Spirits, and not just the kind served in a glass, will become an entertainment staple onboard Princess Cruises’ newest ship, Sun Princess, when she debuts in early 2024.
In a collaboration with a popular magic show venue in Hollywood, the cruise line promises to keep guests spellbound in a magical space aboard the ship.
‘Spellbound’ to Entertain Guests With Magic Acts
Princess Cruises announced on October 12, 2023 it is collaborating with The Magic Castle, the iconic Hollywood venue that stages magic and illusions shows, to present “Spellbound by Magic Castle” aboard Sun Princess.
In a designated space aboard the soon-to-launch 4,300-guest ship, an ordinary-looking door will usher guests into a set of themed rooms where magicians and others, including “the spirit of Isabella,” will entertain cruisers with magic acts, special cocktails, special effects, and other presentations.
The Spellbound space will feature ornate, Victorian-era furnishings and decor in the Music Room, Parlor Bar, and in a 30-seat theater where guests will experience “up-close magic.” Princess Cruises has not yet revealed the fee guests will pay to access the space.
Sun Princess Spellbound Foyer
“We are excited to introduce Spellbound by Magic Castle and take the art of magic around the world aboard the spectacular new Sun Princess,” said John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises.
“This collaboration with The Magic Castle™ takes entertainment into new dimensions with an extraordinary experience that combines the allure of magic with the thrill of cruising. Spellbound will become an iconic guest favorite on Sun Princess,” Padgett added.
Guests entering the space through the Music Room will encounter the spirit of Isabella, while the vintage-decor Parlor Bar will feature illusionists who will reveal Artemis the owl. Then it’s on to the full-stage magic show inside the Spellbound theater.
Throughout the entertainment events, mixologists, proficient in sleight-of-hand, will create special, themed cocktails for guests.
“We are bringing some of the most authentic aspects of The Magic Castle in Hollywood to Sun Princess, complete with incredible magicians and illusionists, so that Princess guests can experience a taste of the world class magic that is showcased nightly at the Magic Castle,” said Erika Larsen, president of Magic Castle Enterprises.
“It’s an exciting opportunity for guests to immerse themselves in a magical experience typically reserved exclusively for members and their guests,” said Larsen.
The Magic Castle serves as the clubhouse of the Academy of Magical Arts, in Hollywood, and is reserved for members and their guests, and those who receive invitations. It has for decades attracted Hollywood celebrities and guest performers, including Orson Welles, Johnny Carson, and Steve Martin.
Cirque Éloize Also to Debut on Sun Princess
The 175,500-gross-ton Sun Princess, a Sphere-class vessel that will be the largest ever built for Princess Cruises, will have other new entertainment features onboard. The cruise line earlier this year announced a partnership with Cirque Éloize to bring three unique and exclusive performances to the ship.
Sun Princess Cruise Ship
The Cirque Éloize shows will be presented in The Dome, a spacious entertainment venue that will debut on Sun Princess, which is under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy.
Sun Princess is scheduled to sail her inaugural voyage on February 8, 2024, from Barcelona to Rome with port calls at Mallorca, Spain; Messina, Sicily; Athens and Santorini, Greece; Kusadasi, Turkey; and Naples, Italy. The ship will remain in the Mediterranean for the summer season, sailing 7- to 23-night itineraries from multiple ports.
Sun Princess will reposition to Fort Lauderdale in November 2024, offering a series of winter sailings in the Caribbean. Sun Princess will be the first Princess Cruises’ ship to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The armed conflict between Hamas and Israel has prompted several cruise lines to cancel their scheduled calls to the country. The unfolding tensions have led to a ripple effect in the cruise industry, with many operators amending their itineraries to ensure the safety and security of their guests.
On top of that, the U.S. State Department issued an advisory cautioning against travel to the region due to heightened risks of terrorism and civil unrest. At least eight cruise lines have withdrawn from Israel.
