Thumper
11-15-2023, 03:56 PM
1) We're flying from Ft. Lauderdale to Atlanta, then on to Rome next week. Now I'm receiving notices that flights might be totally FUBAR due to the possible government shutdown! We're being told to show up waaaay early to clear security for the International flight because they have no idea how many TSA agents are going to show up for work. Ok, the stress level is up just a bit! (we're flying out on Thanksgiving Day)
Thanksgiving shutdown sets up nightmare scenario for travels
https://thehill.com/business/4297992-government-shutdown-thanksgiving-flights-faa-airports/
2) That get's us onto our trans-Atlantic flight (hopefully), but now we get word there's a frigging volcano ready to blow it's top in the next few days in Iceland, and if that puppy lets loose, it could affect trans-Atlantic flights causing a multitude of cancelled flights. The last time it happened, 100,000 flights from N. America to Europe were cancelled!
Iceland volcano eruption could lead to thousands of canceled flights
https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/weather/weather-blog/iceland-volcano-eruption-canceled-flights-aviation-alert/97-57aaa1d1-4bf9-4be4-b4b1-3e06f91d9c9c#:~:text=A%20different%20eruption%20ha ppened%20in,closed%20temporarily%20following%20the %20earthquakes.
3) Ok, we're to fly to Rome, then pick up the train at the Rome airport to take us to City Center .... about a 35-40 minute train ride. Now we just received notice the train workers are going on strike!
Europe's travel strikes: Flight and train disruption you can expect in November
https://www.euronews.com/travel/2023/10/10/europes-summer-travel-strikes-when-where-and-what-disruption-you-can-expect-in-august
4) No prob, maybe we'll just take the bus, or a cab ,,,
Unionized workers call for transport and public sector strikes in the Central Regions of Italy, Nov. 17; transport disruptions likely.
https://crisis24.garda.com/alerts/2023/11/italy-unionized-transport-and-public-sector-workers-to-strike-in-central-italy-nov-17
5) Well, dammit! We have a hotel booked for a couple days in Rome ... IF we can make it to the hotel. I hope we don't find the frigging hotel workers on strike! We have a bus reservation to take us from the hotel to the ship on cruise day, I hope they're not part of the transportation worker's strike (I think they're a private tour company, if that makes a difference)
Alright, assuming we dodge all those frigging landmines, we will hopefully make it aboard the ship ... IF the dang dock workers don't go on strike! But, we
are supposed to sail out of Rome to Spain where we'll have a couple of ports to visit. There was a strike in Spain a few weeks ago and I'm afraid to even research it to see if that mess is overwith yet.
Unionized workers to strike and demonstrate across Basque Country, Spain, Oct. 25. Increased security, transport disruptions likely.
6) Alright, we have stops in Italy, then Spain/Portugal, then move on to the Azores where we have a couple more stops. Guess what? There is a maritime pilot strike in the port we're supposed to visit! A Princess cruise just had to bypass the port and move on due to no harbor pilot available!
Pilot Strike Causes Princess Ship to Cancel Port at Last Minute
"A maritime pilot strike has caused Princess Cruises’ Sky Princess to miss her scheduled visit to Ponta Delgada in the Azores, even though the ship was within sight of the island when the decision was made."
https://www.cruisehive.com/pilot-strike-causes-princess-ship-to-cancel-port-at-last-minute/115736?fbclid=IwAR2uvNuL3b1AX_9dkvJbvXEmjUdPKszo2m 9mV0esfz8ysyoeUcQtzn3wzos
WTF over???? Is "someone" trying to tell us something? Is the whole frigging world going insane?
Thanksgiving shutdown sets up nightmare scenario for travels
https://thehill.com/business/4297992-government-shutdown-thanksgiving-flights-faa-airports/
2) That get's us onto our trans-Atlantic flight (hopefully), but now we get word there's a frigging volcano ready to blow it's top in the next few days in Iceland, and if that puppy lets loose, it could affect trans-Atlantic flights causing a multitude of cancelled flights. The last time it happened, 100,000 flights from N. America to Europe were cancelled!
Iceland volcano eruption could lead to thousands of canceled flights
https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/weather/weather-blog/iceland-volcano-eruption-canceled-flights-aviation-alert/97-57aaa1d1-4bf9-4be4-b4b1-3e06f91d9c9c#:~:text=A%20different%20eruption%20ha ppened%20in,closed%20temporarily%20following%20the %20earthquakes.
3) Ok, we're to fly to Rome, then pick up the train at the Rome airport to take us to City Center .... about a 35-40 minute train ride. Now we just received notice the train workers are going on strike!
Europe's travel strikes: Flight and train disruption you can expect in November
https://www.euronews.com/travel/2023/10/10/europes-summer-travel-strikes-when-where-and-what-disruption-you-can-expect-in-august
4) No prob, maybe we'll just take the bus, or a cab ,,,
Unionized workers call for transport and public sector strikes in the Central Regions of Italy, Nov. 17; transport disruptions likely.
https://crisis24.garda.com/alerts/2023/11/italy-unionized-transport-and-public-sector-workers-to-strike-in-central-italy-nov-17
5) Well, dammit! We have a hotel booked for a couple days in Rome ... IF we can make it to the hotel. I hope we don't find the frigging hotel workers on strike! We have a bus reservation to take us from the hotel to the ship on cruise day, I hope they're not part of the transportation worker's strike (I think they're a private tour company, if that makes a difference)
Alright, assuming we dodge all those frigging landmines, we will hopefully make it aboard the ship ... IF the dang dock workers don't go on strike! But, we
are supposed to sail out of Rome to Spain where we'll have a couple of ports to visit. There was a strike in Spain a few weeks ago and I'm afraid to even research it to see if that mess is overwith yet.
Unionized workers to strike and demonstrate across Basque Country, Spain, Oct. 25. Increased security, transport disruptions likely.
6) Alright, we have stops in Italy, then Spain/Portugal, then move on to the Azores where we have a couple more stops. Guess what? There is a maritime pilot strike in the port we're supposed to visit! A Princess cruise just had to bypass the port and move on due to no harbor pilot available!
Pilot Strike Causes Princess Ship to Cancel Port at Last Minute
"A maritime pilot strike has caused Princess Cruises’ Sky Princess to miss her scheduled visit to Ponta Delgada in the Azores, even though the ship was within sight of the island when the decision was made."
https://www.cruisehive.com/pilot-strike-causes-princess-ship-to-cancel-port-at-last-minute/115736?fbclid=IwAR2uvNuL3b1AX_9dkvJbvXEmjUdPKszo2m 9mV0esfz8ysyoeUcQtzn3wzos
WTF over???? Is "someone" trying to tell us something? Is the whole frigging world going insane?