Q&A: Cruise Travel on the Sabbath
Cruise Travel on the Sabbath
Question
Hello Rabbi,
Is it permitted to go on a pleasure cruise on Sunday, when the cruise is planned for 7 nights and 8 days, meaning that the voyage will also include the Sabbath? Does it make a difference who operates the ship (Jews or non-Jews), and who the majority of the passengers are (Jews or non-Jews)?
Best regards,
Answer
In my opinion, it is forbidden when the ship is operated by Jews, since the sailors are desecrating the Sabbath for the sake of the passengers (at least if most of the passengers are Jews, and in my opinion even if they are not). If the sailors are non-Jews, then when most of the passengers are Jews it is forbidden during the three days adjacent to the Sabbath. In the first days of the week there may perhaps be room to permit it.
There is an overview here: https://pitchu-shearim.org/?p=2751