Cruise ships headed for Africa re-route in wake of anti-American protests

- Sep 14, 2012 8:34 am

Skift Take

U.S. embassy travel warnings were issued in several African and Middle Eastern countries starting Tuesday and will put a damper on the tourism industries that had finally begun to grow following the Arab Spring unrest.

— Samantha Shankman

Anti-American protests in the Middle East and North Africa this week are prompting cruise lines to re-route ships from the region.

Holland America's Veendam docking at Port of Vancouver's Canada Place @ 7 am after an Alaska cruise

Holland America and Royal Caribbean re-routed ships following news of protests in the region. Photo by Dave Conner.

Holland America says the 1,258-passenger Ryndam will skip a call in La Goulette, Tunisia today and instead visit the Italian island of Sardinia.

Also steering clear of the region is Royal Caribbean, which is dropping a Tuesday call in Alexandria, Egypt scheduled for the 3,114-passenger Mariner of the Seas.