TUI Cruises extends cancellations as Middle East deployment adjustments continue

TUI Cruises has extended the suspension of sailings for Mein Schiff 4 and Mein Schiff 5 operating in the Middle East, as the vessels remain in the Arabian Gulf.

The updated schedule removes all departures aboard Mein Schiff 4 through March 23rd, 2026, while Mein Schiff 5 will no longer operate any sailings through March 29th, 2026.

The adjustments follow travel and security advice issued by Germany’s Foreign Office, which continues to inform operational planning for the region.

Cruise ships and merchant vessels have been increasingly avoiding transit through the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway connecting the Gulf to the Indian Ocean, following the outbreak of conflict between the United States and Iran.

Affected guests have been contacted directly regarding the changes, with further updates to be communicated if additional schedule revisions become necessary.

“Should further adjustments become necessary, we will promptly and proactively contact the booked guests,” said a TUI Cruises spokesperson.

The cruise line indicated that decisions are being taken in line with official guidance as conditions evolve. “We are continuously assessing the situation and making decisions based on current official recommendations,” said a TUI Cruises spokesperson.

Both vessels had been operating winter itineraries in the Arabian Gulf, linking ports in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Oman. In recent weeks, operations have been impacted by wider regional developments affecting both maritime movements and air travel.

All passengers have now completed their journeys and left the ships, while a number of crew members have also been repatriated. The focus has since shifted to those remaining onboard, with both ships being operated by a skeleton crew of essential personnel.

“The primary goal now remains to ensure the safety and well-being of the remaining crew onboard,” said a TUI Cruises spokesperson.

Coordination is ongoing with multiple stakeholders as the situation continues to be monitored. “Furthermore, our crisis team is working in close coordination with the relevant authorities, the Foreign Office, the responsible embassies, international security experts and the security teams of both parent companies on an ongoing assessment of the situation and derived scenarios,” said a TUI Cruises spokesperson.

An information hotline has been established for families of crew members still onboard the vessels, alongside a dedicated email contact for enquiries.

The extended cancellations also affect Mein Schiff 5’s planned repositioning voyage to Europe, which had been scheduled to depart at the end of March.

The 19-night sailing from Cape Town to Palma de Mallorca was due to include calls in Namibia, Cape Verde, the Canary Islands and the United Kingdom.

Current planning indicates that Mein Schiff 5 is expected to resume operations in late April, ahead of its summer programme in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Mein Schiff 4 is scheduled to return to service slightly earlier, with a repositioning cruise from Cape Town to Europe set to depart on April 11th, 2026, following the cancellation of its previously planned Dubai to South Africa voyage.

The Arabian Gulf has developed into a key winter cruise region over the past decade, but recent operational adjustments across multiple cruise lines have resulted in a reduced presence for the remainder of the 2025/26 season.

Further updates to deployment plans are expected as operators continue to monitor official guidance and assess conditions affecting regional itineraries.