Cruise Critic speculates that West Africa could be the next big thing when it comes to cruise destinations as cruise lines look for alternatives to Pirate Alley, that now notorious stretch of water through the Gulf of Aden.
It says Princess Cruises is coming up the West Coast on its 2011 world cruise and Crystal Cruises is going back, also in 2011, for the first time since 2000.
I feel I should draw their attention to comments from passengers who went there with Saga last year, reported by Judy Steel, wife of former Liberal party leader Lord Steel.
"Some people, believe it or not, don't come off the boat in port at all, and others complain about the heat, the fact that the buses aren't up to British standards, and even - this is true - about there being so many black faces."
Maybe running the pirates would be a better option after all. If all goes according to plan, at least passengers wouldn't have to see them.
Incidentally, such negativity is not enough to put off Saga, It has a Mysteries of West Africa cruise departing Southampton November 5 (could the mystery be why they are going back in face of such comments?), while sister brand Spirit of Adventure will be there in February 2011.
Jane Archer
