March 30, 2026 | 02:18 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The escalation of conflict in the Middle East has systematically impacted the tourism industry. Six cruise ships from four major operators have reportedly been stranded in the Persian Gulf with no safe way out due to the high risks in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to People, the affected ships include MSC Euribia, Mein Schiff 4 and 5 owned by TUI, Discovery and Journey from Celestyal Cruises, and a ship based in Saudi Arabia, Aroya Manara. The closure of the airspace and the security risks in the waters have completely paralyzed ship operations, forcing the evacuation of around 15,000 guests through special flight operations.
The cruise operators have been working to repatriate guests using dozens of charter flights since the beginning of March 2026. For instance, MSC Cruises has deployed at least five special flights to transport 1,500 guests from Dubai. Meanwhile, TUI Group has organized 38 flights to evacuate its guests from Dubai and Doha. Although all guests have reportedly returned safely, the physical ships are still stranded in the ports of Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi.
Cruise Trip Cancellations
A report from Euronews states that the long-term impact of this crisis is starting to show with mass cancellations of travel plans until 2027. Explora Journeys is the latest cruise line to officially cancel the entire winter season of 2026-2027 in the Middle East. The ship Explora II, which was scheduled to visit Egypt and Saudi Arabia, has been rerouted to the West Mediterranean and North Africa.
As compensation, Explora Journeys offers a 10 percent rebooking discount and a travel credit worth US$500 (around Rp7.9 million) per traveler. On the other hand, Celestyal Cruises also had to cancel a series of voyages in Greece, Italy, and Croatia because their ships were unable to reposition back to Europe. Cruise operators generally provide options for full refunds or credits for future voyages for affected travelers.
Imanda Zahwa contributed to this article
Read: Indonesia Seeks Safe Passage for Two Ships 'Trapped' Near Hormuz
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