Celebrity Cruises Ship Cancels Israel Due to Developing Situation

Table Of Content

• Why are Houthis attacking cargo ships in the Red Sea?
• Night Mediterranean - Eastern CruiseDetails
• Impact on Dubai cruises in Arabian Gulf
• Are Middle East Cruises Canceled? A Line-by-Line Breakdown
• Israel-Hamas war begins to impact wider Middle East cruise industry
• Night Egypt & The Holy Land: Rhodes OvernightDetails
• Three MSC Ships Will Transfer Directly to Europe With No Passengers Or Port Calls

Due to these developments, our experts have made the decision not to visit Alexandria, considering the safety and security of our guests and crew as our number one priority,” the letter explains. 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. In its statement, Virgin Voyages said that passengers on the former legs of the original repositioning voyage will have guaranteed spots on the new sailings at no additional cost and a price protection commitment in place. Cruisers also have the option to receive a future cruise credit based on their paid balance or a full refund. The outbreak of the violence immediately prompted cruise lines to cancel port calls in Israel and cruises from the country.

Why are Houthis attacking cargo ships in the Red Sea?

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. In terms of its ocean cruises, Viking modified the remaining 2023 departures of its Cities of Antiquities & the Holy Land itinerary between Rome and Athens to drop a day in Ashdod and overnight in Haifa. Instead on the 14-night sailings on the 930-passenger Viking Venus, Viking Neptune, and Viking Saturn, between Rome and Athens, the company is subbing an overnight in Valletta, Malta, and expanding a visit to Cyprus into an overnight call.

Night Mediterranean - Eastern CruiseDetails

Carnival Corporation announced on January 30, 2024 that it would re-route 12 individual cruise ships across its family of brands in order to avoid the Red Sea and conflict in the Middle East. "Given recent developments and following extensive consultation with global security experts and government authorities, we have made the decision to reroute our itinerary to bypass the Red Sea and the surrounding area," the company wrote. The cruise line also shared that it is currently reassessing other geographically similar repositioning voyages and will provide an update in the coming weeks on further changes. The ship was originally scheduled to sail from Dubai to Athens on March 13, but will now circumnavigate Africa.

Impact on Dubai cruises in Arabian Gulf

Here Are the Cruise Lines that Have Cancelled All 2024 Israel Ports of Call (& Those that Haven't) - Travel Market Report

Here Are the Cruise Lines that Have Cancelled All 2024 Israel Ports of Call (& Those that Haven't).

Posted: Wed, 15 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

"Unfortunately, you could have a situation where the flights are going ahead, but the passenger can't get there because the cruise has been cancelled or amended," she said. She said for this reason (and obvious others) it was extremely important for passengers to take out travel insurance with cruise protection. MSC said it cancelled three repositioning "Grand Voyage" sailings in April to avoid the Red Sea. The small, luxury brand Oceania Cruises’s next available trips with stops in Israel are in 2025, according to their website.

Are Middle East Cruises Canceled? A Line-by-Line Breakdown

Those booked on the May 5th cruise were notified via email that they will now have an extra hour in Chania (Souda), Crete, Greece. Additionally, the ship will call in Mykonos, Greece and Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey instead of visiting Israel. Those originally booked on Grandeur of the Seas will be able to select one of three different itineraries. The first departs on September 22, 2024 and visits Halifax, Nova Scotia; Saint John (Bay of Fundy), New Brunswick; and Portland, Maine. "Unfortunately, this means your upcoming October 7, 2024 sailing has been cancelled."

Celebrity Cruises Ship Cancels Israel Due to Developing Situation

Originally scheduled to traverse the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, the ship will now sail around the coast of Africa on its way to the Mediterranean. A spokesperson for the parent company of Royal Caribbean was vague when asked by TPG about its plans for Israel calls this week and beyond. The ship’s 28-day cruise from Rome to Athens had featured the line’s last stop in Israel for the year. Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school.

