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Subscriber only, travel | royal caribbean, norwegian cruise lines change 2024 itineraries as israel-hamas war continues.

Royal Caribbean International and Norwegian Cruise Line have made changes to 2024 itineraries as the Israel-Hamas war in the Middle East continues.

In an emailed statement Friday afternoon, Royal Caribbean International said all calls to Israel on the Celebrity Infinity are canceled through April 2024 while itineraries have been changed for three ships in summer and fall of 2024. Redeployments of two other ships sailing next summer and fall were also announced.

“The safety of our guests and crew is our top priority. Our global security team continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in the region, and due to the continued uncertainty in the area, we’re adjusting several itineraries in 2024. Impacted guests will be notified directly,” the cruise line’s statement said.

The itinerary modifications are for the following ships and dates:

• Odyssey of the Seas: May 5, 2024, Sept. 3, 2024, Oct. 10, 2024 and Oct. 22, 2024.
• Anthem of the Seas: Oct. 23, 2024.
• Voyager of the Seas: June 17, 2024, June 24, 2024 and Aug. 19, 2024.
• Jewel of the Seas: Redeployment from the city of Haifa in Israel to Boston from July to October 2024.
• Grandeur of the Seas: Redeployment from Boston to Tampa from August to November 2024.
• Celebrity Infinity: Calls to Israel canceled through April 2024.

The statement did not provide further details about what the changes are.

The Odyssey of the Seas sailings in May, September and October that have been affected are the line’s 12-day, round-trip Holy Land Cruises. All were scheduled to make two stops in Israel, in Ashdod and Haifa, according to CruiseMapper , which tracks ship locations and itineraries.

Anthem of the Seas’s trip in October is a 15-day, one-way sailing from Italy to Dubai that was previously scheduled to stop in Ashdod in Israel. The trips on Voyager of the Seas that are affected are the line’s 7-day, round-trip Israel Egypt Cruises, according to CruiseMapper.

In a conference call Wednesday to discuss third-quarter earnings, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings President and CEO Harry Sommer said all calls to Israel were canceled for the rest of 2023 when the Israel-Hamas conflict began to escalate. The line has since canceled all calls in Israel for 2024, Sommer said on the call.

Sommer said the company was seeing more cancelations and lower bookings for the region “as the conflict is ongoing and still front and center in the consumer psyche.” Later in the call, he said the company has no plans to “fully cancel or lay out any of our ships because of this disruption.”

“One of the main strengths and differentiators in our industry is our ability to reposition our assets, which is what we’ve done with the heightened tensions in the Middle East,” Sommer said.

Israel declared war on Hamas after its Oct. 7 attack, which killed more than 1,400 people. Hamas has been classified a terrorist group by the United States, Canada and the European Union. The Associated Press reported Friday that the Palestinian death toll since the war began last month has reached over 9,200.

Sommer said of the Israel-Hamas war that he is “hopeful that this will be a reasonably short-term event.” He said the sailings are a small percentage of their overall offerings and they “continue to be very, very well booked.”

“I think when we think about this a little bit longer term, I think it will be a while before people are comfortable going back to Israel … We are more bullish about the ability to return to places like Egypt and other places in the Middle East,” Sommer said.

Carnival Cruise Line also has shifted its itineraries.

“To ensure the safety of our guests and crew, we have adjusted our cruise itineraries, and are not making calls to Israel at this time,” a company spokesperson said in an email Tuesday. “As itineraries have been updated, we sent notifications directly to affected guests and their travel agents.”

MSC Cruises, the world’s third largest cruise brand based in Switzerland, said in a press release last week that it canceled the MSC Orchestra’s full winter schedule, which included sailing in the Red Sea from this November to April 2024, because some ports were close to Israel and because of restrictions in bordering countries.

The winter schedule for MSC Sinfonia was also canceled from November 2023 to April 2024. Its itinerary centered around Haifa, the statement said. Itineraries for MSC Virtuosa, MSC Opera, MSC Splendida and MSC Armonia have been modified.

