Cruise ship Jewel of the Seas (Photo: Royal Caribbean)
The cruise season from Israel opens these days, with several main players competing for the heart of the Israeli cruiser. It is estimated that more than 100,000 Israelis will sail abroad this year.Royal Caribbean will operate theRHAPSODY of the seas, which will sail from Haifa Port to Cyprus and the Greek Islands until the end of the cruise season at the end of October.
This is the second year that the RHAPSODY of the Seas sails from Israel, and although the ship can accommodate about 2,000 passengers and 750 crew members, next year the company intends to place an even larger ship in Israel, the Jewel of the Seas, which can host 2,702 vacationers and 842 crew members. This year, Royal Caribbean will host a record number of 50,000 vacationers from Haifa – the highest number of vacationers in a single shipping company operating from Israel ever.
An 11-story ship that can accommodate about 2,000 passengers. "Crown Iris" in Haifa Port (Photo: Boris Photo)
The largest cruise ship to sail from Israel
MSC is already operating in Haifa waters, and at the end of April launched the largest cruise ship to sail from Israel this year – MSC MUSICA. The ship weighs 92,409 tons and can accommodate up to 3,200 guests. MSC MUSICA cruises depart from Haifa Port weekly from Thursdays until the beginning of November, to popular destinations in the Mediterranean basin such as Mykonos, Santorini, Piraeus, Limassol and more.
Mano Maritime also began sailing in March to Mediterranean destinations, operating theCrown Iris – an 11-story ship that can accommodate about 2,000 passengers and 650 crew members. The ship has three restaurants, three meals a day, international shows, two swimming pools, a Jacuzzi, a water slide, a basketball court, duty-free shops, a casino, bars and a synagogue and kosher food. Mano Maritime will sail to Mediterranean destinations, but there will also be two special 11-night cruises to leading tourist sites: Santorini, Meteora, Mykonos, Crete, Corfu, Rhodes. Constanţa in Romania, Dvorbnik and Split in Croatia, Varna and Burgas in Bulgaria, Thessaloniki and Piraeus, Limassol and Larnaca in Cyprus.
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It can accommodate about 3,200 guests. MSC MUSICA (Photo: Yoav Etiel)
Only 30% of them emphasize kosher food on the cruise
Royal Caribbean reports that 35,000 vacationers sailed with the company last year from Haifa, with the average composition of Israelis being parents and two children, as there is a growing demand for multigenerational vacations in which grandparents join their children and grandchildren on vacation. The preferred vacation duration of Israelis is 7-5 nights and only 30% of them emphasize kosher food.
"For the second year, we have been dealing with very significant demand. I am pleased with Royal's decision to expand its operations in Israel, so that in the coming years as well, we will offer a quality vacation to millions of Israelis who have not yet experienced an American sailing vacation," says Udi Schnabel, CEO of Sanorama Aviation Links, which represents Royal Caribbean in Israel.
A 6-night vacation with Royal Caribbean during the month of May will cost a family with two children about NIS 9,996, while an all-inclusive vacation in a hotel in Eilat during the same period will cost NIS 3,000 more.
which can host 2,702 vacationers. Cruise ship Jewel of the Seas (Photo: Royal Caribbean)
So which is cheaper: an air or sea vacation in Cyprus?
Cyprus is a popular destination for Israelis during the warmer months, and many flights depart from Israel, including from Haifa airport, as we published here yesterday. So which is cheaper: getting to the island by air or by sea? Well, during the current season, Royal Caribbean is taking out a number of dedicated cruises to Cyprus of 3-2 nights, including a stop in Limassol, a sea day (in the case of 3 nights) and a return to Haifa. The price of the entire cruise per person per room starts at USD 253 on full board, which includes free meals and all entertainment activities and attractions on board.
On the other hand, flights to Cyprus alone will cost per person starting at $250 in June, or starting at $300 from Haifa Airport. There's no doubt that a cruise is more affordable, as it includes the meals and activities offered by each ship. However, those who will benefit from the competition, sea and air, are only the Israeli traveler whose vacation price this year has become very expensive.
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