Israel
Ashdod

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    • Day 7

      Ashdod

      October 25, 2019 in Israel ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

      Ashdod liegt im südlichen Distrikt von Israel und ist mit 200000 Einwohnern ein bedeutendes Industriezentrum, 60 Prozent der Importware Israels werden über diesen größten Hafen umgeschlagen.
      Ashdod ist unser Ausgangspunkt für die Tagestour nach Jerusalem.

      Pünktlich fährt unser Bus aus dem riesigen Hafengelände von Ashdod kerzengerade in das Landesinnere. Grün und hügelig wird es hier, doch auch schnell ändert sich die Landschaft. Nur durch ein einziges schmales Tal kam man damals wie heute nach Jerusalem, heute ist die einzige Straße aber sechs spurig ausgebaut. Wir halten am Mount Scoput, von wo man einen herrlichen Ausblick auf die Altstadt von Jerusalem hat, die komplett von einer Steinmauer umgeben ist.

      Unsere Führerin Rina erzählt uns viel über die Jahrtausende alte Geschichte sowie die besondere geografische Lage Israels. Die bestehenden Konflikte werden nicht thematisiert.
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    • Day 6

      Bethlehem

      March 26, 2023 in Israel ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

      Heute morgen in Ashdod angekommen, Imigration und dann mit Bus nach Jerusalem, Bethlehem gefahren. Geburtskirche besichtigt.
      Souvenirshop und Sheppard Church.
      Nach einen schönen Blick auf Altstadt von Jerusalem geht es wieder aufs Schiff.Read more

    • Day 23

      Ashdod: We Waited and We Waited

      April 10, 2022 in Israel ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F

      Do I even want to write about what turned out to be a “bust” for us? Not really, but I will. So here goes the “short” story of today.

      We knew the COVID-19 formalities were going to delay us. We were prepared for that. After all, we’d been told that the process could take up to six hours. The first part — the PCR testing — went smoothly and the testing was completed ahead of schedule. Then, we waited … and we waited … and we waited … and we waited. No announcement for us to proceed to immigration. That answered the question from this morning. Since we were not berthed at the terminal, we’d be going through the formalities on our way to the Sea Mall.

      At 11:30a, we went up to the Waves Grill for lunch. Then, we waited … and we waited. CD Leslie came on the P/A to say we were still waiting for the test results and immigration … and promised to be back in an hour with an update. So, we waited … and we waited. Leslie made another announcement. The same news … waiting on test results and immigration. One cabin number was then called with the request to contact the front desk. Later, I heard that there was one inconclusive test. Was that someone in the cabin that was called? Probably.

      Anyway, it was just about 3:00p when Leslie finally came on the P/A system to say Insignia was cleared. He proceeded to call the tours to the gangway. No calls for us independents until 3:30p.

      By that time, Mui and I had decided to throw in the towel. You see, immigration was still ahead of us. We’d have to take the shuttle to the terminal, go through the formalities, then get back on a bus to go to the Sea Mall. The museum we were planning to visit would be closed by the time we got there. We didn’t feel like it was worth the hassle to go through all that just to walk around the marina area. Instead, we figured we’d have afternoon tea on a quiet ship. Yeah, right!

      Apparently, the “clearance” given earlier was just for PCR testing. We were just sitting down to tea when the announcement came that “everyone” had to go through immigration, whether they planned to leave the port or not.

      So, we trudged down the gangway only to see the bus we’re required to to ride through the port pulling away as it was at capacity. It was another 20 minutes before another bus pulled up to collect us and a few others. Five minutes after that we were pulling up by the terminal. The only good news in all this? Those on the buses ahead of us were already finished so we just walked up, showed our passports, went through the security checkpoint, walked back out, and got back on the bus back to the ship.

      By this time, it was 4:30p. The Panache Quartet was still playing in Horizons, but afternoon tea was already being dismantled. The wait staff were kind enough to accommodate us … and we were joined by Cella, who was also late to the “tea game.”

      Now, at 6:00p we are not only back in our cabin, but I am ready to put this whole debacle behind me. It takes a lot to frustrate us. But the Israelis managed to do so in a big way today. I sure hope our next couple of days in Haifa will make up for today.

      On the bright side … I had mentioned in my cruise satisfaction survey that I wished there was a full length mirror in the cabin. What seemed like minutes after we dropped off the survey at the front desk this morning, there was a knock on the door. Yup … a new door for the double closet … with a full-length mirror on the inside panel. Now that’s what I call service!
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    • Day 23

      Welcome to Ashdod Port

      April 10, 2022 in Israel ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F

      I say port, because that’s where we are … and where we will remain until the results for the Israeli-administered PCR tests come back. Last announcement I heard, there were 9 or so passengers who had not yet been to the Insignia Lounge PCR Clinic. Hopefully, they have since made their way to complete the testing requirement.

      The process went very smoothly this morning. Our side of the deck 7 cabins were slated for 8:50a. But at 8:30a, an announcement was made for anyone who had not been tested to make their way down to the lounge. By 8:45a, Mui and I had taken our turn and were back in the cabin to finish preparing for our day in Ashdod.

      Next, we await the announcement to complete immigration formalities in the terminal. We’ve got a little twist in the process, however. Apparently there is a crane near the terminal so we were not allowed to dock there as scheduled. Instead, we will have to be shuttled to the terminal.

      Will that mean that we’ll get shuttled, go through the formalities, and then return to the ship to await PCR results before being shuttled to the Sea Mall when said results are ready?

      Or will that mean that they will wait for the test results to come back first so that we can then proceed to the Sea Mall once the immigration formalities in the terminal are completed?

      That question has not been answered by the authorities as yet.

      In the meantime, we did get some good news on the shuttle front. The last shuttle back from the Sea Mall to the port is now at 8:00p. That’s more like it since Insignia is in port until 10:00p. We won’t need to seek alternative means to get back to the ship and can enjoy our time in the city.
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    • Day 9

      What a lovely surprise

      December 5, 2015 in Israel ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

      We got an unexpected invitation from Peter Dimitrov the hotel director, to go to the Chef's Table, which normally costs $80.
      It was a brilliant night with superb food and various wines to match each dish.
      The other evenings this week have been good to, with our company growing in size as the cruise has gone on.
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    • Day 11

      Ashdod another industrial port !

      December 7, 2015 in Israel ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

      Why do these cruise lines insist on docking at industrial ports?
      It's a rhetorical question really because I already know the answer.
      It's cost, I understand that it costs less to dock in industrial ports ; that's fair enough, I get the fact that the company needs to save money.
      But when you are in an industrial port, you are not allowed to walk around the port or even walk to the port gate.
      Fine I get that too, it's all to do with safety, but why do the cruise company insist on charging $12 or $15 for the shuttle?
      It was their choice to dock there, but if we want to visit the town we do not have the option of making our own way.
      Take Ashdodl as an example, the cruise compass leaflet tells you how nice the town is, but if you want to get out of the port to visit it, it will cost you $15, if you had the option of either walking or getting the shuttle that's fine, but you don't have the option.
      The cruise line as usual has you by the balls.
      Rant over! Lol
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    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Ashdod, Aschdod, أشدود, Aşdod, Ашдод, Asdod, Ašdod, Ασντόντ, Aŝdod, Axdod, اشدود, אשדוד, Asdód, Աշդոդ, アシュドッド, აშდოდი, 아슈도드, Azotus, Ašdodas, അഷ്ദോദ്, Asjdod, Aszdod, Asdode, Așdod, அஸ்தோது, Asot, 阿什杜德

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