Azamara
The small vessel cruise line has confirmed with Cruise Hive that two of its vessels will not be making scheduled visits to the country, This includes calls by Azamara Journey and Azamara Pursuit in October 2023.
“Due to the current Israel and Gaza Strip conflict, we will not be calling ports in Israel as originally planned. These changes will affect the October 17 Israel Intensive Voyage and October 27 Ancient Trade Routes Voyage onboard Azamara Journey, and the October 23 Ancient Civilizations sailing on Azamara Pursuit, the cruise line said.
Azamara added, “Our top priority is the safety and security of our crew and guests. In an effort to accommodate guests booked on impacted sailings, we will provide alternative ports of call, where applicable.”
“Our global security team is closely watching the evolving situation in Israel. For the safety and security of our guests, we’re adjusting several itineraries in the area. Impacted guests are being notified directly.”
In an additional update on October 12, Royal Caribbean announced it had cancelled cruises for Rhapsody of the Seas for the October 9, 13, 18, 23 and 27 sailings, as well as the November 1 and 6 cruises.
Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas (Photo Credit: ATGImages)
Royal Caribbean is offering affected guests full refunds for the cruise fare, taxes, fees, pre-paid packages, gratuities, and shore excursions. Guests who booked flights through Air2Sea will also receive a full refund, while guests who booked independent flights will need to discuss their options with their providers.
The cruise line has also already cancelled calls to the country with Odyssey of the Seas. The October 15 voyage out of Italy removed the calls to Haifa and Ashdod. Instead, Odyssey of the Seas spent Monday, October 9 in Bodrum, Turkey; Tuesday, October 10, at sea; and Wednesday, October 11, at Limassol, Cyprus.
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises has also taken heed of the evolving situation. The Celebrity Apex has rerouted its calls from Israel and Egypt to Santorini, Mykonos, and Rhodes for the October 6 and October 16 sailings.
Celebrity Apex (Photo Credit: kees torn / Flickr)
Following the altered itineraries due to the situation in Israel, the cruise line also announced further changes due to a developing situation in Alexandria, Egypt. A letter sent to guests stated:
“As our global security team continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in Israel and the surrounding regions, we have been alerted to further situations unfolding in Alexandria, Egypt. Due to these developments, our experts have made the decision not to visit Alexandria, considering the safety and security of our guests and crew as our number one priority,”the letter explains.
Guests affected by this change are offered full refunds, and arrangements are underway to repatriate Israeli travelers. The MSC Musica, initially scheduled for 7-night Mediterranean cruises, disembarked Israeli passengers in Limassol, Cyprus, who were then transported to Israel on a chartered cruise ship.
MSC Cruise Ships (Photo Credit: hbpictures)
Also, MSC Cruises allows guests to cancel select sailings from October 8-15, 2023, due to security concerns, with a potential extension of this goodwill gesture.
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises has also announced a halt to calls in Israel for now. Island Princess will not sail to Jerusalem and Nazareth. Instead, to the Greek islands of Santorini and Crete on its November voyages.
NCL stated: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic situation in Israel. Our thoughts are with all those impacted during this time. As always, the safety and security of our guests, crew and communities we visit is our top priority. As a result, we have made the decision to cancel all calls to Israel for the remainder of 2023.“
PREVIOUSLY:
Amidst the ongoing geopolitical tensions, Norwegian Cruise Line diverted the Norwegian Gem from its scheduled call to Ashdod on Sunday, October 8. The cruise ship spent the day at sea instead.
Norwegian Gem then proceeded to Limassol as originally scheduled on Monday, resuming its itinerary for the remainder of an 11-day cruise from Rome to Istanbul.
Celestyal Cruises
Celestyal Cruises announced the cancellation of all stops in Israel through the end of November. The cruise line said it aims to keep all guests updated regarding any further changes to cruise itineraries.
The cruise line’s CEO, Chris Theophilides, said in a statement to Cruise Hive:“We are in close coordination with the authorities, and the safety, security, and comfort of our guests remains our upmost priority. On the advice of our internal teams and the relevant authorities we have decided to temporarily remove Israel from our Three Continents itinerary until the end of November this year.”
