Ashdod/Haifa Excursions Whats best?

Celebrity Constellation 23rd October 2015

Hi first time with Celebrity although we have cruised with other lines. Any advice on Jerusalem/Haifa excursions. We normally explore on our own but feel that we could miss out on this occasion if we dont go escorted

Thanks

We were in that region on a P&O ship about two/three years ago, but I think all cruise lines are likely to use the same suppliers for their trips.

We did the standard ship's day trip of the northern 'sites' from Haifa and it ran well. We are glad we did see those places, but were surprised how modern some of the churches were, how commercialised the River Jordan was and that Nazareth was a very busy sprawling town. I suspect you would need a ship's trip for that as there was a fair bit of travelling.

We had been booked on a day trip to Jerusalem from Ashdod, which is well spoken of, but the ship's itinerary was changed to two days in Haifa as misiles were reaching Ashdod from Gaza at the time. Many people still did the trip to Jerusalem, but we did nit want to spend 2.5-3 hours each way on the coach so we took the train to Akko on our first day in Haifa, which was very interesting and enjoyable.

It should be easy to look up details about Akko, but beware that public transport does not run on the sabbath, which means trains stop about 2pm on the Friday so their journey is complete before sundown. We went to Akko on a Friday, but were able to get a shared taxi, (I forget what they are called in Israel), back to Haifa and an ordinary taxi to the port. Normal taxis are quite expensive in Israel, so it was well worth doing that. The other passengers were very good at helping us know how to pass our fare forward and where to get off the shared taxi. We had taken a normal taxi to the shared taxi stop in Akko - otherwise we would have had no idea where the stop was. If you do go to Akko, you must go into the turkish bath museum, the audio visuals were really good and helped us imagine just what it would have been like in there when it was functioning. We had a meal in a large restaurant by the sea, but got caught out a bit as they did not take plastic.

Enjoy

There will be minibuses at Haifa port, touting full-day tours - can't remember prices but certainly reasonable (euros & shekels accepted). Best tour includes (depending on your sailing time) the heights above Haifa, Cana (water into wine), Nazareth (yes, it's sprawling), a kibbutz, River Jordan baptisms, Sea of Galilee.

Or train or taxi to the crusaders' castle at Acra (it has various spellings, pretty certain tring means the same place).

From Ashdod best to pre-book a tour (we rented a car but had two days), you'll achieve little by public transport & no tours are offered at the port.

Choose either Herod's fortress overlooking Dead Sea at Masada plus a dip in the Dead Sea, or Jerusalem, or Jerusalem + Bethlehem. Be aware that Bethlehem is administered by Palestinians & you may have a delay crossing the "border".

If you can join or make up a party of about 6+ (eg via Cruise Critic's RollCall) you'll have a much better & cheaper private tour than ship's offerings.

Alternatively, share a taxi from the port to Jerusalem - something over an hour, 100 euros one-way a few years back, & get the driver to drop you at the Jaffa Gate. Arrange for him to collect you from there for the return. At Jaffa Gate you can join a free (just tip the guide) walking tour of the Walled City - this includes all the major sights other than Gethsemenie (sp??)(which overlooks the Walled City)

http://www.newjerusalemtours.com/daily-tours/new-jerusalem-free-tour.html

JB :)

There will be minibuses at Haifa port, touting full-day tours - can't remember prices but certainly reasonable (euros & shekels accepted). Best tour includes (depending on your sailing time) the heights above Haifa, Cana (water into wine), Nazareth (yes, it's sprawling), a kibbutz, River Jordan baptisms, Sea of Galilee.

Or train or taxi to the crusaders' castle at Acra (it has various spellings, pretty certain tring means the same place).

 

JB :)

Yes this is the same place, Akko is the name in Israel, (actually arab as it is an arab town). The English name is Acre and was used by our cruise ship for the name of trips. Not sure about John Bull's spelling as I have not seen it (may be an Americanism perhaps). There are a few sites there and we bought a combined ticket for them - cannot remember the details now, but we did get the details from the net. It would be an easy independent day to Akko if it is not a Friday or Saturday.

We did not see anyone touting tours at Haifa, but we did go in February which is off season. Our Biblical sites day trip from Haifa covered the things mentioned by John - it was a fairly long day.

A lot of ships were pulling Ashdod as a port about two years ago as the people in Gaza had just got equipment which could send missiles as far as Ashdod and even to the edge of Jerusalem - things may have settled now, but I am not sure, so perhaps worth looking up the current situation before booking a trip from there, just in case.

Yes this is the same place, Akko is the name in Israel, (actually arab as it is an arab town). The English name is Acre and was used by our cruise ship for the name of trips. Not sure about John Bull's spelling as I have not seen it (may be an Americanism perhaps). There are a few sites there and we bought a combined ticket for them - cannot remember the details now, but we did get the details from the net. It would be an easy independent day to Akko if it is not a Friday or Saturday.

 

We did not see anyone touting tours at Haifa, but we did go in February which is off season. Our Biblical sites day trip from Haifa covered the things mentioned by John - it was a fairly long day.

