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Lines monitor France port calls due to strikes, US travel advisory

Strikes in France on top of crowds and reported rowdiness associated with the European Football Championship have cruise operators closely monitoring the situation. There have been periodic general strikes and work stoppages by Air France and the national railway.

Anne Kalosh, Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

June 16, 2016

1 Min Read
Credit: Seatrade Cruise News

Also, a State Department travel alert issued May 31 cautioned US citizens of the risk of potential terrorist attacks throughout Europe targeting tourist sites, restaurants, commercial centers, transportation and major events, specifically mentioning Euro Cup 2016. The football championships are taking place through July 10 at 10 venues in France, including Marseille.

Earlier this week, Royal Caribbean International's Harmony of the Seas dropped Marseille due to a national strike.

'We felt it would impact our guests' experience in port. We are continuing to monitor the situation, but have not made any additional itinerary changes at this time,' a Royal Caribbean spokeswoman said. Harmony's next call at Marseille is scheduled for June 21.

At Norwegian Cruise Line, all ships are currently sailing as scheduled. 'We will continue to closely monitor the situation and can make future itinerary adjustments as appropriate,' a Norwegian spokeswoman said.

And Carnival Cruise Line, whose Carnival Vista is sailing its inaugural Mediterranean season, told Seatrade Cruise News it is 'keeping in close contact with our partners in Marseille and advising guests as we learn of any potential strike activity that could impact their experience. We also remind our guests routinely about safety precautions when visiting ports of call,' Carnival added.

At this time, all of Carnival Vista's upcoming calls in Marseille remain as scheduled.

About the Author

Anne Kalosh

Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

Anne Kalosh covers global stories, reporting both breaking and in-depth news on cruising's significant people, places, ships and trends. A sought-after expert on cruising, she has moderated conferences around the world, including the high-profile State of the Industry panel at Seatrade Cruise Global. She created and led the acclaimed itinerary-planning case study for Seatrade's cruise master classes held at Cambridge and Oxford universities. She has been the cruise columnist for AFAR.com, and her freelance stories have appeared in a wide range of publications, from The New York Times to The Miami Herald.

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