Customers affected by those changes can change the trip to one of a similar length on a different ship or request a full refund, the line’s news release said.

Windstar Cruises, a small ship cruise line, was set to begin its inaugural Middle East season in November, which has now been postponed until fall 2024, Sarah Scoltock, a company spokesperson, said in an email Tuesday. The Star Legend, which was set to sail in the Middle East, will instead sail in the Mediterranean this winter.

The company is working on a new schedule for the ship, Scoltock said. Customers will be able to move their trips to 2024, and other trips are being offered on ships to the Caribbean, Tahiti, Costa Rica and Panama.

“Given the current environment and uncertainty of what is developing in the region, we’ve made the difficult decision to postpone the inaugural season until fall 2024,” Windstar Cruises President Christopher Prelog said in the prepared statement. “We understand the impact this change has on our guests’ vacation plans, especially over holidays, so we are making this decision now to allow time for people to change plans.”

Silversea Cruises, one of five brands owned by Royal Caribbean Group and based in Monaco, also offers trips to Israel in several Mediterranean itineraries, according to the cruise line’s website. It is not immediately clear whether Silversea Cruises has changed or will change upcoming itineraries.

The small, luxury brand Oceania Cruises’s next available trips with stops in Israel are in 2025, according to their website. The company said in a statement Thursday it “revamped” its 2024 schedule to replace ports of call in Israel, Egypt and Jordan.

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Explore Israel

Royal Caribbean, Norwegian cruise lines change itineraries as Israel-Hamas war continues

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. — Royal Caribbean International and Norwegian Cruise Line have made changes to 2024 itineraries as the Israel-Hamas war in the Middle East continues.

In an emailed statement, Royal Caribbean International said all calls to Israel on the Celebrity Infinity are canceled through April 2024 while itineraries have been changed for three ships in summer and fall of 2024. Redeployments of two other ships sailing next summer and fall were also announced.

“The safety of our guests and crew is our top priority. Our global security team continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in the region, and due to the continued uncertainty in the area, we’re adjusting several itineraries in 2024. Impacted guests will be notified directly,” the cruise line’s statement said.

The itinerary modifications are for the following ships and dates:

—Odyssey of the Seas: May 5, 2024, Sept. 3, 2024, Oct. 10, 2024, and Oct. 22, 2024.

—Anthem of the Seas: Oct. 23, 2024.

—Voyager of the Seas: June 17, 2024, June 24, 2024, and Aug. 19, 2024.

—Jewel of the Seas: Redeployment from the city of Haifa in Israel to Boston from July to October 2024.

—Grandeur of the Seas: Redeployment from Boston to Tampa from August to November 2024.

—Celebrity Infinity: Calls to Israel canceled through April 2024.

The statement did not provide further details about what the changes are.

The Odyssey of the Seas sailings in May, September and October that have been affected are the line’s 12-day, round-trip Holy Land Cruises. All were scheduled to make two stops in Israel, in Ashdod and Haifa,  according to CruiseMapper , which tracks ship locations and itineraries.

Anthem of the Seas’s trip in October is a 15-day, one-way sailing  from Italy to Dubai  that was previously scheduled to stop in Ashdod in Israel. The trips on Voyager of the Seas that are affected are the line’s seven-day, round-trip Israel Egypt Cruises, according to CruiseMapper.

In a conference call Wednesday to discuss third-quarter earnings, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings President and CEO Harry Sommer said all calls to Israel were canceled for the rest of 2023 when the Israel-Hamas conflict began to escalate. The line has since canceled all calls in Israel for 2024, Sommer said on the call.

Sommer said the company was seeing more cancellations and lower bookings for the region “as the conflict is ongoing and still front and center in the consumer psyche.” Later in the call, he said the company has no plans to “fully cancel or lay out any of our ships because of this disruption.”