 

A lot of ships were pulling Ashdod as a port about two years ago as the people in Gaza had just got equipment which could send missiles as far as Ashdod and even to the edge of Jerusalem - things may have settled now, but I am not sure, so perhaps worth looking up the current situation before booking a trip from there, just in case.

Nah, not an Americanisation - just a poor memory ;)

Yes, Acre & not Acra.

And yes, we were in Ashdod in between some cancelled port calls due to missiles, so we were taking a chance on both the car rental & the hotel.

One advantage of an organised tour is that (subject to checking terms) normally the cost will be reimbursed by most tour operators if a ship fails to make port.

JB :)

We were supposed to dock at both ports but ended up with 2 nights at Haifa. we booked a tour for 2 days and stayed overnight in Jerusalem to save wasting hours driving back.

People still do that when at the 2 ports. Get off in Haifa and back on in Ashod.

The ship was asking $2,000 for that 2 day excursion. We paid less that 1/4 of that. We had a mini bus with 8 people. We booked our own hotels as some people wanted cheap, others not. There were plenty of restaurants nearby. It was AMAZING. Make sure you don't miss Masada. We added that at the last minute and it was the wonderful. The dead sea, Jerusalem itself. I'd go back in a heartbeat.

Hi we are on the thomson's spirit docking in Ashdod 18 & 19th April 2016 we have booked A trip with Guidedtourslsrael.com to Jerusalem & the Dead Sea . If you Fancy joining us on the 18th please feel free to book with them to join out trip , looking for at least 4 more people

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From my experience there are usually not too many passengers that are using private arrangements on Thomson Cruises in Israel, certainly not like with the American companies...

I think the main reason is the relatively cheap prices that Thomson is offering their excursions.

Another thing, though Jerusalem and the Dead Sea excursion is one of the most popular excursion among passengers who are booking privately (on private tours or on semi-private tour like the one offered by Guided Tour Israel) no cruise company is actually offering this excursion combining both Jerusalem and the Dead Sea... no one except Thomson!

It is either Thomson are smarter or they have a smarter local agent in Israel...

In any case, if you are not too much into the "Christian Nature" of most excursions in Israel, Jerusalem and the Dead Sea is the best option, if you'd ask me...

My guess is that you are publishing this here because Guided Tours Israel need a minimum number of people to operate this excursion and now they don't have.

Although you have enough time until April I doubt it if you'll manage to find more partners here, simple because Thomson's Passengers are rarely here...

In any case I would not be too worried about it as you can always take the ship excursion for 102 pounds, that is also including lunch and frankly this is not a bad option in this case.

From my experience with Thomson in Israel, they are fair enough not to over pack the busses too many people and the group size in around 40 people (busses in Israel have minimum 53 seats) what you cannot say about some other companies... (on MSC the standard, at list in Israel, is 50 people)

From my experience there are usually not too many passengers that are using private arrangements on Thomson Cruises in Israel, certainly not like with the American companies...

I think the main reason is the relatively cheap prices that Thomson is offering their excursions.

Another thing, though Jerusalem and the Dead Sea excursion is one of the most popular excursion among passengers who are booking privately (on private tours or on semi-private tour like the one offered by Guided Tour Israel) no cruise company is actually offering this excursion combining both Jerusalem and the Dead Sea... no one except Thomson!

It is either Thomson are smarter or they have a smarter local agent in Israel...

In any case, if you are not too much into the "Christian Nature" of most excursions in Israel, Jerusalem and the Dead Sea is the best option, if you'd ask me...

My guess is that you are publishing this here because Guided Tours Israel need a minimum number of people to operate this excursion and now they don't have.

Although you have enough time until April I doubt it if you'll manage to find more partners here, simple because Thomson's Passengers are rarely here...

In any case I would not be too worried about it as you can always take the ship excursion for 102 pounds, that is also including lunch and frankly this is not a bad option in this case.

From my experience with Thomson in Israel, they are fair enough not to over pack the busses too many people and the group size in around 40 people (busses in Israel have minimum 53 seats) what you cannot say about some other companies... (on MSC the standard, at list in Israel, is 50 people)

Hi Debbie,

Just to reinforce a couple of points made by Talia:

We all know that ships' tours are over-priced. That includes Thomson. But Talia's right that Thomson excursions aren't as over-priced as the others. Mebbe 20% cheaper than the others for exactly the same tour run by exactly the same local operators. So for finding sharers, Thomson's own offerings are tougher competition than other cruise lines

You know how few posts there are on your ship's RollCall.

Check other Thomson, P&O, Fred, etc RollCalls - much the same.

Now check out some of the RollCalls on US ships - they run into dozens of pages.

We Brits simply aren't into RollCalls, which makes it difficult to get numbers together in advance.

As an alternative to ships' tours:

Americans, especially those on Cruise Critic, go for pre-booked independent tours in a big way - private or shared. Via our RollCall on a US ship, we shared with an American couple a rented car for two days from Ashdod, to incorporate Massada, Dead Sea & Jerusalem - all very easy.