Oceania Cruises
Oceania Cruises made adjustments to its sailing schedules as well. Nautica expedited its departure from Israel, leaving a day ahead of schedule. Oceania Cruises confirmed that all guests and crew were accounted for and are safe and sound following the unscheduled departure.
Photo Credit: StudioPortoSabbia / Shutterstock
In a further amendment to its sailing itineraries, Oceania Cruises’ Sirena, scheduled for a three-day stay in Israel during its October 14 cruise, will now spend a day at sea, followed by calls to Santorini, Heraklion, and Mykonos, Greece.
Oceania Marina’s November 1 sailing, with a two-day stay scheduled in Israel, is also under review. Oceania Cruises states that it is currently in the process of examining alternative itinerary options for this sailing.
Holland America Line
Holland America Line’s Nieuw Statendam was one of the first ships affected when the situation in Israel started. Following the state of emergency declaration on October 7, guests were urgently called back to the ship, which set sail that evening from Haifa.
TUI Cruises
The Germanu-based TUI Cruises joined the growing list of cruise lines staying away from the country to ensure guests remain safe. The cruise line has cancelled Mein Schiff 5’s scheduled visits to Israel on October 11 at Haifa and October 12 at Ashdod. Instead, the vessel will visit Marmaris in Turkey and Santorini in Greece.
What’s Next for Israel Cruises?
With this many cruise lines and ships affected by the current unrest, the question is how the coming winter and further will look.
The winter season traditionally sees a reduction in cruises to the region due to the seasonal itinerary shift towards warmer climates, which means fewer cruise lines will be affected by the current unrest in the near term. However, come spring and summer, the situation is unclear.
The developments in the upcoming months will play a crucial role in determining the cruise industry’s confidence in resuming calls to Israel. Cruise lines will closely monitor the geopolitical situation and liaise with local authorities to evaluate the safety and feasibility of returning to Israeli ports.
As the tensions in Israel continue, Royal Caribbean International has elected to fully cancel the remainder of the season for Rhapsody of the Seas, which is currently homeported from Haifa, Israel. A total of seven sailings are impacted, and booked guests will be receiving refunds for their now-cancelled cruises.
Sailings Cancelled for Rhapsody of the Seas
Royal Caribbean International has updated its travel alert regarding Israel, now cancelling a total of seven sailings for the Vision-class Rhapsody of the Seas.
“We’ve been closely monitoring the geopolitical situation in Israel. With your safety and well-being in mind, and in conjunction with our Global Security Department, we’ve decided that we must cancel our upcoming Rhapsody of the Seas 2023 sailings,”the notification reads.
The complete list of impacted departure dates are: October 9, 13, 18, 23, and 27, as well as the November 1 and November 6 sailings.
All but the November 6 sailing were to have been 4- or 5-night roundtrip Greek Isles voyages calling on ports such as Limassol, Rhodes, Ayia Napa, and Santorini, depending on the exact departure date.
Rhapsody of the Seas Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: ATGImages / Shutterstock)
The November 6, 2023 cruise is the ship’s one-way departure from Israel to Barcelona, a 6-night sailing visiting Santorini and Palma de Mallorca along the way.
On Sunday, November 12, Rhapsody of the Seas will depart Barcelona on a 14-night, one-way transatlantic cruise to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. From there, the ship will offer one short 3-night Bahamas cruise before moving to offer Southern Caribbean cruises from Colon, Panama and Cartagena, Colombia (with options for departures from both ports).
Refunds to Be Processed
All guests on the now-cancelled cruises from Haifa will receive full, 100% refunds of their cruise fare as well as associated taxes and fees. Any pre-paid, Royal Caribbean add-ons will also be fully refunded, including gratuities, drink or dining packages, shore tours, flights purchased through the cruise line, or Royal Caribbean Travel Protection.
