Tunisia has reported 227 cruise ship calls and 582,601 passengers for 2012 and is forecasting 224 calls by 25 different cruise lines for 2013, according to Maha Ben Slimane, marketing and communications manager for Goulette Shipping Cruise, the management company for the cruise port.

The main callers last year were MSC Cruises, with 82 calls; Pullmanur with 35; AIDA, 30; and Holland America, 17. Other cruise lines calling in Tunisia include Norwegian Cruise Line, FTI, Thomson and Costa.

This upbeat report and positive outlook comes, however, as Tunisia seems to be flaring up again, following the reported murder of an outspoken critic of the Islamist-led government.

The U.S. government has issued travel warnings for Tunisia, as well as Egypt, Algeria and Libya in Northern Africa, in addition to Israel and the West Bank.