AIDA third cruise line to cancel cruises from Dubai due to Red Sea tensions

The German cruise line AIDA Cruises, owned by Carnival Corporation, has become the third cruise line to cancel its repositioning itineraries and grand voyages from Dubai due to the ongoing tensions in the Red Sea.

AIDA Cruises cancelled several itineraries as a result of Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea near the Bab Al Mandeb Strait, following in the steps of MSC Cruises, which cancelled its own repositioning voyages from Dubai, and Silversea, which cancelled itineraries east of the Strait.

The developments come amid ongoing attacks on merchant shipping by the terrorist Houthi group in Yemen, which has been using missiles and drones to attack ships in the Bab Al Mandeb Strait for several weeks.

The Strait is a narrow stretch of water separating the coast of Yemen from East Africa, and is the only access point between the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, which ships use to access the Suez Canal for transit into the Mediterranean.

The Houthis claim the attacks are in response to Israel’s invasion of Gaza, which is itself a response to the October 7th terrorist attacks in Israel by the Hamas militant group, which runs the Gaza Strip.

The US and UK have responded with airstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen, but the attacks on shipping have continued, forcing many container lines to reroute their ships around Africa via South Africa.

Cruises aboard AIDAbella, AIDAblu and AIDAprima have been cancelled as a result of the tensions. All three ships were due to reposition from either the Middle East or Indian Ocean for Europe, but will now instead sail without passengers.

Itineraries that have been cancelled:

AIDAbella: From Dubai to Mallorca, April 16, 2024;

AIDAblue: From Mauritius to Corfu, March 5th, 2024;

AIDAblu: From Seychelles to Corfu 1, March 12, 2024;

AIDAblu: From the Seychelles to Corfu 2, March 12, 2024;

AIDAprima: From Dubai to Hamburg, March 30, 2024;

AIDAprima: From Abu Dhabi to Hamburg, April 7, 2024;

AIDAprima: From Dubai to Mallorca 1, April 5th, 2024;

AIDAprima: From Dubai to Mallorca 2, April 6th, 2024.

AIDAprima and AIDAbella’s repositioning cruises from Dubai have been cancelled, while AIDAblu’s grand voyage from the Indian Ocean to Europe has also been cancelled.

AIDA Cruises said in a statement that the ships would sail for Europe via South Africa, with the extra transit time meaning that cruises before or after the transit voyages have also been canceled. 

This affects AIDAbella’s sailings between April 16 and May 26, 2024; AIDAblu’s voyages between February 27 and March 30, 2024; and AIDAprima’s cruises before April 5 and May 7, 2024.

“In view of the latest developments in the Red Sea, we are unfortunately forced to cancel the trans trips of AIDAbella, AIDAblu and AIDAprima in spring 2024,” the cruise line said. 

“In the interest of safety for our guests and crew, this is the only responsible option. It is important to us to give all guests planning security for their vacation with this early information,” the statement added.

“We will inform guests and travel agents with bookings on one of the affected sailings directly about the adjustments. We offer guests on the originally planned trips the opportunity to rebook a trip of their choice from the diverse AIDA program. As a thank you for a new booking, guests receive an AIDA voucher worth 10 percent of their previous travel price. The voucher can be redeemed until December 31st, 2024.”