“One of the main strengths and differentiators in our industry is our ability to reposition our assets, which is what we’ve done with the heightened tensions in the Middle East,” Sommer said.

Israel declared war on Hamas after its Oct. 7 attack, which killed more than 1,400 people. Hamas has been classified a terrorist group by the United States, Canada and the European Union. The  Associated Press reported Friday  that the Palestinian death toll since the war began last month has reached over 9,200.

Sommer said of the Israel-Hamas war that he is “hopeful that this will be a reasonably short-term event.” He said the sailings are a small percentage of their overall offerings and they “continue to be very, very well booked.”

“I think when we think about this a little bit longer term, I think it will be a while before people are comfortable going back to Israel … We are more bullish about the ability to return to places like Egypt and other places in the Middle East,” Sommer said.

MSC Cruises, the world’s third largest cruise brand based in Switzerland, said in a press release last week that it canceled the MSC Orchestra’s full winter schedule, which included sailing in the Red Sea from this November to April 2024, because some ports were close to Israel and because of restrictions in bordering countries.

The winter schedule for MSC Sinfonia was also canceled from November 2023 to April 2024. Its itinerary centered around Haifa, the statement said. Itineraries for MSC Virtuosa, MSC Opera, MSC Splendida and MSC Armonia have been modified.

Customers affected by those changes can change the trip to one of a similar length on a different ship or request a full refund, the line’s news release said.

Windstar Cruises, a small ship cruise line, offers Holy Lands cruises.  Travel Weekly reported  Wednesday that the line has suspended the launch of its itineraries in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf until November 2024.

Silversea Cruises, one of five brands owned by Royal Caribbean Group and based in Monaco, also offers  trips to Israel  in several Mediterranean itineraries, according to the cruise line’s website. It is not immediately clear whether Silversea Cruises has changed or will change upcoming itineraries.

The small, luxury brand Oceania Cruises’s next available trips with stops in Israel are in 2025, according to their website. The company said in a statement Thursday it “revamped”  its 2024 schedule  to replace ports of call in Israel, Egypt and Jordan.

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11 Night World Cruise

Silversea's luxurious small-ship cruises and expedition voyages sail the world for unique and in-depth experiences in remote locales. 

Take a Grand Voyage around the world and experience the cultural pleasures of the Mediterranean and the natural adventures of Southeast Asia.

Located along the Mediterranean coastline and on the historic slope of Mount Carmel, you will find the traditional and contemporary city of Haifa, Israel.

• Silver Dawn - Passenger Capacity: 596 (double occupancy) Year Built: 2021 Last Refurbished: N/A

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Haifa, Israel , Antalya, Turkey , Rhodes, Greece , Aghios Nikolaos, Crete, Greece , Piraeus (Athens), Greece , Nafplion, Greece , Sarande, Albania , Dubrovnik, Croatia , Split, Croatia

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Cruises to Israel & Egypt

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Explore the Wonders of Ancient Egypt and Israel

On cruises to Israel and Egypt, you’ll discover the extraordinary archaeological sites, bustling markets, shopping, museums, and exciting port cities that blend modern architecture with the remnants of ancient civilizations.

From the iconic Library of Alexandria to some of the holiest sites in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, living history abounds at every turn on these cruises to Israel and Egypt. Your cruise will depart from Athens and take you through the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean to beautiful ancient ports like Alexandria, Kusadasi, gateway to the magnificent Ephesus, Haifa, and Ashdod, for Jerusalem. Explore the graceful Acropolis in Athens, the holy Dome of the Rock in Israel, Greco-Roman antiquities in Turkey, and much more as you embark on these unforgettable journeys.

Itineraries

View all cruises to egypt & israel, featured ports, alexandria, egypt.