We Brits tend to be more sociable on a ship (for instance you'll find that Thomson Spirit is a very friendly ship), and on-board it's very easy to hook up with others to share a day ashore. Brits also tend more toward DIY on-arrival, using tours & taxis lined up at the pier or public transport. All of which makes finding sharers on the ship or on the pier relatively easy - but that's not a lot of good if you need to commit to a pre-booked shared tour.

Do keep plugging away cos there's always the possibility, but I fear that you will struggle to find sharers before your cruise.

Which is a great shame, because GuidedToursIsrael has a good name.

JB :)

Thank John

Thank John

One other snag, because you're porting at Ashdod.

Sharing at the pier in Haifa is easy.:)

But Ashdod is a much bigger, more regulated, & secure port.:(

You need a tour, or a (free) shuttle to the port gate. There are taxis available at the gate, but no available tour vans. So you could arrange with folk you meet on the ship to share a taxi to Jerusalem, but a full-blown tour by taxi would be super-expensive.

Mebbe consider what we did. Booked a hire car, taxi to hire depot, & self-drive to Massada & Dead Sea then overnite at a Jerusalem hotel. Next morning a free walking tour of the walled city (New Jerusalem Tours), some free time, then back to Ashdod.

We shared, but it wouldn't be expensive for just two of you.

JB :)

One other snag, because you're porting at Ashdod.

Sharing at the pier in Haifa is easy.:)

But Ashdod is a much bigger, more regulated, & secure port.:(

You need a tour, or a (free) shuttle to the port gate. There are taxis available at the gate, but no available tour vans. So you could arrange with folk you meet on the ship to share a taxi to Jerusalem, but a full-blown tour by taxi would be super-expensive.

 

Mebbe consider what we did. Booked a hire car, taxi to hire depot, & self-drive to Massada & Dead Sea then overnite at a Jerusalem hotel. Next morning a free walking tour of the walled city (New Jerusalem Tours), some free time, then back to Ashdod.

We shared, but it wouldn't be expensive for just two of you.

 

JB :)

John Bull I'm afraid your information is a bit not updated…

In Ashdod the Taxis are waiting in port by the passengers' terminal, no shuttle is needed. Once immigration process is finished the taxis even move to the pier itself and wait by the gangway.

Thomson is offering a free shuttle bus to the beach and the city, however this shuttle is not even stopping by the gate as dropping of people by the gate is forbidden.

The prices of the Taxis are fixed and monitored, however if you want the taxi with you for the whole day it is negotiable but at list you have a based price.

Now, debby 1965, though thanking only John I will give you a tip that will save you a lot of money and heartbreaking…!

You will not be docking in Ashdod on 18-19 Apr. You Just don't know it.

Your ship will dock in Haifa on 14 Apr and in Ashdod on 15 Apr. If I were you I would contact Guided Tours Israel and inform then about the change (they have no way to know it). Your tour to Jerusalem and the Dead Sea must be rescheduled to 15 Apr from Ashdod.

If I were you I would tell G.T.I to talk with the local Israeli agent to confirm this change in the dates.

Have a great time in Israel… and no need to thank me….

John Bull I'm afraid your information is a bit not updated…

In Ashdod the Taxis are waiting in port by the passengers' terminal, no shuttle is needed. Once immigration process is finished the taxis even move to the pier itself and wait by the gangway.

Thomson is offering a free shuttle bus to the beach and the city, however this shuttle is not even stopping by the gate as dropping of people by the gate is forbidden.

The prices of the Taxis are fixed and monitored, however if you want the taxi with you for the whole day it is negotiable but at list you have a based price.

Now, debby 1965, though thanking only John I will give you a tip that will save you a lot of money and heartbreaking…!

You will not be docking in Ashdod on 18-19 Apr. You Just don't know it.

Your ship will dock in Haifa on 14 Apr and in Ashdod on 15 Apr. If I were you I would contact Guided Tours Israel and inform then about the change (they have no way to know it). Your tour to Jerusalem and the Dead Sea must be rescheduled to 15 Apr from Ashdod.

If I were you I would tell G.T.I to talk with the local Israeli agent to confirm this change in the dates.

Have a great time in Israel… and no need to thank me….

Talia, I'll happily bow to your much more recent knowledge :)

Debby, it looks like a mix of bad news & good news.

Dead Sea, Massada and Jerusalem in one day is somewhere between rushed and impossible.

But as per previous posts Haifa is more relaxed, you can negotiate to share vans (minibuses) at the port (can you confirm that's still correct, Talia?), and Nazareth, Sea of Galilee, etc are easy from Haifa - depending what time your ship leaves port.

JB :)

Well that's us book with G.T.I for Jerusalem & Dead Sea can't wait to go now counting the days [emoji2]

Well that's us book with G.T.I for Jerusalem & Dead Sea can't wait to go now counting the days [emoji2]

debby1965

you have seemed to either missed my comment regarding the changes in your cruise itinerary or decided to ignore it...

I hope you have booked with G.T.I this tour for the 14/4, because this is the date in which your ship is going to be in Ashdod...

and frankly, I have great respect for G.T.I that offers high standard shore excursions in Israel, however, in this case, for 104GBP including great lunch in the Olive Tree hotel in Jerusalem and the beach admission, Thomson's option is way better.

In any way enjoy your visit!