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Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. The Rhapsody of the Seas ship can accommodate more than 2,400 passengers, according to Royal Caribbean’s website. The cruise line did not say to were the ship would head after departing Israel.
Best Deals to Jerusalem (Ashdod), Israel
With air travel halted to Israel, a maritime connection became the most viable alternative, given that major U.S. airlines temporarily suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv. While government officials and agencies are working to evacuate Americans from Israel and Palestine, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis welcomed a plane carrying 270 American passengers, including 91 kids, over the weekend. In addition, Celebrity Apex’s next sailing on October 16, 2023 will replace Israel ports with stops in Greece, including Mykonos, Santorini and Rhodes.
Celebrity Apex and Odyssey of the Seas impacted too
Enjoy Middle Eastern fare like falafel wraps slathered in tahini sauce or lamb shawarma brightened up with herbaceous parsley in the Wadi Nisnas or Hadar neighborhoods. For desert, taste sweet baklava, with layers of flaky pastry and pistachio sweetened with honey, or knefah, a light cheesecake soaked in sweet syrup. At a time when newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall. That means for the first time in our 126-year history, Forward journalism is free to everyone, everywhere. With an ongoing war, rising antisemitism, and a flood of disinformation that may affect the upcoming election, we believe that free and open access to Jewish journalism is imperative.
Trump cancels rally because of weather, proving the …
The US Embassy reported that the boarding process commenced on Monday morning, and the ship Rhapsody of the Seas was assigned to transport Americans to Limassol Cyprus. The cruise line did not say where the ship would be docking after departing from Israel. Travelers have been asked to sign an “Evacuee Manifest and Promissory Note” as an agreement to repay the US government for the cost of the evacuation travel, though the costs of the travel are not immediately available. "It’s a big relief to be out of there in a safe place. No alarms, no sounds of the planes going about all the time," said Naama Kopelman, whom the AP reports has relatives in Israel believed to have been taken hostage by Hamas. The third and final itinerary departs from Boston on October 13 and will visit Sydney, Nova Scotia; Saint John (Bay of Fundy), New Brunswick; and Portland, Maine. It's said to hold the remains of the Bab, the spiritual predecessor to the Baha'i faith's prophet Baha'ullah.
‘You don’t leave family behind’
Royal Caribbean cancels Israel cruises due to attacks on Israel - Royal Caribbean Blog
Royal Caribbean cancels Israel cruises due to attacks on Israel.
Posted: Sun, 08 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Some were offered a charter flight to Vienna — a place some of their family members may have fled 80 years ago. At 7 p.m., about 50 guests gathered in the Windjammer Café to sample the seafood paella, cheeseburgers, pork ribs, and freshly made donuts. On Oct. 7, the day Israel was attacked by Hamas, Rabbi Weberman said, 800 had gathered to pray in the ship’s theater. – two hours ahead of schedule — accompanied by a U.S. warship off the port side, and (less visibly) by the Israeli navy and air force. There were Christian pilgrims like Thu and Donna Nguyen, who live in California, and whose group of 24 mostly Europeans had gotten out earlier via Jordan.
Those originally booked on Grandeur of the Seas out of Boston have a few options
When visiting religious sites, dress modestly and for women especially, wear sleeves below the elbow and skirts below the knees. Also this weekend, the first of what Gov. Ron DeSantis said would be several rescue charter flight arrived in Tampa, bringing with it 270 passengers from Israel, most of whom were Americans. Several foreigners in the country were stranded as airlines canceled service to the beleaguered country.
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. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer. 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. 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). An email sent to those booked on the August 19th sailing revealed that the ship will now have an overnight stay in Istanbul, Turkey, with additional stops in Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey; Santorini, Greece; and Mykonos, Greece.
Royal Caribbean's sister brand, Celebrity Cruises, called off a visit to Israel that Celebrity Apex had scheduled earlier in the week. These Israel-bound itineraries were replaced with visits to alternative destinations like Turkey or Greece. What started as a yearly vacation with family quickly turned into a passion for travel, cruising and adventure. She even studied abroad on Semester at Sea, sailing the world on a ship while taking courses for college and visiting 4 continents. If choosing not to rebook, Royal Caribbean will provide a full refund of the paid portion of the cruise fare (including non-refundable deposits), as well as any pre-paid amenities to the original form of payment. Royal Caribbean will also help reimburse non-refundable, pre-purchased transportation change fees for flights, trains, rental cars, etc.
When one table spoke too loudly of missiles and bomb shelters, a mother traveling with her two young children asked them to keep it down. Matt started Royal Caribbean Blog in 2010 as a place to share his passion for all things Royal Caribbean with readers. He oversees all the writers at Royal Caribbean Blog, and writes a great deal of content on a daily basis. The best time to cruise to Israel is during the spring and fall when temperatures are moderate.
Royal Caribbean has plans to return to Israel in 2024 with a new season of cruises on Jewel of the Seas. Cruise lines that have cancelled their scheduled visits to Israel are mostly re-routing to Turkey or Greece. Layers are the key when it comes to what to pack for a cruise to Israel. Even if you're traveling in the summer, you never know when you may come across a breezy day or chilly evening so it's best to be prepared with a light sweater or jacket. If you choose to cruise during the winter in Israel, expect heavy rain and bring an umbrella and waterproof jacket.
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. "Unfortunately, this means your upcoming October 7, 2024 sailing has been cancelled." The US State Department said that in addition to the ship, chartered flights from Israel will be available for American citizens on Monday and Tuesday. The passage from Haifa to Limassol Port in Cyprus was expected to take between 10 and 12 hours, with food and internet service available to passengers on board.
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