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

Enjoy amenities like delicious dining, spacious all-suite accommodations at The Retreat, and plenty of sun and relaxation at the Rooftop Garden or Rooftop Terrace. Treat yourself to a one-of-a-kind experience on The Magic Carpet, Celebrity's groundbreaking moveable deck, cantilevered high over the sea as you cruise. Norwegian remains optimistic that the Israel conflict will be short term, company executives said on the earnings call, so the company is bullish about the ability to return to the Middle East soon. "Since Royal set Haifa to be a home port I fell in love with cruising and this was supposed to be my fourth time on Rhapsody." In addition to Jewel, Odyssey of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas have itineraries with planned stops in Israel.

Exclusive: Norwegian Cruise Lines unit alters 2024 itineraries to skip Israel - email - Reuters

Exclusive: Norwegian Cruise Lines unit alters 2024 itineraries to skip Israel - email.

Posted: Tue, 31 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

"Firstly, as a business, our thoughts are with those impacted by the events in Israel," said Celestyal CEO Chris Theophilides in a statement provided to Cruise Critic. "We wish for the safety of all the souls affected and a rapid return of peace to the country. MSC says the changes were made due to the ongoing situation in Israel and uncertainty with countries in the surrounding area, as countries impose entry restrictions and governments issue travel warnings and advisories to various parts of the region. "The ship was originally scheduled to sail in the Middle East. We’ve postponed our launch in that region to begin in November 2024,” said Windstar Cruises President Christopher Prelog.

Three MSC Ships Will Transfer Directly to Europe With No Passengers Or Port Calls

Walk among ancient ruins in Athens or Rome, visit the Library of Alexandria, and in Israel, explore Old Jaffa and the long, golden beaches of Tel Aviv. No matter what you're looking for, Celebrity Cruises will show you the best of Israel and the Eastern Mediterranean in style and comfort. On a cruise to Israel, you will visit some of the world's most important religious sites in Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. In Jerusalem, visit the Western Wall and Dome of the Rock, and walk the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Take time to see the profoundly moving Yad Vashem World Holocaust Remembrance Center.

The ships were due to travel from Muscat to Dubai and from Dubai to Mumbai in January and February. The ships were due to travel from South Africa and the United Arab Emirates to Europe. Several companies offer cruises through the Red Sea and Suez Canal including the Royal Caribbean, MSC and P&O. 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.

According to them, the ship's captain addressed the crew over the PA system and explained that the crisis between Israel and Palestine had become too volatile and the ship would redeploy elsewhere. The program was replaced with a new series of itineraries in the Western Mediterranean. Introducing Valencia as a homeport, the seven-night cruises feature visits to destinations in Italy, Spain and France. Because the current situation is developing from hour to hour, it is not yet known whether other changes will be necessary to cruise ship itineraries that include Israel in the coming weeks. The remainder of the itinerary – which includes visits to Alexandria, Egypt and Kusadasi, Turkey – is also being adjusted to arrive in Egypt earlier than planned for a longer stay, giving guests the opportunity for more exploration of that vibrant destination.

Other cruise lines with departures cancelled due to the conflict include Mano Cruises. Serving the Israeli market, the company suspended all of its cruise operations in October. MSC Cruises also cancelled the upcoming winter seasons of two of its ships, the MSC Orchestra and the MSC Sinfonia. Cruises to Israel embark in the ancient cities of Athens or Rome and sail along the shores of the eastern Mediterranean sea. You’ll sail for 10, 11, or 12 nights and stop at ports like Ashdod, Alexandria, Kusadasi, Limassol, Haifa, and more, depending on your itinerary.

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Royal Caribbean’s 1,998-passenger Rhapsody of the Seas was set to run a season of cruises out of Haifa, Israel, into November. That plan was promptly canceled on October 7, when Hamas militants from Gaza attacked villages in southern Israel. Rhapsody of the Seas was used for humanitarian aid, evacuating international travelers from Israel to Cyprus, after international airlines canceled flights from Tel Aviv. Following a transatlantic sailing from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale, embarking on November 12, the Rhapsody of the Seas will then sail the Caribbean and Central America, as planned, through 2024. “As our global security team continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in Israel and the surrounding regions, we have been alerted to further situations unfolding in Alexandria, Egypt.

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. 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. The line is also "in the process of reviewing itinerary options" for its Marina ship's Nov. 1 cruise, which is set to spend two days in Israel, the spokesperson said. Any pre-paid Royal Caribbean International shore excursions booked for Jerusalem (Ashdod), Limassol, Alexandria, and Haifa will automatically be refunded to the original form of payment.