Refunds will be processed back to the payment information on file within 14 business days, but the cruise line does note that some financial institutions may take longer to reinstate funds. This could be especially true for Israel-based banks.
“Thank you for your cooperation and understanding. And again, we apologize for this cancellation and any inconvenience caused by this,”the notification concludes.
Rhapsody of the Seas Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Aerial-motion / Shutterstock)
If guests have made independent arrangements with tour operators, airlines, or other services, they will need to contact those providers separately to arrange for refunds or to investigate other options as available.
If travelers had used any Royal Caribbean future cruise credit (FCC) to pay for a now-cancelled cruise or related amenities, that original FCC will be reinstated and any additional charges will be refunded as described.
Other Royal Caribbean Ships and Brands Also Making Changes
TUI Cruises, another cruise line owned in part by the Royal Caribbean Group, has also cancelled calls to Israel for the next few weeks.
Any guests booked for a cruise visit to Israel in the next few weeks or months will want to stay in close contact with their cruise line – whether or not they are part of the Royal Caribbean Group – for updates on any itinerary changes, port adjustments, or outright cancellations at this troubled time.
In light of the tense geopolitical situation in Israel, MSC Cruises has updated itineraries for two of its cruise ships to remove calls to the nation through early January 2024.
A total of 11 sailings have been revised with new ports of call that will help keep guests safe from the conflict while still enjoying amazing destinations in the eastern Mediterranean.
More Calls to Israel Cancelled
Two MSC Cruises ships, MSC Musica and MSC Sinfonia, have had multiple itineraries adjusted to remove upcoming visits to Israel. This has been decided based on the ongoing regional conflict and to ensure the safety of guests and crew members.
“The safety of our passengers and crew is always our top priority and we have worked rapidly to revise the itineraries of MSC Sinfonia and MSC Musica to offer an extremely attractive alternative for the winter months,” said Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC Cruises.
The impacted voyages aboard MSC Musica are 7-night sailings roundtrip from Pireaus (Athens), Greece, with departure dates of October 15, 22, and 29. Each of these cruises was to have sailed to Santorini, Ephesus, Haifa, Limassol, and Mykonos before returning to Athens.
Now, these itineraries will instead visit alternative ports rather than Haifa, Israel. For the October 15 and 22 departures, MSC Musica will visit Rhodes, while the October 29 departure will visit Marmaris.
MSC Musica Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Deman)
No other ports of call on these itineraries appear to be impacted, but it is possible that further adjustments must be made as schedules are refined and finalized.
The 92,409-gross-ton, Musica-class MSC Musica can welcome 2,550 guests aboard, and is also home to more than 950 international crew members.
MSC Sinfonia Itinerary Changes
A total of 8 sailings for MSC Sinfonia have been adjusted to remove visits to Israel. All the impacted voyages are 11-night Mediterranean sailings roundtrip from Genoa, Italy. Originally, the cruises were to have visited Rome, Messina, Rhodes, Limassol, Haifa, and Iraklion.
The following 2023 departure dates have all been adjusted: October 21; November 1, 12, and 23; and December 4, 15, and 26. The January 6, 2024 departure has also been changed.
MSC Sinfonia (Photo Credit: Roger Utting)
The MSC Sinfonia cruises are adjusting more than just one port of call, however. Haifa, Rhodes, and Limassol have all been removed from the itineraries to accommodate different sailing routes and port schedules. Now, the ship will set sail from Genoa and call on Rome, Messina, Athens (Piraeus), Izmir, and Heraklion before returning to Genoa.
The 65,542-gross ton MSC Sinfonia is a Lirica-class ship, able to welcome 2,087 guests aboard at double occupancy, or up to 2,679 passengers when fully booked, with more than 700 crew members aboard.
Multiple Lines Cancelling Cruises
With no way to know how long the dangerous conflict in Israel may last, several cruise lines have taken steps to safeguard their passengers by cancelling sailings or adjusting itineraries to remove port visits to the country.
