Which cruise lines have stopped sailing on the Red Sea?

Thursday, January 18, 2024

The cruise lines were severely affected due to the attacks perpetrated by Yemen’s Houthi militants on ships in the Red Sea. The attacks have led certain cruise lines to stop sailing on the Red Sea.

This has furthermore negatively effected the cruises from South Africa and the United Arab Emirates to Europe. 

Ships that were cancelled

MSC Cruises had no other option but to cancel the itineraries transiting through the Red Sea. 

-the 24-night MSC Splendida cruise from Durban to Genoa 

-the 21-night MSC Opera sailing from Dubai to Genoa 

-the 23-night MSC Virtuosa voyage from Dubai to Southampton, United Kingdom

The European cruise line Silversea Cruises had to scrap its itineraries scheduled from mid-January to mid-February on Silver Moon due to the Houthis. The voyages that were scheduled to start on January 16 and further stalled the continuation of the same until January 26, which will be taking place in between Muscat and Dubai. The itineraries scheduled from January 26 to February 11 from Dubai and Mumbai have also been cancelled. 

Though Silversea Cruises has not made any substantial judgement yet it stands to reason that the itineraries will be stalled for the time being. However, if any changes come up and if the region is found to be safe during the scheduled days for the voyage from February 11 and 29, then it will proceed as planned. 

Cruise Lines that have not cancelled despite threats

The Florida-based Royal Caribbean would continue on its Middle East voyage, as it has been scheduled for May. 

P&O Cruises will not cancel, despite the Houthi attacks. One of the passengers, named Kevin Turnock, is quite apprehensive about travelling by the Red Sea. However, the cruise line has not informed them about the same. Turnock told the media that he is scheduled to depart for the UK from Sydney on February 22, 2024, yet nothing has been announced. The incessant drone and missile attacks on ships that are passing through the Red Sea are nothing short of a horror. 

Holland America Line’s Zuiderdam is not paying heed to the ongoing attacks and will set sail in the Red Sea as scheduled in mid-April—which is a part of the 2024 Grand World Voyage. 

In addition to this, there are other cruise lines, such as Cunard, Azamara, and HAL, that have itineraries planned via the Red Sea but have announced nothing. So as of now, their schedule remains the same. 

Seeking alternatives for different routes

The cruise lines that have cancelled their schedules via the Red Sea are in the stage of repositioning cruises. Passengers are seeking certain alternatives, i.e., the possibility of transferring their voyage to a Grand Voyage relating to a similar duration for free. Passengers are seeking whether there is a possibility of rebooking any other cruise in the global network of the cancelled cruise lines. People can contact their respective cruise lines if they seek a refund with/without cancellation fee. 

The Red Sea thrives to exist as one of the important routes that make way for the Mediterranean Sea to connect to the Indian Ocean via the Suez Canal. Now this route is getting affected due to the Iran-backed Houthis, who are expressing solidarity for Palestine and launching attacks on merchants and naval ships.  

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