Haifa opens new cruise terminal as Israel seeks tourism recovery after war

The Port of Haifa has opened a new cruise terminal on Israel’s northern Mediterranean coast. The new NIS 16 million ($5.5 million) terminal is scheduled to become operational in mid-May when the cruise season begins.

Before the multi-front war with Iran and its terrorist proxies, Haifa was a popular cruise ship destination in the eastern Mediterranean. Israel’s maritime tourism sector now hopes the new cruise terminal will help revive the local tourism industry, which has largely been frozen by the war. At the same time, Haifa is seeking to establish itself as Israel’s leading cruise tourism hub, competing primarily with the southern port city of Ashdod.

“Haifa Port and its owners are committed to continuing to advance cruise tourism in Israel, precisely during a challenging security period,” said Captain Sumit Chauhan, president of the Port of Haifa. “This investment reflects our optimism about the future, our long-term commitment to the Israeli economy and the North, and our belief that cruise tourism will continue to grow and connect Israel to the world.”

Zohar Rom, Vice President of Cruises at Haifa Port, said that the new terminal will facilitate future tourism growth after several years of disruption due to war.

“The new terminal will allow the reception of two large ships simultaneously and a capacity of about one million passengers a year, alongside a significant upgrade to the passenger experience and infrastructure at an international standard,” Rom explained. “We expect international cruise companies to return to operating from Israel after the war period and are preparing accordingly.”

The new terminal includes expanded duty-free, security screening, check-in, and border control areas, along with upgraded communications and electrical infrastructure to accommodate an expected increase in cruise tourism.

Construction of the terminal began before Israel launched Operation Rising Lion against Iran in June 2025. While Israel awaits the return of international tourism, the Israeli cruise company Mano Maritime is expected to reopen this summer. In 2023, before the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack, around 30 international cruise companies operated through Haifa Port. Israeli authorities are now hoping many of those operators will return as the war begins to wind down.

During the conflict, Haifa came under repeated ballistic missile attacks from Iran and rocket fire from Hezbollah in Lebanon, with one Iranian missile strike last month killing four members of the Gershowitz family.

At the same time, Haifa is increasingly benefiting from its position as a major eastern Mediterranean port. The Financial Times reported in April that several Gulf Arab states are considering a potential energy pipeline through Haifa as an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz following Iran’s blockade of the strategic waterway.