AIDA Cruises Drops Middle East Sailings for Winter 2026/27

AIDA Cruises has pulled the Middle East from its winter 2026/27 schedule, citing continued uncertainty in the region that the company said cannot be predicted reliably for long-term itinerary planning.

What AIDA is canceling for winter 2026/27

In a press release, AIDA said it will not operate cruises in the Middle East during the winter 2026/27 season due to “regional uncertainties.” The move also eliminates repositioning cruises for AIDAprima around Africa that were tied to the deployment.

AIDA did not include a named executive or spokesperson statement in the information released about the schedule change.

What it means for booked guests and when the revised program goes on sale

AIDA said it will begin contacting guests who already booked affected itineraries and will also inform its travel agency partners. The line is offering impacted guests a chance to switch to another AIDA cruise by a set deadline, with onboard credit provided as an incentive.

• Rebooking deadline: Guests can rebook on another AIDA cruise by May 10, 2026 to qualify for the offer.
• Onboard credit offer: AIDA is offering €200 onboard credit per cabin for double occupancy, or €100 for single occupancy, for guests who rebook.
• Updated AIDAprima winter plans: AIDAprima’s revised winter 2026/27 program is expected to open for booking in mid-April 2026.

Other cruise lines are still planning Arabian Gulf seasons in 2026/27

AIDA’s withdrawal comes as some brands continue to schedule winter 2026/27 operations in the Arabian Gulf, even as others step back. Costa Cruises, another Carnival-owned brand, also canceled its Middle East and Arabian Gulf program for the 2026/27 season; Costa had been expected to deploy Costa Smeralda, while AIDA’s plans were centered on AIDAprima.

Among operators maintaining published plans for the season:

MSC Cruises said MSC World Europa is set to offer seven-night itineraries visiting the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar (including Doha), with sailings planned from late November through early April and no changes announced.

TUI Cruises is preparing to introduce its 4,000-passenger Mein Schiff Flow in the region, with sailings from Dubai beginning in mid-November and itineraries that include calls such as Sir Bani Yas, Doha and Muscat.

Celestyal Cruises is planning to deploy Celestyal Journey and Celestyal Discovery, with seven-night Desert Days itineraries visiting Qatar, the UAE and Bahrain, and shorter Iconic Arabia cruises that also include Oman. Celestyal’s season is scheduled from late November through mid-March.

Aroya Cruises has published a three-month deployment from January through March 2027, built around seven-night cruises calling in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman. The brand previously suspended and canceled operations after its first Arabian Gulf sailings, but has indicated it intends to return.

Explora Journeys is slated to enter the market with Explora II, offering seven-night itineraries from December through March with destinations including the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman. Explora previously postponed its Middle East plans and has extended its cancellation window by 45 days, saying it plans to update passengers by the end of March.

Disruptions in 2025/26 continue to shape planning

The shifting 2026/27 plans follow major disruption during the winter 2025/26 season, when multiple lines canceled sailings amid security concerns and operational challenges.

MSC Cruises canceled the remainder of its 2025/26 Middle East season for MSC Euribia, which had been scheduled to operate additional departures visiting the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain. MSC cited guidance from regional military authorities and said the decision prioritized the safety and well-being of guests and crew.

Celestyal Cruises also canceled the remainder of its 2025/26 Arabian Gulf season, and said operational arrangements to reposition ships back to Europe led it to cancel the first cruises of its Eastern Mediterranean season.

TUI Cruises canceled Middle East deployments for Mein Schiff 4 and Mein Schiff 5 in 2025/26, citing travel and safety advice from the German Foreign Office. The cancellations covered Mein Schiff 4 cruises through March 23, 2026, and Mein Schiff 5 cruises through March 12, 2026.

Aroya Cruises canceled all upcoming cruises planned for its 2025/26 Arabian Gulf season, tying the decision to regional operational considerations and coordination with maritime and national authorities. Aroya had been scheduled to remain in the region through early May after arriving in the UAE in late February.

Costa and AIDA also previously canceled their winter 2025/26 Arabian Gulf seasons, which had been planned for November 2025 through March 2026 on Costa Toscana and AIDAprima, respectively.

AIDA’s next steps and longer-term plan for the region

While AIDA is stepping away from the Middle East for winter 2026/27, the company has said it intends to return in winter 2027/28 with itineraries operated by AIDAperla. In the nearer term, AIDA’s focus is on notifying affected guests and agencies, opening sales for AIDAprima’s revised winter schedule in mid-April, and processing rebookings by the May 10, 2026 deadline for guests who want to use the onboard credit offer.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why did AIDA Cruises cancel its Middle East itineraries for winter 2026/27?

AIDA said it made the decision due to “regional uncertainties,” adding that the outlook in the region cannot be predicted reliably enough for long-term itinerary planning.

What is the rebooking offer for impacted AIDAprima guests?

AIDA said impacted guests can rebook to another AIDA cruise by May 10, 2026 and receive onboard credit of €200 per cabin for double occupancy, or €100 for single occupancy.

When will AIDAprima’s revised winter 2026/27 schedule be available to book?

AIDA said AIDAprima’s updated winter 2026/27 program is expected to open for booking in mid-April 2026.

Is AIDA planning to return to the Middle East after winter 2026/27?

Yes. AIDA has announced plans to resume Middle East itineraries in winter 2027/28, with cruises scheduled to be operated by AIDAperla.