Are there any car ferries from Israel to Turkey, Cyprus, Greece, etc.?
 

Are there any car ferries to take a large motorcycle and driver from Israel to Turkey, Cyprus, or Greece? If I get an Israeli stamp on my carnet, it seems likely to me that I would be refused entry to Syria or Lebanon, or Libya, and thus stuck in Israel, Jordan and Egypt forever.
Or does Israel just put the bike in your passport, and not even use the carnet?

Hi Monkii,

no, there is not a single ferry from Israel. the only option is to go via Jordan.
You do not need a carnet for Israel, so it will not be stamped. The passport is another issue, of course.

Robert

Are there any car ferries from Israel to Turkey, Cyprus, Greece, etc.?
 

Hello monkii,
Salamis Lines have 2 RO-RO ships from Haifa to Cyprus and to Greece. Their agent in Israel is
Rosenfeld Shipping Ltd
104 Ha atzauth Rd., P.O.Box 74
Postal code 31000 Israel
Tel. No 0097248613613 / 00972544755592
Fax No 0097248537002
Contact : Mr Zary Rosenfeld / Mrs Haya Bronstein/Rasheed
email :hayab@rosenfeld.net
email :zaryr@rosenfeld.net

I hope that these information are helpfull enough.
If you get to Cyprus get in touch with me.
regards
Antonis

yes there are
 

check this link;

Home Page Grimaldi Freighter-cruises

Cheers,

Noel

There is a ferry from Israel direct to Greece, I am shipping from Israel on the 20th May. feel free to join.

Israel does not use your carnet at all and will not stamp it. BUT. the problem with getting into Syria will be with your passport which even if you avoid a stamp, if you turn up at the syrian broder from Israel, it is pretty hard to hide the fact that you have been in Israel.
Getting into Jordan is no Problem , but you are then faced with the Problem of getting into Syria from jordan where they will see that you entered from Israel.

Best solution, ship from Haifa to Greece, it costs between €200 and €250 and if you need any further help just drop me a private message

haifa to greece
 

Hi 5 eyes

Afraid i am too much of a nube to be allowed to PM you (at least 'til I get to 8 posts!).
I expect to be in Jordan mid-May (leaving London 25 April) and am debating riding back vs shipping at least part of the way. Would you mind sharing with me what shipping line you are using and the timings?

regards

Simon

Grimaldi also has ferries to Turkey from both Haifa & Ashdod

how much?
 

and how much would that be?

Thanks, Phil

Does anybody know if it's possible to go from Israel to Turkey with grimaldi ferries and what the cost is.
I've tried to figure it out on their webside but cant work it out really. I'm planning to cross in the beginning of may 2009.
Every other information about getting to Turkey or Greece from Israel is welcome too.

HI there,

I was trying to take a ferry from Israel to Turkey this year, but didn't do it at the end because of the very high priece.

Rosenberg is the company that will arrange everything for you, based in Israel. reservations@rosenfeld.net

This is the information they gave me in June 2008:

>> We have twice a week ferry from Haifa to Piraeus every Monday and Thursday. The price for you and the motorbike 500 Euro.>>

Good luck,
Phil

Phil Dera Photography

Hi all. Here is the seasonal ritual info
 

I think its the 5th time I'm with this info on the HUBB :)

NO PROBLEM AT ALL!

For now the situation for thoes who want to leave Israel from Hifa by sea:
1) There is a ship twice a week Monday and Thursday. It is NOT recomended to go yourself with the ship. It is an old rusted, f***ed up not human experience.
You can call 'Rosenfeld" who operate the ship: 972-4-8613613
Price for this morning is 250Euro to Athens for the bike only. You need to add 150Nis port tax in Hifa and another 30Euro tax it Athens (Pereus). It will thake the bike two and a half days to be there.
2) Get ready, after half a day in Haifa port you will understand the meaning of patience :)
You take a flight to Athens. As for this morning El Al one way price from Tel-Aviv to Athens is 210$. But you can find a cheaper one.
If you want to go to Cyprus or Turkey. you can ask Rosenfeld about it.
You can go to Cyprus and from there to take a day ferry to the Turkish continent.

Ride with care
Y.

That's a little more than I hoped for, any idea how much it is from Haifa to Cyprus and then to Turkey.

