A Royal Caribbean cruise ship chartered by the U.S. government departed Haifa, Israel on Monday carrying thousands of American citizens fleeing the war in Israel.
Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas departed Haifa bound for Limassol Port in Cyprus carrying some 2,500 passengers.
Boarding got underway at 8 a.m. local time Monday morning and was available on a first-come, first-served basis to American’s with valid travel documents and their immediate family members, according to the U.S. Embassy in Israel.
All passengers were required to sign a promissory note agreeing to repay the U.S. government for the cost of the trip.
“Royal Caribbean Group is actively assisting the U.S. Department of State in an effort to evacuate American citizens in the area,” Royal Caribbean Group confirmed in a statement.
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Iraq will raise shipments of a key crude grade next month, part of an enlarged export program indicating that the OPEC+ nation is boosting its oil production.
The European Union on Friday agreed an 18th package of sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine, including measures aimed at dealing further blows to the Russian oil and energy industry.
It was a relatively flat week for pricing on the major deepsea box shipping trades, with a scheduled mid-week general rate increase (GRI) failing to lift container spot rates on the headhaul eastbound transpacific route.
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