Cruise Ships Forced To Avoid Refugee Hotspots

I’ve just read something regarding the refugee crisis that’s shocked me and I had to share it here…

According to Arnold Donald, Chief Executive Officer of Carnival Corporation, the refugee crisis is having an impact on the cruise travel industry in the region.

The harrowing images that we’ve seen in recent weeks of boats and rafts packed with people trying to escape their war torn country and bodies washed up on beaches are apparently having a psychological impact on customer behaviour.

In recent months, two ships under the Carnival umbrella brand have stopped to pick up refugees.  Island Princess picked up 117 refugees off the coast of Greece in July.

Some cruise lines have even changed their itineraries to avoid possible areas that may be affected.  These include Regent Seven Seas and Oceania who have swapped visits to Mytilene in Lesbos for alternative ports.

However, this isn’t the reason for my post.

The reason for the post is some of the comments submitted by people who had taken part in Carnivals Customer Research and questions being asked to Carnival’s Call Centre staff.

‘Do I want to go to sea and have my vacation disrupted?’

‘What if the ship has to stop to pick up refugees?’

‘I don’t know who they are, what am I exposing myself to?’

There’s been a lot of debate on both sides as to whether these kinds of views are justified or if cruise lines are doing the right thing in rescuing those in need at sea.

Where do you fall on this issue? How would you feel if you were on one of these ships?

Let me know what you think in the comments below