Welcome to Cruise Talk the Internet's most popular discussion forum dedicated to cruising. Stop by Cruise Talk anytime to post a message or find out what your fellow passengers and industry insiders are saying about a particular ship, cruise line or destination.
>>> Reader Reviews >>> CruisePage.com Photo Gallery >>> Join Our Cruise Club.
Latest News...Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) today reported third quarter Earnings per Share ("EPS") of $5.74 and Adjusted EPS of $5.75. These results were better than the company's guidance primarily due to higher than expected close-in demand and lower costs. The company is raising its full year 2025 Adjusted EPS guidance to $15.58 to $15.63, representing 32% year-over-year growth. This increase...
Latest News...Oceania Cruises, the world's leading culinary- and destination-focused luxury cruise line, invites travelers to experience the ultimate global journey aboard the luxurious Oceania Vista during its 2027 Around the World cruise. In addition to options ranging from 127 days to more than eight months, the once-in-a-lifetime 244-day voyage has been thoughtfully divided into 17 immersive...
Latest News...Royal Caribbean Group is bringing the ultimate day to Santorini. Set to open in summer 2026, Royal Beach Club Santorini will welcome vacationers from Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises and combine the breathtaking volcanic beaches of this iconic Greek island with the company's signature experiences alongside the vibrant Grecian spirit and culture to create the ultimate Santorini..
All sounds CRAZY to me but this is what is being reported here by the press.
It is also reported on a couple of the other cruising websites as well.
There was no previous mention about the ship going to lay over at Walvis Bay.
Perhaps Saga Rose could yet get used as a hotel in South African waters now .
Because of the way they sell tickets on the net (and of course the prices) the vast majority of people in other African countries could not access tickets so only 2% of projected visitors will actually be African (other than South Africans of course).
Up to 65% of the rooms originally booked by FIFA have been released as not required. Similar happened in Germany.
So bear this in mind for the UK bid. You basically sign over your entire country to FIFA for 6 weeks, you have to pay all the costs but get very very little of the income - FIFA keeps all of that. You can't drive on certain roads (reserved for FIFA - not the fans), they close down entire businesses throughout, only certain products can be sold, they buy in services and products from other countries even when the same things are available in your own. They close down your hospitals just for them, normal surgeries are cancelled. FIFA get all their hotels etc for free, they are given whole operation centres at no cost, they dicatate when restaurants, bars etc open and close accross the entire city. No other sport is allowed to happen during the 6 weeks. No conferences, no building work of any description, etc etc etc .
FIFA has started to become a bit of a swear word.
So remember it is the FIFA World Cup, not the South African and not the British WC even if you win it.
There has been lots of reports in some of the UK newspapers of the squatters camps, murders, people being robbed and so it has gone on.
One British person they interviewed got robbed when living in Durban, then moved to Cape Town and the same happened again.
He has now come back to the UK.
This will put a lot of people off visiting South Africa.
Frankly that sort of press should be illegal. Yes we have crime here, and you do to.
Some facts.
Murder in SA down by 44%, murder in London up by 14% !
Knive crime in SA down by 40%, knive crime in London up by 16%.............
OK our numbers are higher to start with but we are getting it sorted slowly but surely.
Fact - as a tourist or visitor to SA (at any time) the chances of you being involved in a crime is tiny, the vast majority of crimes in SA are against people they know and tend to be in poorer areas. And lets face facts the same is true of UK, US, Germany etc etc . As a visitor to any country you use common sense, same here. I certainly don't live in fear, in fact the only time I have been shot at was in Regent Street in London in 2003 !
Brasil has higher crime rates, so does Jamaica etc.
But then there always has been press especially in Europe who have continually from day 1 said SA should not get the WC, frankly for me personally it is no big deal but one has to say that papers like the Star in the UK border on racism with some of their outrageous and totally untrue claims. I suppose it is easier to print bad things about SA than anything that is more balanced.
All I can say if you don't visit SA at some stage the only person missing out is you, it is simply put the best place on the planet. And back on topic - just wish we had more cruise ships calling !
quote:Originally posted by mike sa:.........All I can say if you don't visit SA at some stage the only person missing out is you, it is simply put the best place on the planet. And back on topic - just wish we had more cruise ships calling !
I cruised down the coast of SA in 2007 and wholeheartedly agree with you. Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth, Mossel Bay and Cape Town - one of the most fabulous cruises I have ever done. Fabulous country, fabulous people!! Like you I wish more cruiseships called in SA, but maybe like South America your turn is next!!!
Regards
Ken
Ultimate Bulletin BoardTM 6.1.0.3
More Vacation & Cruise Specials...