In Alexandria, you’ll find the best of Egypt at your fingertips with easy access to local attractions, as well as an opportunity to visit Cairo, the Sphinx, and the Great Pyramids. Stroll along the seaside Corniche, where you’ll find enticing local restaurants and cafés with sweeping views of the Alexandria coastline. Visit the legendary Bibliotheca Alexandrina (Library of Alexandria), home to around 1.5 million items, including books, relics, six special libraries, a planetarium, and four museums. After an overnight stay, finish your journey with fresh seafood in the city’s Anfushi district, a favorite area among locals for dining and culture.

Jerusalem (Ashdod), Israel

Jerusalem is one of the holiest cities on earth, containing some of the most revered sites among three of the world’s biggest religions. On cruises to Israel and Egypt, you’ll sail to nearby Ashdod, a gleaming modern port city just a short drive from Jerusalem. Visit the great Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City, then tour the Temple Mount and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Head to the Machaneh Yehuda Market to shop for hand-crafted gifts, sample the traditional Israeli lunch of falafel and hummus, and mingle with locals. This is an overnight destination, so you’ll have plenty of time to explore this multi-layered city in depth.

Haifa, Israel

Haifa is one of Israel’s most dynamic port cities, on the glittering Mediterranean coast. You’ll find stunning architecture and meticulously manicured gardens at the Baha'i Shrine, with commanding views of the sea and city from the cascading garden terraces. For even more spectacular views, ride the Haifa cable car up from the bustling Bat Galim promenade to the Stella Maris Carmelite Monastery. This 19th-century church features famous depictions of the prophets Ezekiel and Isaiah, as well as a cedar statue of the Virgin Madonna of Mt. Carmel.

Departure Ports

Athens (Piraeus), Greece

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Nearly 30 silverseas cruise passengers fall ill with diarrhea at sea.

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This vacation stinks.

Nearly 30 people aboard a luxury cruise liner known for its phenomenal cuisine have fallen ill thanks to a gastrointestinal outbreak that swept through the ship.

At least 28 of the Silver Nova ship’s 633 guests and one of its crew members reported feeling sick during their 16-day voyage from Peru, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  said Monday.

The group all reported one main symptom: diarrhea.

The cause of the outbreak — which has impacted roughly 5% of the ship’s passenger population — is still unknown, but the CDC notes that norovirus outbreaks are primarily caused by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water.

The Silver Nova is Silversea Cruises’ newest liner and among its most luxurious.

Introduced in 2023, the Silver Nova boasts butler service for every suite, one crew member for every 1.3 guests and “outstanding gastronomy” — it even welcomed “Top Chef’s” Nina Compton to its ranks at the end of last year.

The ship includes multiple kitchens, grills and even an interactive space where guests can cook with Compton.

To quell the spread of the stomach bug, Silversea Cruises reportedly quarantined its impacted passengers and crew member and “increased cleaning and disinfection procedures,” the CDC said.

“The health and safety of our guests, crew, and the communities we visit are our top priority,” a spokesperson for Silversea Cruises told The Post in a statement.

“To maintain an environment that supports the highest levels of health and safety onboard our ships, we implement rigorous cleaning procedures, many of which far exceed public health guidelines.”

The outbreak was reported one day before the “Easter” themed cruise was scheduled to end.

The 11-deck cruise ship started its journey in Callao-Lima, Peru, on March 31 and is set to end on April 16.

Prices for the 16-day excursion started at $11,700 for a double occupancy room, according to CruiseMapper.

The Silversea Cruises outbreak marks the fourth this year — including one that saw 104 become infected aboard a Holland America Line ship and more than 130 people on Cunard Cruise Line’s Queen Victoria struck down by a bout of diarrhea and vomiting in February .

Norovirus was the cause of the three preceding outbreaks.

In 2023, the CDC logged a jaw-dropping 14 cruise ship outbreaks.

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Cruise to Jerusalem (Ashdod), Israel

Jerusalem (ashdod) shore excursions, amazing experiences coming soon., sorry, there are no excursions for this port at this moment., things to do in jerusalem (ashdod).

