Exclusive-Norwegian Cruise Lines unit alters 2024 itineraries to skip Israel - email

By Doyinsola Oladipo

(Reuters) - A unit of cruise operator Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings is making changes to its 2024 itineraries, canceling stops in Israel due to the Israel-Hamas war, according to an email sent to travel agents seen by Reuters.

The cruises will instead make port stops in cities such as Trieste, Italy instead of Israel, according to the email sent by Oceania Cruises, which is owned by Norwegian.

Norwegian did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Across Israel and the Palestinian territories of Gaza and the West Bank, travel has declined sharply. International air carriers have stopped trips to top destinations such as Jerusalem and Tel Aviv as the conflict continues.

Privately held Geneva, Switzerland-based cruise operator MSC Cruises canceled a full winter schedule that consisted of sailing in the Red Sea from November to April 2024.

MSC said its new itinerary will make several west Mediterranean stops instead, avoiding ports close to Israel. It is also continuing to monitor the situation in the Middle East, it said last week.

Royal Caribbean Cruises and Carnival Corp did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether they had removed Israel from itineraries in 2024.

Norwegian will report third-quarter earnings on Wednesday before the market opens.

The U.S. State Department recommends Americans not travel to Gaza and reconsider travel to Israel and the West Bank.

Private membership travel agency Essentialist said it has canceled 75% of trips to the extended Middle East and northeast Africa region.

"We did have members (who were) going to Egypt re-book to southern Spain for the holidays," said Joan Roca, chief executive of the Spain-based company.

(Reporting By Doyinsola Oladipo; editing by David Gaffen, Chizu Nomiyama and Rod Nickel)