The official MOT fixed price taxi fare from Ashdod to Jerusalem to 281 NIS = $78.

Since you have already been to the Jerusalem and have no doubt seen the sites on the ship's tour you can either go it alone or hire a private guide who will arrange a tour for you to sites you have not seen before.

In reality, it will take more than hour from Ashdod to Jerusalem. An hour is realistic at 3 am, but not during the morning hours when you will be traveling. Figure between an hour and a half to two hours from the ship to Jerusalem.

If you want to do this yourselves, there are always taxis at the dock who will be able to take you to Jerusalem. You can also arrange for one to accompany you all day.

On your return, keep in mind that there is only one taxi company whose cabs can enter the port without pre-clearance. Make sure you get a contact number from your morning driver so that you can get back easily in time for sailing.

Is it possible to rent a car at the port and drive independently to Jerusalem? We, too, will arrive by ship and
have also seen the sights recently but would like to spend the
day in Jerusalem at the Israel Museum and in neighborhoods which have been built since our last visit.

A taxi sound like a major expense for one day... more than our
private guide (who's not available this trip) charged for a day. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

n theory you could rent a car for one day, however, I would not recommend it. You would have to get from the port to he rental office in Ashdod. You would then need to make sure that you are back at the rental office by the time they close (usually around 6) regardless of what time you have to be back on board. This will limit your time greatly.

It would be better (and less pressure) for you to take a taxi to Jerusalem and then spend your day as you like and take a taxi back to the ship when you are done.

I'm not sure how you figure that the cost of a taxi for one day would be more expensive than the private guide you used. Private guides will take upwards of $200 for the day, not including transportation. If you were to arrange for a private guide/driver to meet you at the port, drive you to Jerusalem, guide you and then drive you back to the ship it would cost at least $600 for the day.

We decided to take one of the tours sponsored by the ship. Although we have seen many of the same sights, we are hoping there will be some free time (to explore on our own while at some of the stops). Also, I have heard that the security at the ports is very tight; taking cabs is difficult as they can only get into the port at a certain distance. We would never attempt to drive in Israel; too dangerous for us! The private tours are very costly too.

Your posts regarding taxis go against the forum guidelines (same as the other forums you posted on)

On top of which you are not authorized to enter the port, your fees are outrageous - way about the official fees set by the Min. of Transport - and verging on theft to charge the same in dollars as pounds, when the two currencies are not worth the same.

Our cruise will arrive in Haifa on December,27 early in the morning, there is the possibility of pick it up on Haifa Cruise terminal next day, the question is what could we do ( family of 8 adults) to visit Jerusalem and Dead Sea take a overnight every where

I do not know what you mean by there is a possibility of "pick it up on haifa Cruise terminal next day"

But with a family of 8 it would pay to hire a private driving car who would drive you to Jerusalem, tour with you, take you to the Dead Sea and back to your ship. I would overnight in Jerusalem.