And Yoni, thank you for telling it again, i'm planning my first big trip from Holland to Israel (got some great memories there).
I've been searsing this side for the last two weeks and there is just to much information.

thanks

yup, there are ferries!
 

I dealt with Rosenfeld. I purchased a ticket from Haifa to Athens (actually the port at Pireas). When I arrived at the Rosenfeld office in Haifa, I was informed the ferry had arrived a day earlier than scheduled and had already departed. The next ferry wasn't leaving for 3 days- and was going to Cyprus. I was assured crossing Cyprus would be a short and enjoyable ride, and that I would then catch another ferry to Turkey the same day. To be honest, this didn't bother me a bit. Israel may be small, but there is SO MUCH to see there. I rode to Jerusalem and Nazareth and enjoyed my time in the sun. I returned to Haifa as scheduled for my trip to Cyprus. At around 3pm I entered the parking lot to board the ferry. There, I met 3 fun Macedonians in a beat up old car. They had followed much of the path of Alexander The Great. We hit it off immediately. After several hours of talking about our travels, we were allowed to ride/drive our vehicles onto the RORO. After parking and tying down our vehicles, we stumbled through narrow stairways, through engine rooms, etc. We were shouted at several times in Russian. This rusted old ship was sailing under Greek registry- and crewed by Russians. There was no cruise directer! We finally found our way to squalid rooms with bunks without blankets. Israeli customs boarded the ship to check all documents. Most of the Russian crew were not on board. When the Israeli customs finally got pissed off at the lack of crew a Russian finally admitted: they had gone to a bar near the port. The four of us were given a simple meal. No water was for sale. No extra food available. No nothing available- not even toilet paper in the filthy toilets. But my Macedonian friends and I weren't working for the Bill Gates foundation. We pooled our resources and had fun playing cards, drinking vodka and rationing toilet paper! The ship left 10-11 hours after scheduled- we were all sleeping when we set sail. The port in southern Cyprus took some 5-6 hours to clear- lots of fun! The port authority wanted 100's of euro for "handling fees." We had all driven our vehicles on and off the vessel. By the way, the company is called the Salami Line- now I get it! All of this meant I missed the next ferry to Turkey. The insurance for my one day in southern Cyprus cost 50euro. This is no problem if you have a European green card. It was great to reach Turkey, a fantastic country. I have left out much of the screaming and "discomfort." I met 3 great guys from Macedonia and am still in touch with them. I hope to see them again in their home country for a nice tour. If you deal with Rosenfeld, be sure to check in with them several days before your journey. These ships/ferries are in business- if the decks are full, they will leave. Rosenfeld has no control over this. They are not a shipping line, they only sell tickets on ships that sometimes run irregular schedules. Thanks again Yoni for your help getting me to Europe. I find it interesting that so many "bad" stories leave such fond memories- and friends. Ride safe, Hook.

Haifa Cyprus Turkey
 

As Hook said that in Cyprus they wanted 100s of Euro, and stories I hered from friends doing this rout: When you reach Cyprus and tell them you are going to Turkey. You are charged with all the taxes that are in all the books. and more. Meaning, the Greeck side of Cyprus don't realy like the Turkish side of Cyprus and in order to go to Turkey, you have to cross to the Turkish Cyprus - you get a kind of a punishment. I didn't experience it personally, but few of my mates did.
About price and dates Haifa to Cyprus You will have to check when here, things change daily.

Ride smart
Y.

I agree with you Hook, I've spend over a year in Israel (1980) and still feel I only saw a just a little of it.
What's it like now to ride around?
And the boat trip sounds like a experience you don't want to miss.
I'll check for prices when I,m there in May next year.

I just got back from a trip in the middle east and on my way back i chose the route by boat from Haifa to Athens (Piraeus). We went together with the bike and i don't think that this was a very good idea. It was very expensive, 250euro for motorbike, 250euro for driver, and it took us three days to get to Athens. Salamis lines is the owner of the ship, a cargo RO-RO, quite old, built in 1977 apparently. The crew was mixed, greek, indian and ucrainean, but they were very nice with us, we had a good 3 person cabin, clean, food was ok. On the downside, it is very booooring, takes an incredible long time, ship goes about 27km/h, and we waited for 5 hours outside pireaus to get to the port, so i were to do it again, i would definetly ship the bike and go by plane. But considering this being the first time my motorbike went by ship, i chose to stay by her.

