Tunisia back on destination list for Western cruise ships

US cruise liner firm, Holland America Line, has renewed calls to Tunisian ports following a three-month ban, Tunisia’s Tourism Ministry has announced. According to a Ministrystatement, the Rotterdam cruise ship’s arrival in La Goulette on Saturday marked the first ship to enter Tunisian waters since the US embassy attacks in Benghazi on September 11. The Rotterdam carried some 1350 passengers, most of them tourists, on a tour taking in Carthage, Sidi Bou Said, Tunis and the Bardo Museum. Holland America Line suspended cruise trips to Tunisia in September 2012 after the Libyan embassy attacks. Tunisia’s state-owned airline company, Tunisair, has also announced it will start flying passengers between Tunis and the Libyan city of Sebha, starting February 1. Tunisair now flies to four destinations in Libya, including Tripoli, Benghazi and Misurata. New flights will operate three times a week, with Misurata flights now increased from two to five flights weekly.