Cruise Departures Out of Israel Canceled by Royal Caribbean Ship

Royal Caribbean International has cancelled two upcoming cruises for Rhapsody of the Seas due to ongoing geopolitical unrest in Israel. The sailings, scheduled for October 9 and October 13, were cancelled to ensure the safety of guests and crew members. Guests who booked the cancelled cruises will receive a full refund of their cruise fare, taxes, fees, pre-paid packages, gratuities, shore excursions, and other amenities. Refunds will be processed within 14 business days, but the timing of when the refunds will appear in guests’ accounts may vary depending on their financial institutions’ policies. Future sailings from Haifa, Israel, are currently scheduled to proceed as planned, but guests are advised to stay in contact with Royal Caribbean International for any potential adjustments.

The decision to cancel the cruises comes as other cruise ships have also cancelled port visits to Israel to ensure the safety of their guests and crew members. Currently, Rhapsody of the Seas is on a 5-night Greek Isles cruise that departed Haifa on October 4 and is set to return on October 9. The ship can accommodate up to 1,998 guests based on double occupancy or up to 2,416 travelers when fully booked.

It remains uncertain whether further departures from Haifa may be cancelled. Guests who have booked upcoming sailings departing from Haifa are advised to stay in close contact with Royal Caribbean International for any potential adjustments. Other cruises with ports of call in the region have also adjusted their itineraries to avoid destinations in Israel due to the ongoing violence. Haifa, located north of Tel Aviv, has seen less violence compared to other areas, but precautions are being taken to ensure the safety of cruise ships’ guests and crew members.

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