Caribbean Islands – The Jewish Music Festival at Sea which sailed around the Caribbean attracted over 700 guests from around the world, including over 60 from Israel. The seven day excursion featured some of the biggest names in Jewish music including Dudu Fisher, Avraham Fried and Lipa Schmeltzer along with one of the largest collection of popular Jewish Cantors, most from Israel.
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The cruise, which sailed from January 24th through the 31st was designed to coincide with the traditional Torah reading of Az Yashir, the Song of the Seas. “It is such a pleasure to have created an event of such musical talent, especially on such a special weekend,” said Yehuda Shifman, President of Kosherica.
All food was prepared on board the ship by award winning chefs from some of the best hotels in Israel.
“This cruise signals an important development in the world of Jewish travel by showing that kosher observing consumers don’t need to settle when it comes to a quality travel option,” said David Walles, CEO of Eddie’s Travel, marketing partner of Kosherica Cruises.
Ports of call included St. Thomas, Grand Turks and Puerto Rico with land excursions to Jewish sites and culture in the area. In addition to the musical highlights, one being Dudu Fisher singing the famous ‘Bring Him Home’ from Les Miserables dedicated to captive IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, the program featured regular addresses from Rabbi Stevel Weil, Executive Vice President of the Orthodox Union and Rabbi Shlomo Lipsker, well known lecturer and founder of the Alef Institute which were attended by hundreds of passengers.
With a staff of 50 working in the kitchen and 100 in the dining room, this was the largest size Kosher group to ever go on a cruise. Over 100 kilograms of meat were prepared daily to serve the guests in addition to all breads and cakes baked fresh, according to the chefs.
“This was our first cruise,” said Helen Goldmunz from Jerusalem, on board with her husband, Menachem. “We would love to go on another one, perhaps to Alaska.”
Such a heartwarming story . Too bad you didn’t stop off in Haiti…
I was there – delicious!
this was one hell of an amazing cruise! Yachad you really outdid yourself. the first 2 days with Lipa was “boat rocking” then the food, shows, entertainment, shabbos at sea! it was an all amzing experience.
Give us a little more details how much did it cost where did it circle and who was the bal machshir I would condiser this
My husband & I were on this cruise. All I can say is “esser”. Music, food, new friends, made this week just perfect. Kol Hakovod to the staff for all they did to make this one very special week in our lives. Can’t wait to go on another one. Last word: perfection.
Re; Why don’t you tell that to the children ,who go to sleep hungry.
the ship left sunday from fort lauderdale florida and sailed for 2 days on the carribean just left of Haiti and docked tuesday in St. Thomas US Virgin island. we wend ATVing in the rain forest. Lipa and Avrum Fried had a small motorcycle accident and Lipa flew back home. boy did we miss him! from the the ship sailed another day to Pourto Rico. after a day in the sun baked beach we sailed another day to the kurks island. the most beautiful beach on the universe. right before shabbos we boarded ship and sailed during shabbos through the Bahamas. blue sky, blue water. each day we had 3 gourment meals, 7 course supper with choice of steaks and other delicatesen. breakfast was israeli hotel style eat till you platz… full music band played during all meals. during the day we were able to listen to jewish music live concerts or shiurim by reknowned speakers. separate swimming was available every morning. prices varried from 1800 for an inside room no windows to the suite for 4000. we had a room with a porch out to the open sea!!! for about 2800.
Just curious, did any rabbi give a Mussar shmuz on this cruise? Having so many people together would have been a great opportunity.
Shavua tov chaverim from the pool deck; just finished simcha dancing – with my son on my shoulders of course! – with Dudu Fisher, Avraham Fried and Lipa Schmeltzer! This has been a week the kids will never forget – and neither will we.
For those of you who have been following along, you know that I was brought onto this ship kicking and screaming – I had no interest in Hazonus, no interest in being in a confined space, and no interest in catered food.
Well, the food has been five-star, the ship luxurious, and most importantly, the entertainment has been spectacular. From the first night, when we witnessed Yakov Motzin’s chasseneh here on the deck, and each Sheva Beracha was sung by a world-famous chazan, each of us there knew we were at a magical event. For my kids – and us – to have developed a love for our traditional music in a week — it’s a once-in-a-lifetime gift.
A special special week.
is this the chazones cruise ??
When I learned hilchos shabbos I learned that you are allowed to sail on shabbos when you begin the sail on Wednesday. It seems that you began resailing on Friday. Is that allowed? I also saw motzens ketuba. It looks quite interesting. I wonder how many ketubot read Okeyanus Ha’atlanti’ the atlantic ocean. It is almost as narrowed down as planet earth. Perhaps the fact that it mentions the port of departure and arrival suffices that requirement.
Mazal Tov Chazzan Motzin! Wotta voice! What other Chazzanim were there?
Reminds me of Noah’s ark .Full of animals.