Italy, Spain, Malta
Costa Cruises: Pacifica
June 20-27, 2010
7 Nights
SCHOLAR IN RESIDENCE:
Rabbi Yehoram Ulman; (see below)
I T I N E R A R Y
| Sun. | Civitavecchia/Rome (Italy) | DEPARTS | 7:00 PM | |
| Mon. | Savona (Italy) | 8:00 AM | 5:00 PM | |
| Tues. | Barcelona (Spain) | 1:30 PM | 7:30 PM | |
| Wed. | Palma De Mallorca (Spain) | 7:00 AM | 1:00 PM | |
| Thurs. | Tunis (Tunisia) | 2:00 PM | 7:30 PM | |
| Fri. | La Valletta (Malta) | 9:30 AM | 6:00 PM | |
| Sat. | Catania (Sicily) | 8:00 AM | 1:00 PM | |
| Sun. | Civitavecchia/Rome (Italy) | 8:00 AM | ARRIVAL | |
Cruise the Mediterranean and you will experience Europe the way it is meant to be experienced-- On a Glatt Kosher gourmet cruise that visits some of the most thrilling cities in the Mediterranean -- Rome, Barcelona, Tunisia, La Valleta, Palma De Malorca and Savona. A classic cruise in every sense of the word.
JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST
Stay on board with all of the latest tours and great deals Kosherica has to offer.
Click Here to
Explore Important
Travel
Insurance Options
![]() Click to view printable Kosher Cruise Brochure |
A C C O M M O D A T I O N S
Select the Cabin Category you would like, and then scroll to the bottom
of this form to select the number of travelers and submit it.
C R U I S E S H I P I N F O R M A T I O N
Costa Pacifica
Imagine the most thrilling music of all times and transfer it to a ship that encapsulates all that is best in Costa cruising. The result is Costa Pacifica, a combination of wonderful music and supreme elegance. The music, played and listened to in every public area on board, has inspired the ship’s design, each area characterized by a different type of music. The secret of Costa Pacifica is simple: a unique compilation of the best offered by our four earlier ships: Serena, Concordia, Magica and Fortuna.Harmony on board
Elegant and sophisticated, Costa Pacifica offers guests a unique vacation, lavishing on them all that is best in Costa cruising. Follow the music, enjoy different musical genres in the ship’s public areas and discover the exclusive arrangements for Costa Cruises. Harmony on board: experience it to the fullest.
Prelude to an exceptional holiday.Elegance and warm colors greet you in Costa Pacifica’s Theater, decorated to a musical theme and set off by a wonderful central chandelier in Murano glass. Choose the best seat and enjoy the absolute purity of the innovative and unique sound system.
A rhapsody of entertainment
Designed for those who want to live their vacation to the fullest, the Formula 1 Simulator gets the adrenaline running. Take the driver’s seat, experience the thrill of driving the fastest racing car of all time, look at the sea, then try to stop – if you can!
Melody for the eyes in a world enclosed in glass
Have you experienced the pleasures of life on deck in winter? The sliding glass roof enables you to enjoy the ever-changing face of sky and sea at all times of the day. And there is more: thanks to a giant eighteen metre square screen, you can watch videos and movies up on the main deck.
The relaxing notes of Samsara
Discover the pleasure of total relaxation: Samsara Spa is a Well-being center six thousand square metres in area, entirely devoted to restoring your physical and mental balance. Samsara means steam baths, age-old rituals and regenerative beauty treatments. And, in addition, suites and cabins with direct access to the spa area.
RABBI YEHORAM ULMAN
Rabbi Yehoram Ulman has served as a Rabbi and Spiritual Leader of a large community in Sydney Australia since 1986. He and his wife Shternie had been sent there as emissaries of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Rabbi Ulman heads an organization called FREE (Friends of Refugees of Eastern Europe) which is responsible in connecting thousands of immigrants from the former Soviet Union to their Jewish roots.
Rabbi Ulman also serves as a Dayan on the Sydney Beis Din and is the immediate Past President of the Rabbinical Council of NSW.
Rabbi Ulman has received simcha for Rabbonus (Yore Yore) as well as Dayonus (Yodin Yodin) from world renowned authorities including Rabbi Pinchos Hirschprung zt”l and yblch’t Rabbi Zalman Nehemia Goldberg shlit’a.
