Ashdod

Ashdod sits on Israel’s Mediterranean coast, midway between Tel Aviv and Gaza. It is home to one of the country’s two industrial ports and is Israel’s busiest, handling 60% of all imports and exports.

As Israel’s new economic gate, Ashdod Port offers cruise and tourism passengers a new, modern terminal that is among the world’s most advanced.

The Port runs an organized, air-conditioned shuttle from the parking lot to the passenger terminal, then returns passengers to the parking lot after their trip. On boarding, passengers must show security their passport and confirmation of their cruise order. Private vehicles are not allowed into the port.

At the gate, port officials can sometimes be very “difficult” and seem to favour only certain taxi companies, leading to heavy “surcharges”.

Two duty-free shops offer passengers a wide range of attractively priced products. They are accessible after passport control.

The town centre is about 4 km away and cannot be reached on foot.

A young city, Ashdod was re-founded 50 years ago and has grown dramatically over the last two decades. It is well planned and maintained, with beautiful beaches and southern regions, and regularly ranks highly among Israel’s most beautiful and well-designed cities.

Modern Ashdod has a diverse population reflecting every wave of Jewish immigration. Jews from the former Soviet Union represent roughly a third of its total 235,000 residents.

Givat Yonah (Jonah’s Hill) takes its name from the prophet Jonah, believed to be buried there. It is the city’s highest point, around 150 m above sea level, and the city lighthouse stands on its summit.

Most cruise travellers use shore excursions or private tours with transport from Ashdod to Jerusalem. Those determined to tour independently can take the ship’s shuttle to the main port gate and catch a cab straight to Jerusalem, though the first option is recommended because of time constraints.

When a cruise ship docks, the shore agent most often arranges a shuttle bus that is available throughout the day, even if it does not run frequently.

The taxi company—only one or two are permitted through the gates—has taxis at the dock as passengers begin leaving the ship. A clear, centrally positioned sign lists fares for trips throughout the country, including the price of keeping a driver beyond the journey itself or having one at your disposal all day.

There is no need to hire their taxi for the entire day. Take any taxi back to the port gates, or get the company’s phone number and call when it is time to return. For anyone staying in Ashdod, this is probably the best choice.

Tel Aviv and Jaffa are easy to visit independently by train. Take the ship’s shuttle to central Ashdod, where the train station is located; Tel Aviv is less than one hour away by train.

Jerusalem’s Old City lies at its heart, enclosed by a wall and split into Jewish, Armenian, Christian and Muslim quarters. Within are the three major religions’ important holy sites: the Jewish Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount. Millions of worshippers visit the Western Wall plaza, where prayers are offered at the base of the massive Holy Temple remnant and heartfelt-wish notes are placed in its crevices.

Often described as “the city that never stops”, Tel Aviv was Israel’s first modern Jewish city and is its economic and cultural centre. It is lively and active, with entertainment, culture, art, festivals and a rich nightlife.

Eating out in Israel, particularly in a sit-down restaurant, is expensive. Outdoor cafés offer good, inexpensive food for any meal, while a sit-down lunch can cost about $30 and dinner $50. Credit cards are the best option and usually give a better rate; American dollars are also accepted in most places. Buses are inexpensive and taxis are not too bad. Gift items and clothing usually cost far more than in the USA.

The currency is the New Israeli Shekel (NIS).

Many ATMs across Israel connect to both European and American banking systems.

The language is Hebrew.

Over the past year, food chains, municipalities and academic centres have increasingly provided free wireless internet. Free access can generally be found at all Mc. Donalds’ branches, some Burger King branches, ‘Aroma’ coffee shops, ‘The Coffee bean and Tea Leaf’ coffee shops, ‘Arcaffe’ coffee shops, ‘Tal Bagels’ branches, Jerusalem city centre, Even Gvirol st. in Tel-Aviv, and some academic institutes.