Royal Caribbean International will begin sailing from Israel for the first time in May when they debut their brand-new ship, Odyssey of the Seas.
The roundtrip itineraries from Haifa, Israel will take guests on 3-to-7-night escapes visiting idyllic isles and destinations in the Mediterranean, including Rhodes, Santorini, Mykonos, and Athens, Greece, and Limassol, Cyprus. The new sailings will go on sale on Tuesday, March 9th.
“We are thrilled to debut Royal Caribbean cruises from Israel with our newest and most innovative ship, Odyssey of the Seas. Israeli travelers will be looking to get away, relax with total peace of mind, and enjoy the travel experiences they are missing dearly; and that is what we do best. Sailing from Israel is an opportunity we have had our sights on for quite some time. We greatly appreciate the government of Israel for their collaboration and confidence in us to deliver memorable cruise experiences to their residents, and look forward to delivering on that promise aboard our newest ship – the first ‘Green Island’ at sea.”
– Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International
Sadly for us US-based travelers, we won’t have a chance to experience Odyssey of the Seas until well after the pandemic is over. Residents of Israel are lucky to have their situation in check, as they are working closely with Israel’s health and tourism authority. Royal Caribbean will be the first to offer fully vaccinated sailings, where both crew and guests above the age of 16 will be vaccinated against COVID-19. Details on the additional health and safety measures to be implemented by Israel and Royal Caribbean will be announced at a later date.
“Thanks to the millions of vaccines we have brought, I am proud that Israel will be the first country in the world to launch Royal Caribbean’s new flagship. Royal Caribbean’s decision to come to Israel is a significant expression of confidence in our policy. This is an important economic, touristic moment for the State of Israel. Israel is a global model of success. We will continue our program – the ‘green passport’ – so that we can get out of the COVID-19 virus in peace. Just as we made Israel the world champion in vaccines, we will make it the world champion in economics and tourism in the post-Corona era.”
– Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
So what can the residents of Israel look forward to on their sailing with Odyssey of the Seas? Besides the stunning backdrop of the Mediterranean Sea (a personal favorite of mine), guests will enjoy a two-level pool deck, the two-level indoor and outdoor activity complex called SeaPlex, numerous complimentary and specialty restaurants, high-tech signature production inside the ship’s two theater venues, and so much more.
The Odyssey will be Royal Caribbean’s first Quantum Ultra Class ship to homeport in the region, packing technological innovations RC has come to be known for. Think about what they have done with the Bionic Bar, where robots craft your specialty cocktails and then think bigger! I for one am intrigued about the venue’s first Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade.
Head over to the Odyssey of the Seas official page to learn more about the new ship.
