Jerusalem, a quick tour

You may get more information on this by going to cruisecritic.com and clicking onto "ports". Find your cruise area and then all the ports in that region will come up. I will be in both places in Israel next month on a cruise, too. We (6 of us) have arranged for a full day's private excursion to Jerusalem from Ashod with a guide and van. From Haifa we will take the ship's excursion to Gallilee, probably ... haven't really decided yet.

Haifa - the passenger terminal is right next to the train station. I recommend taking the train to Akko (aka Acre) which is about 30 minutes. Then take a 5 minute taxi ride to the Old City. There is a lot to see there - the Arab market, an interesting mosque, the Crusader Halls, a Jewish Resistance Museum (where a significant part of the film "Exodus" takes place - the prison break-out with Sal Mineo and Paul Newman). There is a lovely walk along the sea walls and the best humus/pita in Israel. The highlights in Haifa: take the Carmelit (a short walk from the train station) up to the top - this is Israel's only subway. Then walk a bit down and to your left for great views of the city, the harbor and the Baha'i Gardens. The view is great in daylight and after dark. Ashdod - The best way to see as much as possible in Jerusalem is to hire a private guide with a car. Second best is to take private taxis to and from Ashdod. Otherwise you will waste way too much time. A taxi from Ashdod to Jerusalem will cost 281 NIS daytime fares and 338 evenings, holidays and Shabbat. If you take a taxi from the port, keep the company's phone number as they are the only company that can take you back into to the port. At today's exchange rate, $75 and $92, respectively. For the price of a round trip taxi fare (and probably for the extra travel time with a private guide) you can get a hotel room in Jerusalem and stay overnight. This also gives you a lot more time, since it's about 1.5 hours each way by car. Private guides are pretty expensive, but they will tailor your tour to your interests. It's best if you can put together a group of 4-8 people to spread the cost. The rollcall section of cruisecritic.com is a great place to do this.

It is best to make hotel and/or private guide arrangements quite early. Depending on when you are arriving, hotels in Jerusalem can be booked up 6 months in advance. You will probably want to spend a full day in the Old City. Of course, a private guide will much enhance the experience, but there are inexpensive 1/2 day walking tours, and it is easy to get around on your own with a good map (available free at the TI offices - which are closed on Saturdays and holidays). If you want to see other places in Jerusalem, taxis are not expensive, since the distances are usually short. A couple of recommended places are Yad VaShem (Holocaust memorial and museum) and the Israel Museum (Dead Sea Scrolls, great archeology, Judaica, and art wings, Second Temple Model). Both have audio guides. You can also take a bus from the Old City to Bethlehem (it's about 3 miles) to spend 2-3 hours there.

If you want to visit the Galilee (skipping Haifa and Akko), you really need a guide with a car. It's over an hour's drive to the Sea of Galilee and the sights are spread out so that you need a car to get from one to another. If you want recommendations for guides, hotels, and sightseeing, including help with detailed itinerary planning, the best place around is the Israel forum of tripadvisor.com Because the weekends and holidays can impact your plans significantly, best to post your dates and arrival/departure times when you post your questions. Or send me a PM if you want more information. Shalom!

Such useful information from Chani! Thank you.

I know. I am ready to buy a plane ticket and go visit Jerusalem. The hummous sounds yummy! Thanks Chani!

Chani,
The Rick Steves' team should contact you quickly to write a Rick Steves' guidebook for Jerusalem. You are amazing!!