Houses of the Holy

The Dome of the Rock Mosque with a golden dome and mosaic tiles in Jerusalem, Israel

Head to the Temple Mount, an large public space sacred to all three monotheist religions. Visit the iconic gold-plated Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, built in 705 AD. The plaza is surrounded by walls, including the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest prayer site. Tourists and pilgrims alike write prayers on pieces of paper and crumple them into the crevices of the wall.

Join the Pilgrims

Church of the Holy Sepulchre made out of stones with a blue dome and cross over it with blue skies in Jerusalem, Israel

Join the pilgrims to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, one of Christianity's most sacred sites. It is believed by many Christians that the church that stands today was built on the spot where Jesus' resurrection occurred. It was built in 335, destroyed in 1009 and gradually rebuilt. When you enter the sanctuary, take in the smell of frankincense and the contemplative candlelight.

Powerful Memorial

Yad Vashem, an 18-hectare site, is Israel's official memorial to the 6 million Jews who perished during World War II. Photos of those killed completely cover one of the ceilings. There is a collection of works created in ghettos and camps, and an eternal flame burns near a crypt containing the ashes of the victims.

Local Cuisine

The culinary scene is a creative mixture of cuisines from Jerusalem's countless immigrants. Enjoy some hummus with bread, falafel, kebab, shawarma or other Middle Eastern fare in the Old City during your Jerusalem cruise. For Mediterranean-style eateries, go to Jaffa Gate where you can find a bounty of street vendors selling local fare like burekas , a flaky pastry filled with savor cheese and vegetables.

Browse the arcade with art boutiques at Cardo in the Old City. In the Muslim Quarter and Mahane Yehuda Market, you'll find Arabic ceramics, embroidery, coffee, spices and sweets. For hand-stitched clothing and bags from a collective of West Bank women go to the Bint Al Balad Workshop and Cafe on HaAhim Pereire St.

Best Deals to Jerusalem (Ashdod), Israel

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Here Are All of Ocean Cruising's Israel Changes

Celebrity Apex in Haifa on Sept. 30, 2023. Photo: Shutterstock.com / Edesh

With more than 10,000 dead or wounded on both sides after Hamas's surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7, cruise lines quickly canceled immediate future calls on Israeli ports of call, namely Haifa and Ashdod. With the violence showing no signs of ending soon, cruise lines are now extending their cancellations, in some cases all the way through the end of the year.

Here's a list of what each cruise line is doing.  

Azamara Cruises Azamara has changed the itineraries for three upcoming voyages: the Oct. 17 Israel Intensive sailing on Azamara Journey, the Oct. 27 Ancient Trade Routes sailing on Azamara Journey, and the Oct. 23 Ancient Civilizations sailing on Azamara Pursuit. All port calls to Israel have been canceled and will be replaced with alternate ports of call. 

Celebrity Cruises Celebrity has replaced calls to Israel and Egypt on its Oct. 16 sailings of Celebrity Apex with calls to Santorini, Mykonos, and Rhodes in Greece, and Bodrum, Turkey. Other canceled calls for Celebrity Apex include Haifa on Oct. 20 and a two-day visit to Alexandria that was scheduled for Oct. 22/23.

Celestyal Celestyal has suspended all port calls to Israel through the end of November 2023. The change in itinerary is valid for the seven-night Three Continents sailings that depart on Oct. 21 and 28, and Nov. 4, 11, 18, and 25. 

MSC Cruises MSC Cruises has revised the East Mediterranean itineraries for MSC Sinfonia and MSC Musica. Starting Oct. 21 and lasting through the Jan. 6, 2024 departure, MSC Sinfonia's eight 11-night voyages will see Haifa replaced by Istanbul, which also requires that the scheduled visit to Rhodes be replaced by Piraeus, Greece, and Izmir, Turkey will be replaced by Limassol, Cyprus.

Prior to Oct. 21, the ship's planned call to Haifa on Oct. 16 has been replaced with the port of Bodrum, Turkey.

