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A number of upcoming European cruises have been cancelled after several vessels were unable to leave ports in the Arabian Gulf amid regional tensions.
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has forced operators to suspend sailings and repatriate thousands of stranded passengers.
The United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) told AFP that 15,000 cruise passengers had been stuck in the region with ships from several operators – including MSC, TUI, Celestyal and AROYA – docked in key ports.
On Monday, Greek cruise line Celestyal confirmed that its ships remain in the Gulf, with Celestyal Discovery currently in Dubai and Celestyal Journey in Doha.
The company said passengers had safely disembarked in Dubai and that the remaining guests aboard Celestyal Journey were expected to leave the vessel in Qatar “over the next 24 hours”.
“Both vessels remain fully operational and ready to sail,” Celestyal said in a statement, adding that their departure from the region will take place “in line with guidance from the relevant authorities”.
However, the disruption has forced Celestyal to cancel two of its “Iconic Aegean” Greek island cruises scheduled to depart later this month.
The three-night sailing on 20 March and the four-night voyage on 23 March operated by Celestyal Discovery will no longer take place as the cruise line finalises arrangements to reposition the ship to the Mediterranean for the summer season.
Passengers booked on the affected sailings will be offered either a full refund or future cruise credit.
Season cancelled and passengers repatriated
Other cruise operators have also been forced to alter or suspend their programmes in the region.
Saudi Arabia-backed AROYA Cruises confirmed that it has cancelled the remainder of its Arabian Gulf winter season entirely.
The company said all passengers aboard its ship were safely disembarked in Dubai on 7 March after the decision was taken “due to ongoing regional operational considerations and in coordination with the relevant maritime and national authorities”.
Meanwhile, Geneva-based MSC Cruises has been organising repatriation flights for passengers who had been travelling aboard the MSC Euribia in Dubai. The cruise line said it had arranged flights for more than 1,500 guests to leave the region.
Seven flights have already departed, including dedicated charter services as well as seats secured with commercial carriers. Travellers have been returned to destinations including the UK, Italy, Germany, Spain, the US and Brazil.
“Our ship command and crew have worked tirelessly to ensure our guests are well cared for and our teams across the globe have worked round the clock to get our guests home safely and in a timely manner,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Cruises.
German operator TUI Cruises announced that upcoming sailings on Mein Schiff 4 have been cancelled up to and including the start of the trip on 23 March, while departures on Mein Schiff 5 are cancelled up to and including the start of the trip on 12 March.
Mein Schiff 4 is currently docked in Abu Dhabi and return journeys have “already been organised for all guests and numerous crew members” in recent days, TUI said in a statement on Monday.
Passengers on board Mein Schiff 5 remain on the ship in Doha, with operations “running normally under the circumstances”.
The return journeys for guests and crew are being arranged “on an ongoing basis” via charter flights organised by TUI Cruises and seat allocations with Qatar Airways.
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