Mein Schiff 4 and 5 to pick up crew in Cape Town during reposition to Europe

Crew members are set to rejoin Mein Schiff 4 and Mein Schiff 5 in Cape Town and Malta as the two vessels reposition towards Europe following their departure from the Arabian Gulf.

The announcement marks a key step in the restoration of regular operations after several weeks of disruption.

The Cape Town call forms part of a broader routing shift that has seen multiple cruise ships sail around southern Africa after transiting the Strait of Hormuz earlier this month.

The decision to route via the Cape of Good Hope, rather than through the Red Sea and Suez Canal, reflects operational adjustments made during the recent period of tension affecting maritime traffic in the region.

During that period, several cruise lines suspended sailings and reduced onboard staffing to minimum safe manning levels, with hotel crew repatriated while ships remained alongside in ports across the Gulf.

As vessels began to depart following the reopening of the Strait, operators initiated phased repositioning plans to return ships to their scheduled summer deployments.

Both Mein Schiff 4 and Mein Schiff 5 are now sailing for the Mediterranean, with crew rejoining scheduled at key points along the route.

Cape Town is expected to serve as a primary embarkation point for returning crew on one of the vessels, while additional personnel will join in Malta as part of the staged rebuilding of onboard teams.

The process reflects the operational requirements of restarting cruise services after an extended pause. Crew complements are being restored progressively, alongside preparations to bring hotel operations back to full capacity ahead of the ships’ return to service.

Once repositioning is complete, Mein Schiff 4 is scheduled to resume cruises from Trieste on May 17th, 2026, while Mein Schiff 5 is expected to restart operations from Heraklion on May 15th, 2026.

Previously cancelled voyages are being reinstated as part of the transition back to scheduled deployments. The use of Cape Town as a logistical point in the repositioning highlights the port’s role within global cruise routing, particularly during periods of operational adjustment.