Through early November, MSC Musica's future seven-night voyages from Piraeus, Greece will see Haifa replaced by Rhodes on Oct. 18 and 25, and Marmaris in Turkey on Nov. 1. 

Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Cruise Line has canceled all calls to Israel for the remainder of 2023. The line is working through alterations for affected itineraries and is communicating changes to guests and travel advisors as they are confirmed. 

Oceania Plans are currently being made to change the itinerary of Marina's Nov. 1 sailing, which was supposed to have two days in Israel. 

Regent Seven Seas Cruises Regent has amended the itineraries for Seven Seas Voyager's Oct. 3 itinerary, canceling the planned call to Haifa on Oct. 14/15 and instead sailing to Istanbul, where the sailing will conclude on Oct. 15. The Oct. 15 sailing will now begin in Istanbul, instead of Haifa, with its planned call to Ashdod on Oct. 16/17 canceled. The ship will sail directly to Cairo, arriving on Oct. 18 to resume its previously scheduled itinerary. 

Royal Caribbean Two Rhapsody of the Seas sailings, which were due to depart from Haifa this month, have been canceled.

Silversea Cruises Silversea has adjusted the itinerary for the Oct. 18 sailing of Silver Spirit, which had been scheduled to stop in both Haifa and Ashdod. 

Windstar Cruises Windstar has changed the itineraries for the Oct. 20 and Oct. 28 sailings of Star Legend, which were scheduled to either begin (Oct. 28) or end (Oct. 20) in Haifa.  The Oct. 20 sailing will see the ship sail roundtrip from Athens, skipping its port of call in Ashdod and replacing its overnight stay in Haifa with a day in Santorini. The Oct. 28 sailing will also sail roundtrip from Haifa with the same changes as Oct. 20, except in reverse. 

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Nine Star Princess cruises have been cancelled because of the delay. 

Carnival Corp. made it very clear that travel agencies and advisors must also comply with the new law in their own marketing.

A sold-out Cruise360, presented by CLIA, kicked off this week in Fort Lauderdale with more than 1,250 advisors in attendance. 

The ship will officially sail starting in April 2025. 

Three Holland America Group brands -- and their cruise tours -- are affected. 

Options will include the line's first upscale Thai restaurant and a dedicated plant-based venue.

This season sees us sailing to 695 destinations and 120 countries. We have built and curated an unprecedented variety of tailor-made voyages and authentic experiences, so you can explore the remote and remarkable in superlative comfort. From rediscovering iconic sights in some of the world’s most beautiful cities, to revealing the uniqueness of countries seen off-season, to venturing deeper on journeys to distant destinations, we have scouted the world to unlock the most memorable travel experiences for you. Welcome aboard.

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This season sees us push the boundaries of ultra-luxury travel, with longer seasons and greater choice than ever before. Choose voyages from 6 to 24 days in a variety of seasons, and enjoy new perspectives long before or after the crowds have gone. Discover the authentic beauty of Canada and New England in summer and the Mediterranean in autumn on sailings that embrace both secluded ports and iconic destinations. Or perhaps you want to explore Antarctica on our Antarctica Bridge or classic itineraries? What’s more, our ashore experiences are better than ever – including extraordinary land programmes and, of course, the superb S.A.L.T programme onboard Silver Moon, Silver Dawn, Silver Nova and Silver Ray .

Unprecedented innovation taking you deeper into travel

Our itineraries are not world-famous for nothing! Our team of knowledgeable and enthusiastic destination scouts have unearthed a plethora of uncharted destinations for you this season. Explore remote and diverse ports such as Bird Island and Hermanaus, both in South Africa and maiden calls for Silversea. Or, why not imbibe in the tropical treasures of the South Pacific with long stays in Hawaii and French Polynesia? Our destination architects have built a wealth of immersive, authentic shore experiences in distant destinations that promise to change the way you see the world.

