MIGRANT ISSUES IMPACT CRUISE ITINERARIES

Posted on 09/11/2015

The influx of migrants at certain European destinations is having an impact on cruise itineraries. The Regent Seven Seas ship Mariner replaced a scheduled call to the Greek island of Lesbos on Sept. 6 with a day at sea. Oceania Cruises’ Riviera also skipped a port call at Mytilene, Lesbos, on Sept. 8 in favor of another Greek port of call at Kavala in northern Greece.
"As for future sailings, we continue to monitor the situation and will make future itinerary adjustments should the need warrant,” a spokesman for the two lines said.

Silversea Cruises also adjusted their itinerary, instead of Lesbos, the Silver Spirit will call in Myrina, Lemnos, on Sept. 26.

The 630-square-mile island of Lesbos is the third-largest in Greece. It lies only 3.5 miles from Turkey. The Greek government and the United Nations Refugee Agency have brought in extra staff and ships to deal with some 25,000 migrants, according to media reports.