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Israeli passengers franferred from MSC Musica
With the full-scale conflict under way in Gaza, cruise lines have suspended port calls in Israel's Mediterranean ports for at least several weeks. On the 'MSC Musica', this security-driven consideration left hundreds of Israeli nationals at sea, far from home, until the operator chartered the Israeli-owned cruise ship 'Crown Iris' to take them back. The 'MSC Musica' is home-based in Haifa, serving the Israeli market with cruises in the Eastern Mediterranean. On Oct 5, the vessel got under way, bound for Limassol and Mikonos on her regular rotation. When Hamas terrorists broke through Israeli border defenses and attacked civilian settlements on Oct 7, the 'MSC Musica' was under way off Rhodes, and called at Mikonos as expected; however, MSC decided that under the circumstances, she would not be returning to Israel. Instead, the 'MSC Musica's itinerary would be cut short and Israeli passengers would be transferred to another vessel at Limassol. MSC chartered the cruise ship 'Crown Iris' from an Israeli operator, Mano Maritime, to return the 800 Israeli passengers from the 'MSC Musica' to Haifa. On Oct 10, both vessels berthed in Limassol and carried out the passenger transfer. All passengers were back in Haifa on Oct 11, and MSC covered all related costs. MSC has suspended port calls in Israel through the end of the month, and the 'MSC Musica', unable to return to Haifa, has moored in Thira on Oct 16.
Cruise ship evacuates 1300 people from Israel
After the Hamas attack on Israel, around 1,300 people arrived in Larnaca on Oct 13, 2023, on board the 'Crown Iris' from Haifa. Hundreds of German citizens were said to be among the passengers. The ship had sailed from Haifa the evening before. The passengers should be able to fly to Germany and other countries immediately from the nearby airport in the city of Larnaka if they wish. The EU island republic of Cyprus had already made its airports and ports available on Oct 10 as contact points to help people who want to leave the region. The Palestinian organization Hamas had previously launched a large-scale terrorist attack against Israel on Oct 7. According to information from Cypriot radio, the "Crown Iris" not only brings people from Israel to Cyprus - it is also supposed to travel back to Haifa with around 150 Israelis who want to return to their homeland
Medevac in Ermoupolis
In the afternoon hours of July 17, 2019, the Syros Port Authority was informed that a 75-year-old passenger, of the "Crown Iris" which was berthed in Ermoupolis, Syros, needed immediate hospital care. The patient was transferred to an ambulance vehicle of the EKAB and taken to the General Hospital of Syros for medical care and then to Athens Hospital.
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