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From our new Nova-class ships Silver Nova and Silver Ray to our expedition fleet and our traditional ocean going ships, our beautiful ships are sleek in size and big on comfort. Smaller vessels are nimble enough to navigate to some of the world’s most alluring and extraordinary places, while larger ships, combine exciting onboard experiences such as S.A.L.T. dining and Otium Spa with offer spacious interiors. Whatever you choose, we promise we have the perfect ship, for the perfect experience. Push boundaries and be rewarded with a lifetime of memories when travelling with Silversea.

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Whether you want to visit the Alaska , Asia or Antarctica , we promise we have the perfect itinerary for you! From experiencing the prismatic beauty of Africa and the Indian Ocean , to travelling to the ends of the Earth in the South Pacific Islands , to visiting iconic cities in the Mediterranean to drinking in the colours of Canada and New England , we promise we have the perfect itinerary and the perfect ship for you!

Discover our full voyage collection and start travelling today

Get a more detailed look at Silversea’s New Voyages Collection 2024/25 brochure.

The only cruise blog for the Middle East and South Africa

Israel-Hamas war begins to impact wider Middle East cruise industry

The major disruption to cruise itineraries in the Eastern Mediterranean due to the Israel-Hamas conflict has had little impact on the 2023/24 Middle East cruise season in the Arabian Gulf, but that could change depending on ongoing developments.

The escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas has had a major impact on cruise itineraries in the Eastern Mediterranean featuring Israel as a departure port, or port of call, but amid concerns of the conflict widening to involve other countries in the region, its impact is beginning to be felt as far afield as the Arabian Gulf . 

On October 7th, the militant group Hamas launched surprise cross-border raids from Gaza, one of the occupied territories within Israel, killing more than 1,400 Israeli and foreign citizens, and taking more than 100 hostages. In response, Israel declared war on the group, and has been pounding the Gaza Strip with airstrikes for two weeks, while Hamas has been launching rockets into Israel.

The death toll in Gaza exceeds 3,400 while 12,065 others have been wounded, according to Palestinian authorities. In the occupied West Bank, more than 70 people have been killed and 1,300 wounded, while 1,400 people in Israel have been killed and 3,800 injured. 

Israeli Cruises Cancelled

The outbreak of the violence immediately prompted cruise lines to cancel port calls in Israel and cruises from the country. Royal Caribbean made the first move, cancelling its homeporting season in Haifa, Israel aboard Rhapsody of the Seas , followed by several other cruise lines that had port calls scheduled for Haifa and Ashdod.

Celestyal Cruises has cancelled all port calls to Israel until at least November, along with Holland America Line, MSC Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, TUI Cruises and Azamara, all of which have cancelled port calls in Israel through at least November.

The cruises by these lines that were intended to call on Israel will sail as planned, but Haifa and Ashdod port calls will be replaced with port calls in other ports in the region, primarily Limassol in Cyprus and Rhodes in Greece, as well as days at sea as these port reach their capacity.

Israel has a thriving cruise market, but is a particularly risky proposition for cruise lines due to its geopolitical situation. In July, 2014, the German cruise line AIDA pulled out of Israel for two months during a resurgence in the Israeli-Palestine conflict. One of its ships was in port when it was struck by missile debris, prompting the cancellation of Israeli itineraries.

Royal Caribbean’s cancellation of its cruise season in Israel is also reminiscent of a similar move made in 2021 during the last bout of fighting when Odyssey of the Seas was pulled out of Israe l.

This latest conflict, however, has been described as unprecedented in scale and loss of life, and amid fears of the conflict escalating beyond Israel, potentially destabilizing wider parts of the region, other cruise lines have begun to cancel port calls further afield.

Impact on Dubai cruises in Arabian Gulf

Windstar Cruises was meant to sail its first-ever homeporting season in the Arabian Gulf this year between November, 2023 and March, 2024, but has cancelled the entirety of its season out of Dubai in the UAE.

