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Oct. 14, 2005
Cruising the Med – kosher style
Israel's Mano Maritime line benefits from increased tourist traffic
to and from Israeli ports.
EDGAR ASHER ISRANET
Over the past 15 years, there has been a significant growth in
the number of passengers and the number and variety of cruise ships
on the Mediterranean. In fact, the Mediterranean is second only
to the Caribbean in its popularity for cruise travel.
Like the rest of the world's tourist industry, the cruise industry
was adversely affected by the destruction of the World Trade Centre
and by the effects of regional wars, such as those in Bosnia and
Iraq. However, these seem to have been blips in an industry that
is generally showing tremendous growth, year after year.
With its large variety of countries and scenery, its rich history
and its weather and accessibility, the attraction to the Mediterranean
is easy to understand.
However, over the years of the intifada, the international cruise
companies would not allow their ships to dock at Israeli ports,
despite the multitude of places to see and things to do in the country.
This is slowly changing. Cruise ships and tourists are beginning
to return to Israel. In the first eight months of 2005, there was
a 26 per cent total increase in all tourism to Israel. In this period,
8,200 tourists arrived aboard foreign cruise ships.
Three-to-15-day Mediterranean cruises, which include visits to or
from Israeli ports, are now available. On specific cruises, there
is the added incentive of being served the highest quality kosher
supervised meals.
The undoubted current leader in the Israeli cruise field is Mano
Maritime. In 1991, the company, which is also well known as a cargo
line, had just one Israeli-based cruise ship that could carry a
maximum of 300 passengers. Today, Mano has three beautifully equipped
and maintained vessels with a combined capacity of 2,300 passengers.
Such is the growth in popularity of cruising that 85 per cent of
the time the Mano ships are fully booked.
The 15,000-ton Royal Iris is currently the biggest ship in the Mano
fleet. Built in France in 1971, it sailed under various owners and
names until it was completely overhauled by Mano last year. The
Royal Iris is joined by two smaller sister ships, the Iris and the
Jasmine. The Royal Iris can carry up to 1,000 and is staffed by
a crew of 300. The ship is spotless and comfortable and it seems
that nothing is too much trouble for the cabin and restaurant crew.
The quality of the food on board could only be matched by a land-based
five-star hotel.
Capt. Nadezhdin Valeriy is a soft-spoken man with a boyish glint
in his eye. Born in Yalta, in Ukraine, he started working on passenger
ships as a junior officer.
"In 1991, I first started working with Mano lines when the
company was chartering small vessels for cruising. My position then
was combined as staff captain and hotel manager," explained
Valeriy. "In 1993, I left Mano and became the master of my
first passenger vessel and spent some time as master of several
American-based cruise ships. Two months ago, I returned to Mano
to be the master of the completely refurbished Royal Iris."
Valeriy is an eloquent spokesman for Israeli-based cruising.
"I think the cruising business in Israel has a big future,"
he said. "It is a very interesting and enjoyable way to spend
a holiday. People now have money to go on cruises and there is no
worry concerning safety and security."
On this last matter, without going into detail, suffice to say that
security at all ports is comprehensive.
Within about a day's sailing from Haifa are the Greek Islands and
the ancient ports and archeological sites of Turkey. Both countries
have a rich and diverse Jewish history. At each port of call, there
are options to enjoy organized shore excursions or, if you prefer,
just amble about – enjoy a coffee, browse the shops and watch
the world go by. Equally, you can remain on board the ship and make
use of all the facilities.
Alon Winter is the Royal Iris hotel manager. He joined Mano two
years ago after being the general manager of a big hotel in the
Red Sea resort of Eilat.
"It is much harder work on a ship than on land because you
have the passengers with you 24 hours a day," explained Winter.
"One has to be available for the passengers any time of the
day or night. It is part of one's responsibility. Apart from that,
it is exactly like being in charge of a land-based hotel. I have
to be responsible for everything on board except navigation and
technical matters. Of course, the captain will have ultimate responsibility
for everything that happens in connection with the ship."
For about eight months of each year, Winter does not see his home
in Israel.
"It's a tough but satisfying life," he said. "You
meet so many diverse and interesting people and see so many different
places."
Winter is very clear about the success of Mano lines.
"The secret is the fact that the owner, Moshe Mano, has always
taken a personal interest in the running of all his ships,"
said Winter. "He does not employ a management company, but
rather attends to every detail himself. In fact, only a month ago,
he was aboard this ship to check out all aspects of its running."
In general, Mano cruises run from April until December.
"The increase in the numbers of people taking cruises from
Israel in the past two years has gone up far beyond expectation,"
said Winter. "I believe that in the next few years there will
be a significant expansion of Mano lines."
This increase is also reflected in the number of religious Jews
who would only travel on a cruise ship if supervised kosher food
is available. Last year, Mano lines introduced fully supervised
kosher cruises.
Winter noted, "It ought to be said that all food on board Mano
cruise ships is kosher in origin, but not always supervised. The
last kosher cruise had 500 religious passengers on board. Of course,
non-religious passengers are welcome on supervised cruises, but
they have to accept the religious requirements on board, which should
not in any way affect their enjoyment."
There is no doubt that the demand by Israelis for cruising holidays
will encourage the further development of this rapidly growing world
tourist sector. If peace can be attained in the Middle East, Israel's
Mediterranean ports will be full of Israeli and foreign cruise ships
and Jerusalem and the Galilee will once again be part of the itinerary
of the world's cruise companies.
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