Six cruise liners remain stuck in the Arabian Gulf after maritime traffic was shut down near the Strait of Hormuz in late February. The block has left ships unable to reposition and set sail for their next voyages across the globe.
MSC Euribia: Dubai Docked Giant
- Cruise Line: MSC Cruises
- Current Location: Dubai, UAE
- Next Departure: May 2, 2026 from Kiel, Germany
- Upcoming Routes: Northern Europe, Scandinavian Fjords
The MSC Euribia, the largest vessel stuck in the region with a 5,400-passenger capacity, has been moored in Dubai since February 27. It’s slated to resume cruising with 7-night Norwegian Fjord trips this summer, departing from Germany and Denmark.
Celestyal Cruises Ships on Standby
- Celestyal Journey – Docked in Doha, Qatar. Next cruise kicks off April 4, 2026, from Piraeus, Greece, exploring the Eastern Mediterranean and Greek Islands.
- Celestyal Discovery – Anchored in Dubai, UAE. Scheduled to sail April 3, 2026, from Lavrion, Greece, visiting Eastern Mediterranean hotspots.
All passengers were safely disembarked from the Celestyal Journey earlier this month. Both ships had European sailings cancelled due to the blockage but are prepped to restart soon.
TUI Cruises Ships Also Grounded
- Mein Schiff 4 – Abu Dhabi, UAE. Next departure April 11, 2026, from Cape Town, South Africa. Planned 20-night repositioning cruise to Spain, followed by an Eastern Mediterranean summer season.
- Mein Schiff 5 – Doha, Qatar. Next departure April 17, 2026, from Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Scheduled for Eastern Mediterranean, Greek Islands, and Turkey itineraries.
Mein Schiff 4 had its first repositioning leg cancelled but will still sail the second segment from South Africa. Mein Schiff 5’s repositioning voyages were scrapped, forcing a delayed restart from Spain in mid-April.
Aroya Cruises’ Ship Held in Dubai
- Current Location: Dubai, UAE
- Next Departure: May 14, 2026, from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Future Routes: Red Sea spring cruises, followed by summer in Eastern Mediterranean
The Aroya, originally planned for Arabian Gulf service until May, rounds out the stranded fleet. It remains docked in Dubai but will resume operations with Red Sea itineraries starting mid-May.
With the Strait of Hormuz closed, all six ships face delays in repositioning to their scheduled European and Mediterranean cruises. Cruise fans will have to wait a bit longer before these giants can resume their globetrotting voyages.
