The Haifa Port Company has inaugurated a new cruise terminal with an investment of over NIS 16 million, as part of the preparations for the expected growth in the industry and to strengthen the Port of Haifa's status as the primary maritime gateway for cruise tourism in Israel. The terminal will be ready to receive passengers and tourists with the opening of the upcoming cruise season.
The new cruise terminal, which is destined to be one of the most advanced and largest in the Eastern Mediterranean, will enable the simultaneous reception of up to two large cruise ships – both for cruises departing from Haifa and for incoming tourism – with a capacity of up to one million passengers per year, double the peak year of cruise traffic in Israel.
As part of the project, key facilities were established and expanded, including a duty-free shop covering an area of approximately 600 square meters, a security screening complex of about 1,300 square meters, a check-in area of approximately 1,000 square meters, and a border control complex of about 1,200 square meters containing 28 counters. Additionally, the electrical and communication infrastructures in the terminal were upgraded.
The construction work on the terminal began before the "Lion's Roar" war and was carried out throughout its duration, while maintaining the continuous operation of the port.
After a complex security period, and in anticipation of a return to normalcy and renewed growth, summer 2026 marks the direction for strengthening and positioning the tourism sector, which is returning to gradual activity and is ready to receive outgoing and incoming tourists by sea – as the Port of Haifa constitutes a central maritime and economic gateway.
Approximately 30 cruise companies visited the port in 2023
The cruise company that will operate from the Port of Haifa this coming summer is the Israeli Mano Maritime. The Haifa Port Company estimates that international cruise companies that visited the port in the past – about 30 companies in 2023, which was the peak year for cruise tourism to and from Israel – will return to activity gradually in the coming years.
"The Haifa Port Company and its owners are committed to continuing to promote cruise tourism in Israel, specifically during a challenging security period," said Captain Sumit Chauhan, President of the Port of Haifa. "This investment reflects our optimism regarding the future, our long-term commitment to the Israeli economy and the north of the country, and our belief that cruise tourism will continue to grow and connect Israel to the world."
Zohar Rom, Vice President of Cruises at the Port of Haifa: "We are preparing for the return and growth of the cruise industry in Israel after several complex years in terms of security. The new terminal will allow for the simultaneous reception of two large ships and reaching a capacity of approximately one million passengers per year, alongside a significant upgrade of the passenger experience and infrastructure to an international standard. We anticipate that international cruise companies will return to operating from Israel at the end of the war period and are preparing accordingly."