Israel Information

Jerusalem is actually the first port of call once on the cruise. I sail from Haifa to Jerusalem.

That's going to be interesting since there is no waterway between Haifa and Jerusalem. You're probably going to be driven to Jerusalem every day.

I would spend a couple of nights in Tel Aviv as there is a lot to see.

Fly nonstop from AUS to JFK to TLV on Delta and spend a minimum of two nights in Tel Aviv near the coast. The next morning walk between Nordau Beach to / from Banana Beach passing Hilton, Gordon, Frishman and Bugrashov beaches.

Take a direct train from Tel Aviv to Haifa (1h 15m). I've never been but the botanical garden is well worth visiting I've heard.

Jersusalem is nowhere near the sea…

I suggest spending your time in Tel Aviv.

well, that is interesting about Jerusalem. You see what I do not know. I copied the first few days of my itinerary.

Perhaps we board the ship Day 1 at Haifa but use the ship strictly as a hotel. Perhaps Day 2 are excursions from Haifa to Jerusalem while hoteling on the ship. Then we finally really set sail after 9 pm the second day from Haifa to Port Said. where I think that we sail the Suez Canal.

It is a good thing that I begin planning early.

CRUISE ITINERARY OVERVIEW
DAY 1
Port of Call
Tel-Aviv (Haifa), Israel
11:00 PM Embark
DAY 2
Port of Call
Jerusalem (Ashdod), Israel
07:00 AM - 09:00 PM
DAY 3
Port of Call
Port Said, Egypt
08:00 AM - 09:00 PM

You will be departing Haifa at 11 PM and going to the port of Ashdod which is just south of Tel Aviv. From there they will drive you to Jerusalem if you go on the shore excursions.

Ashdod to Jerusalem is about half the distance than from Haifa to Jerusalem.

Addendum: If you see a place in parenthesis next to a city--Tel Aviv (Haifa), Jerusalem (Ashdod)--the place in parenthesis is the actual port.

I don’t have any advice to offer, except just popping in to say that I have been eyeing that exact cruise itinerary! I wish it flew into a different city though. There is a really cool cruise on Royal Caribbean that is a R/T from Rome but the dates don’t work for us.

Frank II

Have you traveled all over the world? You are so knowledgeable .

I believe that you were among the members who was a big help when I was planning my London to Lisbon cruise that I am taking this October. That one is almost fully booked and I learned so much from this Forum. I remember when I first posted about London, I did not know one neighborhood from another. And that is how it now is with Tel Aviv.

Now have the tine to begin focusing on Tel Aviv to Istanbul which hopefully I will take in October 2024. Of course, that depends on the politics of the region and any conflicts that might arise.

Kelly'd

I have taken about 7 or 8 cruises with NCL and stick with them because I now have rewards and really know the site well. The brand is now very familiar.

I like to travel solo and NCL is great for the solo passenger. I know other lines now offer no or low single supplements but you have to call to find out about them and there are not as many cabins available to the solo passenger.

I like that I am flying to Tel Aviv but leaving from Istanbul. Gives me a chance to see more of the region. I am an old lady on a budget and do not have that many cruises or other vacations left in me. Trying to make up for lost time.

My next cruise is this October and I am sailing London (Southampton) to Lisbon.

These multi city cruises makes booking air fare more complicated and a little more expensive but I spend. a few days pre cruise and a few days post cruise. Get to see more.

bostonphil7,

Haifa is a busy port. I would try to stay a little bit away. As some have already said, I would book at least a day or three in Tel Aviv, then think about moving up to Haifa. You could also think about a day or overnight tour prior to Haifa to Nazareth and the sea of Galilee area. A lot of history both biblical and current. Also, remember that Saturday is the Sabbath in Israel, so a lot of things shut down on that day at least until sundown.

Hi - I’m currently on a land group tour and would recommend at most one night in Haifa. The ‘German colony’ is close to the cruise port and is very safe to walk around and has lots of restaurants open even on Friday evening. We stayed at a boutique contemporary hotel called Schumacher hotel with nice roof top views of the Baha’i Gardens lit up in the evening. Haven’t been to Tel Aviv yet, but agree with previous poster that there is a lot to see in Jerusalem.

