6 Cruise Ships Still Stranded in the Arabian Gulf
Six cruise ships are currently stranded in the Arabian Gulf. Here’s what’s happening and when each ship plans to get back to sailing.
Why Are Cruise Ships Stuck in the Arabian Gulf?
In late February 2026, cruise operations in the Arabian Gulf came to a halt. The Strait of Hormuz — a critical waterway — effectively closed to international maritime traffic. With no way out, six cruise ships got stuck in the region and can’t begin their planned repositioning voyages.
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Here’s a breakdown of each ship, where it is now, and when it’s expected to sail again.
The Six Stranded Cruise Ships
MSC Euribia (MSC Cruises)
- Current Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Next Scheduled Departure: May 2, 2026, from Kiel, Germany
- Upcoming Itineraries: Northern Europe and Scandinavia
The MSC Euribia has been docked in Dubai since February 27, 2026. It’s the biggest ship currently stuck in the region, with room for 5,400 passengers. The plan is for it to return to service in Northern Europe on May 2. That summer season will feature seven-night cruises to the Norwegian Fjords, departing from Germany and Denmark.
Celestyal Journey (Celestyal Cruises)
- Current Location: Doha, Qatar
- Next Scheduled Departure: April 4, 2026, from Piraeus, Greece
- Upcoming Itineraries: Eastern Mediterranean and Greek Islands
The good news here is that all passengers got off the Celestyal Journey safely earlier in March. The ship itself is still sitting in Doha, Qatar. It’s expected to sail back to Greece before launching a new series of Eastern Mediterranean and Greek Islands itineraries on April 4, 2026.
Celestyal Discovery (Celestyal Cruises)
- Current Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Next Scheduled Departure: April 3, 2026, from Lavrion, Greece
- Upcoming Itineraries: Eastern Mediterranean and Greek Islands
Like its fleet-mate, the Celestyal Discovery is docked in Dubai. The 1,360-passenger ship had four of its European sailings canceled because of the situation. It’s currently set to welcome passengers back on April 3, 2026, in Lavrion, Greece, before heading into a summer Eastern Mediterranean season.
Mein Schiff 4 (TUI Cruises)
- Current Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Next Scheduled Departure: April 11, 2026, from Cape Town, South Africa
- Upcoming Itineraries: Repositioning via Africa, then Eastern Mediterranean summer season
TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 4 is currently sitting in Abu Dhabi. The first leg of its repositioning cruise was canceled, but the second segment is still on the schedule. That sailing is a 20-night voyage from Cape Town, South Africa, to Spain, set to depart on April 11, 2026. A summer season in the Eastern Mediterranean is planned to follow.
Mein Schiff 5 (TUI Cruises)
- Current Location: Doha, Qatar
- Next Scheduled Departure: April 17, 2026, from Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- Upcoming Itineraries: Eastern Mediterranean, Greek Islands, and Turkey
The Mein Schiff 5 is also stuck after TUI Cruises canceled the rest of its Arabian Gulf season in late February. The 2,500-passenger ship is docked in Doha, and its repositioning voyages have been canceled. Passengers are expected to board again in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, on April 17, 2026.
Aroya (Aroya Cruises)
- Current Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Next Scheduled Departure: May 14, 2026, from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Upcoming Itineraries: Spring season in the Red Sea, then Eastern Mediterranean summer
The Aroya was originally scheduled to operate in the Arabian Gulf region from February through May. Now it’s docked in Dubai, waiting like the rest. It’s set to resume sailing on May 14, kicking off a spring season in the Red Sea with departures from Saudi Arabia.
What This Means for Cruise Travelers
If you have an upcoming cruise on any of these ships, stay in close contact with your cruise line. Schedules are shifting, and some sailings have already been canceled. New departure ports and dates are being confirmed as the situation develops.
The good news is that all six ships are expected to return to service in the coming weeks. Keep an eye on updates from your cruise line directly for the latest information.
