Five Cruise Ships Depart from the Persian Gulf: What You Need to Know

Five cruise ships have successfully navigated through the Strait of Hormuz after being stranded in the Persian Gulf due to ongoing conflicts in the region. This significant event took place on April 18, 2026, marking a pivotal moment for the cruise industry in the area.

MSC Cruises confirmed that the MSC Euribia departed from Dubai and has now transited the strait, continuing its journey toward Northern Europe. The other vessels included the Celestyal Journey and TUI’s Mein Schiff 5, which set sail from Doha, Qatar, while the Mein Schiff 4 departed from Abu Dhabi.

In a statement, TUI expressed gratitude to the captains and crews involved in ensuring a safe passage through this crucial route, highlighting their professionalism and prudence. The ships followed a path along the Omani coastline, with Muscat as their next port of call. The Celestyal Journey made a brief stop near Khor Fakkan before continuing on its way.

This navigation follows the earlier journey of Celestyal Discovery, which was the first cruise ship to cross the Strait of Hormuz since the conflicts began, leaving Dubai on April 17. During the transit, all ships operated with reduced crew levels.

Now that the MSC Euribia is set to arrive sooner than expected, MSC Cruises has reassured that the ship’s sailing schedule, including departures from Kiel and Copenhagen on May 16 and 17 respectively, will proceed as planned. The Celestyal Discovery is set to resume its regular services in the Eastern Mediterranean starting May 1, 2026, with a cruise to the Greek Islands and Turkey from Lavrion.

Meanwhile, Cruise Saudi’s Aroya remains in the Persian Gulf as the situation in the region continues to evolve.

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