Historic Voyage: First Cruise Ship Navigates Strait of Hormuz After Two-Month Closure

The Strait of Hormuz has reopened following a two-month closure due to escalating military conflict in the Middle East, allowing cruise ships to resume operations. The Celestyal Discovery, a cruise ship operated by Celestyal Cruises, made history by being the first vessel to pass through this critical waterway since the chaos began. It departed from Port Rashid in Dubai, U.A.E., on April 17, 2026, at 11:36 a.m. local time, heading for Muscat, Oman.

This reopening marks a significant development for the cruise industry, as the Strait of Hormuz had been closed to commercial vessels since late February amid increasing tensions among Iran, the United States, and Israel. Iran’s military had issued warnings preventing ships from navigating the strait, which effectively halted most maritime traffic and stranded several cruise ships in Gulf ports.

During the closure, Celestyal Cruises faced severe repercussions, with both the Celestyal Discovery and its sister ship, Celestyal Journey, unable to depart for weeks. The latter vessel was docked in Doha, Qatar, and both had to cancel scheduled sailings.

The Celestyal Discovery, which was on its "Iconic Arabia" itinerary that included stops in notable locations such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi, had been unable to continue its program due to the conflict.

With the reopening of the Strait, the possibility of other stranded ships being freed increases. Notable vessels left waiting include the MSC Cruises’ MSC Euribia, which has been docked in Dubai and had to cancel multiple sailings as it prepared for its European summer season.

Cruise ships from TUI Cruises also found themselves in similar circumstances, with Mein Schiff 4 and Mein Schiff 5 remaining unable to depart from Dubai and Doha, respectively.

Should the transit remain safe and open, other cruise lines are prepared to start repositioning their fleets towards Europe as the summer season approaches. These journeys involve navigating through the Arabian Sea, passing the Suez Canal, and then onward to various European destinations. However, these plans will depend heavily on security conditions and any new regulations set by Iranian authorities.

For more information, visit Cruise Hive.

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