NEW YORK — A number of hotels and cruise lines are offering Passover seders for guests who choose to spend the Jewish holiday away from home.
Passover begins April 19. The first night is traditionally observed with a seder, a multi-course meal that includes symbolic foods and a retelling of the Exodus story from the Old Testament. Bread and other leavened foods may not be consumed during the eight-day holiday.
Cleaning and preparing the kitchen and home for the holiday is a lot of work for those who strictly observe religious rules and rituals, so some families prefer to spend the week on vacation. It’s also a great time of year for a spring-break escape to warmer climes.
Many major cruise lines - including NCL, Disney, Regent Seven Seas, Crystal, Celebrity and Holland America - cater seders and stock matzohs on cruises that take place during Passover week. A rabbi or cantor sails with some cruises to lead the ritual dinners, and some ships offer kosher-style meals or pre-packaged kosher meals upon request.
Some hotels cordon off a wing for dining to keep kosher-for-Passover food separate from other meals being served in the building, with a separate kitchen that has been specially cleaned and prepared for the holiday. A few hotels advertise their entire facility as being kosher for Passover.
Tour operators that specialize in Jewish travel such as Lasko Tours - http://www.laskotours.com - and Mendy Vim’s Holidays - http://www.vimsholidays.com - book Passover getaways to resorts that offer seders and kosher dining. Totally Jewish Travel - http://www.totallyjewishtravel.com - is advertising Passover vacations in destinations ranging from Israel, Mexico and Italy to the Renaissance Orlando Resort at SeaWorld and the Scottsdale Princess in Arizona. Totally Jewish Travel even lists a Passover safari in South Africa.
The Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Resort in Cambridge, Md., and the Luxe Hotel Sunset Boulevard in the Bel-Air section of Los Angeles are both offering Passover getaways for the second year in a row, with seders, lectures, classes and other programs. Both hotels have kosher-for-Passover kitchens. Rates at The Luxe - http://www.luxehotels.com - for a full 10-day getaway, April 18-28, is $2,950 per person, double occupancy, including meals and Passover programs. HLF Tours - http://hlfleisuretours.com - is offering several packages for the Passover celebration at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Resort, starting at $1,095, per person for three nights.
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