These Cruise Lines Canceled Trips Because Their Ships Are Stuck In The Middle East

Several cruise lines have announced that they will cancel sailings, and six ships are stuck in the Middle East due to ongoing military conflict in the region. In late February 2026, the United States and Israel attacked Iran. In the days that followed, Iran responded by attacking various countries across the Middle East, including Israel, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). As the conflict escalated, it left thousands of tourists stranded in the Middle East. Cruise ships in the Persian Gulf were in a particularly difficult situation, as they would have to pass through the Strait of Hormuz in order to safely leave the area.

The Strait of Hormuz borders both Oman and the United Arab Emirates in the south, and Iran in the north. It is an important waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean, and is used to transport around 20% of the world's oil supply. Iran has a lot of control over the Strait of Hormuz and announced that it would be closed starting on March 4, 2026.

Once the Strait of Hormuz was blocked by Iran, cruise ships and their passengers became stranded. Tourists had to be evacuated, and at the time of writing, six ships remain stuck there. Several sailings have been canceled, and it is unknown when the cruise ships will be able to safely exit the Persian Gulf.

In the early days of the military conflict, which is being referred to as the Iran war by some media outlets, there were six cruise ships in the Persian Gulf region: MSC's Euribia, TUI's Mein Schiff 4 and Mein Schiff 5, Celestyal Cruises Discovery, Celestyal Cruises Journey, and Aroya Cruises AroyaManara. Most of the ships are stuck in the United Arab Emirates, which is a bustling tourist country. The Mein Schiff 5 and the Celestyal Journey are both in Doha, Qatar.

According to an article published by the New York Times on March 6, 2026, around 15,000 passengers were on board the six cruise ships. Passengers were stuck in a scary situation, and many of them turned to embassies and commercial airlines for help.

The cruise companies have since worked to evacuate passengers. On March 18, the German cruise company TUI announced on their website that 5,000 passengers aboard Mein Schiff 4 and Mein Schiff 5 were flown home via TUI-operated flights and charter flights. MSC Cruises, a company based in Geneva, Switzerland, that is one of the best cruise lines for young adults, has also chartered flights to bring passengers home. According to reports, most passengers aboard the six cruise ships have made it safely home, but the ships remain stuck. "It is currently unclear when the Mein Schiff 4 and Mein Schiff 5 will be able to pass through the Strait of Hormuz," a statement on TUI's website says. "Similarly, it is not yet possible to definitively assess the impact of the crisis on business, as it is unclear how long the war will last."

Rising tensions in the Middle East are affecting travelers around the world, and cruise companies are being forced to cancel scheduled sailings. On March 25, 2026, TUI announced that sailings on Mein Schiff 4 are canceled through April 11, 2026, and sailings on Mein Schiff 5 are canceled through April 24, 2026. The company has reached out to customers who will be impacted. "The primary objective now remains the safety and well-being of the remaining crew on board Mein Schiff 4 and Mein Schiff 5," the statement says.

Celestyal Cruises, which is based out of Athens, Greece, announced the cancellation of all April sailings. "Due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East, we have been unable to reposition our ships, Celestyal Discovery and Celestyal Journey, back to the Mediterranean," an announcement on the company website states. The next sailings are scheduled for early May, 2026.

MSC's Euribia also has sailings scheduled for early May, 2026, though only in Europe and the Mediterranean. Aroya Cruises, which is based out of Saudi Arabia, canceled the rest of their scheduled cruises for the next few months. "Due to ongoing regional operational considerations and in coordination with the relevant maritime and national authorities, AROYA Cruises will not proceed with the remaining sailings scheduled in the Arabian Gulf for the current season," states an announcement posted on the company's website on March 7, 2026.