Cruise Ship Leaving on Shabbos

Question

I am looking into a cruise at which i would embark the ship on Friday afternoon, but the ship would remain in the harbor until the following day, Shabbos, and leave port Shabbos afternoon.

Am I permitted to go on this cruise?

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Answers

  1. The Just Ask! - AskTheRabbi.org Team

    This issue is actually discussed as early as Talmudic times. The Talmud states it’s forbidden to set sail within three days of Shabbos. The commentaries offer many explanations for this rabbinic prohibition. The Shulchan Aruch cites the reason offered by Maimonides: a concern that one might become seasick, which will interfere with the celebration of Shabbos. It generally takes three days to “get your sea legs.”

    However, Rabbi Moshe Sternbuch writes that since ships today are more stable than they used to be and motion sickness is less likely, he permits traveling on such a ship within three days of Shabbos.

    There is no Halachic issue with the boat leaving port on Shabbos. There is a Halachic problem with disembarking (or boarding) a boat on Shabbos.

    Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team