Thanks for all the very valuable info.

I will probably only have four or five days in Israel before sailing thus probably spend most of the time in Tel Aviv and one night in Haifa before sailing.

Time and money both on budget. My cruise ends in Istanbul and I want to spend four nights there before flying home.

Like always will not be able to see it all and won't even try.

I have friends who are Bahai's and I have studied the Bahai path so do want to see the Bahai Center.

If I could, would love to get to Petra but might not be able to do it.

Tom MN

Maybe by October 2024, it will be easier to get to Tel Aviv from Austin. I think once upon a time, there was going to be.a non stop between Austin and Tel Aviv a couple of times a week. I thought there was a non stop between Houston and Tel Aviv.

I will probably be able to fly rewards to NYC or Boston and then pay money to Tel Aviv. My preference would be to be able to fly from Boston to Tel Aviv rather than Atlanta or NYC.

Who knows what will be happening by October 2024/???

If I could, would love to get to Petra but might not be able to do it.

Petra is worth seeing, but it is going to be at least a 2+ day trip from Tel Aviv.

Travel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is very short - estimate an hour. From Ashdod to Jerusalem is about two hours. During your four/five days you could easily see Jerusalem, Masada, the Dead Sea, other points of interest (museums, archaeological sites etc.) and possibly include a very long day trip to Petra from Tel Aviv or slightly shorter one from Jerusalem. You can then skip the shore excursion from Ashdod to Jerusalem or take it to see sites that you missed or simply want to see from a different perspective. Personally, I would fly into Tel Aviv then head right to Jerusalem and use it as a base for 3/4 nights then return to Haifa for the remaining nights before your cruise.

Spent 10 days in Israel in 1995. I am booked to visit again in October 2023.

raymon

someone else suggested I go to Jerusalem from the airport rather than to Tel Aviv and spend most of my time in Jerusalem before the cruise.

I will keep it in mind.

I do not like crowds and chaos. From what I have read and seen Jerusalem is very crowded somewhat chaotic and maniac Isn't it also very difficult to find lodging?

It seems that Tel Aviv is more relaxed with plenty of lodging of all kinds and price ranges. Again this is only from what I have read or seen.

Am I wrong?

I’ve have not yet stayed in Tel Aviv so I’m not able to compare the two. Later this year I will have that opportunity. When I visited Jerusalem (1995) we stayed well away from the congested hustle and bustle of the city but easy to get around. We did not stay in the historic area or downtown. I found it quite relaxing. However I don’t remember where. A quick search shows very nice hotels readily available with varying price ranges. My visual impression was that Tel Aviv would be more overwhelming. I was quite happy to not be staying there. However I look forward to my upcoming visit.

There are plenty of hotels in Jerusalem. Yes, it can get crowded but it is visited by people from all over the world.

More importantly, will you be in Israel either during October 1-4 or October 10-12 of next year? Those are the days of Rosh Hashonah and Yom Kippur, two of the most observed Jewish holidays. Everything will be shut down.

So I went to YouTube and watched three videos of Jerusalem. Most videos are of the Old City. I did not realize there was anything else but I watched a Walking tour of Jerusalem which was the other Jerusalem, the not Old City. Actually the content creator also took the buses and trains. Great public transportation. Loved the Sketchers ads, hamburger ads and message of "Do Not Forget To Take Your Things" in English as persons left the trains.

It was beautiful. I did not realize that there was another Jerusalem.

Frank II, I am sailing October 2024 but do not remember the dates. I do not think NCL would sail during the 10 Days of Awe but I will check.

Frank II

Would you believe that I will be sailing October 9th 2024, a Wednesday, which is right after Rosh Hashanah but before Yom Kippur. It is during the 10 Days of Awe.

That will change a few things.

I am Jewish although a Reform Jew which I believe is called Modern in Israel. I have never been to Israel so it might be somewhat spiritual to spend some of High Holy days in Israel. I also will be either 79 or 80 years old and this will probably be my only time in Israel

The planes and hotels might be very expensive ... A lot of Jewish persons from all over the world might want to visit during the Holy Days. I might have to cancel the cruise and just visit Israel another time.

