TUI Cruises cancels Mein Schiff 4 Cape Town sailing amid ongoing Gulf disruption

TUI Cruises has cancelled an additional sailing aboard Mein Schiff 4 as operational adjustments continue following disruption to cruise activity in the Arabian Gulf.

The affected voyage, a 20-night repositioning cruise scheduled to depart Cape Town on April 11th, 2026, was due to operate between South Africa and Spain.

The itinerary included calls at Walvis Bay in Namibia, Praia in Cape Verde, Gran Canaria, and Arrecife in the Canary Islands, Tangier in Morocco, and Barcelona before arriving in Palma de Mallorca.

The cancellation follows earlier changes to the vessel’s deployment, with the first leg of its repositioning programme from the United Arab Emirates to South Africa in late March already withdrawn.

With this latest revision, all sailings scheduled aboard Mein Schiff 4 between February 28th, 2026, and April 11th, 2026, will no longer proceed.

The ship remains in the region as cruise lines continue to monitor conditions affecting maritime transit through the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict.

While the waterway has not been formally closed, security considerations and reduced commercial traffic have led operators to delay repositioning voyages and adjust seasonal deployment plans.

TUI Cruises had earlier cancelled the repositioning cruise for Mein Schiff 5 and all sailings set to take place onboard the ship between February 28th, 2026, and March 29th, 2026.

“The primary objective now remains the safety and well-being of the remaining crew onboard the Mein Schiff 4 and the Mein Schiff 5,” said TUI Cruises.

“In addition, the TUI Cruises crisis management team is working continuously and in close coordination with the relevant authorities, the German Foreign Office, the relevant embassies, international security experts, and the security teams of its two parent companies on an ongoing assessment of the situation,” the cruise line added.

The statement also referenced ongoing coordination with authorities and partners in relation to the eventual resumption of regular itineraries, although no revised timelines have been confirmed.

Elsewhere, Celestyal Cruises has announced the cancellation of an additional Eastern Mediterranean sailing linked to the delayed redeployment of Celestyal Discovery.

The vessel, currently alongside in Dubai, had been scheduled to begin its summer programme in Greece on March 20th, 2026.

The latest developments reflect continued adjustments across multiple operators as deployment schedules remain contingent on regional maritime access and operational considerations.

Cruise lines have prioritised advance communication with guests and partners while maintaining flexibility in planning for the upcoming European summer season.