Monday, October 9, 2023
Royal Caribbean has cancelled at least two itineraries on Rhapsody of the Seas due to Saturday’s surprise attacks by Gaza militants.
On Friday evening, Royal Caribbean announced that the October 9, 2023 and October 13, 2023 sailings on Rhapsody of the Seas were both cancelled.
Both of these itineraries were scheduled to set sail on round-trip itineraries from Haifa, Israel in the coming days.
Rhapsody of the Seas was originally scheduled to sail on a 4-night and 5-night itinerary to Cyprus and Greece from Haifa, which is located in the northern region of the country. Both of these itineraries are now cancelled and guests will receive full refunds.
Currently, Rhapsody of the Seas is sailing off the coast of Santorini, Greece and was scheduled to return to Haifa on October 9, 2023.
It is unclear at this time where Rhapsody of the Seas will sail given the unrest in Israel.
Royal Caribbean stated that guests affected by the cancelled 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.
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. Historically, these incidents have turned cruise ships away.
Because of the attacks by Palestinian militants, the Israel government has now declared war. 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.
Celebrity Apex and Odyssey of the Seas impacted too
Instead, Celebrity Apex will apparently have an overnight in Cyprus and an extra overnight in Egypt, as the ship was already scheduled for one overnight in Egypt on its current itinerary.
In addition, Celebrity Apex’s next sailing on October 16, 2023 will replace Israel ports with stops in Greece, including Mykonos, Santorini and Rhodes.
Odyssey of the Seas, which is also sailing in the Mediterranean on a Holy Land itinerary, has made adjustments due to the sudden unrest in the region.
Another passenger currently sailing on Odyssey of the Seas posted on a Royal Caribbean blog message forum that the ship would no longer visit the Israeli ports.
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.
Other cruise lines are making arrangements for sailings scheduled to visit Israel as well.
In fact, passengers on Holland American’s Nieuw Statendam from HAL were already docked in Haifa when the attacks took place.
Passengers were quickly recalled back to the ship. Passengers only had about three hours in the country before being recalled to the ship for safety.
Tags: Israel, royal caribbean cruises
Saturday, April 27, 2024
Saturday, April 27, 2024
