Royal Caribbean cancels Israel cruise season, putting pivotal hub on hold
Royal Caribbean announced yesterday that, due to escalating tensions between Israel and Palestine, Odyssey of the Seas' season sailing out of Israel had been canceled. This brand-new 4,198-passenger ship was slated to sail from Haifa from June through October with a fully vaccinated crew.
On its website, the line announced: "Odyssey of the Seas was to resume operations beginning June 2, 2021, out of Haifa, Israel. However, due to the unrest in Israel and the region, we have not been able to complete the preparation required to operate and as a result, sailings out of Haifa will be canceled."
Sailing from Israel was big news when it was announced back in March. It marked the first time Royal Caribbean planned to sail from Haifa. The three- to seven-night cruises were limited to Israeli residents and featured calls on the Greek islands and Cyprus. Anyone 16 years or older needed to be vaccinated to board the ship.
CrewCenter reported on the season cancelation yesterday after receiving tips from several Odyssey crewmembers. According to them, the ship's captain addressed the crew over the PA system and explained that the crisis between Israel and Palestine had become too volatile and the ship would redeploy elsewhere.
Indeed, the ship was in Limassol, Cypress, on Saturday to transfer approximately 50 crewmembers -- who didn't have U.S. visas -- to sister ship Anthem of the Seas, which is slated to head to the U.K. next.
A crewmember told CrewCenter that "Odyssey will go to Port Canaveral very soon..." Royal Caribbean has not yet released details on potential sailings from this Florida homeport.
Cruisers are wondering if crew vaccinations were also a factor in canceling these voyages. CrewCenter reported that some of Odyssey's crew were set to be vaccinated in Haifa on May 7 but that the appointments were canceled. Rumors today seem to indicate that some crew may have been vaccinated while in Limassol while everyone else that still requires immunization will get the vaccine when the ship returns to Florida.
Royal Caribbean is asking those who had booked reservations for the expedition and are looking for a refund to call customer service or check their email for more information.
Odyssey of the Seas, which TPG named one of the nine most anticipated new cruise ships of the year, isn't new to the disappointment of cruise cancelations. The ship was previously scheduled to sail out of Civitavecchia, Italy (the port for Rome) in May on a series of Mediterranean voyages. Those itineraries were scrapped because of travel restrictions for U.S. travelers to European countries. The cruises out of Israel were an exciting replacement for those who were eligible to sail.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.