All cruise lines are carefully monitoring the situation for further developments, and will make itinerary adjustments as needed to keep guests and crew members safe as they enjoy oceangoing getaways.
Disney Cruise Line has announced that the upcoming Disney Treasure will feature an exclusive stage production of the popular animated movie Moana, which will be the first time the story debuts live on land or at sea. Sure to be a hit, the show is perfect to embody the ship’s overall theme of adventure and exploration.
Disney Treasure Main Show Announced
The new Disney Treasure, sister ship to the immensely popular Disney Wish, will feature a brand new stage production, “Disney: The Tale of Moana” – an exclusive live-action adaption of the 2016 animated film Moana.
Like the film, the new onboard show will follow the story of Moana, the daughter of the village chief, as she undertakes an adventurous ocean voyage to return the Heart of Te Fiti and save her Polynesian island home.
Guests onboard Disney Treasure will recognize not only the most popular characters of the award-winning movie, including Gramma Tala, demigod Maui, and the crazy crab Tamatoa, but also some of the iconic songs from the film’s soundtrack.
Disney Treasure Moana (Credit: Disney)
More details about the show have not yet been announced, but the production will be offered in Disney Treasure‘s main show lounge with multiple performances on each cruise to accommodate all guests.
Auditions for the show’s cast, including featured characters as well as dancers and musicians, will begin in the coming weeks.
The show complements the shipwide theme of “adventure” for Disney Treasure, and is especially appropriate as the production showcases an oceangoing journey, just as cruisers set sail on the new ship.
Also onboard will be the Hei Hei Cafe on Deck 4, featuring another beloved character and Moana’s faithful – if clueless – sidekick chicken.
Additional Entertainment for Disney Treasure
“Disney: The Tale of Moana” will not be the only show aboard Disney Treasure. The cruise line has already confirmed that the ship will also feature the beloved tale as old as time, “Beauty and the Beast” along with the quirky and adventurous opening show, “Disney Seas the Adventure.”
Dinnertime shows will also be featured in the ship’s dining rooms, including a brand new signature experience in the Worlds of Marvel dining room as well as a colorful and engaging Coco-themed two-night dining experience at Plaza de Coco, expanding the story from the 2017 Pixar movie.
The sail away deck party that begins every sailing will still showcase energetic dancing and an introduction of beloved Disney characters to welcome all guests aboard, and the wildly popular “Pirate’s Rockin’ Parlay Party” will be showcased one evening, complete with fireworks (weather and port restrictions permitting).
Character encounters, princess meet-and-greets, and other special entertainment will also be regular features of the ship’s entertainment offerings.
Setting Sail on Disney Treasure
As the second Wish-class vessel, the 144,000-gross-ton Disney Treasure is scheduled to debut in December 2024. The ship is now under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. Her keel was officially laid in March 2023, and progress has been steady in assembling the ship’s key blocks.
The ship’s maiden voyage is scheduled to depart from Port Canaveral on December 21, 2024. That 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise will visit Tortola, St. Thomas, and Castaway Cay, Disney Cruise Line’s private island in the Bahamas.
From Port Canaveral, Disney Treasure will offer both Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean week-long sailings, which are now available for booking through May 2025. Disney Treasure will be able to welcome 5,000 eager guests aboard each sailing. Additional itineraries, as well as more details about the new ship, are expected to be released soon.
MSC Cruises has safely completed the repatriation of 800 Israeli citizens who were originally aboard MSC Musica‘s most recent sailing. The sailing was altered and did not return to Haifa as planned for debarkation. Instead, the cruise line chartered alternative arrangements to bring guests safely home at this troubling time.
Cruise Guests Arrive Home on Chartered Ship
When MSC Musica was diverted from her planned roundtrip itinerary from Haifa, Israel, the cruise line began a complicated operation to safely disembark all guests and return them home.
The ship had departed Israel on what was to have been a 7-night roundtrip Mediterranean cruise on Thursday, October 5, calling on Limassol, Cyprus; Mykonos, Athens, and Santorini in Greece; and Ephesus, Turkey, before returning to Haifa on Thursday, October 12.