I wanted to fly into Tel Aviv three or four days early but I think the 4th and 5th are also Shabbat and there is no public transportation and everything is closed down. It seems like everything is going to be shut down until after dark on the 5th.

I may not be able to spend as much time in Israel pre-cruise. If it is too expensive, I might have to cancel this cruise and just travel to Israel another time ...

But Christians, Muslims and persons of no or other faiths live and visit Israel . Surely they have businesses that they keep open.

Public transportation and tourist sites will be closed on Saturday as will some restaurants and shops. But others will be open. Your hotel will know which restaurants are open. I was always able to find an Arab run grocery open on Saturdays and never had a problem finding a restaurant.

As it is over a year and a half away, it's hard to tell what hotel costs will be.

If you're looking for cheap airfare, Icelandair now flies from Reykjavik to Tel Aviv three days a week. The season for 2023 is May through October.

Frank II

What I did was go to booking and pretend that i would be in Tel Aviv between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, 2023. There were still plenty of hotels available at reasonable prices. and it is just four months away. I did not get sticker shock.

I sort of did the same thing with air fare and prices were ok. And once again, I am just four months out.

i do not know what 2024 will be like but I have plenty of time to figure it out and what I need to do.

I will not be in Israel on Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur but in between. I will probably come into the airport just as The Sabbath ends.

I think my time in Israel will be shortened but that is life. That will be the big change. I am probably going to spend one or maybe two full days less in Israel because of the holidays. I will probably spend three days in Tel Aviv, one day in Haifa and only go to Jerusalem the day that we port in Ashdod

I love this Forum because members are so helpful. If you had not mentioned the High Holidays, I would not have thought of them until much further along in my planning.

You do as you please but I would spend more time in Jerusalem and less time in Tel Aviv. Tel Aviv is a modern city. Jerusalem is packed with history and culture. With an extra day in Jerusalem you can even take a day trip. I recommend Masada.

Jerusalem will not be so packed that time of year that you will be walking through massive crowds. Just wandering around the four different areas of the old city will amaze.

Frank II

there is a long way to go so I am considering all suggestions but I live in Central Texas and am nowhere close to the ocean so when traveling, I love to be close to the beach and ocean.

As it has turned out, I can fly in to the airport on the Sabbath and get to my hotel although it might cost more to get to the hotel. I might even be able to get a Sabbath dinner at my hotel. That would be a great way to begin my trip.

So I am back to spending four or five days in Israel before sailing.

I have been on a cruise that stayed overnight in Ashdod, giving us two full days in Jerusalem. At the port there were guys directing people into shared cabs very quickly and efficiently. I'm sure we could have had a cab to ourselves but sharing was a nice money saver and we had great conversation with a lovely young couple from Germany as a bonus. The four of us arranged to meet the next day with the same driver for our return to the ship. It was all very easy and seemed to be what most folks were doing.

We stayed overnight at the Harmony Hotel and can recommend it. It was a short walk from the Old City and is popular with cruisers. There is very little lodging inside the walls and the Old City is actually dead at night. I had initially assumed that most tourists would want to stay there but when I started to research I found out that is not the case at all. Organized tours are usually offered with either a Jewish or Christian orientation since time is limited and the sights of most interest vary a bit by which faith you are. We had booked a walking tour online with Sandeman's and were very happy with their guide. The ship's tours were outrageously expensive and we saved a lot of money by making our own arrangements.

We ported for one day in Haifa and, being Christians, we went to Galilee/Nazareth. One day was plenty for Haifa and we had some time to see the Baha'i gardens too. IMHO Jerusalem is the place you want to give your maximum attention to.

The Brown Hotels have 18 hotels in Tel Aviv alone as well as other parts of Israel. They allow check in (and check out) during the Jewish Sabbath.

My cruise leaves on October 9, 2024 which is in between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. This is going to be a very busy time to be In Israel and prices will be higher.

I will probably be flying in on the Friday before the cruise. It may be more difficult to get a flight well as more expensive.

I never considered the High Holidays when I booked this cruise. If it becomes too expensive and difficult, I will cancel this cruise and book another. And go to Israel another time.

Good thing that I plan early ....