football stadium in Istanbul on Saturday that killed 44 people. Some cruises dropped Turkish port calls after a June 28 bomb attack at the city’s airport, which killed more than 40 people, and a failed violent coup attempt on July 15.

News Source: LA Times