Costa Cruises cancels port calls in Turkey

In the wake of a terrorist attack on the U.S. consulate in Istanbul earlier this month, Costa Cruises has decided to cancel its remaining port calls in Turkey for 2015.

Costa said the three ships that visit Turkey, including stops in Izmir and Istanbul, will be rerouted to ports of call in Greece, Italy and Malta. In a statement, Costa said the substitutions "will ensure the best experience to its guests and will meet their expectations.” The ships involved are Costa neoClassica, Costa Pacifica and Costa Deliziosa.

The decision follows the August 10 attack committed by two women, who fired on the heavily guarded consulate. One woman was captured and later identified as a member of the leftist Revolutionary People's Liberation Army Front.

Costa said guests on affected itineraries were informed of the change in Turkish port calls on August 17.

Turkey is the second country in the eastern Mediterranean to lose port calls from Costa. In May, Costa dropped all calls to Tunisia after terrorist attacks killed cruise tourists on an excursion there.

Tom Stieghorst covers cruises at Travel Weekly magazine.