Royal Caribbean Group has decided to exclude Israel from its 2024 itineraries in response to the ongoing conflict, according to a recent report based on an email sent to travel agents on Thursday. This move marks the second major adjustment by a U.S. cruise operator due to the conflict.
The Miami, Florida-based cruise company is adjusting its itineraries, extending the changes until October 2024 for its Royal Caribbean International unit that previously included stops in Israel. The conflict has caused a significant decline in travel across Israel and the Palestinian territories of Gaza and the West Bank, leading to the suspension of international air carriers’ trips to prominent destinations like Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
Royal Caribbean has yet to comment on the matter despite requests for clarification. In a similar vein, competitor Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings informed its agents on Tuesday about the removal of Israel from its 2024 itineraries.
During an earnings call last week, Royal Caribbean revealed that itineraries involving Israel only account for less than 1.5% of its total capacity for 2024. CEO Jason Liberty highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the conflict’s duration and its potential impact on consumer travel choices for the upcoming year.
As a result of the modification, the cruise operator plans to redeploy the vessel initially designated for the Israeli route to conduct cruises departing from Boston, Massachusetts, as detailed in the email communication.
While the company refrained from providing specific insights into the European cruise season, Liberty indicated that it was too early to determine whether the conflict had affected the demand for sailings in that region.
Meanwhile, Norwegian’s CEO Harry Sommer stated during an investor briefing on Wednesday that the company is observing a surge in cancellations and a slowdown in bookings in the vicinity of Israel, primarily among short-term reservations.
