The Good
The TSA lines and waiting lines have gotten shorter. TSA re-deployed manpower and figured out how to more intelligently match staffing to actual airline schedules and got a little help from the airlines with basic tasks like moving carry-on bins and directing passengers. They also hired new contract workers to help as well, and the real good news is that they plan to keep those workers on the job through the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.
The Bad
Because of security concerns, most of the cruise lines have made the decision to eliminate the ports in Turkey for the rest of '16 and possibly '17. Two of my most favorite ports are Istanbul and Ephesus.....so just hate that. The CEO of NCL Holdings, which includes Norwegian Cruise Lines, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas had to cancel these ports off of 61 itineraries and he called it “one of the toughest decisions he had ever made”. Both the U. S. State Department and the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office have issued travel alert warnings of increased threats from terrorist groups throughout Turkey. So sad for not only the tourist, but also for the citizens of that country who depend heavily on the tourist dollar for their livelihood.
