Royal Caribbean evacuates 160 Americans by cruise ship from Israel: report
A Royal Caribbean cruise ship carrying 160 Americans and other foreign nationals out of Israel arrived at the Mediterranean island of Cyprus on Tuesday, according to a report.
The Rhapsody of the Seas departed Monday from the northern Israeli port city of Haifa and docked Tuesday morning at the island’s main port of Limassol, The Associated Press reported. The arriving passengers were met by U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus Julie Fisher.
A spokesperson for the company told FOX Business on Monday that it is "actively supporting the U.S. Department of State in the assisted departure of American citizens."
"Please go to Ben Gurion International Airport, Terminal 3 if you wish to depart Israel," reads a message on the State Department’s website. "U.S. Embassy personnel will be present to direct you and provide specific flight information. Be prepared to wait."
Naama Kopelman, whom the Associated Press reported has relatives still in Israel, possibly taken hostage by Hamas, described leaving Israel as a "big relief."
"It’s a big relief to be out of there in a safe place. No alarms, no sounds of the planes going about all the time," Kopelman said.
Fox News' Greg Norman contributed to this report.
Posted by Lawrence Richard