When the missile attacks began in Israel on Saturday morning, October 7, the ship’s itinerary and return to Israel hung in the balance.
Ultimately, the ship shortened its voyage and skipped multiple ports to divert directly to Limassol to debark guests, which included moving 800 Israeli passengers to the Mano Cruises ship Crown Iris, a much smaller vessel that was privately chartered by MSC Cruises to return those guests to Haifa.
MSC Musica (Photo Credit: Damian Hadjiyvanov)
“Following the security situation, the company’s cruises scheduled to depart from Haifa were cancelled. In order to return the passengers to Israel safely, MSC Cruises initiated a complex operation to return the Israeli passengers,”the cruise line explained on its website.
The return charter was financed completely by MSC Cruises, and all Israeli passengers were safely returned to Haifa by 9 a.m. on Wednesday, October 11, to rejoin their families and loved ones at this very distressing time.
“We thank the Mano Shipping company for joining in a short time to assist in this operation,”said MSC Cruises.
No explanation has been offered about why MSC Musica could not return to Haifa herself, but it may related to logistics, port operations, or other factors.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and hope to resume sailings to Israel as soon as possible,”said Eyal Atias, general manager from MSC Cruises Israel.“MSC Cruises stands by the State of Israel in its difficult time and wishes for quieter days.”
MSC Musica Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Deman)
MSC Cruises is the largest cruise operator in Europe and sails to Haifa in northern Israel, 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Tel Aviv, throughout the year with different ships making either port of call visits or being homeported in the country.
Other Cruise Lines Also Cancelling
In addition to the cancellations and diversions from MSC Cruises, several other cruise lines have also adjusted their visits to Israel for the coming weeks.
While no cruise lines have yet made a long-term cancellation of any plans for sailing to or homeporting from Israel, the situation is undoubtedly being closely monitored and those adjustments may be forthcoming as developments continue.
Royal Caribbean International has shortened the amount of time guests booking longer sailings have to pay off their cruises by adjusting the final payment due date to 120 days before sailing. This only impacts longer cruises, and guests who already have bookings reserved will have no changes to their payment schedule, as only new cruise bookings are affected.
Payment Date Changes for Longer Cruises
Guests who book a longer voyage with Royal Caribbean International will now need to have their cruise fully paid four months before they set sail. The cruise line has implemented the new policy immediately for all sailings of 15 nights or longer, and has reached out to guests booked on longer sailings to notify them of the change.
“As of today, guests will now have up until 120 days prior to sailing to make their final payment for sailings that are 15 nights or greater,”the notification read.
It must be noted, however, that guests who already have confirmed bookings with the cruise line – with their deposits already paid – are not impacted by this change, regardless of when their cruise sets sail. The new final payment date is only in effect for new bookings moving forward.
Independence of the Seas in Labadee, Haiti (Photo by NAN728 / Shutterstock)
Previously, final payment for longer cruises was due 90 days prior to sailing. This applied to all sailings of five nights or longer, while shorter 1-4 night cruises had to make final payment no later than 75 days before setting sail.
At this time, there is no change to final payment dates for any shorter sailings – only cruises of 15 nights or longer are affected.
Which Cruises Are Impacted?
Unlike luxury or expedition cruise lines that regularly offer lengthy sailings, Royal Caribbean does not offer such long sailings frequently. When 15+ night cruises are on offer, they are often repositioning sailings between cruise season, such as Brilliance of the Seas‘ current voyage, a 17-night transpacific cruise as the ship moves from Alaska to Australia.
Similarly, Radiance of the Seas is currently sailing a 16-night Panama Canal cruise as part of her repositioning from Alaska to Florida. That cruise has been affected by poor weather, tidal schedules, and other factors that have already cancelled a port of call.
Radiance of the Seas Ship (Photo Credit: Vytautas Kielaitis / Shutterstock)
On October 15, Anthem of the Seas will set sail on a 15-night transatlantic cruise from Southampton to New York as the ship finishes her European season and moves to the Big Apple to offer winter cruises to the Bahamas.