In his capacity as a Dayan, Rabbi Ulman regularly gives unique lectures and talks for Rabbonim, Yeshiva and Kollel students, as well as lay people, on the many diverse shayles and halachic matters that he deals with. These include topics such as geyrus (conversion), gitten (divorces), mamzeirus and possible solutions, halachic requirement in IVF and other fertility issues and many other subjects which are both topical and scholarly.
Rabbi Ulman has been consulted by Australia’s Attorney-General for his views on suggested changes to the Family Law Act and by the Australian Cabinet for halachic outlook on stem cell research.
For Yiddish lovers Rabbi Ulman often delivers talks and Shiurim in fluent Yiddish.

Major Cruise Questions
What is included in the price of my cruise?
Virtually everything, with the exception of certain items of a personal nature, for which there is a fair and reasonable change.
Your cruise fare includes shipboard accommodations, ocean transportation, standard meals, services and onboard entertainment.
What's not included
Items that are of a personal nature, for which there is a fair and reasonable charge. Not included in the cruise fare are items that are of a personal nature including gratuities, shore excursions, airfare, telephone calls, faxes, spa treatments, salon services, photographs, laundry and valet service as well as wine, liquor and other beverages. .
Will I need a passport or visa?
You are responsible for obtaining all necessary travel documents and for complying with Customs and Immigration requirements. Guests with out proper travel documents will not be allowed to board the vessel. If for some reason you must leave the ship mid-cruise, you will be denied re-entry into the U.S. unless you possess a valid U.S. passport and no refund of cruise fare will be given to any guest failing to bring such documentation. Costa Cruise Lines encourages all guests to obtain passports as soon as possible to avoid backlogs.
For more information, please visit the U.S State department website at www.travel.state.gov.
Cruising Tips
Air Travel
Passports will be required for any air travel from the Caribbean as of January 23, 2007. ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport.
Cruise Travel
As early as January 1st, 2008, subject to U.S. Government amendment, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security.
Mediterranean and North Europe Cruises:
United States and Canadian citizens must have valid passports and necessary Visas. The expiration date of your passport must not occur within 6 months of the scheduled return date of travel. Naturalized U.S. citizens are advised to carry their naturalization papers. Aliens who are residents of the U.S. must carry their Alien Registration Card and passport. All others must have valid passports and necessary visas.
Please check current visa requirements with the appropriate embassies or consulates.
What clothing should I pack?
Most of the time, you'll feel comfortable in casual resort wear including light cotton clothing. Sweaters, lightweight jackets, raincoats and hats are also appropriate for Northern Europe. Tennis shoes or low-heeled walking shoes are recommended for exploring the ports of call. While most shore excursions do not have dress codes, some tours specifically prohibit shorts and sleeveless shirts, and require ladies to wear knee-length skirts or slacks.
There is usually two formal galas to which ladies will wish to wear long gowns or cocktail-length dresses; gentlemen may choose either tuxedos or dark suits. Number of formal nights may vary depending on cruise length and itinerary. On other evenings, resort attire is the norm.
What is the climate like?
Temperatures in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean (April through October) average 14 - 31 degrees Celsius; 57 - 88 degrees Fahrenheit. Of course, they may vary.
Temperatures in Caribbean: (November - April) average 72-85 degrees. Of course, they may vary.
Temperatures in South America: (December - March) average 71-84 degrees. Of course, they may vary.
Can I phone home?
Ship-to-shore telephone service is available 24 hours a day while the ship is at sea or in port from your stateroom. You'll find a telephone and dialing instructions in your stateroom.
If you need to be reached by people at home, have them call or fax the ship directly; or they can contact you via email through your own Internet Service Provider which you can then access via the Internet Cafe.
Is internet service available?
You can send and receive emails through your own service provider in the Internet Café for a nominal change.
How do I plan my on-shore activities?
Naturally, you are free to explore many of the ports of call on your own, however, Costa has arranged a variety of shore excursion for you convenience. Each excursion is carefully researched by our Shore Excursion Staff to ensure your experience ashore is as enriching and enjoyable as your stay aboard.
