June 2022

 

The MSC Poesia will make her first overnight stop in the Port of Haifa during its round-the-world cruise. One extended stay to discover a country with a history spanning millennia.

 

The MSC Poesia's World Cruise 2024 will visit 52 destinations in 121 days, overnighting in some of the world's most fascinating places. The first night will be spent in Haifa, Israel, a unique location that will allow us to travel through history, immerse ourselves in breathtaking nature, and experience the human spirit.

 

The main attraction of the port city are the Baha' Hanging Gardens, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for their botanical beauty rich with spiritual meaning.

 

Jerusalem is one of the most holy places in the world. In fact, within a few hundred metres, you can find the key religious sites of the major monotheistic faiths. There really is no other place in the world where you can see such a diverse and fascinating mix of religious beliefs. According to Muslims, the prophet Muhammad prayed on the Esplanade of Mosques before going to paradise, making it the third holiest location in Islam after Mecca and Medina. Nearby lies the Wailing Wall, a centre of pilgrimage for Jews who, following prayer, insert little paper cards containing their prayers and wishes between the stones. Tourists are also permitted to mingle with the crowd, but only after donning the Kippah as a sign of respect. The Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre is a Christian place of worship, where some of Christianity's symbolic sites are commemorated, such as the spot on Golgotha where Christ's cross was raised and the Sepulchre that kept his body before to the Resurrection. Nearby, the Old City of Jerusalem, with its thousands of shops, offers countless opportunities for shopping, including spices, carpets, jewellery and beautiful local handicrafts.

 

Masada is an ancient fortress in Judea that has had significant military significance over the years. Its timeless splendour is tied to the terrible finale of the Roman siege in the year 73 A.D.: the thousand defenders of the fortress, including women and children, choose to kill each other rather than surrender to the enemy. Only two women and five children survived to testify to this tremendous act of sacrifice, which is still remembered two millennia later. In the ruins where exhibits, exhibitions, and military ceremonies are held today, the sounds of battle and the cries of heroes may still be heard.

 

A visit to the Dead Sea is an experience not to be missed. It is 400 metres below sea level and has a high salt concentration, allowing bathers to float easily. Due to the mineral-rich mud, it is possible to enjoy a completely natural wellness and beauty treatment.

 

Nazareth is home to some of the most impressive sites in the history of Christianity, and the excursion included in the price of the cruise takes place here. The Basilica of the Annunciation is an impressively modern structure that preserves the house carved into the rock where the Virgin Mary received the Annunciation. We then continue towards the River Jordan, whose waters feed the fertile plains planted with citrus and pomegranate trees, a symbol of fertility and new life. Along its shores, we can purchase deliciously aromatic fruit and fish to eat from the adjacent Sea of Tiberias, which the locals refer to as the Sea of Galilee due to its size. At Yardenit, we have the rare opportunity to enter the water and immerse ourselves in the spot where Jesus and the first Christians were baptised. An unforgettable spiritual experience.

 

It's the perfect time to book your cabin for the World Cruise 2024 on board MSC Poesia. Discover all the perks and offers that will make your trip a once-in-a-lifetime experience.