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Rockets were fired indiscriminately into Israel and gunmen were also sent into Israel's territory. There has been a longstanding history of unrest between the two sides, one that has spanned decades. As such, traveling to the region has always come with some level of risk, although cruise lines are quick to make decisions for safety purposes. On Friday evening, Royal Caribbean announced that the October 9, 2023 and October 13, 2023 sailings on Rhapsody of the Seas were both canceled. Both of these itineraries were scheduled to set sail on round-trip itineraries from Haifa, Israel in the coming days. Finally, Royal Caribbean will refund any paid portion of the cruise fare, including non-refundable deposits, if they decide to cancel.
‘My kids don’t know there’s a war on’
In a letter to employees, Liberty said that "with enhanced safety precautions in place, our ship is providing free passage, including accommodation and food, for Americans in the region wishing to leave and find safer ground. “Now, with enhanced safety precautions in place, our ship is providing free passage, including accommodation and food, for Americans in the region wishing to leave and find safer ground,” Liberty wrote. In a letter to employees, Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty announced that Rhapsody of the Seas would be used to safely evacuate American citizens. The ship had its sailings in the region canceled after the Hamas attack from Gaza Strip on Israel last week and the Israeli response that together have left thousands of Israelis and Palestinians dead.
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In addition to port stops in Israel, many cruise itineraries include ports in locations such as Haifa, Aqaba, Limassol and Alanya. “Each traveler must be a U.S. national or the immediate family member (spouse/partner, children under age 21) of a U.S. national and have a valid passport,” the alert said. The embassy said travelers would be responsible for arranging their own accommodations and travel from Cyprus, but that chartered flights were also being arranged. Shortly after RCI-Royal Caribbean's cancellation of cruises departing from Israel, the cruise line redirected a ship back to the country, albeit for a different purpose. As the conflict between Israel and Hamas escalated, US nationals residing in Israel sought a means of leaving the region, and the US State Department requested assistance from RCI to evacuate Americans from Israel. Royal Caribbean International is using its Haifa-based cruise ship, Rhapsody of the Seas, to assist in evacuating Americans from Israel in light of the ongoing conflict in the region.
More clouds, but stays warm and dry Sunday
According to the Orlando Sentinel, Rhapsody of the Seas had canceled its sailings in the region after the Hamas attack from the Gaza Strip on Israel last week. Since the attacks began, Israel’s response has left thousands of Israelis and Palestinians dead. At this time, no other cruise ships have been requested for similar evacuations, but the situation is fluid and new plans may be developed at any time. Rhapsody of the Seas is not the only ship that has been impacted by the unexpected attacks in Israel. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises also announced on Saturday that itinerary changes would be made to the current sailings on Celebrity Apex and Odyssey of the Seas. Because of the attacks by Palestinian militants, the Israel government has now declared war.
Royal Caribbean cruise ship helped Americans get out of Israel - The Edwardsville Intelligencer
Royal Caribbean cruise ship helped Americans get out of Israel.
Posted: Wed, 18 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
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. When you enter the sanctuary, take in the smell of frankincense and the contemplative candlelight. Take the cable car up to Mt Carmel (546 meters) and enjoy the magnificent views. Visit the Stella Maris Carmelite Monastery, Latin for "Star of the Sea." Admire the church's beautifully painted ceiling and dome.
Charter options and assistance to arrange such travel will be available. Odyssey of the Seas is now scheduled to visit Bodrum, Turkey and Limassol, Cyprus instead of its scheduled stops in Haifa and Ashdod in Israel. Guests received letters in their stateroom regarding the updated itinerary. Those who purchased airfare through Air2Sea will receive an automatic refund, along with those who purchased Royal Caribbean’s Travel Protection. Guests who used Future Cruise Credit will receive a refund for new funds paid above the certificate amount and Royal Caribbean will also reinstate the original certificate.
Below, you'll find more information on cruises to Israel, including expert reviews, travel tips and more, all curated by Cruise Critic. A Royal Caribbean International cruise ship helped evacuate U.S. nationals from Israel on Monday. The State Department said Sunday the number of Americans killed in the conflict since it began has risen to 30, and that it believed several Americans were among the nearly 200 people Hamas kidnapped after the surprise attack on Oct. 7. Department of State to send a cruise ship to Israel to rescue Americans who have not been able to leave the country.
Food and Wi-Fi were available while U.S. consular staff were available both on the ship and at the Limassol Port in Cyprus to assist and provide information about onward travel to the United States. A native of Florida, he oversees kosher catering for the Royal Caribbean fleet of more than 60 ships. During the six-month Haifa sailing season, he and his wife live and work aboard the Rhapsody. The line’s Rhapsody of the Seas vessel had been sailing in the region but canceled its itineraries in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war. On Sunday, a State Department spokesperson announced the death toll for Americans killed in the conflict stands at 30, NBC News reported. An additional 13 Americans are still missing, while many are presumed to be kidnapped by Hamas militants and held in Gaza.
About Israel Cruises
Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. We make sure cruisers are fully prepared for their cruise vacation with tips on ships and ports.Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world. Rather than flights, the cruise ship is being used for this evacuation because air travel has been largely suspended to Israel at this time, and most US airlines have cancelled flights both to and from Tel Aviv. Celebrity Apex was sailing to Haifa, Israel as its next port stop before the itinerary change was announced. One guest on Celebrity Apex posted on a message board that the ship’s scheduled stops in Israel are now canceled.
As a result of the continued escalation of the war in Israel, Royal Caribbean has canceled their 2024 cruise season in Israel. The move comes as the Israeli military is preparing for an all-out ground assault on Gaza in retaliation for last week’s deadly attacks by Hamas that killed at least 1,400 people, including at least 30 Americans. The Royal Caribbean International cruise ship was sailing on the request of the U.S. embassy in Israel.
There has been a new wave of violence in the region due to the surprise attacks on Israel by Hamas terrorists. However, this isn’t the first time cruise lines have changed course due to unrest in the region. Royal is among many cruise lines that have altered itineraries since Hamas' Oct. 7 surprise attack on Israel and the ensuing war. The Rhapsody of the Seas canceled two cruises departing from Haifa this month.
They'll cover up to $200 USD per guest for domestic changes and up to $400 USD for international changes. The embassy had informed U.S. residents that the voyage was based on space available on the ship, which had its cruises cancelled out of Haifa due to the geopolitical situation. Royal Caribbean was one of the first cruise lines to cancel cruises that visited Israel over the weekend when Hamas launched a surprise attack that targeted civilians and military personnel.
Royal Caribbean stated that guests affected by the canceled sailings on Rhapsody of the Seas will receive a 100% refund, including taxes and fees. In addition, all refunds will be processed for pre-paid packages, gratuities, amenities and shore excursions. “Now, with enhanced safety precautions in place, our ship is providing free passage, including accommodation and food, for Americans in the region wishing to leave and find safer ground,” Liberty wrote, according to the Orlando Sentinel. The next scheduled sailing for the cruise ship is its Sunday, November 12, 2023 departure from Barcelona, Spain.
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