Towards a total withdrawal of cruise ships from the Persian Gulf

The cruise industry has suffered a major setback in the Middle East as military tensions between Iran, Israel, and the United States have turned the Persian Gulf into a maritime exclusion zone.

MSC Cruises has taken the initiative by announcing the immediate cancellation of two of its upcoming sailings aboard the MSC Euribia, its flagship for the winter season, after reports of missile and drone attacks near shipping lanes.

This decision follows a deterioration in security that has paralyzed iconic ports of call in the region: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas, Doha, and Khalifa Bin Salman (Bahrain) are now deserted by the ocean liners, as companies fear collateral damage or blockages in the Strait of Hormuz.

For passengers already on board or with reservations, MSC, Costa and Celebrity Cruises are implementing strict crisis protocols: customers who have prepaid for shore excursions for these canceled ports of call will receive a full refund credited directly to their onboard account or via their original payment method.

At Costa Cruises, the Costa Toscana, which operated in the area, is currently seeking alternative ports of call in India or South Africa, while Celebrity Cruises has suspended its Middle East series departures to reposition its ships in the Mediterranean earlier than planned.

This mass evacuation has left thousands of cruise passengers in limbo, as companies strive to coordinate repatriation flights from hubs that are still safe, while also offering enhanced vouchers for future voyages to mitigate the economic impact of this disastrous season.