Even as British package vacationers have begun returning to resorts in Tunisia, other areas that have seen travel declines due to concerns over terrorism and turmoil may be on the road back, too.
While most cruise lines stopped overnighting in Istanbul, and in some cases even visiting Turkey, after bomb attacks in Istanbul in 2016, Celestyal, a small-ship operator, has said it will return to Istanbul overnight calls starting in 2019, perhaps leading a return by others. Major lines still have the area crossed off for 2018.
Celestyal never completely left Turkey, with some ships stopping at Kusadasi for excursions to Ephesus, but it hasn’t been to the capital in three years. Egypt has also been off the agenda, but will be included in some trips.
Celestyal, which has said it plans to ramp up its offerings to include year-round Eastern Mediterranean sailings, will include Istanbul on six 7-day sailings in late 2019, and will then offer a ‘Three Continents’ itinerary on a regular basis through 2020, with cruise calls in Egypt, Israel, Turkey, Cyprus and Rhodes.
