GoIsrael Community

 Hi, I am very much new here. I have a question. I am affraid of airplains, but I have to visit my friens and famuly in Israel. Does anyone know any ship or boat services from US to Israel. Even freight ship would be fine, if they take passengers. Thanx.

Sure, private yacht shuttles all the time.  What port?

Just take a transatlantic ship from the East Coast to Spain or France or Italy.  There are ships going to Israel from different ports, but ther are primarely cruises, so for a stay in Israel would be quite hard.

You also can take the train from anywhere in Europe to Istanbul or Athen and take a ship to Haifa.

FYI, airplane are much safer than any other transportation. Don't be afraid. You can sleep thru the whole trip.

 I know it's safe,but I get panic attacks on plains, so it would be a 9 hours of torture for me, besides that, the thought of comeing back home on a plain will spoil the whole experience. I will be constantly worried about it. 

I can take a transatlantic ship to London, and then train to Spain or Italy.  But I need to find a ship or boat from there.

Anna i sent you a private message and you didnt answer

I would like to travel to Israel another way besided by plane.  Have you figured out how you want to go, yet?  When are you planning your trip?  I would consider going with you for a couple of reasons:  1-if there are better companion rates available and 2- just to do it together instead of solo.  I have 6 grandchildren that I always want to visit.  My last and only trip there was by plane and my body had a very bad reaction to the length of time sitting...not good for me at all.  Please let me know if you are interested in going with a companion.  I am fully able bodied with some limitations for very long distance hiking.  I would also go to teach a class in Israel as well as visit.   Thank you for your request for the info as I am also interested.....

Happy New Year!

Susan

Hi,

I am a travel in Los Angeles. Taking a transatlantic will be quite expensive. Trains are not that cheap either.  No train from Europe to Israel, and you know why.

Ships are going from Athen (Greece) or Istanbul (Turkey) to Haifa.

From London to Istanbul, fugure 5/6 days on the train......plus 5 days crossing the Atlantic and coming back at a later date !!!!

round-trip by on  the Queen Mary, or other available from New York to Southampton....approx. $4,000 to $6,000 (Ships do not go to London)

Trains may run you close to $1,000 r/t

Plus add hotel in England and in Turkey for 1 or 2 nights,  pretty expensive trip.

Planes would save you time and money and you can do it on short hops, instead of non-stop (ie. NYC-London----London-Vienna----Vienna-Istanbul----Istanbul-TelAviv)  all are less than 2 hrs trips, except NYC-London : 6hrs.

Hi Anna,   I feel exactly the same way about flying but I really want to go to Israel.    Did you go?  If so, would you mind telling me about it?