Why the Change?
There has been no explanation given about why Royal Caribbean has adjusted final payment dates, but it may be a deterrent for last-minute cruise cancellations.
Because these longer sailings are offered less frequently, they often sell out quickly as bookings fill up a year or more before the ship sets sail. Some travelers, however, may hold off on final payment until the last minute in case their plans change or they find a better option.
If those individuals do end up cancelling just 90 days before the departure date, it can be difficult for the cruise line to sell those cabins at such relatively short notice. Most travelers booking last-minute cruises are booking shorter sailings such as weekend getaways, not cruises that require two weeks or more off work and away from other commitments.
Deposits Also Increasing
Along with the change in timing for the final payment date, Royal Caribbean is also increasing the per person deposit amounts necessary to reserve a booking on these longer sailings.
Photo Credit: RomanR / Shutterstock
Depending on the type of reservation made and any special deals applied to the fare price, deposits may be non-refundable. Higher deposit requirements, therefore, could be yet another type of deterrent against bookings being cancelled.
Currently, the deposit required for cruises of 10 nights or longer is $450 per traveler, and while the notification sent to guests does state “there will be a higher deposit amount required, per person, for new bookings made for sailings that are 15 nights or greater after today,” the amount of that new deposit has not been disclosed.
Any cruise traveler interested in a longer sailing with Royal Caribbean should carefully note the terms and conditions of their booking to be sure they understand these updated deposit amounts, when final payment is due, and potential cancellation penalties.
Following the recent cancellation of two Haifa, Israel departures for Rhapsody of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International has opted to cancel an additional sailing as the ongoing tensions in the region show no sign of relaxing.
The October 18, 2023 departure is now cancelled, and impacted guests are being contacted with further details.
Rhapsody of the Seas Cruise Cancelled
Royal Caribbean International has announced that the Wednesday, October 18, 2023 departure for Rhapsody of the Seas is now completely cancelled. Just days ago, the cruise line initially cancelled the October 9 and October 13 sailings as violence broke out in the region.
The October 18 cruise was to have been a 5-night Greek Islands cruise, roundtrip from Haifa, Israel and calling on Limassol, Cyprus and both Rhodes and Santorini in Greece before returning to Haifa on Monday, October 23.
“We know how much time and effort go into planning your cruise, and we’re truly sorry for this disappointing news,”the notification from Royal Caribbean read.
All guests will be receiving a 100% refund of their cruise fare, taxes, and fees. Furthermore, all pre-paid packages and amenities such as gratuities, beverage packages, shore tours, spa treatments, and onboard gifts will also be fully refunded, as will any flights booked through Royal Caribbean as well as Royal Caribbean Travel Protection.
Rhapsody of the Seas Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Aerial-motion / Shutterstock)
Refunds will be processed back to the original form of payment within 14 business days, but guests should note that some financial institutions may take longer to make those returned funds available.
If guests used a future cruise credit (FCC) to pay for the cruise, any new funds above that credit amount will be refunded, and the original FCC will be reinstated for use.
Travelers who have made independent flight, hotel, tour, or other arrangements will need to contact their travel agent or individual tour operators or service providers for cancellation and refund options, if applicable.
Will Future Cruises Be Cancelled?
The 78,878-gross-ton, Vision-class Rhapsody of the Seas is currently homeported from Haifa, Israel, but only has a few sailings left in the season before repositioning. Still intact are the ship’s October 23 and 27 departures, as well as the November 1 departure. Each of those cruises is a roundtrip voyage from Haifa.
On Monday, November 6, 2023, the ship is scheduled to depart Haifa with a one-way voyage to Barcelona, visiting Santorini and Palm de Mallorca along the way. From Barcelona, Rhapsody of the Seas is set for a 14-night transatlantic cruise to Fort Lauderdale departing November 12, visiting ports in Spain, the Canary Islands, and the Bahamas before arriving in Florida on November 26.
