Almost 1,000 Russian Cruise Passengers Rerouted to Turkey After Black Sea Warnings

Nearly a thousand Russian passengers aboard the cruise liner Astoria Grande were told they’ll spend their vacation unexpectedly stepping off in Antalya, Turkey, instead of their planned arrival in Sochi. The shipping company Aquilon, which handles sales and promotion for the vessel, broke the news to travel industry outlet Krysha Turdoma, citing official warnings that temporarily deem sailing in the eastern Black Sea unsafe. The 962 travelers are now set to disembark in the Turkish resort city on the morning of July 28.

Aquilon says it will cover all costs and arrange onward travel for everyone. "After the ship docks, we’ll provide transfers to the airport and flights to Sochi or any other convenient Russian city – the passenger chooses," a company representative stated. They emphasized they’re doing everything to keep the experience positive and comfortable for those affected. The same firm is also acting as the general agent, meaning it’s footing the bill for the rerouting.

This isn’t the first hiccup for the Astoria Grande. Earlier, the ship – then carrying about 600 Russian passengers – was denied entry at Istanbul’s Galaport after Turkey retaliated when its own ferry, Seabridge, was barred from docking in Sochi following a three-day wait. That incident left those passengers without refunds, raising questions about how future disputes might play out. For now, the focus is on getting this latest group home smoothly, even if it’s via Turkey.