Israel Cruises: Best Cruises to Israel 2023 & 2024

Table Of Content

• Celebrity, Holland America Line and Celestyal Drastically Alter Itineraries
• Related Cruises
• What if my cruise isn't cancelled but I don't feel safe travelling?
• Three Australian activists are sailing into a war zone. They think having the world's eyes on them will keep them safe
• Impact on Dubai cruises in Arabian Gulf
• Three MSC Ships Will Transfer Directly to Europe With No Passengers Or Port Calls

Sister brand Celebrity Cruises cancelled a visit to Israel that Celebrity Apex had scheduled for earlier this week. Celestyal Cruises has cancelled all Israel visits for its two ships through the end of November, and may extend that suspension if circumstances warrant additional precautions. “The safety of our passengers and crew is always our top priority and we have worked rapidly to revise the itineraries of MSC Sinfonia and MSC Musica to offer an extremely attractive alternative for the winter months,” said Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC Cruises.

Celebrity, Holland America Line and Celestyal Drastically Alter Itineraries

She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer. During their earnings call, CEO Harry Sommer said, "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." Voyager of the Seas was supposed to call in Jerusalem (Ashdod), Israel during three 7-night round-trip cruises from Athens (Piraeus), Greece in June and August. Instead of sailing from Israel, Jewel of the Seas will now sail Northeastern itineraries. Grandeur of the Seas will be redeployed to Tampa and sail to the Western Caribbean.

Related Cruises

British line Marella Cruises is the latest in a string of cruise lines to adjust itineraries amid the ongoing Red Sea conflict and crisis in the Middle East. Ongoing unrest in the Middle East has led to a series of changes and cancellations to cruise line itineraries, with more lines opting to re-route their Red Sea itineraries, including World Cruises, away from the conflict. Other lines with ships scheduled to visit Israel in the coming weeks include Azamara, Silversea Cruises, Viking, Windstar Cruises and Costa Cruises. Oceania canceled a three-day visit to Israel scheduled for the line's 684-passenger Sirena starting Oct. 17.

What if my cruise isn't cancelled but I don't feel safe travelling?

They'll cover up to $200 USD per guest for domestic changes or $400 per guest USD for international changes. Royal Caribbean will also help reimburse non-refundable, pre-purchased transportation change fees for flights, trains, rental cars, etc. They'll cover up to $200 USD per guest for domestic changes and up to $400 USD for international changes. For those who had their booking paid in full and decide to rebook a cruise with a cheaper fare, Royal Caribbean will provide a refund of the difference within 14 business days. CrewCenter reported on the season cancelation yesterday after receiving tips from several Odyssey crewmembers.

Theophilides said the company, which specializes in Eastern Mediterranean cruises and traditionally has a ship sailing weekly to Israel at this time of year, made the decision "on the advice of our internal teams and the relevant authorities." Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line and other brands have notified guests of itinerary changes for sailings in the region amid other disruptions to travel, including flights. On Wednesday, November 1, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings announced that they would cancel the remaining sailings in 2023 and the entire Israel season in 2024. Guests will also be reimbursed for non-refundable, pre-purchased transportation change fees.

Last week, rival cruise line Royal Caribbean Group said canceled sailings to Israel will negatively impact its earnings for the year by 3 cents a share. Cruise Critic is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. Our partners who list cruise pricing on Cruise Critic are required to provide prices for cruise only or cruise packages, per person, double occupancy, and are based on specific cabin types and sailing dates, and may not be available for all cabin types/sailings. When you book with one of our partners, please be sure to check their site for a full disclosure of all applicable fees as required by the U.S. The best time to cruise to Israel is during the spring and fall when temperatures are moderate, unlike the summer which comes with intense heat. In addition to port stops in Israel, many cruise itineraries include ports in locations such as Haifa, Aqaba, Limassol and Alanya.

