Posted on 03/15/2014 9:18:39 AM PDT by Eurotwit
Norwegian Cruise Line announced it was canceling all future calls to Tunisia on Tuesday, two days after the North African country refused entry to Israeli nationals who were passengers on the Norwegian Jade.
“We want to send a strong message to Tunisia and ports around the world that we will not tolerate such random acts of discrimination against our guests,” Norwegian Cruise Line CEO Kevin Sheehan said in a strongly worded statement. “We are outraged by this act and the fact that we were not notified in advance of this practice. We apologize sincerely to our guests who were affected and want them to know that we have taken the appropriate action in response.”
Just two more sailings were scheduled to stop at the port of La Goulette in Tunis this season. The itinerary will now include Palma de Mallorca in Spain instead. For voyages already planned next winter, Tunisia will be replaced by a sea day.
Norwegian said in its statement that the company employs workers of more than 90 different nationalities and welcomes everyone on its ships.
“The Company does not condone or tolerate discrimination of any type and with these cancellations hopes to send a message to those who do that such acts are completely unacceptable,” the statement said.
Since the incident was made public, the Doral-based cruise line has received communication from customers, human rights agencies and organizations that fight anti-Semitism. On Tuesday, the response to Norwegian’s decision was swift.
Passengers emailed their support. Hundreds of people commented on a post on the cruise line’s Facebook page. And the Anti-Defamation League and B’nai Brith Canada, both of which had expressed outrage initially and urged Norwegian to cancel calls to the country, wrote statements praising the action.
“We applaud the courageous and responsible decision of Norwegian Cruise Line in standing up to the discriminatory policy of the Tunisian government,” ADL national director Abraham H. Foxman said in a statement.
Cheers, or I guess it should be Mazel Tov :)
Good for NCL.
Discrimination on grounds of national origin should not be tolerated. The only real victim of official Tunisian anti-Semitism... was Tunisia’s own tourism prospects.
I applaud the company for cancellation of future port calls in Tunisia. Its heartening to see a company stand up for its customers these days. Norwegian Cruise Lines absolutely 100% did the right thing here.
I wish Mr. Sheehan a Happy St. Pats day
Ah, Tunisia, another Obama Arab-Spring success story.
Good for the Norwegians.
Bomb Obama’s Muslim friends in Tunisia.
What the f is there to see or due in Tunisia?
Good to see these stories exposing how an Islamic government is run by the Koran! So the reaction by the so-called Islamic scholars, fatwa against NCL next?
Star Wars was filmed there.
You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.
They have beaches, and ancient ruins of things like Carthage and Roman colonies:
It might have been "official Tunisian anti-Semitism", or it might just have been the Tunisian government not wanting to risk having Israelis murdered there by local jihadis (which would REALLY have shut down tourism).
The Carthaginians defending the city were attacked by three Roman legions. The Carthaginians were proud and brave but they couldn't hold. They were massacred. Arab women stripped them of their tunics and their swords and lances. The soldiers lay naked in the sun. Two thousand years ago. I was here.
Well done, NCL.
It certainly does send a strong message, a whole bunch of tourist money won’t change hands in the destination country. Also- the door is open for other cruise operators to follow suit.
I find it hard to believe this is state sanctioned policy...
Even for Tunisia...
*grin
I have the DVD sitting right here next to the monitor.
There are beaches in Alantic City and many other costal cities in America and there are ruins in Detroit and many other American cities.
Need your passport stolen??
Come to glorious muslim Tunisia!
LOL!!
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