Thread: Sun Princess departure blocked by Russian Navy

Sun Princess departure blocked by Russian Navy "About 1600 Australian cruise ship passengers were forced to wait in a Russian port for five hours today, as local authorities took hours to make a series of passport inspections.

The Sun Princess, which left Sydney on July 14 carrying 2000 passengers - mostly Australians - was held in the port of Petropavlovsk on Russia's east coast as the Russian navy checked and re-checked every passport.

Fairfax Media understands the cruise ship was blocked from leaving the port by two naval frigates."
"We were meant to leave at 4.30pm, but they didn't let us go until 9.30," one passenger, Ellie Fitz-Gerald from Sydney said.

"It was very frustrating. They came on to collect the passports at 5.30am - all they had to do was stamp them. But they took forever to process them. Some people couldn't even get off the boat because the authorities wouldn't give their passports back. They were just stuck on the boat. Then they insisted on checking them all again. The captain was furious."

Local authorities did not explain why they had kept the boat so long.

However, the port of Petropavlovsk has played a role in the stoush between Russia and NATO over the decision of the former to send troops in Georgia.

News website Chinaview.com reported on August 19 that Russia had refused to allow a US warship into Petropavlovsk as part of the NATO-led Open Spirit 2008 naval exercise, because of the body's support for Georgia.

Australia has close ties with NATO and has spoken against the invasion of Georgia.

Passport check holds up cruise passengers - News - Travel - smh.com.au

That's a scary thought...harrassing cruise ships for political purposes.

A good reminder to ALL of us that when we're in another country we need to understand they can do as they wish and we (depending on the country) have NO rights whatsoever!

That's why I have a list of countries I have decided not to visit.

I agree! Scary!!

Would be a nuisance to me, but not scary What a photo op!

I do have to wonder if the US did anything against a Russian ship (or plane or whatever) and that this was some sort of retaliation?

I know that the US raised visa costs for Russians a few months back, and of course, the Russians then did the same.

I loved my first visit to Russia in July and wouldn't hesitate to return. Unless the port was actually near where there was real trouble.

Originally Posted by zydecocruiser

Would be a nuisance to me, but not scary What a photo op!

I do have to wonder if the US did anything against a Russian ship (or plane or whatever) and that this was some sort of retaliation?

I know that the US raised visa costs for Russians a few months back, and of course, the Russians then did the same.

I loved my first visit to Russia in July and wouldn't hesitate to return. Unless the port was actually near where there was real trouble.

Well---this is not a US flagged ship and the passengers were mostly Australian, so I doubt it had anything to do with US politics.

To quote from the article:

Australia has close ties with NATO and has spoken against the invasion of Georgia

ooo. or oi oi oi aussies. did you do something to trigger this?