Cruise liners stuck in the Gulf due to Iran tensions have finally made their move. Ships have cleared the Strait of Hormuz and are now sailing back to Europe, signalling a return to normal operations.
Celestyal Cruises Leads the Way
The Malta-flagged Celestyal Discovery was the first to navigate the strait post-conflict, leaving Dubai on April 17. Its sister ship, Celestyal Journey, followed from Doha, both completing their journey safely. Celestyal Cruises confirmed both vessels are now repositioning to the Mediterranean to kick off their summer itineraries as planned. All upcoming sailings remain on schedule, reassuring travellers and industry partners alike.
MSC and TUI Cruises Back in Action
MSC Cruises also cleared the Strait with its ship MSC Euribia, departing Dubai. The vessel is en route to Northern Europe and will sail from Kiel on May 16 and Copenhagen on May 17 as originally planned. TUI Cruises confirmed departures of Mein Schiff 4 and Mein Schiff 5 from Dubai and Doha over the weekend. Both are heading to the Mediterranean via Cape Town, returning to their regular routes.
Cancelled Sailings Resurrected
Thanks to the safe passage of these vessels, previously cancelled trips from Trieste on May 17 (Mein Schiff 4) and Heraklion on May 15 (Mein Schiff 5) are back on track. TUI Cruises CEO Wybcke Meier praised crews for their professionalism during the disruption, confirming full restoration of the cruise line’s planned summer deployments. Crew changes will happen in Cape Town and Malta, with guests expected to board as scheduled at Trieste and Heraklion.
