Rules For Cruising on the Shabbat

by Kosher River Cruise Kosher Tour Operator

Traveling as a Jew can be a tricky matter. There are a few factors you have to take into consideration. The food that you will be eating, for one. On top of that, you need to know if there are any nearby synagogues where you can attend services. However, these problems can be solved by planning your itinerary very carefully. You can also join guided tours like kosher river cruises.

Even then, one has to be prudent when choosing which cruise they'll be going on. Especially if they have deigned to join a Jewish one. Long trips that will extend over the Shabbat once, twice or more can pose a few problems for Jewish guests.

These are two of the most common issues faced by Jewish cruise travelers. Many Rabbis actually have an answer for each one:

Sailing on Shabbat

You may have noticed that most kosher cruises start the trip on a Sunday, Monday, or a Tuesday. This is in accordance with Chapter 248 of the Shulchan Aruch. The chapter states that Jewish leisure travelers should not board ships on any of the three days before Shabbat. That means they can't join cruises that leave on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. But if the reason for traveling is for mitzvah purposes, then they may be allowed to board. However, Jews are not allowed to board the ship on Shabbat itself, whether it is for mitzvah purposes or not.

Leaving the ship that is docked for Shabbat not normally allowed. If a Jewish passenger does have legitimate reasons for getting off, they should consult a rabbi first.

The Crew and the Passengers

If a ship will continue to sail during Shabbat, but all of the crew members are non-Jewish and so are the majority of the guests, then Jews are allowed to board. They will still be allowed even if there are more Jewish passengers since the cruise line will continue to operate as if there are few to no Jews. It is still a given, of course, that the ship should still leave on the first three days of the week. If a ship run by a Jewish company won't dock on Shabbat, you should not board that ship. Even if the ship is occupied by a majority of Jewish passengers.

Why Not Join A Kosher Cruise Instead?

For Jews, the best option to make sure that the food and Shabbat remain sacred during the trip is to book a trip on one of those kosher river cruises. More often than not, they also provide their guests with an onboard synagogue. Enjoy daily services and a special program during Shabbat only on Jewish cruises.