Cruise lines have suspended port calls to Israel during the current conflict and travel advisories.
Celebrity Apex and Holland America Line’s Nieuw Statendam skipped calls in Haifa and Ashdod earlier this week.
Royal Caribbean has cancelled two Rhapsody of the Seas sailings departing from Haifa. The ship docked in Haifa on October 9 to disembark passengers after a roundtrip exploring the Greek Isles.
According to the company statement, guests’ payments would be refunded within 14 business days, including taxes and fees, pre-paid packages and gratuities, amenities, shore excursions and any flights purchased through Royal Caribbean.
Celestyal has temporarily suspended port calls in Israel until the end of November, closely monitoring the situation for any necessary itinerary adjustments beyond that date.
MSC Cruises modified its itineraries, replacing Haifa stops with visits to Limassol, Cyprus, and Bodrum, Turkey for MSC Musica and MSC Sinfona respectively.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises has excluded Haifa and Ashdod from its itineraries for the Seven Seas Voyager this week and next.
Several other cruise lines, including Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Jade, Oceania Nautica, Sirena, Rhapsody of the Seas, and Odyssey of the Seas, have also modified their itineraries to bypass Israeli ports.
Haifa and Ashdod had anticipated hosting around 700,000 cruise passengers this year.
