Ashdod Cruise Port

When you step off a cruise in Jerusalem, you can practically feel the sense of history and spirituality that embodies one of the world’s most historic cities. Ashdod, the Biblical home of giants, is today a giant of industry and the gateway to Jerusalem, a sacred site to three of the world’s great religions.
How to get to Ashdod
Since Jerusalem sits inland, passengers must disembark in Ashdod and make the hour-plus transfer into the city to see the main attractions. Even Ashdod itself isn’t within easy walking distance, so unless you’ve been to Israel before, your best option is to join a guided tour to the major sites. 
One Day in Ashdod
Even though Jerusalem is quite far from Ashdod, its Old City is the reason cruise passengers come here, and you simply must visit some of these historic sites during your stay. Just within the walled city, you’ll find the Western Wall, the most sacred Jewish site in the city; the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, one of the most important sites to Christians; Via Dolorosa; the Dome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque, two sacred sites to Muslims.
Also of interest are the Western Wall Tunnels, Mount of Olives, the Holocaust / Yad Vashem Memorial & Israel Museum, the Jewish Quarter and the Garden of Gethsemane within the walls of the Church of All Nations.
Return visitors who’ve already explored the Old City can make excursions to Bethlehem, believed to be the birthplace of Jesus; or the Dead Sea area to see Herod’s fortress.

Port Information

The passenger at Ashdod port offers a cafeteria, two duty-free shops and a currency exchange counter. The official currency is the New Israeli Shekel (NIS), and you’ll find ATMs at Ben Yehuda Pedestrian Mall. Arabic and Hebrew are the official languages, but English is widely spoken, especially in the tourist areas.