Silversea cancels cruise to Dubai amid rising tensions in the Red Sea

Silversea Cruises has cancelled an upcoming cruise aboard Silver Moon from Dubai due to ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Red Sea as a result of the Israel-Gaza War.

Silver Moon is currently sailing a 10-night cruise from Aqaba, Jordan to Muscat in Oman, from which she was then due to sail an Arabian Gulf voyage to Dubai.

Due to Yemen-based Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, Silversea has decided to keep Silver Moon north of the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean.

As a result, the vessel will not be sailing around the Arabian Peninsula to Oman and the UAE.

“As anticipated, considering the fluid geopolitical situation in the area we are operating in, we would like to provide you with frequent updates,” said a letter distributed to passengers.

“Our Global Security team is continuously monitoring the situation and recommended amending the itinerary of this cruise to remain in the northern side of the Red Sea,” the statement added.

“Our team has efficiently developed an alternative port schedule that we are confident will enhance and safeguard the quality of your guest experience while also ensuring your comfort,” the company added.

Instead of the current cruise ending in Muscat, Oman, Silver Moon will make additional ports of call in Egypt before returning to Aqaba, where passengers will be able to disembark and fly home.

“This decision was taken prioritizing, as always, the safety and security of our guests and crew, and ensuring that the ship does not find itself in an area of potential escalation,” the company added noting that the situation in the region “is changing daily.”

Silversea confirmed in a statement that it will provide guests with new outbound flights leaving from Aqaba, as well as overnight accommodation and transfers.

“In addition, due to circumstances beyond our control, we made the difficult decision to cancel the next voyage,” Silversea added, refering to Silver Moon’s January 16th departure from Muscat bound for Dubai.

The 10-night cruise was set to visit several destinations in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Affected passengers will receive different compensations, including refund of the fate of the cancelled cruise portion, and Future Cruise Credits (FCCs).

Silver Moon has four additional cruises in the region scheduled, and Silversea said it continues to monitor the situation in the region, especially in the Red Sea, and will amend the itineraries as necessary to ensure the protection of passengers and crew.

The cancellation of Silver Moon’s onward itineraries to and from Dubai are the latest disruption to cruise operations as a result of the escalating Houthi attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea.

MSC Cruises was forced earlier this month to amend MSC Poesia’s World Cruise itinerary to avoid the Suez Canal and Red Sea, with more cruise lines expected to follow suit if the situation is not resolved by the Spring, when most cruise ships are due to reposition between the Middle East, Asia and Europe.

The Houthi militia in Yemen, which overthrew the internationally-recognised government of the country in 2014, have launched attacks on shipping in the Red Sea in retaliation for the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip, which was itself in retaliation for the October 7th, 2023 terrorist attacks by Hamas on Israel.