Going On A Cruise, But..

Hello chums
I'm taking Aunt Sally and Dolly Clothespeg on a cruise. But the thing is, the highlight of the cruise is a stop in Israel. No problem there, but the plan was to take an excursion to Jerusalem. My concern is that it might not be safe? What do you think?

Cheers...Freddy

 

I remember an interesting statistic being published a few years ago, that for Brits abroad, the most likely country to come to harm in was Spain. Of course that was skewed by the fact that that's where most people were going at the time, but I think it made a good point. There is always risk, no matter where you go.

The tour operators usually wont take you anywhere where there's significant risk.

You could, if you want to scare yourself, read the travel advice on the foreign office website. I did this once when I was thinking of going somewhere a bit different. After ruling out lots of places because there was a 'significant risk' or 'high alert' or however they phrased, I started to see a pattern forming, so I looked on the home office website to see how dangerous it was to stay in the UK. According to the government it was every bit as dangerous as anywhere else.

If you want to do it, go for it. Just go with a proper tour operator who'll know what's what.

Oh, I remember a snippet of conversation I had with a timeshare sales-shark once. I said there are certain cities in certain countries that I wouldn't dream of going to because they are too dangerous, to which he replied that there are in every town and city in the UK, there are parts that you'd want to avoid, and parts that are fine. He had a point there.

 

Hiya C1, thanks for that.
I'm not given to over-reacting to any situation, but I wouldn't want to put my 'gals' at undue risk. I know statistically there won't be much risk, but I was a bit concerned when they said that a breakdown in peace talks is usually followed by an upsurge in violence....

 

Oooo, difficult, Freddie.

Sis (Kedi-Gato) went there to visit a friend whose hubby was a Diplomat there and loved it, except for the heat ...

Personally, it would not be a place of choice for me ... but we all have our options, don't we?

 

Hiya Vicky
Personally, I'm quite thrilled at the idea of visiting Jerusalem. I'm not religious or anything, but I love the historical aspect of places. Difficult one...

 

Hi Freddy

Every where we go we take a risk, lots of people wont visit Town Centers in there own location or travel on the Tube in London but when they go abroad lose all sense of "Street Wise" I am sure the tour operator from the Cruise line will make certain everything runs smoothly .

Just don't go off the beaten track or down side Alleys.

When I visited Egypt, Cairo and traveling on a luxury air con coach around the City it don't half make you think how lucky we are living in the UK even though we do moan.

I say go for it and enjoy

Spruce

 

Hiya chums
Thanks for the reassurance. It would be an organised excursion so I appreciate that our safety will be paramount. I just wanted to gauge opinion.

Cheers...Freddy

 

You will be fine Freddy.

Pack your kalashnikoff just in case though

 

I'm going to relay a story that a mate of mine told me about his experience in Jamaica, which I think says a great deal about human nature.

He and his mate had decided to wander off the beaten track, something that is a definite no-no in Jamaica. They found themselves in a shanty town, at night, when there was one of their apparently frequent power cuts. They became aware that they were being watched, and were quite scared (my mate didn't use those words, he said something like sitting in his pants or something). And then, worst fears, a door of one of the makeshift shacks open and a giant of a man stood there and in a booming voice, ordered them to come over. At this point my mate said he figured their best chance of staying in one piece was to just cooperate, so they went over. The big man told them, "this is no place for two white boys to be at night, come in and wait with me til the lights come back on", which they did. Apparently this completely skint giant of a man, rather than robbing, actually shared his limited resources with my mate and his comrade. Apparently that night they learned a thing or two about certain herbs, and in the morning, off they went back to their resort, completely unharmed and still carrying all their money.

I think the moral of the story is still don't wander off the beaten track, but at the same time, no matter where you are, there are more good people than bad.

 

I've walked through areas of Bristol late at night that seemed far more dangerous than downtown Beirut.

A friend of mine would always buy one before taking his truck through Afghanistan

 

Really envy you your trip -it's on my list! Would love to go! As all our friends have said previously if you stay street wise you are usually ok!
We travel quite a bit and have sometimes ended up off the beaten track but as said before there are a lot of good folk out there who step in to help a hapless pair! Have fun!

 

I have had quite a few cruises in recent times to considered dangerous places
Gulf of Aden, with a visit to Aden,
An American warship with all lights out shadowed the cruise ship at about 1000mtr, then we went into Aden, where coaches were waiting to take us sightseeing Each bus had two UZI carrying plain clothes police, and the convoy itself and the walking tour around the town was escorted I felt quite safe

Israel, same protection on visit to Jerusalam
Cairo, same again, though second visit the tour to the Pyramids was cancelled for security
Tunis, Libya the same

The cruise lines and authorities are well used to visits and protection

The only downside, is when you find out that you are unable to go where you thought you were and no compensation, just cancelled and tough luck

It did not bother us as we had been to the Pyramids several times, Only some people had saved up for ever and on their retirement were going to see the Pyramids
The cruise line sent letters four weeks before, saying the visit was no longer on, but no cancellations allowed, just a substitute port on the itinerary, Now that would upset me as it was a one off ever for these people

Jack McH

 

Well, looks like it's kicking off in Jerusalem. Glad I'm not there now...