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Follow our social media and blog for the latest cruise and travel news, including our best vacation deals. With an overwhelming world of choices, we understand you may need some personal assistance to plan your perfect vacation. From finding the right destination to choosing the best departure date, we're here to help. Plus, our experienced travel consultants have access to exclusive vacation deals to make sure you get the best value for your time and money. Explore the stunning coastline and the remains of ancient sites and sample Greek cuisine.
Explore the Wonders of Ancient Egypt and Israel
Port Ashdod is the cruise port to Tel Aviv, located on Israel's Mediterranean coast. Depending on cruise company, both Port Haifa and Port Ashdod are used as cruise ports to Tel Aviv-Yafo (Israel's second-largest city) and Jerusalem (Israel's capital). Ashdod City is a major regional industrial center and has population around 220,000. The best time to cruise to Israel is during the spring and fall when temperatures are moderate, unlike the summer which comes with intense heat. In addition to port stops in Israel, many cruise itineraries include ports in locations such as Haifa, Aqaba, Limassol and Alanya. Like in other parts of Israel, it’s wise to carry a little cash to be able to pay a taxi driver or leave a tip for a waiter.
Cruise lines that visit Jerusalem
Head to the Temple Mount, an large public space sacred to all three monotheist religions. Visit the iconic gold-plated Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, built in 705 AD. The plaza is surrounded by walls, including the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest prayer site. Tourists and pilgrims alike write prayers on pieces of paper and crumple them into the crevices of the wall. Ashdod is located between Ashkelon (Canaan's oldest and largest port/approx 20 km / 12 mi to the south), Tel Aviv (42 km / 26 mi to the north), and Jerusalem (65 km / 40 mi to the east). The driving distance from Ashdod to Jerusalem is 1 hour, to Tel Aviv - 40 min, to Ashkelon - 30 min.
Pre: Best of Rome

These dunes are protected and provide a glimpse into the special landscape of the area.
The city is primarily industrial to suit that purpose, but Ashdod has the benefit of slow, intentional growth. This interactive museum provides an insightful and still fun exploration of the Philistines and their role in the history of Ashdod and Israel as a whole. In fact, it’s the only museum in the world dedicated to the Philistines, and since 1990, the museum has displayed significant artifacts and archaeological finds from this community, from pots and pans to pottery. Try the interactive exhibits, including where you can dress like a Philistine and learn about their typical meal.
Which cruise lines go to Israel?

More days means more to discover, with extension packages you can add before or after your Viking cruise or cruisetour. Enjoy additional days to explore your embarkation or disembarkation city, or see a new destination altogether with a choice of exciting cities.Pre & Post Cruise Extensions vary by itinerary and are subject to change. Jerusalem is an important pilgrimage site for major world religions and one of the world's oldest cities. Since ancient beginnings, Jerusalem has been home to Canaanite, Babylonian, Assyrian, Judean, Roman, Persian, Byzantine, Umayyad, Ottoman, British, Jordanian, Palestinian and many other peoples. Israel cruises will take you to ports like Ashdod, the gateway to Jerusalem, where you can walk in the footsteps of prophets and kings; and Haifa, where you can see the beautiful Bahá'í Gardens. You’ll also have the opportunity to take an excursion to see the biblical sights around Nazareth and the tranquil Sea of Galilee.
The shuttle bus will likely drop you off at the Sea Mall, if you’re interested in getting some shopping done. Trains run from the station in Ashdod to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem each hour, making it easy to hop on a train after arriving in Ashdod for your Jerusalem cruise. Cruises to Israel embark in the ancient cities of Athens or Rome and sail along the shores of the eastern Mediterranean sea. You’ll sail for 10, 11, or 12 nights and stop at ports like Ashdod, Alexandria, Kusadasi, Limassol, Haifa, and more, depending on your itinerary.
Capture the vistas from Mount Carmel and tour Acre or visit Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee. To learn more about each port of call and our included as well as optional excursions, click on the individual days below. The best time to cruise to Israel is during the spring and fall when temperatures are moderate. Kids will love climbing up the sandy landscape to the top of the dunes located close to the Ashdod train station. Be sure to bring extra water, as the area isn’t shaded and the activity climbing the dunes can be tiring.
