Increasing Number of Stranded Cruise Ships Navigate Through the Strait of Hormuz

With the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and the UAE, several cruise ships are now making their way out of the Arabian Gulf towards new homeports in Europe. Notably, the MSC Euribia, Celestyal Journey, and Mein Schiff 5 have all set sail for Oman, taking advantage of the strait’s reopening.

The situation has unfolded after the successful departure of the Celestyal Discovery, which set off from Dubai on April 17, heading to Muscat, Oman. Following this, the MSC Euribia, which has been stationed in Dubai during the strait’s closure, is now heading towards Muscat at a slow pace of 8 knots, with an estimated arrival time around 10:30 p.m. on April 18. Despite prior cancellations for some of its initial sailings in northern Europe, the ship may still be able to make its scheduled departure from Kiel, Germany, on May 23 if it can complete the journey back swiftly.

Meanwhile, the Celestyal Journey has sailed from Doha, Qatar, making its way to Khasab, Oman. It is currently traveling at a speed of 18 knots and is expected to arrive at approximately 11:30 a.m. on April 18. This port may serve as a refueling stop before it proceeds to its homeport in Greece, where it will operate a series of 7-night itineraries in the Greek Isles and Mediterranean.

Mein Schiff 5, also previously docked in Doha, is on a similar route to Khasab. Traveling at 17 knots, it aims to reach its destination around 2 p.m. on April 18, before heading to Greece and then onto the Caribbean later in the year.

All three ships are currently transitioning without any passengers onboard, necessitating time for refueling and resupplying prior to restarting operations. It’s also possible that crew members were evacuated during the closure and will need to rejoin their ships.

The only vessel still in port is Mein Schiff 4, which remains docked in Abu Dhabi and has yet to begin its scheduled Mediterranean season. Its original itinerary may need adjustments to facilitate an earlier arrival in Palma de Mallorca.

Despite some tense moments over the past two months, no cruise ship has reported damage stemming from the regional tensions, including recent incidents involving missile-armed drones near Mein Schiff 4 in Abu Dhabi. With plans in place, the ship might soon join the others in moving out of the Arabian Gulf.

For more information, you can check:

• Successful Departure of Celestyal Discovery
• Cruise Ship Tracker

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