We’re learning a lot about Israel this week. Our daughter and son-in-law are there on vacation, during one of those all-too-often tense times in the Middle East, so we have a growing interest in the country’s geography, not to mention the events in the waters off Gaza.
So do the cruise lines, and not because of our family. Unlike the flotilla from Turkey, cruise ships stay away from Gaza. This week, Princess passed on the closest port, Ashdod, because that’s where the flotilla is now. The Pacific Princess (below) 
had been scheduled to dock today in Ashdod, a frequent jumping-off port for vacationers heading to religious sites near Jerusalem.
As reported by Cruise Critic, four other cruise lines with ships in those Mediterranean waters have not made any itinerary changes — yet. Regent’s Seven Seas Mariner is due in Haifa (north of Tel Aviv) on Saturday and Ashdod (south of Tel Aviv) on Sunday, when the Azamara Quest plans to be there. Oceania’s Nautica is also due at both ports next weekend, and the Cristal from Louis Cruises has an Ashdod stop slated for Tuesday.
Cruisers are hoping to avoid trouble spots. So is our family.
That’s it, we’re done.