Skift Take
More significant travel brand names will likely follow the steps of Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean, which have stopped trips to Israel, as the dispute reveals no indications of slowing down.
Rashaad Jorden
Royal Caribbean Group is removing Israel from its 2024 travel plans due to the Israel-Hamas war, according to an email sent to travel representatives on Thursday seen by Reuters, making it the second major U.S. cruise operator to change its plans over the conflict.
The Miami, Florida-based cruise operator is customizing travel plans as late as October 2024 for its Royal Caribbean International unit that drops in Israel, the email stated.
Travel has declined greatly across Israel and the Palestinian areas of Gaza and the West Bank. International air carriers have halted trips to top destinations such as Jerusalem and Tel Aviv as the dispute continues.
The cruise operator did not respond to an ask for comment. Competitor Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings informed representatives on Tuesday that it was getting rid of Israel from its 2024 schedules.
Royal Caribbean informed investors recently that itineraries that consisted of Israel account for less than 1.5% of its capacity for 2024.
“We don’t know how long this conflict is going to go on for, which might very much notify where the consumer wishes to go next year,” Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean Group chief executive officer, stated on the company’s Oct. 26 incomes call.
The company will also redeploy the ship meant to cruise in Israel in 2024 for cruises out of Boston, Massachusetts, according to the email.
Liberty stated it was too early in the European cruise season for the business to say whether the conflict was having an effect on the demand to sail because area.
Norwegian President Harry Sommer told financiers on Wednesday that it was seeing a rise in cancellations and a downturn in bookings to the region near Israel, mainly in short-term bookings.
(Reporting by Doyinsola Oladipo in New York City; Modifying by Bill Berkrot)
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