Hello, I ve had the same issue.. But I decided to drive the way back, coming from Egypt. Crossing Jordan to Syria and then Turkey to coastline. It tooked me three days, and I think much more money left in my pocket.. Israel is an expensive dead end... Pitty. I wish things will change..

about ferries
 

Hi, all. I was searching information about shipping from Israel to Europe and I found the Hook post. I laughed but I could also cry. Right now I am in the ferry which crosses the Caspian Sea from Aktau to Baku. We are in front of Baku since this morning but we have to wait till evening to have some space in the port. This ferry is a real nightmare and nothing could be worse.

Check the last post of my blog titled Boat Love and enjoy because you are not in the fxxx ship.

Blog de Miquel Silvestre

Hi,

there is another RoRo Ship running also from Haifa/Ashdod to Triest in Italy.

Cost including Bike and Driver, Food etc. ca.900€.

Contacts:
Neptunia Cruises & FerriesService Deutschland +49 700 - 63788642 (14 ct/Min aus dtsch. Festnetz)
Telefon Direkt: +49 - (0)89 - 896073 67
Telefax: +49 89 - 84933 656 oder +49 89 896647 37
E-Mail: karin.hellauer@neptunia.de Web: www.neptunia.de
I will probably take the ship in January 2010 to Haifa.

Did I understand it right, that there is no problem with crossing the border from Israel to Jordan? I do have two passports and would like to continue to Syria. Would ber great to get a feedback from you guys.

Thanks,

Jan

Hi Jan,

Even with two passports it may be a problem to get in to Syria. If you show them a passport which does not say where you entered Jordan you'll have to do some explaining.
And if you do have a Jordan stamp it will say where you entered.

I crossed the Syrian border twice this year, and found they check your passport really good.
The only way to cross the Israel/Jordan border without stamps, is on foot.
Which I found was no problem at all.

Rinus

I got answer from Rosenfeld. There is a ferry from Haifa to Cyprus and then I have to leave the bike in the boat and took a plane to Athens. I will get the bike at Pireus port. But I do not want to leave my bike be handle for anyone but me, so I was wondering if any one knows about ferries from Cyprus to Turkey, Greece or Italy where I can go with my bike.

If not, how about Egypt?

It seems I got it

Ferry to & from Turkey and Turkish (Northern) Cyprus

Hello Miquel-Silvestre,

If you come to Cyprus, I am in Limassol. If you like to meet, or need any help while you are here please contact me.

Antonis Vassiliou

Thanks, Antonis. I will do it. Hope to be there by mid of August.

Regards.

Hello Miquel,
Where are you?
Did you made it to Cyprus?

regards
Antonis

Hi, Antonis. Now in Tel Aviv, heading Cyprus from Hayfa tonight. I hope be at Lemassus tomorrow afternoon. You can write me there

miquelsilvestre@hotmail.com

Holy Land

Do not miss the pic of going down the Jerusalem´s stairs on the bike. Good fun, bad for shocks.

Hi, Antonis. Thanks a lot for the great riding in Cyprus and for the great local meal. I ´ve sent you the picture I took on the mountains.

Do not forget give me the tips for the Transamerican Journey.

Keep well, ride safe.

Good morning folks, any updates on the possibility of getting from Israel to turkey by boat? I’m due to cross from Jordan start of next week hoping to reach turkey, other possibility is Alexandria I’ve heard there may be a boat to turkey from there. There was talk of a boat from Haifa to Cyprus but my searches can’t find any up to date details, thanks in advance for any help

I don't think there is any RoRo ships from Israel to Europe. Egypt can also be a pain in the ass to enter.

Please let me know what you come up with, as I plan on doing something simiar in a few months!

afaik, the boat between Haifa, Cyprus and Lavrio near Athens is RoRo, but you must fly. No passengers. See AMH excerpt below.
I believe there is an expensive ferry from Lebanon to Turkey too, but I don't know how you get into Lebanon overland.