Rhapsody of the Seas Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: ATGImages / Shutterstock)
From Fort Lauderdale, the ship will offer a single short Bahamas cruise before relocating to Colon, Panama, where she will remain homeported for the winter, offering Southern Caribbean sailings.
It is possible that the remaining cruises from Israel may yet be cancelled, depending on how the ongoing violence progresses in the coming days. Guests booked on those upcoming sailings should stay in close contact with their travel agent or Royal Caribbean directly to ensure they receive updates and notifications.
Likewise, luxury line Celestyal Cruises has removed all calls in Israel through the end of November. For now, any cruise travelers with visits planned for Israel in the next few weeks and months should stay alert for itinerary changes and adjustments.
MSC Cruises has adjusted sailings with homeports or port of call visits in Israel to suspend those operations due to the current uncertain situation and the state of emergency in the country.
Guests are being permitted full refunds as necessary and other arrangements are being made to bring travelers home to Israel if that is their homeport.
MSC Cruises Cancelled From Israel
Several sailings of MSC Musica and MSC Sinfonia have been cancelled due to the current situation in Israel. At the current time, all Haifa homeport departures until October 26, 2023 are cancelled.
The 92,409-gross-ton, Musica-class MSC Musica was to have been sailing 7-night Mediterranean cruises on the impacted dates, with port visits to Athens, Santorini, Limassol, Mykonos, and Ephesus.
The impacted cruises aboard the 65,542-gross-ton, Lirica-class MSC Sinfonia were to have likewise been Mediterranean sailings, but longer sailings including visits to destinations in Greece, Italy, Cyprus, and Sicily.
Booked guests are being contacted individually with further details and refunds will be processed within 60 days. The cruise line is urging patience as refunds and credits are processed, as the situation continues to be fluid.
MSC Musica Cruise Ship (Photo Credit: Deman)
Furthermore, the cruise line is permitting any guests to cancel select sailings as necessary for security purposes.
“Following the state of emergency in Israel, MSC Cruises strengthens the hands of the Israeli people and stands by them in these difficult moments,”a statement on the cruise line’s website reads.“In order to make it easier for you in these tense days, we [will] allow those of you whose security situation does not allow them to go on a cruise to cancel the cruise free of charge.”
At the moment, this gesture is only applicable to sailings with departure dates from October 8-15, 2023, but it may be extended in the coming days.
“In these tense days we wish all of us an early return to routine as possible,”the statement concludes.
It must be noted that MSC Musica is currently sailing and will not be returning to Haifa to debark guests as planned. The planned call to Ephesus, Turkey on Wednesday, October 10 was also cancelled.
Instead, the 40,876-gross-ton ship will debark Israeli passengers in Limassol, Cyprus on Tuesday to return them to Haifa via private charter aboard the Israeli-owned Crown Iris of Mano Cruises, part of the Mano Maritime shipping company.
Photo Credit: Viktoria Prusakova / Shutterstock
Guests will be accommodated aboard Crown Iris in various available staterooms and meals will be provided. The ship is expected to arrive in Haifa at approximately 9 a.m. on Wednesday, October 11. All impacted guests will also receive a future compensation voucher, though the terms are yet to be determined.
Crown Iris has a lengthy history, having been constructed for the now-defunct Majesty Cruise Line in 1992 but moving to Norwegian Cruise Line in 1997 as Norwegian Majesty when the two cruise lines merged. The ship has also sailed with Louis Cruises, Thomson Cruises, and Celestyal Cruises, before joining Mano Maritime in 2018.
Crown Iris can accommodate a maximum of 1,256 guests – compared to the 2,550 MSC Musica can welcome – but it is not known how many travelers aboard MSC Musica are Israeli citizens that now need transport to return to Haifa.
No announcement has been made about how passengers aboard MSC Musica will be repatriated to their home countries if they are not Israeli citizens, but flights from Cyprus are likely to be arranged as needed.