You may pre-book your excursions online by visiting www.costacruises.com and selecting . Personalize Your Cruise. . You will need to enter your booking number and your name as it appears on your reservation. The excursion selected will be debited to you onboard account . Or, if you prefer, you may purchase the shore excursion onboard at the Shore Excursion Desk. Shore Excursions are subject to availability and not available on all ships and sail dates.
What about laundry and dry cleaning services?
Complete valet services including laundry, pressing and dry cleaning, can be arranged through your stateroom steward/stewardess and billed to your shipboard account.
T R A V E L D O C U M E N T S
You are responsible for obtaining all travel documents as well as compliance with Customs and Immigration requirements. You will be required to comply with all government imposed security measures, which may change without notice.
Visa Requirments:
Please check current VISA requirements with the appropriate embassies or consulates prior to departing on your cruise vacation.
For guests on itineraries visiting Russia and Ukraine, who wish to tour independently in these countries (not on a Celebrity shore excursion) will need to obtain a VISA from the respective embassy/consulate prior to travel.
All United States citizens traveling to Brazil must obtain a valid VISA from the Brazilian consulate or embassy prior to boarding the cruise.
Please note that additional restrictions and requirements may exist for entrance into other countries. You are advised to check with local embassies and consulates for their requirements.
For additional information regarding Canadian Visa click here (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.html)
Barcelona General History
Barcelona is the capital and most populous province of Catalonia, as well as the second largest city in Spain. In 2006, its estimated population was 1,605,602. It is located on the Mediterranean coast between the mouths of the rivers Llobregat and Besòs.
Jewish History
According to archeological evidence there existed a sizeable Jewish community in the province of Catalonia, where Barcelona is located, from as early as the beginning of the Common Era. For centuries thereafter, the Jews of Barcelona managed their own local affairs and lived relatively well while confined to the Juderia (Jewish quarter). In 1263, King James I of Aragon convened a religious disputation in Barcelona with the aim of convincing the Jews to convert to Christianity. Nachmanides, the great Jewish sage and bible scholar, was called upon to represent the Jews of Spain. The disputation lasted four days, during which time Nachmanides argued passionately for the validity of Judaism, and the Jewish community of Barcelona waited nervously for the King’s reaction. At the end of the disputation King James I awarded Nachmanides a large some of money for his eloquence and famously stated that he had never heard someone argue so well for such an unjust cause. Yet, despite the King’s kind words, Nachmanides was later forced to leave Spain and eventually went on to settle in the Land of Israel. By the fourteenth century the situation of the Jews of Barcelona and all of Spain had worsened significantly. Numerous anti-Semitic decrees were enacted by the monarchy and Catholic Church, and many Jews converted to Christianity while secretly adhering to Judaism to escape persecution. While the Jewish expulsion from Spain did not occur until the reign of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella in 1492, all the Jews of Barcelona either fled or converted years earlier following the riots of 1391.
Barcelona remained devoid of any Jewish presence for more than five hundred years until several Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews came from North Africa and Eastern Europe at the beginning of the twentieth century. Today, an estimated 3,500 Jews reside in Barcelona, making it the largest concentration of Jews in Spain. In addition to its two functioning synagogues (one Ashkenazi and the other Sephardic), the Barcelona Jewish community also has a Jewish day school, old age home, Chabad house, and an annual Jewish film festival.
Visiting Today
What remains in Barcelona today is but a remnant of the rich Jewish culture that existed during the Golden Age of Spain. One of the main attractions that is still in existence is the ancient Call (Juderia, or ghetto) and the Sinagoga Mayor of Barcelona. Originally built during the fifth century, a new synagogue was later built on top of it in the fourteenth century and additional floors were added to the building in subsequent centuries. Despite perhaps being the oldest synagogue in Europe, the Sinagoga Mayor was forgotten and abandoned until the twentieth century until which point it was used for many purposes including a storage house and dry cleaner. Lying just outside Barcelona proper are two other ancient Jewish sites. The first is the ancient Jewish cemetery of Montjuic (lit. Jewish mountain) located on the western edge of the city. The ancient cemetery houses the last remains of some of the most notable members of the pre-expulsion Spanish community and is officially a city park. The second site of interest is the old city of Gerona, which is located approximately 60 miles northeast of Barcelona. While there are few, if any, Jews currently residing in Gerona, this small city was once the home of the great Jewish sage Nachmanides who defended the Jews of Spain in the thirteenth century at the Disputation of Barcelona.