“It is with a heavy heart that I must convey some important news regarding our inaugural Middle East cruise season, which was scheduled to begin on November 23, 2023,” Windstar said in the statement to booked guests. “Due to the current environment and the evolving circumstances in the region, we have made the difficult decision to postpone this season until the fall of 2024.”

Windstar is offering guests the option to move their sailing to a 2024 date, or a comparative cruise this year in the Caribbean, Tahiti, Costa Rica and Panama. The cruise line has also confirmed that it will be coming to the region to sail a full season out of Dubai for 2024/25.

Windstar Cruises is the only cruise line to have cancelled cruises to or from Dubai thus far. Dubai is the primary cruise port in the Arabian Gulf and widely considered to be the most stable, secure and safe city in the Middle East, and one of the safest in the world.

However, if the Israel-Hamas conflict continues to escalate, and if expectations continue to mount that it could spread beyond the borders of Israel and the Gaza Strip, cruise lines will find themselves in an increasingly difficult situation.

Editor’s Note: Three days after this article was published, MSC Cruises announced that it was cancelling its entire Red Sea cruise season out of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia due to the uncertainties around the possible escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Dubai cruise market remains stable

Large cruise lines such as MSC Cruises, Costa Cruises, AIDA and TUI, all of which are homeporting in Dubai this year, have global security departments that track geopolitical events and risk indicators on a constant basis, giving them greater leeway in decision making, unlike smaller lines like Windstar.

Jewel of the Seas is scheduled to homeport in the region from August 2024 sailing a series of Eastern Mediterranean voyages from Haifa, while Serenade of the Seas will briefly visit the region in May when it sails from Dubai to Athens, via the Suez Canal, as part of its “Ultimate World Cruise” voyages. At this time, Royal Caribbean has given no indication that those cruises are being cancelled or modified.

Similarly MSC Cruises has confirmed that it will still be deploying two ships to the Middle East as planned for the 2023/24 cruise season (MSC Virtuosa and MSC Opera out of Dubai in the UAE), despite the cancellation of its Saudi Arabia season.

Other cruise lines have also confirmed they’re operating on a business-as-usual basis.  Viking notes  its river cruise departures along  the Nile in Egypt  are proceeding as planned, with only select overland extensions to Jerusalem having been cancelled.

“All of our departures in Egypt are operating as scheduled,” the cruise line said in a statement. “Our top priority is the safety and wellbeing of our guests, crew and partners on the ground; should additional extension cancellations become necessary, impacted guests and their Travel Advisors will be contacted directly by Viking Customer Relations.”

It’s important to note that the security situation in Israel is extremely volatile, particularly due to the involvement of Iran, which has proxy forces such as Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, ready to potentially expand the conflict to additional countries.

Passengers should therefore monitor travel advisories from their respective governments and keep an eye on regional events ahead of their cruise to make an informed decision regarding whether to travel, while also anticipating that cruises in the region could be cancelled or modified at the last minute due to unfolding events.

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Categories: Middle East Cruise News , Cruise Destinations , Cruise Industry , News

Tagged as: Arabian Gulf , Dubai , Israel , Middle East

Published by Shaun Ebelthite

Founder and editor of Cruise Arabia & Africa. I try to create the best news and information specifically for cruise passengers taking cruises to and from Dubai (where I live) and South Africa (where I was born). You can contact me at shaun(at)cruisearabiaonline.com. View all posts by Shaun Ebelthite

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The news comes after about 100 Holland America Line passengers got sick in a norovirus outbreak earlier this year.

Cruise ship medical facilities: What happens if you get sick or injured (or bitten by a monkey)

The CDC logged 14 cruise ship outbreaks that met its threshold for public notification in 2023, more than any year between 2017 and 2019. Norovirus was listed as the causative agent in all but one.

The virus is often associated with cruises, but Ben Lopman, a professor of epidemiology at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, told USA TODAY last year that cruises constitute a "tiny minority of norovirus outbreaks.” Most happen in health care settings like nursing homes.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nearly 30 Silversea cruise guests sick in gastrointestinal outbreak

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