MSC to Construct New Hospital Ship for People in Africa

In the Red Sea, attacks by Iran's Houthi allies have successfully disrupted container shipping, supposedly to show support for Palestinians in Gaza. Cruise ship companies are starting to cancel or amend trips through the Red Sea and Suez Canal following a string of attacks on shipping by Houthi rebels in Yemen. Royal Caribbean International and Norwegian Cruise Line have made changes to 2024 itineraries as the Israel-Hamas war in the Middle East continues. The line is also rerouting segments on the 2024 World Cruise on Crystal Serenity to avoid the Middle East. When you choose to apply (and are approved) for a new credit card through our site, we may receive compensation from our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don’t cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication.

The U.S. State Department has issued advisories for the region, warning against travel to Gaza and urging increased caution in visiting Israel and the West Bank. The best time to cruise to Israel is during the spring and fall when temperatures are moderate. Travellers can also seek the latest advice on the Smartraveller website, which regularly assesses the risk to Australians overseas.

Other cruise lines have canceled visits to Israel and in some cases also ports in Egypt and Aqaba, Jordan, in October and into November, while urging passengers to stay tuned for possible further itinerary changes. On November 1, Norwegian Cruise Line became the first major cruise company to say it was canceling all port calls in Israel through 2024. MSC Cruises canceled visits to Israel in 2023 and into 2024 and moved two ships out of the Middle East. Now cruise lines are canceling port calls in Israel and elsewhere and, in some cases, entire cruise seasons in the Middle East, as the result of Israel’s war with the militant group Hamas and ensuing security concerns. Two MSC Cruises ships, MSC Musica and MSC Sinfonia, have had multiple itineraries adjusted to remove upcoming visits to Israel. This has been decided based on the ongoing regional conflict and to ensure the safety of guests and crew members.

If the Grandeur of the Seas booking was made with a Future Cruise Credit and opt to cancel will have their original certificate reinstated, with any new funds paid above the certificate amount refunded. Those who choose to rebook will receive their original stateroom category, as it will be price protected at the original cruise fare rate, excluding taxes, fees, gratuities. If the booking was paid in full and the rate decreases, Royal Caribbean will refund the difference. Odyssey of the Seas' four Holy Land sailings in May, September, and October were impacted, too, as the ship was supposed to visit both Hafia and Jerusalem (Ashdod).

Royal Caribbean Cancels Two Israel Ports Due to Tensions - Cruise Hive

Royal Caribbean Cancels Two Israel Ports Due to Tensions.

Posted: Sat, 07 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Stand in awe at the site of Jesus' baptism in the Jordan River and gaze out over the Sea of Galilee. Israel cruises will take you to ports like Ashdod, the gateway to Jerusalem, where you can walk in the footsteps of prophets and kings; and Haifa, where you can see the beautiful Bahá'í Gardens. You’ll also have the opportunity to take an excursion to see the biblical sights around Nazareth and the tranquil Sea of Galilee. No matter what you choose to do, a cruise to Israel is sure to be an adventure with the luxury amenities and world-class service that Celebrity is known for.

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. The ship will skip its planned stop in Haifa on Oct. 14 and 15, instead sailing to Istanbul. The Oct. 15 sailing will begin in Istanbul rather than Haifa and sail directly to Cairo. Musica will also cancel its planned visits to Haifa on Oct. 19 and 26, replacing them with Rhodes, and a Nov. 2 stop, visiting Marmaris instead. State Department has advisories in place for the region, encouraging travelers to exercise increased caution when visiting Israel and the West Bank and warning against travel to Gaza. If guests choose to rebook, they'll be responsible for any difference in pricing for the cruise fare, taxes, fees, gratuities, and other incidentals.

"If it's a safety situation and the civil unrest and government and travel bans and travel warnings … are stopping the ships from going there, then they could argue that the changes have been made due to someone other than the cruise line," Ms Roy said. For passengers booked on the three cancelled MSC ships, the answer is yes, although there are a few other options available. "Our global security team continues to closely monitor the situation in the region and we will make additional changes if required," Royal Caribbean told Reuters. 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.

A spokesperson said "ongoing attacks on merchant vessels" had forced it to cancel three cruises, including a 24-night cruise from South Africa to Italy and a 23-night voyage from Dubai to the United Kingdom. It's sparked concern for the safety of passengers sailing the popular tourist route, with several major ports located in the area. Windstar Cruises, which was to deploy its Star Legend on its first series of Middle East voyages next month from Dubai, sent a note to passengers on October 16 advising them that their cruises had been canceled.