This morning, a cruise ship arrived at the port of Haifa to carry out a humanitarian mission to evacuate U.S. citizens who wish to leave Israel due to the ongoing conflict.
The U.S. Embassy in Israel has informed residents that the voyage is subject to available space, and those permitted to depart will be allocated a place on the ship, which will set sail for Limassol, Cyprus.
“The U.S. government is facilitating the departure of U.S. nationals and their immediate family members with valid travel documents from Haifa via sea on October 16, 2023. Boarding begins at 08:00 AM local time. U.S. citizens must arrive at the Haifa port passenger terminal no later than 09:00 AM local time. Boarding will proceed on a first-come, first-served basis, and space is limited,” stated the U.S. Embassy in Israel under Security Alert #10.
The advisory notes that individuals will be responsible for their travel to the departure point. “Travel within Israel is undertaken at your own risk, and plans may change depending on the security situation. The U.S. government cannot guarantee your safety.”
Safe Departure for U.S. citizens
Haifa MyNet reported that the ship has safely departed the port of Haifa and is en route to Cyprus. The journey to Limassol is expected to take approximately 10-12 hours. Food and Wi-Fi will be available. U.S. consular staff will be present both on the ship and at Limassol Port in Cyprus to assist and provide information regarding onward travel to the United States. However, you will be responsible for making accommodations and booking onward flights.
Evacuation on Rhapsody of the Seas
According to the vessel tracking site Cruise Mapper, the cruise ship Rhapsody of the Seas, operated by Royal Caribbean International, arrived at the port of Haifa this morning, with its estimated time of arrival at 3:45 a.m. Rhapsody of the Seas is a vessel with a gross tonnage of 78,878 and a maximum occupancy of 2,435 passengers. Royal Caribbean has canceled several itineraries aboard the Rhapsody of the Seas due to the current situation in Israel.
Concerns Among the Crew
Crew Center received a message from a crew member aboard the Rhapsody of the Seas, who expressed concerns about the ship's status due to the ongoing conflict. The crew member explained that before the war broke out, the ship was homeported in Haifa, Israel, with a predominantly Israeli guest sailing. Starting October 9, the cruise line halted voyages as a result of the majority of Israeli guests no longer traveling. As of now, the ship is not in service.
Yesterday morning, the ship's Captain announced that they were embarking on a humanitarian mission to rescue U.S. citizens in Israel. However, crew members on board said that they were not consulted about whether they wanted to participate in the rescue mission as they were concerned for their safety.
