The port of Haifa, Israel, is experiencing a record-breaking year with up to eight shipping lines operating there as a home port. And the outlook for 2023 is even better.
Article from CruisesNews magazine no. 62 – September 2022
Text: Félix González.
The Port of Haifa is Israel's most important port, with significant cargo and container traffic, but also strong cruise tourism. This year it expects approximately 290,000 passengers, depending on ship occupancy, a figure that will be close to the 294,621 passengers recorded in 2012.
The pandemic severely impacted the cruise industry, with zero port calls and no passengers in 2020. In 2021, with Israel leading the world in COVID-19 vaccinations, Royal Caribbean announced it would operate its newest ship, the Odyssey of the Seas, in Haifa, and that its crew would be vaccinated there. The ship remained in the port of Haifa for several weeks, but escalating tensions between Israel and Hamas led to the cancellation of the planned season and the ship's departure for Florida.
Haifa had to set up a temporary terminal in one month after detecting security problems in the usual one.
After that setback, 2022 didn't start well for Haifa either, as it had to close its cruise terminal due to security concerns and was forced to build a temporary one in just one month. Having overcome that major obstacle, the season finally began without further problems and is proceeding normally, with the MSC Lirica, the Rhapsody of the Seas, and the Crown Iris operating as homeports at 100% capacity.
In the coming months, the Nautica, the Seabourn Encore, the Norwegian Epic and the Costa Venezia will also have embarkations in Haifa.
In 2023 they expect 132 homeport operations and 121 port calls, which could lead them to exceed 300,000 passengers, thanks to ships like the Costa Venezia, the MSC Musica, and again the Rhapsody of the Seas.
Port of access to Jerusalem and Nazareth
Although Haifa obviously has its own tourist attractions, many of the passengers who visit it on a cruise or embark here, take the opportunity to visit Jerusalem and/or Nazareth, about 155 and 46 kilometers away respectively.
Haifa
The city is located on the slopes of Mount Carmel, whose summit can be reached by cable car to admire the magnificent views and visit the Stella Maris Monastery, origin of the Carmelite order.
On the slopes of Mount Carmel we also find the spectacular Bahai Gardens, which descend in 19 terraces to practically the center of the city and are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Just below the Bahai Gardens is the German Templar Colony, a historic Haifa neighborhood made up of restored buildings constructed in the 1900s by the German Templars.
Its annual passenger count is around 300,000.
Equally important are the Caves of Monte Carmelo or Caves of Nahal Me'arot, where remains of Homo Sapiens and Homo Neanderthalensis have been found, revealing a certain coexistence between both groups.
Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee.
Nazareth is the birthplace of Jesus, where numerous biblical events took place. In Nazareth, you can visit the Basilica of the Annunciation, where, according to Christian tradition, the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would be the mother of Jesus. The Basilica is modern in style, having been commissioned by the Franciscans from the architect Giovanni Muzio in the late 1950s and finally consecrated in 1969. On a lower level, you can see the remains of a 5th-century Byzantine temple, built around the Grotto of the Annunciation, where, according to tradition, part of Mary's house was located.
About 35 kilometers further east lies the Sea of Galilee, also featured in numerous passages of the Bible. Excursions to this area often include several stops, such as Tiberias, whose museum houses a boat from the time of Jesus Christ; Capernaum, where Jesus began to preach; and Tabgha, the site of the Sermon on the Mount, the miracle of the loaves and fishes, and the appearance of Jesus after the resurrection. Yardenit is another key stop on excursions to Galilee, as it sits on the banks of the Jordan River, where Jesus was baptized.
Jerusalem and Bethlehem:
The Holy City is undoubtedly a point of reference for millions of people worldwide. Excursions typically begin at the Mount of Olives, then proceed into the Old City through the Jaffa Gate, visiting holy sites such as the Temple Mount, the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Via Dolorosa. Some excursions also include a trip to Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity. The historical and religious significance of all these places is undeniable, and a visit to them will surely leave cruise passengers with lifelong memories.
Adani Group acquires the Port of Haifa until 2054.
In mid-July, it was announced that Adani Group, an Indian conglomerate, had acquired the operation of the Port of Haifa until 2054 for €1.183 billion. This group currently controls 13 ports in India, representing 24% of the country's traffic.
The privatization of the Port of Haifa is expected to ensure its competitiveness and prosperity in the coming decades, and all the formalities for this are expected to be completed in the coming months.
As a gateway to the Holy Land, its importance on cruise routes grows every year.
According to Zohar Rom, Director of Tourism and Cruises at the Port of Haifa: “Cruise ships will undoubtedly be an important part of our port in the coming years. I am confident that together with the new owners, we will maintain the growth in cruise tourism for the benefit of the industry, Israel, and the Eastern Mediterranean. Furthermore, the fact that the Port of Haifa will soon become a private company will open up a wide range of opportunities to establish strategic partnerships with cruise lines. I am certain that in a few years we will see significant investment in infrastructure at our cruise facilities. We are already working on future plans.”.
