Six cruise ships await onward deployment as Gulf ports coordinate support measures

Six cruise ships remain in the Arabian Gulf following the suspension of regional operations in late February, as conditions affecting maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz continue to delay scheduled repositioning voyages.

The vessels, operated by MSC Cruises, Celestyal Cruises, TUI Cruises, and Aroya Cruises, are currently berthed across ports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE, and Doha in Qatar.

Regional authorities and port operators have continued to facilitate berthing, provisioning, and technical support while operators adjust deployment plans.

The disruption follows a period of heightened regional tension that has affected commercial shipping movements through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime corridor linking the Arabian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and wider international shipping lanes.

While not formally closed, the conflict between the US and Iran has led cruise lines to pause departures from the region and defer repositioning itineraries to Europe, Africa, and beyond.

Among the vessels is MSC Euribia, which has been docked in Dubai since February 27th, 2026. The ship had been scheduled to reposition to Northern Europe ahead of a summer programme of Norwegian fjords sailings, with departures from Kiel beginning on May 2nd, 2026.

The vessel remains alongside while awaiting a suitable window to transit.

Two ships from Celestyal Cruises, Celestyal Journey and Celestyal Discovery, are also in the region.

Celestyal Journey is currently in Doha following the completion of passenger disembarkation earlier this month, while Celestyal Discovery remains in Dubai after adjustments to its European deployment.

Both ships are expected to operate Eastern Mediterranean itineraries once repositioning is completed, with revised embarkation plans in Greece.

TUI Cruises has two vessels affected. Mein Schiff 4 is alongside in Abu Dhabi, where the first segment of its repositioning voyage from Dubai to Cape Town and from Cape Town to Spain, have both been cancelled.

These repositionings were due to be followed by a summer season in the Eastern Mediterranean, but further cancellations have not been confirmed.

Mein Schiff 5, currently in Doha, had the remainder of its Gulf season cancelled and is now scheduled to resume operations in Palma de Mallorca on April 17th, 2026.

The sixth vessel, Aroya, operated by Aroya Cruises, remains in Dubai. The ship had been deployed in the Arabian Gulf for a winter programme and is scheduled to resume service on May 14th, 2026, with sailings from Jeddah in the Red Sea before transitioning to Mediterranean itineraries.

Across the region, cruise lines have prioritised the safe and orderly disembarkation of guests, with no passengers remaining on board affected vessels. Crew members continue to maintain hotel and technical operations while awaiting further routing clarity.

The situation highlights both the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz to global cruise deployment patterns and the operational flexibility required when geopolitical developments affect maritime access.

For Gulf ports, the extended presence of these vessels has underscored their capacity to support ships outside of scheduled turnaround operations, with coordination continuing between authorities, port operators, and cruise lines as plans evolve.