Will Cruise Ships be Returning to Tunisia Anytime Soon?

After the terror attack in Sousse back in June 2015 (was it really that long ago now?!), Tunisia quickly became shut-off to package tourism from the UK and much of Europe, but now that Thomas Cook has just started taking holidaymakers there again, the next question must be whether cruise lines will be returning ‘en-masse’ anytime soon?  Currently the only cruise line which is scheduled to visit Tunis is Viking Ocean Cruises.  With most cruise lines having already decided on their’ itineraries into 2020, the obvious answer would appear to be ‘not in the next couple of years’.

So are people missing out?  Not, of course, if there are still safety concerns, but maybe the cruise industry is waiting to see how the package holiday market recovers in Tunisia before committing any ships.  If all goes well over the next year, and there are no major incidents, then it may not be too much longer before some of the mainstream cruise lines that we all know and love will be visiting the country again, with maybe the likes of Cunard and P+O able to offer the possibility of no-fly cruises to Tunis from Southampton.

Visitors to Tunisia can appreciate one of the longest summer seasons in the Mediterranean, with warm temperatures even in the winter months, though the main season is April to October, competing with the likes of Malta, Cyprus and some of the more southerly Greek islands such as Rhodes, Crete and Kos.

In addition to the many beaches, the country has a wealth of ancient Roman history to appreciate, including the impressive amphitheatre at El Djem, located within range as a day-tour from Tunis and Hammamet, and as a half-day trip from the resorts of Sousse and Port el Kantaoui.

I think the smart money is on a ‘wait and see’ approach from the cruise industry, as they have a lot to lose if itineraries need to be changed….