Six Cruise Ships Exit Persian Gulf After Strait of Hormuz Reopens

Six cruise ships that had been unable to leave the Persian Gulf since late February have now safely transited the Strait of Hormuz, using a brief window of reopened commercial navigation over the weekend.

The move allowed operators to begin repositioning vessels to planned summer deployments in Europe and the Red Sea after weeks of disruption linked to escalating hostilities involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow chokepoint between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, had been heavily restricted, leaving cruise ships effectively trapped inside the Gulf.

A brief reopening, then a rapid tightening of restrictions

The conflict began on Feb. 28, when the United States participated in a joint attack with Israel against Iran, followed by retaliatory Iranian strikes across parts of the region. In March, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps declared the strait closed, disrupting maritime traffic and forcing cruise lines to halt guest operations in the area.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi later announced that commercial traffic could use the waterway during a temporary ceasefire, saying: “In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of the ceasefire.”

The reopening proved narrow. Iranian authorities initially declared the strait open for commercial traffic on April 17, but restrictions were reinstated in less than 24 hours after the United States did not lift its naval blockade affecting Iran’s maritime trade. Following that change, observed commercial traffic through the corridor dropped again as security concerns intensified.

Which ships were affected, and how the outbound passage unfolded

Six cruise ships across four operators were in the region during the restrictions: MSC Cruises’ MSC Euribia; TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 4 and Mein Schiff 5; Celestyal Cruises’ Celestyal Journey and Celestyal Discovery; and Cruise Saudi’s Aroya (also referenced as Aroya Manara/Aroya Menara). Together, the six ships represent about 17,000 berths.

Celestyal Discovery was the first cruise ship to make the outbound passage after the April 17 announcement, departing Port Rashid in Dubai at 11:36 a.m. local time, according to MarineTraffic tracking data. Celestyal Cruises said Celestyal Discovery, under Captain Nikolaos Vasileiou, departed the Arabian Gulf on April 17 using “a carefully coordinated voyage plan” developed with authorities and maritime security teams, and that the transit helped establish a route other operators could follow.

In the hours that followed and into the weekend, additional vessels followed a similar transit pattern, steering along the Omani side of the strait and rounding the Musandam Peninsula as they exited into international waters. Celestyal Journey also made the passage, with the company separately confirming Celestyal Journey’s successful transit under Captain Angelos Vasilakos.

Over the weekend, MSC Euribia, Celestyal Journey, Celestyal Discovery, Mein Schiff 4, and Mein Schiff 5 all successfully transited the strait. Aroya later cleared the area as well, ending the period in which cruise vessels were effectively trapped inside the Gulf.

Passenger evacuations, reduced crews, and the operational rebuild

Passengers and non-essential crew were disembarked and repatriated in March as ships remained in Gulf ports with only essential personnel required for navigation and safety. The earlier evacuation underscored the scale of disruption, with cruise lines including MSC, TUI, and Celestyal undertaking complex repatriation initiatives, including chartering over 40 dedicated flights.

During the repositioning, operators moved ships without guests and with reduced onboard staffing, a step aimed at lowering operational exposure while navigating a volatile corridor. MSC Group Cruise Division Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago said earlier in the disruption that MSC brought MSC Euribia down to minimum manning while the ship remained unable to reposition, and that the situation led to itinerary changes and cancellations tied to the ship’s planned Northern Europe deployment.

With ships now outbound, operators face the practical task of rebuilding full onboard staffing levels before guests return, including flying crew back to the vessels, completing onboarding procedures, and restoring hotel, dining, and entertainment operations that may have been scaled down during the layup period. Industry coverage of the shutdown has described the financial consequences as significant, with dozens of cruises called off while ships waited for safe passage out of the region.

Return-to-service dates and redeployments in May

Cruise lines have begun outlining restart timelines based on published schedules and company updates. Several itineraries in Northern Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Red Sea are expected to proceed as scheduled once ships complete repositioning and re-crewing.

