Cruise ships in the Persian Gulf in 2026: the return of all six ships

Since the end of February 2026, six cruise ships had been stranded in the Arabian Gulf: Mein Schiff 4 and Mein Schiff 5, MSC Euribia, Celestyal Journey, Celestyal Discovery and Aroya. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz prevented planned repositioning voyages and led to cancellations in other cruise regions.

Departures from the Gulf began in mid-April, with Celestyal Discovery leading the convoy through the strait. By May 22, 2026, all six ships were back in service with guests on board. They returned to guest service between May 1 and 17.

Last updated on October 22, 2026