{"id":59245,"date":"2026-05-14T20:15:50","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T00:15:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/haifa-port-opens-new-cruise-terminal-as-israels-tourism-sector-eyes-recovery\/14\/05\/2026\/"},"modified":"2026-05-14T20:15:50","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T00:15:50","slug":"haifa-port-opens-new-cruise-terminal-as-israels-tourism-sector-eyes-recovery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/haifa-port-opens-new-cruise-terminal-as-israels-tourism-sector-eyes-recovery\/14\/05\/2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Haifa Port opens new cruise terminal as Israel\u2019s tourism sector eyes recovery"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">The new terminal, built at an investment of more than NIS 16 million, is expected to begin operating with the opening of the cruise season on May 14.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">Haifa Port inaugurated a new cruise terminal this month as Israel\u2019s maritime tourism sector prepared for a gradual return to activity following years of security disruption, the port announced.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">The new terminal, built at an investment of more than NIS 16 million, is expected to begin operating with the opening of the cruise season on May 14. The port said the project was part of its effort to strengthen <a data-ylk=\"slk:Haifa;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Haifa&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;}\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jpost.com\/tags\/haifa\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Haifa<\/a>\u2019s position as Israel\u2019s main maritime gateway for cruise tourism.<\/p>\n<div class=\"col-fullbleed mb-4 bg-marshmallow pb-5 dark:bg-ramones md:invisible md:mb-0 md:h-0 md:overflow-hidden md:pb-0\">\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-nowrap justify-center\">\n<div class=\"flex w-full items-center justify-center\" id=\"_R_18qnclckluaiv5tilbH1_\">\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\"><![CDATA[#_R_18qnclckluaiv5tilbH1_ { display: none; }\n@media screen and (max-width: 767.95px) {\n        #_R_18qnclckluaiv5tilbH1_ { display: flex; }\n        iframe { max-width: 100vw; }\n      }]]><\/style>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-body hidden dark:bg-ramones md:block\">\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-nowrap justify-center\">\n<div class=\"flex hidden w-full items-center justify-center\" id=\"_R_28qnclckluaiv5tilbH1_\">\n<style type=\"text\/css\"><![CDATA[#_R_28qnclckluaiv5tilbH1_ { display: none; }\n@media screen and (min-width: 768px) {\n        #_R_28qnclckluaiv5tilbH1_ { display: flex; }\n        iframe { max-width: 100vw; }\n      }]]><\/style>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">The terminal is designed to handle two large<a data-ylk=\"slk:cruise ships;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;cruise ships&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;}\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jpost.com\/international\/article-895636\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">cruise ships<\/a> at the same time, serving both outbound cruises from Haifa and incoming tourism. According to Haifa Port, the upgraded facility will have capacity for up to one million passengers a year, double the number recorded during Israel\u2019s peak year for cruise traffic.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">As part of the project, the port expanded and established several central passenger areas, including a duty-free shop covering some 600 square meters, a security screening area of about 1,300 square meters, a check-in area of about 1,000 square meters, and a border control area of about 1,200 square meters with 28 stations. Electrical and communications infrastructure at the terminal was also upgraded.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">Work on the terminal began before <a data-ylk=\"slk:Operation Rising Lion;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Operation Rising Lion&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;}\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jpost.com\/tags\/operation-rising-lion\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Operation Rising Lion<\/a> and continued during the conflict while the port maintained regular activity, according to the statement.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative col-body mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;expand&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;image-lightbox&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;lightbox-open&quot;}\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-[4] size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-[0.875rem]\/[1.25rem] figure-caption mt-1 line-clamp-2 pr-2.5\">\n<p>A CRUISE ship. (credit: Courtesy)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">The port said the summer 2026 season marked a step toward renewed growth in Israel\u2019s cruise industry, following a complex security period that sharply affected tourism.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading-mb col-body text-[1.125rem]\/[1.375rem] font-bold charcoal-color\">International cruise companies expected to gradually return to Haifa<\/h3>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">The Israeli cruise company Mano Maritime is expected to operate from Haifa this summer. Haifa Port officials said they expect international cruise companies that previously visited the port to return gradually in the coming years. About 30 international cruise companies called at Haifa Port in 2023, which the port described as Israel\u2019s peak year for cruise tourism.<\/p>\n<div class=\"col-fullbleed mb-4 bg-marshmallow pb-5 dark:bg-ramones md:invisible md:mb-0 md:h-0 md:overflow-hidden md:pb-0\">\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-nowrap justify-center\">\n<div class=\"flex\" id=\"_R_1oqnclckluaiv5tilbH1_\">\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\"><![CDATA[#_R_1oqnclckluaiv5tilbH1_ { display: none; }\n@media screen and (max-width: 767.95px) {\n        #_R_1oqnclckluaiv5tilbH1_ { display: flex; }\n        iframe { max-width: 100vw; }\n      }]]><\/style>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">\u201cHaifa Port and its owners are committed to continuing to advance <a data-ylk=\"slk:cruise;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;cruise&quot;,&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;}\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jpost.com\/international\/article-895125\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">cruise<\/a> tourism in Israel, precisely during a challenging security period,\u201d said Capt. Sumit Chauhan, president of Haifa Port. \u201cThis investment reflects our optimism about the future, our long-term commitment to the Israeli economy and the North, and our belief that cruise tourism will continue to grow and connect Israel to the world.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">Zohar Rom, vice president of cruises at Haifa Port, said the port was preparing for the return and growth of Israel\u2019s cruise sector after several difficult years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 min-w-0 leading-7 break-words md:leading-8 col-body text-[18px] charcoal-color\">\u201cThe new terminal will allow the reception of two large ships simultaneously and a capacity of about one million passengers a year, alongside a significant upgrade to the passenger experience and infrastructure at an international standard,\u201d Rom said. \u201cWe expect international cruise companies to return to operating from Israel after the war period and are preparing accordingly.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/travel.yahoo.com\/cruises\/articles\/haifa-port-opens-cruise-terminal-213948383.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The new terminal, built at an investment of more than NIS 16 million, is expected to begin operating with the opening of<br \/><button class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/haifa-port-opens-new-cruise-terminal-as-israels-tourism-sector-eyes-recovery\/14\/05\/2026\/\">Read More &rsaquo;<\/a><\/button><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":59246,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/d57ec28a7dd3dcd01fd8a49752407e67871b4278b545d93c0e6afc24029c4089\/lightyear_networkapi\/resizefill_w1200;quality_80;format_webp\/https:%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fjerusalem_post_articles_818%2F28c27b5830ddaf3037c40403a2fe82a6","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59245"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=59245"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59245\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/59246"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=59245"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=59245"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=59245"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}