It seems the only way to find out is by being on the ground and visiting ports. So I’ve some time to look at Haifa Ashdod and the possibility of Lebanon if I can cross the border but at the minute I’m planning on south to Egypt, if I can cross there I will try for the Alexandria boat. I still have a visa for Egypt from February when I travelled from Jordan which I hope will help. I should be at the crossing in a couple of weeks so I’ll update on the possible routes


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I don't believe there is a boat from Alex to anywhere anymore, is there?
It will be shipping and you flying, and organising a shipping container in Egypt is I'm told a stressful and costly few days. Expect not to see your bike for a while.
I would hope Haifa pans out. It's a RoRo afaik, not container.

Tripoli (Lebanon) to Tasucu (Turkey) works by ferry. However, if by '...if I can cross the border' you are referring to the Israel - Lebanon border, then you should spend a couple of hours reading about the recent history of the Middle East.

I don't believe there are any other ferries

AFAIK, there are RORO ships running Haifa to Cypurs and Greece, but you will need to fly. Previously there was a Grimaldi RORO freighter that took vehicles and passengers, but covid killed that and I have not heard of it coming back (Grimaldi said it would be cancelled until at least spring 2022).

Iraq is open for tourism (and I truly recommend it), you can get a visa at the border from Iran and Jordan (not from Turkey and from Kuwait can be difficult). You can arrange transits through Syria (thus connecting Jordan and Lebanon).

I'm not sure on the feasibility of riding a bike into Egypt from Jordan but I personally know someone who went in with a Mercedes Sprinter earlier in the year.

So with a bit of adventure you can get around the lack of ferries.

EO

I got a quote for 500euros + 500 nis for port taxes from rosenfeld from Haifa to Greece. Bike only.

Felt a bit steep & I might skip the jordan + Israel route myself.

I did not try to haggle yet.

Thanks for the quote. I take it it was recent since shipping prices have shot up?
As a way if getting from Europe to the east side of Africa, I think it's the only largely overland way, short of shipping to Alex (though I'm not sure things are flowing through Ethiopia, are they?).

Yep. The prices are brutal because of many lines stopping routes to Israel altogether, also the rise in oil prices due to the war is not helping...

I'm not keen on going to Egypt because of the insane Carnet price and the nightmare shipping out of there, but maybe I should reconsider.

I have found a shipping route haifa to Limassol who im in negotiation with at present. its a 1 day crossing and cheap ryanair out of tel aviv once I get details I will update

boat booked
 

so I'm out of Haifa next Tuesday.turns out a quick look at ioverlander and two recent updates. a quick call to A.rosenfeld shipping and my bike is on board. the route goes Haifa Cyprus and then Greece. so i decided to spend some time in Cyprus and then look for a crossing from the turkish side to turkey mainland 250 suro plus 500 nis. they dont take passengers so a cheap ryanair (120euro) from tel aviv and collect my bike on the other side.

@motoajnabi

Thanks for the update.

I spent last winter on Cyprus and they have some amazing riding! Enjoy. (let me know if you want some tips)

Also It's worth booking the North Cyprus -> Turkey ferry ticket well in advance if you want a cabin, else you will have to sleep in a open hall on some not so comfortable chairs.

information and costs
 

just an update as of July 2022. I shipped July using salamis shipping. firstly the Israelis only gave me one month stay for my motorcycle which was a blessing in disguise. Its the most expensive country to stay. 1 month insurance for the motorcycle £250

so for the boat and handling costs Israel 411 euro (1450nis)
Limassol handling costs 123 euro
clearing agent fee limassol 100 euro
No passengers allowed on the crossing so cheap Ryanair tel aviv /paphos
123 euro

total cost 766euro, not the cheapest per mile but the only real way out of the middle east back to Europe.

on the plus side to get from northern Cyprus to mainland turkey quote £57 one day crossing bike plus rider, there's always a plus side

Glad you made it out, but I'm afraid I have to correct this.

Driving through Iraq (and Turkey) is a very real way out of the Middle East - it could be done for less than EUR 766, and is far, far more interesting that sitting on a Ryanair flight. You can get a visa at the Jordanian border and the country is pretty calm and stable at present.

you are correct there's always more than one way to skin a cat i thought Lebanon and Syria too that would be far far more interesting than a ryanair flight but being in the middle east and living there the past 4 years calm and stable can have a whole different meaning depending on where your information comes from.