Crystal cancels several Middle East 2024/25 itineraries due to Red Sea security concerns

Crystal Cruises has replaced a set of itineraries aboard Crystal Symphony that were scheduled to sail through the Red Sea in late 2024 and early 2025, due to ongoing security concerns in the region.

Crystal Symphony was due to sail a series of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cruises in November and December that would feature a Suez Canal transit and a visit to Aqaba, Jordan for the Lost City of Petra, as well as other popular ports in the Red Sea.

The cruises were intended to take the ship through the Red Sea and into the Indian Ocean as part of a repositioning between Europe and Asia. Instead, she will now reposition via South Africa.

The Middle East voyages have been cancelled as a result and the ship will instead sail an alternate range of West African and Indian Ocean cruises during December, 2024 and January, 2025.

“We have been closely monitoring the ongoing situation in the Red Sea and have been evaluating all options. Due to the uncertainties, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the upcoming voyages,” Crystal said in a letter to guests.

“This choice was made with careful thought and consideration, as the safety and security of our guests and crew is paramount to us,” the company added.

Affected departures include cruises onboard Crystal Symphony that were scheduled to depart on November 24th, and December 6th and 23rd, 2024, and January 7th, 2025. 

The November 24th departure has not cancelled like the others, but will instead feature a revised itinerary. Instead of sailing roundtrip from Athens to the Red Sea, Crystal Symphony will traverse the Mediterranean for Barcelona, from which she will sail down the West African coast.

Guests aboard the cancelled cruises have been offered different alternatives, including moving their bookings to other sailings in 2024 or 2025, with a 20 percent saving on the cruise fare when moving their booking to a 2024 sailing or a 15 percent discount when moving to a 2025 cruise.

If the chosen alternative voyage costs less than the original booking, Crystal promised to credit the difference to the guest. Passengers were also able to cancel their bookings to receive a full monetary refund of the paid fare, the company added.

Crystal also said that passengers will be reimbursed for non-refundable expenses related to the change, including up to $500 per guest for airfare fees, $250 per guest for hotel expenses, and $100 per guest for transportation, visa and other reasonable expenses.

The new itineraries aboard Crystal Symphony will see the ship cruise from Cape Town in South Africa for Mahe in the Seychelles as part of a series of voyages taking the ship from the Mediterranean to Singapore.