MSC Cruises has cancelled MSC Euribia’s first scheduled sailing in Europe for the summer season, despite a two-week ceasefire being agreed between the US and Iran last night (April 7) which could see the Strait of Hormuz reopen.
The first voyage of the Europe season on Euribia was due to depart on May 2 from Kiel, but will be unable to take place as the ship’s repositioning has been delayed.
Euribia has been docked in the port of Dubai since its round-trip itinerary was interrupted when the first strikes took place on February 28.
The cruise line took the decision to charter a series of flights to repatriate stranded passengers and cancelled the four remaining seven-night sailings in the region for the season.
In a statement, a spokesperson said: “Despite the recent developments in the Middle East, MSC Euribia is not yet able to depart the region and her repositioning to Northern Europe is therefore delayed.
“As a result, the ship will not be in position to operate the first sailing of the season as planned from Kiel on May 2 and Copenhagen on May 3.
“All guests booked on this cruise are being contacted directly with the possibility to move their booking to an alternative cruise or a full refund. MSC Cruises is focused its efforts on returning the ship to Northern Europe as soon as possible in order to resume the planned sailings.”
MSC Cruises has also redeployed MSC World Europa away from the Middle East for the winter 2026-27 season as a result of the conflict.
The World Class vessel will instead sail a series of voyages in the French Antilles.
Celestyal has two ships in the Middle East region, Celestyal Journey in Doha and Celestyal Discovery in Dubai, which are unable to relocate to start their respective Mediterranean seasons.
This has resulted in cancellations of multiple voyages across both ships until the end of April.
The line has been approached for comment on what the ceasefire may mean for the ships’ future repositioning and Mediterranean seasons, but had nothing to share at time of publication.
