Queen Mary 2’s Dubai to Hong Kong cruise unaffected by Iran tensions or protests

Cunard Line has confirmed to Cruise Arabia & Africa that at present it has no plans to change the cruise itinerary for Queen Mary 2’s upcoming cruise from Dubai to Hong Kong in 2020.

This is despite uncertainty over Iran’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz, and widespread protests in the former British colony.

“We have only one call to the region in 2020 as part of Queen Mary 2’s world voyage. We will continue to review the situation on an ongoing basis and if we need to adjust the itinerary we will,” said Jackie Chase, Director of Public Relations for Cunard in an email to Cruise Arabia & Africa.

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Queen Mary 2, like P&O Cruises’ ship Oceana, is registered in the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda and therefore flies the Red Ensign.

The UK-flagged status of P&O’s ships are what prompted it to last month cancel Oceana’s upcoming cruise season in Dubai amid concerns that Iran may target more British ships.

Queen Mary 2 will do a turnaround in Dubai in January, departing on an 18-night cruise from the city to Hong Kong, as a single leg of the ship’s longer World Cruise program.

Cunard Line has thus far given no indication that it plans to change that itinerary, with its destination city, Hong Kong, currently being rocked by widespread protests over an extradition bill that activists say will make Hong Kong residents vulnerable to Chinese law enforcement.

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The former British colony operates under a ‘one country, two systems’ legal code that gives it autonomy over local laws and affairs. It is alleged by protesters however that China is actively undermining that principle, which is protected by Hong Kong’s de facto constitution called The Basic Law.

Protesters this week occupied the city’s international airport, bringing all inbound and outbound flights to a standstill for a full day, and severely impacting operations for a further day before police moved in to forcibly removed them.

No cruise lines have currently cancelled or amended planned port calls in Hong Kong according to Cruise Critic, but like the tensions with Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, it is an evolving situation that could escalate or dissipate ahead of the coming winter cruise season.