Cruise Companies To Alter Their Itineraries

The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas has forced cruise companies to make adjustments to their schedules, with some even cancelling their calls entirely.

In light of aircraft cancellations and other travel difficulties, several cruise lines have informed passengers of rescheduled departures in the area.

Airlines have provided exemptions to customers, and the U.S. State Department has issued recommendations urging heightened vigilance for anyone travelling to Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza.

But how does the conflict in Israel influence cruises?

According to a Holland America Line representative, the Nieuw Statendam would instead stop in Alanya, Turkey, instead of Ashdod, Israel. On Tuesday, the ship will get to Limassol, Cyprus, a day early, and on Wednesday, it will go to Rhodes, Greece, a day early. The cruise ship made its last annual visit to Israel on the 28-day journey from Rome to Athens.

According to an email sent out by a Princess Cruises representative, the line's upcoming "Mediterranean and Israel" sailings on the Island Princess would no longer include a stop in Israel.

The representative added that as soon as the revised schedules were ready, they would be communicated to the impacted guests and their travel agents.

A representative for Norwegian Cruise Line said that the Norwegian Gem spent Sunday at sea instead of at Ashdod, as originally scheduled. The Monday departure for Limassol went well as planned. According to CruiseMapper, the ship is now eleven days into a voyage from Rome to Istanbul.

Norwegian Jade will instead visit Bodrum, Turkey on Tuesday and Marmaris, Turkey on Wednesday in lieu of Ashdod and Haifa. The ship, which has departed Athens for a weeklong round journey, will be at sea on Thursday.

According to official statement, the company's team is keeping a close eye on developments in Israel and follow stringent safety procedures while coordinating with local authorities on security issues at all ports of call.

The Nautica, an Oceania Cruises ship, departed Israel on Saturday, a day earlier than planned. A representative for the cruise company claimed that everyone on board was well. The Sirena's itinerary from Piraeus to Istanbul on October 14 will now include calls at Santorini, Heraklion, and Mykonos rather of Haifa and Ashdod in Israel.

The company is "in the midst of analyzing itinerary possibilities" for the November 1 cruise aboard the Marina, which is scheduled to spend two days in Israel.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises decided to change Seven Seas Voyager's October 3 and October 15 itineraries and substitute the previously planned stops to Israel.

Instead of docking in Haifa on October 14 and 15, the ship will go straight to Istanbul. On October 15, instead of departing from Haifa, the ship will set sail from Istanbul, bound for Cairo.

Source: eu.usatoday.com