• MSC Euribia is sailing toward Northern Europe, with departures scheduled for May 16 from Kiel, Germany, and May 17 from Copenhagen, Denmark.
• Celestyal Discovery is repositioning to the Eastern Mediterranean and is scheduled to resume passenger operations on May 1 with a short cruise from Lavrion, Greece.
• Celestyal Journey is repositioning toward Europe and is set to begin Mediterranean itineraries in early May, including a May 2 restart in Greece.
• Mein Schiff 5 is heading back to Europe with a planned return to service on May 15 from Heraklion, Greece.
• Mein Schiff 4 is returning to Europe with a scheduled restart on May 17 from Trieste, Italy.
• Aroya has been in Saudi Arabia and is repositioning for a May 14 restart with a short roundtrip Red Sea cruise before shifting toward broader Mediterranean operations in the summer.

MSC Cruises said in a statement: “MSC Cruises confirms that MSC Euribia has departed Dubai, has safely transited the Strait of Hormuz, and is now en route to Northern Europe,” adding that the passage “was completed in close coordination with the relevant authorities.” The company also said the ship’s May 16 Kiel and May 17 Copenhagen departures will operate as originally scheduled, and that guests affected by earlier cancellations will be contacted about options to transfer bookings.

MSC Euribia, the largest of the vessels at 184,700 gross tonnage, departed Dubai with a skeleton crew onboard. The liquefied natural gas-powered ship is scheduled to recommence its Northern Europe season with the May 16 sailing from Kiel.

TUI Cruises confirmed the safe transit of Mein Schiff 4 and Mein Schiff 5, saying: “We would like to thank the captains and crews, as well as all those involved who supported and enabled the safe passage with great professionalism and prudence.” Wybcke Meier, Chief Executive of TUI Cruises, said, “The past weeks have presented all of us with extraordinary challenges,” adding that the line was pleased it could “return swiftly to regular operations” and deploy its fleet as planned.

Security routing and longer transits as operators weigh options

Operators have pointed to the importance of coordinated routing and security planning, including steering close to Oman’s shoreline to limit exposure to Iranian-controlled waters. Celestyal Cruises has described collaboration with maritime security teams and regional authorities to create a coordinated route for its outbound movement.

Separately, cruise lines are weighing route options between the shorter Suez Canal transit and longer sailings around Africa’s Cape, depending on security and operational planning. Several ships have opted to sail around Africa rather than use the Suez route, citing safety concerns tied to regional instabilities in the Red Sea.

Early signs of longer-term deployment changes

The disruption has also highlighted vulnerabilities in traditional winter cruise deployments in the Persian Gulf, prompting some operators to adjust forward plans. MSC World Europa, for example, has announced a shift away from Persian Gulf itineraries for next year, opting instead for Caribbean sailings.

Political reactions continued as the maritime picture evolved. President Donald Trump publicly welcomed Iran’s decision to reopen the strait, while also saying it was not sufficient to lift Washington’s counter-blockade affecting Iran’s maritime trade. With all six cruise ships now out of the Persian Gulf, the next near-term milestone is the restart of guest operations beginning May 1 and continuing through mid-May as each vessel completes repositioning, re-crewing, and provisioning.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which cruise ships were stranded in the Persian Gulf during the Strait of Hormuz restrictions?

The affected ships were MSC Euribia, Mein Schiff 4, Mein Schiff 5, Celestyal Journey, Celestyal Discovery, and Aroya (also referenced as Aroya Manara/Aroya Menara).

How did the cruise ships navigate the Strait of Hormuz safely?

The ships followed a defined routing approach that kept them close to Oman’s shoreline and included coordination with authorities and maritime security teams. Celestyal said its outbound transit used “a carefully coordinated voyage plan” developed with authorities and security partners.

When is MSC Euribia expected to resume passenger cruises?

MSC Euribia is scheduled to restart its Northern Europe season with a May 16 departure from Kiel, Germany, followed by May 17 from Copenhagen, Denmark.

Why are some ships taking a longer route around Africa instead of the Suez Canal?

Cruise lines have weighed route options based on security and operational considerations, and some have opted to sail around Africa rather than transit the Red Sea and Suez corridor.

Will cruise lines continue Middle East deployments in the future?

Some operators are already adjusting plans in response to the disruption. MSC World Europa has announced it will replace its Persian Gulf season next year with Caribbean itineraries.