With no end in sight to the Middle East conflict, cruise lines are scrambling to avoid disruption and planning far ahead to steer clear of an epic storm.
Some were caught in the crosshairs. Four cruise ships in the United Arab Emirates are still trying to escape after cancelling upcoming Middle East sailings.
Celestyal Cruises’ Celestyal Discovery remains stranded in Dubai and Celestyal Journey in Qatar, with just essential crew on board. While both vessels remain fully operational; their departure from the region will take place in accordance with safety guidance from the relevant authorities, the company says.
All April cruises that were to sail after a repositioning to Greece have been cancelled so far.”We remain focused on returning to service in the Mediterranean as soon as it is safe to do so,” said Lee Hazlett, the line’s chief commercial officer.
That remains problematic An issue is that the Gulf is an active war zone with the Gulf of Hormuz closed. And the ships can’t go on their route of choice to the Mediterranean, which would be through tthe Bab-al-Mandeb strait into the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. If they can’t follow that route, they will have to circumnavigate Africa and go around the Cape of Good Hope, a much longer and more costly sailing for cruise and cargo ships.
TUI Cruises, which is half owned by Royal Caribbean Group, Carnival Corp. and caters to the German market, has a ship stranded as well, with some crew members remaining onboard the ships, the line noted that their safety is the top priority.
Meanwhile, MSC Cruises’ MSC Euribia remains docked in Dubai. MSC arranged seven charter flights to get about 1,500 guests out of the region. There were dedicated charter services operated at MSC Cruises’ expense, seats secured in partnership with Emirates and Fly Dubai on scheduled commercial services, as well as some government organised flights. Euribia is not scheduled to resume service until a Northern Europe cruise beginning May 2, 2026. But there is still no word on what route it will take to get the the Mediterranean.
And, even though Egypt has not been under attack, cruise lines are being cautious about Nile cruises. Viking which originally cancelled its Nile cruises in early March has resumed sailing. AmaWaterways has continued Nile cruises as scheduled but land extensions to Jordan and Dubai have been cancelled.
Tauck also suspended its Egypt and Jordan land tours that also included Nile river cruise segments.
Cruises around the Gulf seem destined to be discontinued for the duration of the conflict. Industry reports say marine insurers are cancelling war risk coverage for oil tankers and cargo ships operating in the Persian Gulf which could also include cruise ships. The risk and the cost has already caused most cruise lines to steer far away from the Suez Canal, Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean for the foreseeable future.
How long could this last? Some cruise lines are taking the Middle East off their maps as they plan years in the future.
Expecting continued unceertainly, Explora Journeys confirmed that EXPLORA II will operate from November 2026 to March 2027 exclusively in the Mediterranean with the originally planned Middle East deployment no longer taking place. New winter itineraires will visit Western Mediterranean and North Africa.
And the Middle East is vanishing from itineraries much further in the future.
Seabourn Cruises’ recently announced 120-day world cruise in 2028 is skipping Europe and Asia entirely. It sails Miami to Dover with much of the first two months devoted to South America, including Easter Island, Patagonia, five days of experiences in Antarctica and to days in the Falkland Islands. Then to South Africa and a comprehensive roster of ports on the west coast of Africa and to the Canary Islands. From there, up the coasts of Portugal and France to end in Dover n May 6, 2028.
Looking even further ahead, Crystal Cruises announced its 2029 world itinerary starts in Melbourne Australia and ends in Miami. Crystal Symphony’s 127-night cruise includes numerous firsts for Crystal, including a circumnavigation of Australia, and extended time in several marquee destinations. . The voyage continues to Komodo and Bali in Indonesia, as well as Waingapu (Sumba) and Kupang (West Timor). The month concludes with calls to Darwin, Cairns, Airlie Beach, Brisbane and Sydney.
The itinerary features 13 overnights, including Hanga Roa (Easter Island) and Ushuaia, and introduces new ports of call such as Exmouth for Ningaloo Reef, Australia; Robinson Crusoe Island; and Buzios, Brazil.
The itineraries create unique opportunities, says Crystal Chairman and brand ambassador Fernando Barroso de Oliveira, who will return for his sixth World Cruise since the brand’s relaunch. “The 2029 World Cruise charts a course unlike any we’ve sailed before — reimagining not only the destinations we visit, but the very route that connects them.”
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