US military says it destroys unmanned vessels, cruise missiles - report - The Jerusalem Post
US military says it destroys unmanned vessels, cruise missiles - report.
Posted: Tue, 27 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Cruises to Israel
At restaurants, cafes, and bars, 10-12% is an acceptable tip for service workers. Tipping taxi drivers isn’t common in Ashdod, but it’s polite if the driver is acting as your tour guide or if you’ve arranged to have them drop you at multiple destinations. In the Old City of Jerusalem you’ll find the Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall, which is the holiest place in Jerusalem. The Western Wall is a sacred site of Jewish pilgrimage, and a place of prayer. It will take about an hour to journey from the center of Ashdod to the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
Most travelers visiting Jerusalem as part of their Israel cruise itinerary come to see the religious sites of the Old City. Cruise Critic is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. When you book with one of our partners, please be sure to check their site for a full disclosure of all applicable fees as required by the U.S. Explore the ancient sites, cities, and historic ports of the Holy Land on a luxury cruise to Israel with Celebrity. Visit sacred temples, awe-inspiring museums, and natural wonders like the Dead Sea. Enjoy delicious cuisine that blends multiple cultures together with the bounty of the Mediterranean, and take in the breathtaking views of the sea as you do so.
The Port Authority provides shuttle bus transfers (between the berth and downtown) via air-conditioned coaches. Passengers' passports and cruise tickets are required upon boarding the buses. Repeat visitors can opt for a more leisurely day, enjoying the shops and cafe culture at the Ben Yehuda Pedestrian Mall, haggling in the souk or shuk or visiting a number of first-rate museums.
State Department's website (travel.state.gov) for up-to-date information on safe travel in Jerusalem and all of Israel. Jerusalem fits a microcosm of the whole world into less than 50 square miles. Remnants of disparate historical eras are piled, one on top of the other, in an archaeologist's dream world -- ancient sites meet Roman ruins alongside reminders of modern Israel's tumultuous past. And, in the midst of these holy and historic areas, Israelis go to work, shop, eat out and hang out like citizens of any other city. When you leave the cruise port, there should be a shuttle bus as well as cars and taxis to take you into the city center. A shuttle bus should be offered by Celebrity, so be sure to ask while you’re on the cruise ship.
These cruises typically operate in February, March, September, and October. In ancient times the city was famous as Jaffa, and traces of its first settlement were discovered on top of the hill above the harbor. Jaffa is a former Arab town with winding streets and old buildings, while Tel Aviv features wide avenues lined with modern apartment houses and trees.
Admission is 80 shekels, and it provides a nice break from the heat and the outdoor historic sites for a taste of modern Israeli art. From the iconic Library of Alexandria to some of the holiest sites in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, living history abounds at every turn on these cruises to Israel and Egypt. Explore the graceful Acropolis in Athens, the holy Dome of the Rock in Israel, Greco-Roman antiquities in Turkey, and much more as you embark on these unforgettable journeys.
For the third great monotheistic religion, Islam, Jerusalem is also a holy city. The Al Aqsa Mosque, the third most important holy site of that faith, is located on the Temple Mount, the holiest site of Judaism. Most ships will not change euros or dollars into shekels, but credit and debit cards are widely accepted. In Jerusalem, ATMs can be found at Zion Square and the Ben Yehuda Pedestrian Mall; not all ATMs accept foreign cards, so look for machines marked with signs for Cirrus, Plus or other international brands. ATMs are difficult to find in the Old City; if you need cash, go to currency exchange offices near the Damascus and Jaffa Gates. Part of the problem is that Jerusalem is located inland, so cruise ships must call at the Port of Ashdod, more than an hour's drive from the city -- and that's without the inevitable traffic delays.
Jerusalem is one of the holiest cities on earth, containing some of the most revered sites among three of the world’s biggest religions. On cruises to Israel and Egypt, you’ll sail to nearby Ashdod, a gleaming modern port city just a short drive from Jerusalem. Visit the great Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City, then tour the Temple Mount and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Head to the Machaneh Yehuda Market to shop for hand-crafted gifts, sample the traditional Israeli lunch of falafel and hummus, and mingle with locals.
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