Source: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/barcelona.html
Local Chabad:
Chabad Lubavitch de Barcelona
Rabbi Dovid M. M. Libersohn
Calle Joan Gamper 27
Barcelona, 08014 Spain
Ph: 34-934-100-685
Fax: 34-934-199-151
Kosher Food:
1. To order prepared food call:
Tel: 34-934-399-934
2. Isamar Kosher.
Avenir 29
(between Aribau y Muntaner) 08021, Barcelona. Map Email
Tels/Fax:
34-932-003-375
34-932-406-047
Barcelona Tours:
Barcelona is a great place to just stroll around. However, if you would like an organized tour we recommed contacting Dominique Tomasov Blinder at the Urban Cultours project. She can be reached by email at info@urbancultours.com or dtomasov@coac.net. Some of the recommended things to see in Barcelona are:
- El Call, Jewish quarter: visit a remnant of the city's Jewish past, with comments on the area's history from its origins until the present
- City History Museum: Wonder through the ruins of Roman Barcelona, under the present city, where some Hebrew inscriptions can be seen on the walls
- The oldest Synagogue in Barcelona reopened in 2002 after a long restoration process led by the Associació Call de Barcelona
- Visit the Holocaust Memorial, dedicated on the 50th anniversary of the Shoah by the Jews of Barcelona
- Visit Anne Frank Square, dedicated in 1998 by the City of Barcelona to the young writer
- Visit the newly established Chabad Lubavitch Center for Jewish Studies
- Participate in shabbat services
- Attend recitals of Ladino and Klezmer music
Local Hotels Near the Chabad:
| Name | Address | Tel | Cost (Euros) |
| NHNumancia | Numancia 74 | 34.933. 224.451 | 83 |
| NHLesCorts | Travessera de les Corts 292 | 34.933.220.811 | 83 |
| NHForum | Ecuador 20 | 34.934.193.636 | 83 |
| NHConstanza | Deu i Mata 66-69 | 34.932.811.500 | 150 |
| Hilton | Diagonal 589-591 | 34.934.957.777 | 268 |
| ReyJuanCarlosI | Diagonal 661-671 | 34.933.644.040 | 160 |
| Princesa Sofia | Plaza Pio xii | 34.935.081.000 | 160 |
| Meliá | Av de Sarria 50 | 34.934.106.060 | 150 |
| AparthotelAtenea | Joan Guell 207-211 | 34.934.906.640 | 85 |
| ApartmentsSants | Berlin 4 Bis | 34.933.238.790 | 65 |
| Husa l'Illa | Diagonal 555 | 34.934.103.300 | 82 |
| Derby | Loreto 21 | 34.933.223.215 | 75 |
| Abba Sants | Numancia 32 | 34.936.003.100 | 107 |
| HLG Citypark | Nicaragua 47 | 34.933.637.474 | 90 |
| Hostel pere tarres | Numancia 149-151 | 34.934.102.309 | 20 |
Cheap Plane Tickets - Cheap Plane Tickets, budget Air Ticket & Cheap Air Tickets deal on Globester.
Disclaimer: Kosherica Cruises and it agents are responsible for making arrangements for the services offered. The carriers, hotels, cruise lines and other suppliers providing services are independent contractors and are not agents, employees, servants, or joint ventureres of Kosherica Cruises or its affiliates. Airline alternative equipment and routings are subject to change by the Airline or the Operator and will not result in any refunds. Flight delays and changes are unfortunate, but are an inherent risk of air travel and are therefore outside the control and responsibility of Kosherica Cruises. All certificates and other travel documents for travel services issued by Kosherica Cruises are subject to the terms and conditions specified by the supplier and to the laws of the countries in which the services are supplied. Kosherica Cruises reserves the right to make changes to the itinerary or services whenever the company deems it necessary to the comfort, convenience, or safety of the participants and to cancel a cruise at any time. If Kosherica Cruises cancels a cruise, the company has no responsibility beyond the refund of monies paid to the company by the traveler. The participant agrees that neither Kosherica Cruises nor its affiliates shall be liable for any damage or loss including personal injury death, property loss, delay, change in air services, sickness, strike, war, quarantine, weather, upset, disappointment, inconvenience, or expense occasioned by any act or omission of any supplier or person providing services.




