After weeks of uncertainty caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran conflict, several cruise ships that had been stranded in the Arabian Gulf have now successfully transited the strategic waterway and are heading toward European waters. The development brings relief to thousands of passengers and travel operators across the continent, as the summer season approaches.
On Friday, the Malta-flagged Celestyal Discovery departed Dubai, becoming the first cruise ship to navigate the strait since hostilities began. Shortly after, the Celestyal Journey left Doha, Qatar. In a statement, Celestyal Cruises confirmed the “successful and safe transit of both its vessels” and said they are now repositioning to the Mediterranean, where they will begin their scheduled summer itineraries.
“We can confirm that all future sailings currently on sale will operate as scheduled, providing our guests and travel partners with confidence and continuity as the company transitions into its Mediterranean deployment,” the cruise line said.
MSC and TUI Ships Follow Suit
MSC Cruises reported that the MSC Euribia also departed Dubai after safely transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The passage was completed in close coordination with relevant authorities, the company noted. The MSC Euribia is now en route to Northern Europe, with scheduled departures from Kiel, Germany, on 16 May and from Copenhagen, Denmark, on 17 May, as originally planned.
TUI Cruises, in a statement issued on Sunday, confirmed that two of its vessels—Mein Schiff 4 and Mein Schiff 5—had left Dubai and Doha, respectively, and were “heading towards the Mediterranean.” Both ships are setting course for Cape Town before returning to their regular schedules. The previously cancelled voyages of Mein Schiff 4 from Trieste, Italy, on 17 May and Mein Schiff 5 from Heraklion, Greece, on 15 May will now proceed as planned.
Wybcke Meier, CEO of TUI Cruises, expressed gratitude to the crews and teams who managed the crisis. “The past few weeks have presented us all with extraordinary challenges. I would like to extend my special thanks to our captains, the crews and all the teams on board and ashore who have helped to overcome this situation with great professionalism, caution and dedication,” she said. “We are therefore all the more delighted that we can now swiftly return to regular operations and deploy our entire fleet as planned.”
The TUI crew in Cape Town and Malta will rejoin the ships, which are being prepared for regular operations so that the first guests can be welcomed back on board in Trieste and Heraklion as planned.
Broader Implications for European Travel
The successful transit of these vessels marks a significant step toward normalising maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for global energy and trade. The crisis had raised concerns about Europe's jet fuel supply and the stability of summer travel plans. The reopening of the strait for cruise ships is a positive signal for the broader travel industry, which had been bracing for disruptions.
The European cruise sector, which generates significant economic activity—one job per 20 passengers, according to a WTTC report—will benefit from the resumption of normal operations. The affected ships are now expected to reach European ports in time for the peak summer season, providing a boost to local economies in Italy, Greece, Germany, and Denmark.
The crisis also highlighted the vulnerability of global shipping lanes to geopolitical tensions. EU leaders recently met in Cyprus to discuss the Hormuz situation and mutual defence commitments, underscoring the bloc's interest in securing maritime routes. While the immediate threat to cruise traffic has eased, the underlying tensions in the region remain unresolved.
For now, passengers booked on the affected cruises can look forward to their Mediterranean and Northern European voyages as scheduled. The cruise lines have emphasised that all future sailings currently on sale will operate as planned, offering reassurance to travellers and travel agents alike.
